Soccer Chaplains United’s first community project request fulfillment of 2019 came last week as one of the directors of Y Quien Habla Por Mí was in Colorado visiting me and my family. Nasser Moreno and I became friends a few years ago when my family was in Juarez, Mexico on a family mission service project. Nasser, a former football (soccer) player, happened to be visiting his family in Juarez at the time and we hit it off.
Last year, Nasser and his uncle and aunt came to the U.S. for a visit. We ended up hosting him for a number of days. Between my broken Spanish and his broken English we have managed to form a friendship that is perhaps the unlikeliest, or in the least not one that I would have expected. And not only has Nasser become my friend, but one dearly loved by my family. As we caught up via text message around Christmas, we had the idea of having Nasser come out to Colorado again and spend time with our family.
It was on this latest trip, that Nasser began to share more of his work with Y Quien Habla Por Mí. This foundation is quite rare in Mexico. According to the website, it is one of the first of its kind to be dedicated to be dedicated to eradicating various violations against children. Whether it is crimes such as human trafficking, kidnapping, disappearances, child pornography, or other means of exploitation. The foundation has several programs and is involved in an amber alerting system similar to here in the U.S.
One of the programs includes using soccer (fútbol). Nasser helps to direct the soccer programs and for the associated orphanage in the Iztapalapa neighborhood in Mexico City. There are approximately 70+ children that are in the orphanage in a given time and usually hundreds others that are participating in the sports programs.
At one point during Nasser’s visit, he turned to me, “you can help the childrens, if you want?” I could see in his eyes that he was hopeful for these children that have no hope. He explained that there is little support in Mexico for these kinds of things — many children endure abuse and other exploitations and are left abandoned and alone, especially in Mexico City.
You can help the childrens, if you want?
– Nasser Moreno, March 2019
We spent a couple hours going through bins in the garage — pulling out uniforms and soccer gear donated by the Rapids and other soccer organizations. We loaded up two bags full of soccer gear. With various jerseys and shorts we sent Nasser back with about 100 lbs. of gear to give back to the children and those working with Y Quien Habla Por Mí.
Remember, when you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help projects and requests like this one for Y Quien Habla Por Mí. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
