Another peek into the future: The Story of Santino
God honors obedient small steps of faith with little displays and increments of the anticipated future that propels us to tenaciously pursue the vision He’s graced us with.
Back in 2008, it was Mubarak. He was a secondary school student. His story is told here. Getting across the borders with the gospel in the Nuba Mountains, for his Muslim people was not negotiable. Even if it meant death.
Then there was Mahadi Kuku, whom I met when he was a student here in Yei. His story is told here. He’s also chasing his dream- planting churches and reaching the lost among his vastly unreached Muslim peoples in the Nuba Mountains.
Now, here’s Santino Kenyi. Currently a student of Nehemiah Secondary School in Yei. This young man is undoubtedly gifted with the grace for long distance running. In his first attempt in 2012, he came 3rd. He has come first twice in a row now.
Sharing his testimony last Sunday at the 2014 Mini-Marathon Winners’ Party, he said, “In 2012 when I ran this race for the first time, I didn’t believe the organizers were serious about paying school fees for the winners… but my friend in school Angelo convinced me to run. That year he came first and I came third… When they paid our school fees, I was so happy and surprised. I began to take this race serious…”
Sometime this year, Santino heard of a national sports event in Juba and traveled on his own to participate. Though he was poorly kitted and not prepared, he shocked himself and the crowd, winning the second position.
He said a sports official in Juba asked him, “How is it that you, coming from down there (referring to Yei, which compared to Juba is not as developed) took the second place?” He told them of the Mini-Marathon organized in Yei for students and how he discovered his talent from there.
A man he’d never met, who was moved by his success gave him money on the spot to get an International Passport and thereafter, a flight ticket to travel out for another sports event.
Fighting back tears of joy he said, “When the man gave me the ticket, immediately I remembered what Daddy (Rev Yemi Ayodele) prophesied during the Winners’ Party in 2012, that some of us will be given tickets to travel to many countries because of this marathon. I couldn’t believe it was coming to pass for me… This marathon has changed my life.”
That’s what we see. Transformed lives, discovering their purpose under God, chasing it, making Him known and changing the destinies of others through it.
Representing South Sudan and even winning laurels are not the most important things for Santino. He’s beginning to appreciate the blessing of knowing Jesus in a personal way and relishing the joy of telling others about Him, using the ultimate race, the Race of Life, as his guide.
We’ve helped Santino ignite the wick in his life but the most important ingredient is the oil and that, he must have in abundance if this light will glow and last.
Our responsibility to him and other youths like him, is discipleship. We cannot afford to release them into the world of sports without anchoring their souls in the truth the gospel presents . This is where we need help.
My time with him and others like him here in Yei is seasonal and limited. Anyhow, I’m making the most it. God, in His mercy and wisdom, continues to gift us with little peeks of the anticipated future, of the ministry He has saddled us with.
This land is awash with raw talents like Santino. See other stories here, here and here, from past Marathon events.
If you are interested in discipling or coaching a few, for long-term or short-term, let’s connect . The future is as bright as the promises of God.
