Chris Compston rests at the soccer stadium in Moyo town.
Chris Compston sitting in front of what used to be a nice lockerroom at the Moyo soccer stadium.
Amy Compston at the soccer facility in Moyo that has repairs needed.
GREENUP — Amy For Africa has partnered with House of Praise church in Greenup and Choices and Changes for May’s mission trip to Moyo, Uganda.
Kevin Harrison, the pastor of House of Praise, and his wife, Susan, who operates Choices and Changes, wanted to find a meaningful way to support AFA. They love the testimony of AFA namesake Amy Compston and her husband, Chris, who have both turned their passion into a mission to help those in the Moyo district.
The Harrisons are friends with AFA team member Rob Barber, who serves as the Outreach Minister for City Hill Ministry in Ashland. They have worked with Barber for years in the prison ministry.
When Barber mentioned the heartbreak of watching children in Moyo play soccer with homemade “rag” soccer balls, the Harrisons sprung into action.
“We’re in,” Kevin told his friend. “Don’t even waste your time looking anywhere else. We’ve got this.”
The goal is to provide a large duffel bag full of deflated soccer balls and handheld air pumps that can be squeezed in less than 50 pounds to accommodate check baggage restrictions.
Barber, who made his first trip with AFA to Moyo last spring, is returning in May. He promised the Harrisons that he would “deliver them some incredible video footage of some very happy children blessed by these gifts.”
Choices and Changes is a Christ-centered organization whose purpose is to make the community a better place for all citizens but with a special focus on mentoring teens in potentially at-risk circumstances.
Amy Compston was humbled by the Harrisons’ generous gesture.
“This just makes my heart smile,” she said. “These children are going to love playing with a real soccer ball. I can’t wait to see the joy on their faces when those soccer balls are inflated.
“These children have nothing, but generous gifts like this, which might not seem much to a child here in Ashland, may have a lifelong impact on the Moyo children. It will help us establish a relationship with them where we can share Jesus Christ.”
Amy For Africa, a local non-profit, will be taking 23 missionaries to Moyo from May 17-June 1. Go to amyforafrica.com to learn more about the mission.