Sports Outreach Institute

International Headquarters: P.O. Box 11855, Lynchburg, Virginia 24503

Phone: 434.528.2516 www.SportsOutreach.net Info@SportsOutreach.net

OUR OPPOR TUNIT Y:

O ur methodology is based on an incarnational and relational model that affords us the oppor tunit y to
ser ve others by equipping, encouraging and walk ing alongside those with whom we work . O ur goal is
not to gain recognition and credit for ourselves but rather, to be a ser vant in the true sense of the word,
modeling Christ at ever y turn. While we are a resource, ownership must always belong to the nationals
and final decisions rest with the leaders we ser ve.

June 2009
GOOD NEWS
Sam Casey, our new Director of Short-Term Minstry Teams,
along with his wife Heidi, recently lead a group of volunteers
from Charlotte, NC to Northern Uganda. After the Charlotte
team completed their work and returned home, Sam and
Heidi went on to visit other SOI ministry sites. We’d like to
share with you some excerpts from Sam’s online trip journal/
blog. Please read on for a sweeping view of the work being
done in Africa. You will be blessed.

Team members: Sam Casey, Heidi Casey, David Evans, Arnold Reaser, Barry Irvin, John Stoeter

Arrival in Kampala “You are welcome!”

March 21, 2009: We arrived safely into Entebbe airport after 27 hours
of travel. Sports Outreach Uganda staff, Baby Mitch and Barnabas,
picked us up in the vans and took us to the city of Kampala and the
Namirembe Guest house.

Exhausted from our journey we went to sleep to the sweet sounds

of thumping disco music next door… gotta love that. Mosquito net
down. Lights out. Thank you Jesus for safe travels.

Sabbath at Koro

March 22, 2009: Sunday morning worship at Koro Community

Church is a small brick open air shelter that is filled with the Holy
 Sam Casey, our 3 short years thanks to the hard work of staff and volunteers.
new Director Today important dignitaries and officials came to witness a
of Short-Term farming demonstration by an Indian company in partnership
Minstry Teams, with a Brazilian organization that is selling the tractors. The
along with minister of agriculture for Uganda was an honored guest. All
his wife Heidi, at our little Koro farm! Each dignitary praised the work of SOM
recently lead staff for how they are helping to rehabilitate and empower the
a group of community. Praise the Lord! The tractor took 4 hours to do what
volunteers from Charlotte, NC to Northern Uganda. After would normally take an entire month!
the Charlotte team completed their work and returned
home, Sam and Heidi went on to visit other SOI ministry We experienced a massive hail storm with more lightning than I

sites. We’d like to share with you some excerpts from Sam’s have ever seen in my life tonight. I love this place!

online trip journal/blog. Please read on for a sweeping Construction at Koro Day 2
view of the work being done in Africa. You will be blessed.
March 24, 2009: The team had devotions with the staff on
Team members: Sam Casey, Joshua 3. We all went outside and picked up a small stone and
Heidi Casey, David Evans, Arnold then shared one thing that the Lord had done in our lives. One
Reaser, Barry Irvin, John Stoeter of the Gulu volunteers shared that her baby who had once had

Arrival in Kampala HIV now has been healed. Another staff member shared how

“You are welcome!” she didn’t know Jesus and then through volunteering with
Sports Outreach she found Jesus and found Hope! I was moved
March 21, 2009: We
to tears. What an amazing thing the Lord is doing in this place.
arrived safely into
As each person shared they stacked their rock on the church
Entebbe airport after 27 hours of travel. Sports Outreach
wall to be reminded of what the Lord has done! So cool and it is
Uganda staff, Baby Mitch and Barnabas, picked us up in the
something none of us will forget.
vans and took us to the city of Kampala and the Namirembe
Guest house. Time to get to work. Today’s mission for most of us: backfilling
the foundation of the administrative block. Translation…
Exhausted from our journey we went to sleep to the sweet
Shoveling dirt all day! At the daycare Heidi, Jacey, and Jacey’s
sounds of thumping disco music next door… gotta love that.
parents brought gifts to the over 60 children there. A few
Mosquito net down. Lights out. Thank you Jesus for safe travels.
months ago, 47 of them had malaria--but praise the Lord
Sabbath at Koro through Sports Outreach and generous
giving these children were able to receive
March 22, 2009: Sunday morning worship at Koro Community
proper treatment. They are learning
Church is a small brick open air shelter that is filled with the Holy
songs, dances, basic education, and
Spirit. Aloysius is pastor of the church and it is a true picture
about faith in Jesus through the Koro
of the early church. This community lives together, worships
teachers lead by Olivia, Irene, and Milly!
together and serves together. When was the last time you were
soaked in sweat from worshipping God in church? Amazing! Lugutu

