First two week in Fransisco Morato

The first two weeks at the Fransisco Morato base have been amazing. We’ve met so many adorable kids who are so passionate about soccer, and seem to really look up to us despite our lack of athletic ability. Our first day here we visited a number of families in the community. There are so many hills here, and most of the roads are not paved. We ventured up and down the hills to meet the families who have been impacted by the work here at the base. We met a young man named Jonathan. He is now 18 years old, and had been a part of the soccer program for many years. It seems that this program has effectively kept him out of trouble, and had helped him to become a great influence for other boys in the community. His younger brothers are now participating in the soccer program.

Everyone in this community is so friendly! On our way home we were invited to come back for “sucos” (fruit juice) by a lady standing in her doorway. As we kept walking, we were also stopped and invited to two birthday parties! It was so nice to feel welcomed by the community.

Later in the week we visited a lady named Margaret and her grandson Juan. This family had a very sad story. Juan was 4 years old when his father was killed by the police. This father was a drug user, and the police mistook him for a dealer. Juans father was shot by the police, and his body was left on the grandmothers doorstep. Margaret started drinking heavily ever since she found her son dead outside her house. Margaret is now an alcoholic. She starts drinking as soon as she wakes up in the morning. She was such a kind and welcoming lady, it was sad to see such a lovely person in such a circumstance. We visited with Margaret and she served us some fruit juice. In the yard Juan was climbing a tree and playing in a huge pile of empty bottles. It’s so unfair that these people’s lives have been hurt by drugs and by the brutality of the police.

I am excited to help out with the soccer programs and to get to know the kids better! I can really see the need for programs like the soccer program. Soccer gives these kids confidence in themselves, provides a positive group of friends, a passion, and helps to keep the kids out of trouble.