Farther Along: Rwanda Report and Vision for December, 2012

Dear Supporter,

I am writing you because you have supported me in the work I have been doing in Rwanda over the last several years. I am incredibly grateful for everything that you and many others have done and all you have given to make some wonderful things happen. We are on the brink of something HUGE and I wanted to fill you in the details as I continue to ask for your support. First, here is what has been accomplished through your support over the last two years:

When I did the first training 2 years ago, there were around 250 kids in the Play for Hope programs and no trained coaches. Within six months of the first two trips/trainings that you facilitated through your giving, that number had jumped to ten trained coaches and about 850 kids in the program. That’s 850 (that number is up to 1,000 now) poor children, many of them homeless, that have been given mentorship, a place to belong, a team to be a part of, and an opportunity to thrive that they did not have before because our coaches were prepared to lead.

- We have opened Heroes Soccer Academy. We now have a full team of boys, who were mostly living in a landfill (yes, a garbage dump) before, in full-time school and academy soccer training. They are living in a home with trained Play for Hope Coaches that has been funded by Play for Hope Supporters all over the world. http://playforhope.org/academy.html

- We now have 7 paid full time coaches and one paid assistant. They are some of the most respected and highly trained coaches in Rwanda. Many of them come from desperately poor situations (many from the streets themselves) and are now able to do what they love and are gifted at as well as provide for their families. Your support of my endeavors was the giving that spawned this.

- We are taking the lead in empowerment for female athletes. Our girls, as well as boys, are now being called upon to tryout for the youth national teams and there is a new respect being achieved for female athletes…and the girls are loving it.

These are some of the highlights, among many. Now, for what is to come and the reason I am calling on you for supports once again:

My life is madness nowadays with graduate school, work, a brand new baby girl, and coaching as much as possible. In spite of the lack of time, I have been able to explore a new connection for Play for Hope and December’s trip is about this.

Steve Zakuani of the Seattle Sounders is one of the young stars of the MLS – he is also a man who has a heart for the poor and disenfranchised children and wants to do something about giving them opportunities to achieve greatness. His non-profit organization Kingdom Hope (http://kingdom-hope.org) is seeking to build academies around the world that would give an opportunity to those without an opportunity – to become what they were created to be and achieve greatness in life and sport. As he and I have cultivated a relationship, we have begun asking what we could accomplish together and so he has agreed to accompany me to Rwanda this December, in spite of his insane schedule, and examine closely the possibility of building an academy that would facilitate our goals and dreams in Play for Hope as well as those of Kingdom Hope. We are prepared to receive him and what we hope will come from this is the greatest soccer academy in East Africa and a way to provide opportunities for the poor children of Rwanda at a completely new level. Here’s what would happen if we succeed:

- Opportunity to play through fields and transport: the key to everything in soccer. Our players train on what can only be described as cement dirt with patches of grass and goats around them that becomes clay-mud when it rains. It is very very difficult to train well when the ball can’t roll. Even our Heroes Academy boys train on a field that is unthinkably bad. The few turf fields that exist in the country are very expensive to train on. We would also be able to purchase vehicles to facilitate games for our kids.

- Food – those living at the academy, like those at Heroes Academy would be given healthcare and regular nutrition.

- Education – we would build a school to educate and empower our kids. Many of them don’t have any education at all….it is our dream to prepare them for life….education is the key.

- Truth – mentorship, direction, and the truth of God’s love would be the foundation of the curriculum in our school.

Anyway, you can see why I am excited about this. So, here’s what I am asking and hoping for. Travel is still very expensive to Rwanda – I have to raise $3,000 for my airfare and room and board to be able to make this work. I am hoping and praying for your support and am so grateful for everything you have provided for over the years. I wish each and every one of you could see with your own eyes what has been accomplished through your help. Donation info is as such (I travel in mid-December):

1. You can donate online: 2 minutes and it’s done: http://playforhope.org/contribute/tripdonations/sethtaylor.html

2. You can mail donations (made out to Play for Hope with nothing in the memo line) to me at 2315 NE 27^th St. Renton, WA 98056.

3. You can call me and we can get together for coffee and talk about everything and discuss it then. (-: I would love to do that.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your love and help. What we’re doing over there is so big…..and you are the key. God Bless…..

In His Spirit,