We met a man named Moses. He was quiet and humble but at the same time he was compelling and intimidating. When he spoke, he spoke with authority and his words were full of God's Word. We were all eager to get to know him because we knew he had a story. We could see it in His eyes.
He wasn't eager to share with us his life story but we were forewarned that Ugandans are not ones who like to offer much information about themselves. It's a trait I'd like to bring back with me to the United States
On the first full day in Uganda we separated from Moses and travelled with some of the other Sports Outreach staff. We went to several places within the slums of Kampala, Uganda. We stopped at a tiny house in the slums and walked in. The first room had children sitting on their knees while writing on their paper. We could see a teacher in the next room ask a group of kids sitting on the floor to spell CAT. The response was a loud, "C-A-T." Behind her was another group of kids sitting in circle with an older child who was holding up legos of different colors. The whole circle would say the color at the same time.
We continued to walk into another room where small desks lined the outside wall. Two children sat at each table and they were quietly writing as a teacher walked behind each of them to assist them in spelling. This is the "catch-up" room for kids who haven't yet been to school. That's when we were told the story about this school.
You see, this place, this "school", used to be Moses' home in the slums. He was working as a soccer coach when one day he saw a young boy who came to the practices. This young boy would never go home after practice. Moses asked the young boy why he didn't go home and the young boy told him he had no home. Both of his parents had died. Moses took the boy home to his house in the slums and made a bed for the him to sleep.
Later, Moses was reading his Bible and he read James 2:14-26. He became challenged by the words "faith without works is dead." The Lord stirred in his heart to begin to take into his home more children who were abandoned on the streets of the slums. Moses ended up taking in other kids and into his one room home. He shared what he was doing with Sports Outreach which helped him buy another room for more children.
He discipled every child he brought into his home. Many of them accepted Christ as their savior and have gone on to get an education. Today, this building is used as a school during the day and a home for several people at night. They are training up a generation of young people to love Jesus and value an education.
What amazes me about this man and all of the staff and coaches at Sports Outreach is their commitment to the Gospel. EVERYTHING they do revolves around the Great Commission. They have no intention of making a name for themselves. They move when they see an opportunity to share the Gospel. Their selfless obedience to the Word of God is genuine and inspiring.
Moses is one of many men and women we have met in Uganda who have sacrificed their own comfort for the sake of the Gospel. Nothing matters more to them than seeing Jesus name lifted high. My life will forever be changed because of Moses.
Matthew 28:17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
