The Heartbeat of Saposoa: Austin’s Reflection
One lesson I learned greatly from my time in Saposoa is that you can discover a whole lot more after spending three months in the community. One of the things I’ll never forget was the moment I saw just how important Jogo Bonito was in Saposoa, Peru.
It was a Wednesday afternoon and Juan and I were sitting down talking while we had about an hour before the kids would start showing up for Jogo. All of a sudden, his dogs began barking and I look over and see two people walking down this path right off the road that can lead to a river through the trees.
I just casually said, “ohh it’s just some people,” thinking they were like high school boys. But Juan kinda sat up straighter and said, “those are drugs.”
My heart sank and my eyes went wide. He began to open a whole new facet of the drug war going on right around me. “There are people right here who wait by the road and when they see kids they tell them that if they take something for them, they’ll give them money for it. And so the kids easily get sucked into that situation of delivering drugs.”
I didn’t realize the drug trafficking was happening that close to me! But to see it with my own eyes, to see kids as small as 6 or maybe even younger walking those paths, I realized two things.
This ministry is more important now that I have seen what is happening.
Juan and Keyla are fighting this battle in the fire.
After that moment, God began to put together all the pieces of what I had been experiencing here in Saposoa! All of the kids, whether they were really young or even close to finishing school, felt safe at Jogo. They know that Juan and Keyla is like a mom and a dad to them and are always present for their lives.
If their group starts at 6:30am, kids would begin showing up sometimes at 5 or 5:30 in the morning because they look forward to being there.
They have the opportunity to grow as well as be fed Spiritually. Juan includes a daily devotional and prayer for the kids and the chance to take care of themselves through sports and training.
Last but not least, the kids are able to be kids here. There is no worry of what the day will bring, no fear of tomorrow but just joy, laughter, jokes and competition there.
God has given Juan a heart that beats for the youth and because of that, the door is always open to anyone who wants to attend Jogo Bonito. It isn’t just sports. It isn’t just training. It isn’t just fútbol. It’s a safe place, where the love of God pours out from the moment you open the gate doors.
I’m grateful. Beyond grateful for my time there and being able to have spent three months seeing and experiencing the lives that Juan and Keyla pour into on a daily basis. I look forward to being back and picking up right where I left off at Jogo and seeing my forever family from Peru.
Austin Pritchett is a native of Galatia, Illinois, and a member of Galatia New Life Church. He served as an intern with GO InterNational, spending three months alongside ministry leaders Juan and Keyla at Jogo Bonito in Saposoa, Peru. Driven by a heart for global missions and youth mentorship, Austin is passionate about serving vulnerable communities, sharing the Gospel through sports, and supporting local frontline ministries.
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