Peter Mutabazi: Broken Roads, Brave Love | Praise

August 25, 2025 | 57:50

Sheila Walsh hosts Peter Mutabazi for an inspiring conversation about his journey and message of hope. Peter opens up about how faith has shaped his life and the profound lessons he has gained.

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Praise | Peter Mutabazi: Broken Roads, Brave Love | Praise | August 25, 2025
  • Coming up tonight on praise...
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  • Have you ever asked yourself, asked the lord, how can my one
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  • Life make a difference?
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  • Well, i'm so glad you're here tonight, because you're going
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  • To hear how god used a ten-year- old runaway to change so many
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  • People in the world, and you and i can be part of it.
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  • Stay tuned.
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  • ♪♪
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  • Tonight on praise from dallas,
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  • Founder of now i am known
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  • Adoptive and foster father peter mutabazi.
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  • And now your host, sheila walsh.
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  • Yeah, this really is a program that i have been wanting to do
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  • For so long.
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  • I heard about this gentleman oh, gosh, a couple of 2 or 3
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  • Years ago, and wanted so much to bring the story to you
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  • Because sometimes you think, well, maybe you think, well, i
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  • Served the lord when i was younger, and i've done all
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  • Sorts of things, and now i'm just kind of i'm kind of done.
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  • Nope. none of us are kind of done.
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  • This story is going to absolutely blow you away.
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  • So if there's anybody in your house who's not sitting in
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  • Front of the tv right now, go grab them. grab them and tell
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  • Them to watch this, because peter's story is phenomenal.
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  • Peter, i just want to welcome you.
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  • It's so great to have you on praise.
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  • Well, thank you, sheila, for having me.
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  • I've been looking forward to being with you as well.
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  • So your books are phenomenal.
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  • There's so much to talk about, but i want to go back to when
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  • You're a young boy growing up in uganda, what was your
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  • Childhood like?
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  • Well, my childhood was the it's hard to explain to an american.
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  • Like it was so, so bad and so rough.
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  • I think about, like, i didn't have a meal-- you know, i never
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  • Had two meals a day. you know, how does a mother who can't
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  • Feed you for a night tell you to dream?
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  • You know, you go fetch water 3 to 4 miles away.
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  • You go help the family at the age of three to provide
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  • For your family.
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  • There's really no glimpse of hope in somewhere.
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  • And it wasn't just me, but my entire village as well.
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  • You know that.
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  • There wasn't a glimpse of hope as a kid.
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  • Then, at the age of four, i began to realize that my father
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  • Was different.
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  • You know, my father was the most abusive human being you
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  • Could think of, but not just to me, to my mother as well.
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  • And i think as a little boy, knowing that i could not
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  • Protect my mother, but at the same time that she got the same
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  • Abuse that i got was really, really difficult, you know, and
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  • Most of time was because she went to my dad and said, hey,
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  • The kids haven't eaten, would you provide them for a meal?
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  • And she got beatings for that.
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  • And i think as a little boy, i always felt guilty that my
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  • Needs are putting my mom in danger.
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  • So sometimes if we're hungry, we just didn't say it because
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  • We're afraid or no, you know me saying i'm hungry, that's
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  • Putting my mom in danger.
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  • At the age of ten, you know, i decided to run away because i
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  • Thought my father would take my life, you know?
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  • And for me, running away wasn't
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  • Like i was looking for a better life.
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  • It was more of, hey, if i'm going to die, i'd rather die in
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  • The hands of a stranger than my own father.
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  • Even that story, though, peter,
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  • I was rereading your book again,
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  • Your first book is called now i am known.
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  • Phenomenal book.
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  • But your dad sent you out kind of in the middle of the night
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  • To buy cigarettes for him.
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  • And instead you take that money and you get on a bus and you're
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  • Ten years old.
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  • You're just a wee boy, right?
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  • Where did you think you were going?
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  • Well, i didn't know.
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  • So for me, i went to the bus station and asked the lady,
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  • Hey, of all these busses, which one goes the farthest?
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  • I think when you're ten and never traveled, you know, the
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  • World kind of seem a little too short in some way.
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  • And as soon as she said that one, i got on that bus and i
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  • Ran away, you know.
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  • I didn't know where i was going, but 16 hours later and i
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  • Ended up in kampala and i had one option, to be a street kid.
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  • So from the age of ten, i became a street kid, and that
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  • Became my life.
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  • Tell us what that's like.
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  • Like, what's it like when you just as a--
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  • Because i'm thinking of my own son at ten and, you know, i
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  • Can't imagine him being on the street.
