Playing Tennis with the President’s Son
This month’s ministry was originally supposed to be within a village in the north region of Uganda, where spears are used to kill (some but not all) visitors, potholes are synonymous with bathtubs, home is a mud-and-manure hut, and clothes are optional (for the locals).
But as is common with The World Race, a change was made. I am not sure why—something to do with safety? You never can be too sure.
To say the least, I was disappointed. I was disappointed that my dream of living like a local 100% of the time was dashed to the ground, but I understand the raison d'être behind it.
So, we found ourselves on the campus of the most prestigious high school in Uganda, about 12 kilometers outside the city center of Kampala. The red and orange brick buildings and lush courtyards remind me of my alma mada, Belmont University. We have been blessed with a large house and yard to live in for the next 3 weeks. I opted to set up my tent under an old tree, relatively near 2 goats, and overlooking (if you pull shrubberies aside) a beautiful view of Kampala’s homes and businesses spread out amongst the hills and trees.
This school, King’s College, is named after its history of teaching kings, presidents, tribal kings, and other political officials as well as their children. At the end of our first week here, the students will go home for vacation, but in the meantime, all 1,200 of them can be found studying for finals, writing papers, playing cricket, rugby, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and tennis.
On our first day of ministry, I was psyched to counsel students throughout the morning and into early afternoon. I talked with a few girls about my love of tennis and they invited me to play with them. To say I was overjoyed would be an understatement. I have missed this sport immensely this year, even though I have truly enjoyed playing soccer with children and youth throughout Kenya in the last few months. There is just something about tennis that caught my eye at 14 that has yet to recede. I think it is the combination of coordination, strength, endurance, intelligence, and strategy that it necessitates. Regardless of my exact reasoning behind my incessant interest in playing this sport (in spite of of my lack of skill level at this point in time), I was asked to play with some students. At first, I thought it was out of pity—an obvious guest on campus gazing longingly through the fence at a doubles game half-way through. But as I accepted the racquet (an old Wilson© with plastic tape for a grip), my partner Ashley told me we were about to be challenged.
If you know me, you know that I like a challenge, so I was ready even though I was embarrassed at my personal appearance: flip flops and a long (nearly touching my heels) skirt. Ashley had a pair of K-Swiss© tennis shoes and wore knee-length shorts, but as far as I am concerned, these minimal discomforts would just add to the challenge at hand:
Playing tennis with the President’s son.
Truth be told—he wasn’t that good at tennis, his backhand was not strong but he did have a few good forehands that kept us hustling. The four of us (including his doubles partner, Isaac) enjoyed ourselves and I enjoyed encouraging him throughout the match. It was refreshing to see how gracious such a person in his social and financial standing could be—he was patient and kind as well as occasionally encouraging to Ashley and I. I enjoyed myself and I look forward to playing with him and Ashley again on Tuesday.
I am thankful, even though it was not my first preference to be in civilization this month, to be here and make friends with the students, wherever they come from and whoever their fathers happen to be. We all need people in life, no?