Construction at Koro Day 1
March 23, 2009: Farming,
pigs, cows, daycare, wells,
brickmakers, and construction
projects are taking over the
landscape of Koro. It’s hard to
believe all the progress in only
The story behind Lugutu is a pretty incredible. Last August a well
had been donated in honor of Laurie McCauley of Lynchburg,
VA who passed away in May 2007. This well has been a starting
point in the transformation of this tiny village. The Lord’s favor
is shining on this village.
We split into two teams. Barry and John built a piggery and
Heidi, Arnold, David and I played a soccer match with the
Sam Casey, our new Director of Short-Term Minstry years thanks to the hard work of staff and volunteers.
Teams, along with his wife Heidi, recently lead a group of Today important dignitaries and officials came to witness a
volunteers from Charlotte, farming demonstration by an Indian company in partnership
NC to Northern Uganda. with a Brazilian organization that is selling the tractors. The
After the Charlotte team minister of agriculture for Uganda was an honored guest. All
completed their work and at our little Koro farm! Each dignitary praised the work of SOM
returned home, Sam and staff for how they are helping to rehabilitate and empower the
Heidi went on to visit other community. Praise the Lord! The tractor took 4 hours to do what
SOI ministry sites. We’d like would normally take an entire month!
to share with you some
excerpts from Sam’s online We experienced a massive hail storm with more lightning than I

trip journal/blog. Please have ever seen in my life tonight. I love this place!

read on for a sweeping Construction at Koro Day 2

view of the work being
March 24, 2009: The team had devotions with the staff on
done in Africa. You will be
Joshua 3. We all went outside and picked up a small stone and
blessed.
then shared one thing that the Lord had done in our lives. One
Team members: Sam Casey, Heidi Casey, David Evans, Arnold Reaser, Barry Irvin, John of the Gulu volunteers shared that her baby who had once had
Stoeter HIV now has been healed. Another staff member shared how

Arrival in Kampala “You are welcome!”
March 21, 2009: We arrived safely into Entebbe airport after 27
hours of travel. Sports Outreach Uganda staff, Baby Mitch and
Barnabas, picked us up in the vans and took us to the city of
Kampala and the Namirembe Guest house.
Exhausted from our journey we went to sleep to the sweet
sounds of thumping disco music next door… gotta love that.
Mosquito net down. Lights out. Thank you Jesus for safe travels.
Sabbath at Koro
March 22, 2009: Sunday morning worship at Koro Community
Church is a small brick open air shelter that is filled with the Holy
Spirit. Aloysius is pastor of the church and it is a true picture
of the early church. This community lives together, worships
together and serves together. When was the last time you were
soaked in sweat from worshipping God in church? Amazing!
Construction at Koro Day 1
March 23, 2009: Farming,
pigs, cows, daycare,
wells, brickmakers, and
construction projects
are taking over
landscape of Koro. It’s
hard to believe all the
progress in only 3 short
she didn’t know Jesus and then through volunteering with
Sports Outreach she found Jesus and found Hope! I was moved
to tears. What an amazing thing the Lord is doing in this place.
As each person shared
they stacked their rock
on the church wall to
be reminded of what
the Lord has done! So
cool and it is something
none of us will forget.
Time to get to work. Today’s mission for most of us: backfilling
the foundation of the administrative block. Translation…
Shoveling dirt all day! At the daycare Heidi, Jacey, and Jacey’s
parents brought gifts to the over 60 children there. A few
months ago, 47 of them had malaria--but praise the Lord
through Sports Outreach and generous giving these children
were able to receive proper treatment. They are learning songs,
dances, basic education, and about faith in Jesus through the
Koro teachers lead by Olivia, Irene, and Milly!
Lugutu
The story behind Lugutu is a pretty incredible. Last August a well
had been donated in honor of Laurie McCauley of Lynchburg,
the
VA who passed away in May 2007. This well has been a starting
point in the transformation of this tiny village. The Lord’s favor
is shining on this village.
 From the Executive Director “Called to Bless”
“Called to Bless”

I often think about the lament of Jesus found in Luke 10:2; “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”
We can probably all remember the passages where Jesus called two men to follow
Him into the harvest field; but both had more pressing business.
Eventually Jesus found 70 who were committed to Him unconditionally. These 70
were ones to whom He could entrust the work of reaching out to a lost and hurting
world.
The first thing Jesus told them to do was pray that the Father would send more
workers. Seventy were not enough to get the job done, but they were enough to
begin! Then He told them to go, bless those you meet, eat and drink with them and
take care of their needs, both physical and spiritual.
Today, 70 have become millions – and we still have the same job description.
Eastern Africa and Mexico are the SOI sections of the field, especially, Uganda, Kenya and Ometepec, Mexico. And like the 70
that went before us, our foundation is prayer – for more laborers and for one another, for our African and Mexican brothers
and sisters and for the lost.
Some of us are also called to go. Over the last five months God has called over 60 individuals to Africa and soon a team of
almost 30 will go to Mexico under the banner of Sports Outreach.
Together, they bless those who are suffering by meeting some of their most urgent needs – food, medical training and
medicines, shelter, schools, clean drinking water, teaching and discipleship materials as well as sharing the Gospel.
The people we are called to serve are not a project! They are flesh and blood with families and needs just like ours. Those who
have responded to the call to go and serve have worked, eaten, lived, mourned, rejoiced and worshipped with those that have
been called to serve.
And in each life and in each day of service Jesus Christ is exalted!
“I will bless you and make your name great,” God told Abraham, “and you shall be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2)
God blesses us today, even in these difficult economic times, so that we can be a blessing to others. There is no greater call
and no greater joy.
Sincerely,

Rodney Suddith, executive director

I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise will always be on my lips.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psalm 34:1, 8