Soccer 2

As I sit in my room tonight. . .our last night in Africa. . .i think again why we came here.

Was it to build a soccer field? No, not really. It is just the icing on the cake. Well, the soccer field did not get finished (mostly because it never rained). But I do not care, because it will. We got the goalposts finished and the land is just too dry to do anything else to it. We spread the cow manure (by hand . .yuk) but not by ourselves. All the soccer boys who could make it last Saturday (and there were about 63 of them all arriving from different areas on time at 9:30 am) helped out. They helped spread the manure and then afterwards we came back to the base and they washed their uniforms. Then we talked with them for about an hour and then treated them to lunch. After lunch was over they were asked to clean their plates. Well, they didn't stop there. They cleaned the entire dining hall and the kitchen. Swept and mopped the floors and everything. They just jumped right in and took over. It was amazing to watch. These are good boys. They deserve this field.

We came here to build a soccer field mostly to meet a boy named Juma. Juma is 12 years old. He has been on this team since it started two years ago. We have an immediate connection with this kid. Must be a God thing. He stops by the base to tell us his "life story". He is only 12 and he has a "life story". He proceeds to tell us that his dad died when he was two. His mom died this April from HIV. As he tells us this the tears stream down his face. They stream down mine and Nathan's as well. When we asked him who he lived with, he told us his uncle. We asked him if he was a nice guy and he says "yes". "Where does he work?", we ask. "He is a student", he replies. We then ask him how old his uncle is and he replies "17". This kid needs a family. How can a 17-year-old possibly raise a 12-year-old? We cannot adopt this kid, or we would. Instead we arrange with Jacinta to make sure he is taken care of. He will come to the base and we will make sure his education is taken care of. Jacinta will make sure he gets a "momma" hug once in a while. This is what this ministry was started for. . .not just soccer, but to give these kids a fighting chance and a family. The picture above has Juma in it. He is the one with the biggest smile :) . . .my prayer is that he keeps smiling.

So off we go tomorrow to see our own kids. There will be a few extra hugs in it for them. I thank God for the fact that he has blessed my kids with two loving parents. . .for the family that they have, and for the "easy" life they have been given. And now thank Him for the "brother" they have in Africa.

My life is always changed when I come to Africa. . .hopefully a few other lives are changed as well. . . there's no place like home, but there's absolutely no place like Africa.

Until next time. . .