Returning To The Work In Pasbwadom

When I go to PA for a while, my memories and impressions of the work here always change a bit. Distance seems to cover some problems and embellish good things. Because of that, the first days I spend in Pasbwadòm often bring a few shocks. Most are negative, but there are some surprises that are beautiful to see.
                The AAF soccer team underwent a bit of a fracture in 2022. Our longtime soccer coach kind of lost the great relationship he had with the players on the team. He also moved on to more “adult” pursuits...directing a primary school not far from here. At the same time he left, we were devising a way for the team to function in two parts : Junior and Senior. We had never had a senior team (over 18 years old), but the benefits of having one became apparent to me over time.
                Before I flew home in February, I had set up a plan for 4 young men from the senior team to lead the younger team in a weekly session of teaching on Tuesdays at 4:00pm. I should have been here to smooth out that transition, but I wasn’t able to do so. I didn’t expect much.
                I came back to pleasant signs of success. Reports were all good from the people I spoke with about the weeks I missed. On Tuesday, I sat in while the young men did their thing with the younger players. I watched as S.J.C did a devotion and taught from a book I wrote about how to be a man according to God. Then E.J.W. taught from a book we made based on the FIFA’s 17 laws of soccer. After that, B.W. spoke with the team about their upcoming practice on the field.
                I was delighted. The work Jude had done for the last several years had produced visible fruit. His investment in the AAF players has produced AAF leaders. It was a blessing to be shocked by the lessons I followed, by the desire I saw in the young men to lead others, and by their ability to do it well. God is good! 





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