ZAMBIAN ORPHANS GATHER FOR A GROUP PHOTO - Adam RiddellZambian orphans posed for Trinity International University (TIU) alum Adam Riddell’s “my kiddies” facebook album with cleats, tennis shoes, jerseys, shorts and soccer balls donated by the men and women of TIU soccer Wednesday.
Former TIU men’s soccer captain Riddell now partners with Jesus Cares Ministries (JCM) and lives and works with orphans and vulnerable children in Lusaka.
“There are 52 of them and they all love to play soccer,” said Riddell. Upon a short visit to Chicago in January for his best friend’s wedding, Riddell came up with the idea to bring donated goods from TIU back to his kids at the orphanage.
TIU women’s soccer player Wendy Moore answered Riddell’s call and volunteered as point-person for the soccer clothes drive. Moore posted a sign at the Meyer Sports Complex and at her Trinity Hall suite, both complemented with empty cardboard boxes that turned over 150 items over the span of winter break.
“It was something I wanted to do, because I had met those kids and had been there,” said Moore. Her and Riddell were both part of TIU’s first team to be sent to Zambia in the spring of 2006. “You could tell already last year that Adam was going to be back.”
The donated gear exceeded the luggage regulation and Riddell was unable to bring it all with him on the plane. The excess goods will be taken by Interim Associate Dean of Students Greg Leeper and his wife Hillary Leeper on their return to Zambia – a short-term mission trip scheduled for spring break. The Leepers plan to unite with Riddell and do ministry with JCM – “Combating child labor through education.”
“In short, we remove kids from the work force and put them back into schools,” said Riddell. In addition to helping the children, Riddell and JCM teach the parents specific skills, such as baking, catering, and tailoring, in order to help them to provide for their child so that he or she can go to school instead of work.
Riddell and JCM also head efforts to remove some of the 800 kids who live on the streets in Lusaka alone. In one weekend Riddell and his team removed 13 kids and invited them to the orphanage.
“It’s heartbreaking to see a 10 or 11-year- old sleep on concrete,” said Riddell. After adding kids to the orphanage Riddell begins the process of building their trust and finding out their real story.
Riddell put ear-to-ear smiles on the kids’ faces when he arrived back at the orphanage with boxes of the Trojan soccer gear, and pictures were posted online for all TIU men and women soccer players to see. Kings put on the New Castle jersey, Esau juggled the TIU Brine practice ball, and Jack wore the Predator soccer cleats with style.
“Many thanks to the wonderful people in the men and women’s soccer program at TIU for their generous donations,” said Riddell. “If I was an emotional man, I would have cried many times over at the sight of my guys wearing shoes and playing ball. Thank you so so much.”
ADAM RIDDELL GIVES A HEARTY THANKS ON BEHALF OF HIS KIDS - Adam Riddell