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  • What were those years like for you?
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  • Well, again, it's really difficult to explain to an
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  • American because you don't have anything equivalent.
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  • Even your stray dogs,
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  • I feel like they are taken care of better than humans in some
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  • Parts of the world. and that was me.
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  • I slept in the sewer. why the sewer?
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  • Because it smelled so bad that no other human being can be.
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  • So for us that was a safe place.
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  • But also people didn't give us
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  • Food so they would throw it away.
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  • So we had to compete with a dogs,
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  • So you knew if they're going to throw a food there, i'm going
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  • To run there before the dogs get there.
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  • And that was really my life where you you didn't know you
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  • Make it the next hour.
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  • You didn't know you makes the next day i didn't sleep maybe
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  • One one hour a day, you know.
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  • And that was my life where you treated me like a stray animal,
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  • Abused in every shape, form you could imagine.
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  • What's amazing to me is, and this is the part of the story
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  • You're just not going to believe is the way,
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  • I mean, god had his hand on your life way back then.
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  • What was your-- as you were a young boy on the street,
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  • Did you even think there was a god?
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  • No, i didn't really think there was a god.
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  • He's the reason why. my father was so religious.
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  • So i think for me, seeing an abusive father who was so
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  • Religious that i didn't want anything to do with religion.
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  • In some way, it reminded me of my father, and i didn't want
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  • Anything to do with that, but also to asking, why?
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  • Why would i have to endure this?
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  • And it wasn't just me.
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  • There were more than 3000 kids on the streets of kampala.
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  • So in some way you're seeing the worst to the worst.
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  • And there was no way i could equate or understand that god
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  • Could let people go through this as a kid.
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  • So i didn't want anything to do with god, but also i had no
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  • Concept of what a good father looks like.
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  • Wow.
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  • There's somebody who intervenes in your life.
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  • Um, and i love that.
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  • Tell me about the person who saw you.
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  • And how hard was it for you to trust somebody when you haven't
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  • Found anyone that was trustworthy?
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  • Absolutely. so as street kids, we learned how to survive.
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  • Surviving was steal while you were helping.
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  • But also people used you.
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  • So you're like, you're going to use me?
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  • I'm also going to find a way to--
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  • What do you mean, steal while you're helping?
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  • Well, if someone buys food, you know,
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  • So, carry-- you be used as labor.
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  • Carry their bananas from one end to the other.
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  • But while you're doing so, take one banana, keep it, you know,
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  • To eat later. so that's why we survive.
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  • So, me, i saw this man. we knew you can afford food.
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  • If you're wearing shoes, you're wearing glasses and khakis,
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  • It was a sign you can afford food.
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  • So i'm glad you're not wearing any of that.
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  • You know, your your wallet will be gone.
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  • Not quite really, but--
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  • But for us as street kids, that's how we saw.
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  • So i followed him and as soon as he bought his food, i wanted
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  • To take it and he said, hey, put my foot down.
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  • I put it down, and he followed
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  • By asking me, hey, what is your name?
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  • Wow. and that rattled me.
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  • Why? because for five years, no one human being had ever asked
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  • Me what my name was.
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  • But also, it was scary because for everyone who was kind, was
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  • Abusive at the same time.
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  • So for us as a street kids,
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  • Kindness meant run for your life.
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  • Run for-- they're going to want something.
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  • Absolutely after, in a way
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  • So, you know, i didn't take it right away, but i took the food
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  • He gave me and i ran away because i was afraid that he
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  • Would abuse me after.
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  • But this man, he kept showing up, you knew he would be there,
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  • And he made a significant difference in your life.
  • 00:07:02.602 --> 00:07:05.705
  • Absolutely. so he would come every monday between 5 and 7.
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  • And he always gave me food.
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  • So i knew one day that a human being knew my name, one day
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  • That i didn't have to steal because he would give me food.
  • 00:07:14.447 --> 00:07:16.883
  • And so he fed me for a year and half and and one day he said,
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  • Hey, peter, if you had an opportunity to go to school,
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  • Would you love to go to school?
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  • I laughed because i thought he was mocking me.
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  • You know, think of it this way. you live in a sewer.
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  • You abused every night.
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  • Like when do you ever think about going to school?
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  • You know, it's the equivalent--
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  • I like to use this example.
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  • It's like me looking at you and say, hey, sheila, they're
  • 00:07:36.636 --> 00:07:39.639
  • Sending people to the moon. would you like to go?
