It has been an amazing time here. This was my second time to Tonj after being briefly here last February for a fact finding mission. This has been nine fulfilling days for me, and I am sure for Frank too. It felt like coming back home the first day was so interesting for the young coaches were so keen to learn something new. The lord gave us an amazing way to share his word with this young coaches and captains. One thing for sure that was God guided decision was to train 14-22 year olds to become future coaches. Their eagerness to learn their enthusiasm to serve and the readiness to be mentored was mirrored in every eye contact to be made.

It is evident on how Sabet has established a deep rooted relationship with this young coaches and the timing can never be right. As it is said God’s timing is perfect timing. The DNA of services has been embedded in every staff right from the leadership technical clinic name them. The games were as intense and the competition was intense. Our first match was stopped during a very heavy storm with very strong lightning and thunder storms. Subsequent games went on smoothly with one significant difference we introduced praying before and after the match as while as team greeting each other after the match. This was one of the most difficult things for these young lads to do as I was made to understand taking defeat positively is not part of the culture.

We are glad that this was a them repeated all through the matches and by the time we got to the final match all would walk towards the center line for to pray together. We did show a movie of football stars called the chasing the prize where born again soccer players like Kaka and Lucio of Brazil were sharing their testimonies. That was very impactful to the coaches and captains who came to watch it. This was just before the finals and the next day I asked one of the loosing team coach Mario Ayum what it felt to loose and he told me in a affirmative that KAKA told us yesterday that loosing and winning are part of the game so this is not the end of it. We are happy that we got a chance to be in the final. How amazing God’s works in different ways to speak to his children

As I conclude two scene touched my heart, one was Coach Dennis who was so enthusiastic from day one but mid through the training he went down with a serious illness. However he religious made it to every session sometimes taking breaks in between to rest outside the training hall but he never wanted to miss anything. How many of us are that eager to serve the lord, how many times we have taken setbacks to be excuses not to do it for our master it was a big challenge to me as a person.

The second one was one I handed over the uniforms to the finalist one of the kids put on the kit and proudly kissed the new uniforms and it was breath taking. The motivation was three times they were eager to be on the final. The final beauty was seeing this kids place their hands on their chest as they sing their new national anthem just before their match what a scene indeed it was a joy for me to be part of this historic moment  that God has set apart for his children in South Sudan. I praise your name and thank God that I was able to be here with a wonderful servant of God Frank.

Walter Machio