CAAF Sports Day

After weeks of planning and mobilizing, I helped fida International host a semi-annual sports day of encouragement.  5 different villages were representing, bringing along 270 former LRA child soldiers.  It was a long day, but truly incredible.

Early in the morning, Perti (from Finland) and Lawrence began to get things started.

I reveled in meeting old friends and new... it's always important to greet the local chairmen (mayors) and other guests who helped make the day possible.

Bands came to perform, and tell stories of life in the bush, through music.

Others danced!

Here is Francis getting the props ready for the re-enactment of life during captivity.

These are the Ugandan Police, getting ready to fight the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army)

Here are some LRA boys, about to enter a village and capture innocent children.

Sam, in the white shirt, was the ring leader.  In some ways it was scary how easily he handled the gun.  You could tell he was high up in the LRA and used to carrying/using a weapon.  The boys did a great job telling their story before the games began.

Cooking took all day for such a large crowd.

I chatted with children and prepared to give out Bibles to the youth from the villages of Abim and Lotuke.  My week was so busy, I didn't have time to write in the Bibles before I arrived.

The girls played Netball - which is a sport I still haven't figured out.... but they sure love it and become very competitive.

Fida supplied uniforms for the day.

The games were hot and intense

Sweet Shot!

The girls played more games because the time for their sport is much shorter.

Here are the boys - ready to begin...

Spending time in prayer.

 These are some serious footballers.

 Great save from the goalie!

The tournament was won by a final shootout.

 Lawrence's father found me in the crowd... I haven't seen this man since December 2009, but it was a delightful reunion.

 Jimmy - a fan, a footballer, and a friend.

 The boys each had to come and sign their name on the record sheet.

I verified that they were from Abim and Omoro... because who knew, people like to steal Bibles - they are in very high demand!

But over 60 youth, former LRA captives are now going to have the Word of God in their hands... may their lives be transformed.

At the end of the day, both Obalanga girls and boys stole the tournament.  Trophies and medals were handed out, a meal was shared... and the clean up process began.

We left the village at 8:30 pm, which meant driving back to Soroti in the dark on really rough roads.  I saw my first jackal in Uganda!!