  • 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:41.741
  • You know, how many nights do you go to bed saying, i want to
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  • Go to the moon?
  • 00:07:44.610 --> 00:07:45.545
  • Well, to a street kid going to school,
  • 00:07:45.545 --> 00:07:48.247
  • It felt that way, the moon out there.
  • 00:07:48.247 --> 00:07:51.384
  • We thought, you have to have mom and dad to go to school,
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  • That you have to have hope.
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  • I wasn't hopeful or i didn't even want to hope so i said no.
  • 00:07:55.021 --> 00:07:58.391
  • So next time he comes back, he said, if you go, they'll be
  • 00:07:58.391 --> 00:08:01.494
  • Lunch, dinner and breakfast.
  • 00:08:01.494 --> 00:08:02.762
  • I said, what time do we go? what time can we leave?
  • 00:08:02.762 --> 00:08:06.499
  • Because i could not imagine that there was a place
  • 00:08:06.499 --> 00:08:09.702
  • Somewhere where you can have three meals, because i never
  • 00:08:09.702 --> 00:08:12.505
  • Had two meals a day.
  • 00:08:12.505 --> 00:08:13.773
  • But what do you do as a street
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  • Kid who's been living by the sewer,
  • 00:08:15.141 --> 00:08:16.776
  • How do you then show up in a school?
  • 00:08:16.776 --> 00:08:19.145
  • Well, that was tricky, you know?
  • 00:08:19.145 --> 00:08:21.047
  • So he offered me to go to boarding school, so i went to
  • 00:08:21.047 --> 00:08:23.516
  • Boarding school.
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  • For me, i didn't go to school because i didn't really have
  • 00:08:24.784 --> 00:08:26.986
  • Hope to go to school or wanted to.
  • 00:08:26.986 --> 00:08:29.155
  • I went to school because he mentioned food.
  • 00:08:29.155 --> 00:08:31.891
  • So once we arrived at lunchtime, there was food.
  • 00:08:31.891 --> 00:08:34.060
  • So i waited for the next meal, for the next meal.
  • 00:08:34.060 --> 00:08:37.063
  • It's the next meal hoping i was getting
  • 00:08:37.063 --> 00:08:40.333
  • That helped me stay in school. you know, instead of sitting,
  • 00:08:40.333 --> 00:08:43.169
  • You know, sometimes i would gather things to stay in the
  • 00:08:43.169 --> 00:08:45.104
  • Dormitory when kids are in class.
  • 00:08:45.104 --> 00:08:47.106
  • But i was like, wait a minute, there will be lunch later,
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  • So i'll put it back.
  • 00:08:49.642 --> 00:08:50.876
  • You know, as kids, we learned how to protect ourselves.
  • 00:08:50.876 --> 00:08:53.746
  • If you looked in my eye, that means you want to fight.
  • 00:08:53.746 --> 00:08:56.415
  • So if a kid looks in my eyes, i
  • 00:08:56.415 --> 00:08:57.817
  • Would say i would like to hit you.
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  • But dinner is coming, so i'm going to hold back, you know?
  • 00:08:59.819 --> 00:09:02.755
  • And slowly by slowly, i began to follow the rules.
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  • Not best because there were good rules, because i didn't
  • 00:09:06.592 --> 00:09:09.595
  • Want that meal to go away.
  • 00:09:09.595 --> 00:09:11.197
  • And that's why.
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  • You obviously very sharp, because you did well in school,
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  • So much so that you were able then to go to college.
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  • Did that seem like another world to you?
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  • Absolutely. i think--
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  • So once i was at school, this man brought me to his home.
  • 00:09:23.776 --> 00:09:26.779
  • So while i was at his home for the very, very first time, i
  • 00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:30.516
  • Saw what a family looked like, you know.
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  • I saw him eat with his family.
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  • I saw him be kind.
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  • So in some way, he gave me an example of what i could be,
  • 00:09:35.321 --> 00:09:38.591
  • Because before i didn't have
  • 00:09:38.591 --> 00:09:39.592
  • Something to dream for or towards.
  • 00:09:39.592 --> 00:09:41.961
  • But now i had something.
  • 00:09:41.961 --> 00:09:43.162
  • I want to be like that man.
  • 00:09:43.162 --> 00:09:44.630
  • I want to have a family like him.
  • 00:09:44.630 --> 00:09:46.532
  • But i also want to know christ as him.
  • 00:09:46.532 --> 00:09:48.501
  • And that's what helped me excel once i got to school.
