By Adam Ghassemi
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – In the Democratic Republic of the Congo thoughts of violence, civil war and massacres are somehow put on the back burner. Children have a new distraction from the years of tribal conflict.
"It's an amazing thing to see children smiling. It's an amazing thing to be a part of watching children staying connected with their communities," Stephen Reynard said by Skype.
Reynard and his colleagues, Scott Brelsford and Selina Coleman, spoke with Reynard's family via a spotty connection Friday. His mother, Ruth Reynard, born the daughter of missionaries grew-up in the Congo.
"I never dreamed at all that my son, one of my children, would go back," she said.
Their organization "Sports 4 Hope" works to teach children of three embattled tribes peace through soccer. They hope the skills will keep kids from being coaxed into rebel armies to fight against each other.
Villagers have so far been welcoming, but the terrain has not.
"There's lots of hills and dales and so they literally are cutting the soccer field out of a side of a hill," Ruth Reynard said.
Without any machinery the group is getting help building a field by breaking boulders by hand.
"It's amazing what these guys are doing. I just take my hat off to them and think I'm so proud of their efforts," said Stephen Reynard's father, Andrew.
Many children are already signed up to play. They hope all the work and time actually makes a difference.
"We could use a team of about 20 people out here. Yeah we've got plenty of work to do," Brelsford said jokingly.
"Sports 4 Hope" also plans to add a volleyball league for children with disabilities.
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