"In the midst of our daily lives, we must find the magic that
makes our souls soar."
Dear FC America Soccer Family,
I am writing to you all to express my gratitude for providing
soccer equipment to bring to Uganda this past August. It has
been a few months now, and I wanted to process the experience
and share some pictures with you.
Here is an excerpt of a poem I was inspired to write from my
time in Uganda:
"the relationships that we form in the span of our time, Allow
us to live to our potential and truly shine. The rawness and
beauty of this place, Is only partially captured in the
photograph of their face.
To be welcomed here, I close my eyes and they are near. Once
again I lay underneath the mosquito net, Wondering if I have
grasped the truth yet.
I see them running outside the window of the car, And I
realize it is not really all that far. The distance to the
inside of the human heart, Is only as far as when you decide
to step up and accept your part.
I came to serve, but left enriched, For they helped me far
beyond the ideas my mind had pitched"
It is hard to capture in words the emotions that overwhelm you
in a place that so contrasts your daily life. I think the
challenge lies in taking the wealth inherent in the experience
and applying to life at home.
I have found that coaching is a way for me to invest into
others' lives and to hopefully impact them in profound ways. A
welcome consequence happens in serving others, they in turn
shape and mold your life in unpredictable and incredibly
enriching ways.
Coaching Kumba has certainly been a constant refining process
for me as a person over the past few years. It has utilized my
strengths, while highlighting my weaknesses. I am humbled by
the lessons my girls teach me, the intangible kind that can
only be conveyed through action- namely trust and connection.
My experience in Uganda with the precious orphans in many ways
parallels my experiences here. I think the greatest challenge
in achieving what I will label a spiritual high in a place
that contrasts your daily life, is in finding ways to
implement it back home. Therefore, I am challenged to provide
unconditional love and acceptance for my Kumba girls and all
others in my life, just as I was shown.
It is written that in the faces of the poor, you will see the
Divine. For others, it may be a different type of spiritual
transcendence, but you simply cannot spend time with these
children and these incredible people and not be positively
transformed.
I learned soccer truly is a universal language. Giving the
Ranch on Jesus orphanage boys' soccer team those Omni uniforms
was like watching 18 boys from Orlando, FL reaching across and
on over to Uganda giving big bear hugs to these boys. The
donated cleats, shinguards, soccer balls, and uniforms
conveyed a love that is difficult to capture in words.
For children who have at large been forced to mature much too
quickly, the simplicity of soccer is something they love and
that provides support and stability against the backdrop of an
unpredictable life. The past is often littered with
instability as many of them have experienced death of a parent
due to AIDS, abandonment, witnessed death and the terrors of
war, and had close encounters with those who take innocent
children into the child labor armies.
To watch the joy on their faces as they marched down the hill
triumphantly in their new uniforms to the "pitch", (which was
in actuality a field with weeds up to my hips in parts and
shared with random livestock grazing) was astounding.
I am including pictures so our FC America family can share in
the joy that encapsulated that day. Thanks to everyone for
donating the various items, and to those who are giving their
time to read this excerpt.
The boys wrote me a letter- "their belovely sponsor"- as I was
named, which I am also including a copy of. It is really
touching and quite amusing. The uniforms and cleats could not
have found a happier home than the ROJ boys in their little
village of Mutungo, outside of Kampala, Uganda.
I think it is the power of connection with others that really
gives us a sense of purpose and carries us through this life.
Thank you for providing the tangible means to connect with
these amazing children this past August.
I challenge us, the FC America family to continue to connect
with our own families at home and also with one another
through the medium of soccer here in our own corner of the
world.
I recopied the letter here: The envelope said: "Just to make
your happy, To our belovely sponser Anik!! It amazing"
The letter reads:
Dear Anik Greetings! You have been in our thoughts and
prayers. We hope you are doing well and enjoying many thing in
Uganda. In orphanage home we as Ranch on Jesus Team we decided
to give you this application that thank you so much for giving
us sports wear we are really very happy. May Lord Jesus Christ
reward you with every thing you need to get in your life. Our
belovely sponser Anik thank your for your steadfast love of
your wonderful works to the kids of the orphanage home.
As it says in psalms 107: 8-9. Let them thank the Lord for His
steadfast Love, for His wonderful works to the sons of men!
For He satisfies him who is thirsty, and the hungry He fills
with good things.
Thank you so much.
From,
Ranch on Jesus Orphanage team.
I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays! I hope it is filled
with lots of time with the family and maybe a little bit of
soccer! Thanks very much for your time! If you are interested
in seeing more pictures from Uganda, and finding out more
about my sister's organization, the website for Ugandan
American Partnership Organization is: www.theuapo.org
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