  • 00:09:48.501 --> 00:09:52.171
  • But also, they use words of
  • 00:09:52.171 --> 00:09:53.339
  • Affirmation that i never had before.
  • 00:09:53.339 --> 00:09:55.174
  • Peter, you matter. peter, you belong. pete, you're a gift.
  • 00:09:55.174 --> 00:09:58.177
  • And the more i had these these words of affirmation, the the
  • 00:09:58.177 --> 00:10:02.248
  • More i began to believe in myself.
  • 00:10:02.248 --> 00:10:04.450
  • And that's why i took one step at a time, one step at a time,
  • 00:10:04.450 --> 00:10:08.020
  • And really helped me excel at school.
  • 00:10:08.020 --> 00:10:10.389
  • Because now i had a thing that i wanted to be, a place that
  • 00:10:10.389 --> 00:10:14.126
  • I wanted to go, a family i wanted to be like.
  • 00:10:14.126 --> 00:10:17.129
  • And i began to dream something i'd never done before.
  • 00:10:17.129 --> 00:10:20.499
  • When did your relationship with jesus start?
  • 00:10:20.499 --> 00:10:24.303
  • How did that-- and how do you manage to make sense of all
  • 00:10:24.303 --> 00:10:28.674
  • The stuff that came before, and then suddenly you hear
  • 00:10:28.674 --> 00:10:31.544
  • About a god who's a god of love?
  • 00:10:31.544 --> 00:10:33.546
  • So this man didn't really didn't share the gospel with
  • 00:10:33.546 --> 00:10:35.948
  • Me, but his actions made me so angry, like, why are you
  • 00:10:35.948 --> 00:10:39.685
  • So kind to me?
  • 00:10:39.685 --> 00:10:40.853
  • You know, why do you give? why do you never complain?
  • 00:10:40.853 --> 00:10:43.589
  • Why do you never call me names?
  • 00:10:43.589 --> 00:10:45.224
  • And that was the start of curiosity.
  • 00:10:45.224 --> 00:10:46.792
  • Like why?
  • 00:10:46.792 --> 00:10:47.727
  • Why do you not be like everyone else?
  • 00:10:47.727 --> 00:10:49.495
  • You know, but also too once i got to know the gospel,
  • 00:10:49.495 --> 00:10:52.331
  • I just didn't feel it was for me.
  • 00:10:52.331 --> 00:10:54.100
  • You know, the bible says forgive even those who've
  • 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:56.602
  • Wronged against you.
  • 00:10:56.602 --> 00:10:57.903
  • I think for me, i held hatred towards my father that i felt,
  • 00:10:57.903 --> 00:11:01.540
  • Wait a minute.
  • 00:11:01.540 --> 00:11:02.842
  • Me being forgiven or forgiving someone, that means letting go
  • 00:11:02.842 --> 00:11:05.244
  • Of my anger.
  • 00:11:05.244 --> 00:11:06.345
  • So i was like, no, i'm not. i'm not doing this.
  • 00:11:06.345 --> 00:11:08.714
  • But while i was in rwanda, um, during the genocide, you know,
  • 00:11:08.714 --> 00:11:12.118
  • That day i saw more than 2000 dead bodies.
  • 00:11:12.118 --> 00:11:15.187
  • And in those moments i knew, man, i'm going to die.
  • 00:11:15.187 --> 00:11:18.557
  • But where am i going to go?
  • 00:11:18.557 --> 00:11:19.792
  • So i reached the driver and
  • 00:11:19.792 --> 00:11:20.760
  • Said, i think we're going to die.
  • 00:11:20.760 --> 00:11:22.161
  • But could you pray for me so i can go to heaven?
  • 00:11:22.161 --> 00:11:24.130
  • And he looked at me and said,
  • 00:11:24.130 --> 00:11:25.297
  • Hey, you work for a christian organization.
  • 00:11:25.297 --> 00:11:27.767
  • You don't believe?
  • 00:11:27.767 --> 00:11:28.634
  • I said, no, i look like one.
  • 00:11:28.634 --> 00:11:30.669
  • I act like one, but i don't know him as my lord and savior.
  • 00:11:30.669 --> 00:11:34.106
  • And that's how i became a believer.
  • 00:11:34.106 --> 00:11:36.075
  • And knowing that what i wanted, i think for me, i wanted to
  • 00:11:36.075 --> 00:11:38.577
  • Confront my dad.
  • 00:11:38.577 --> 00:11:39.578
  • I wanted to go back home and break his leg.
  • 00:11:39.578 --> 00:11:41.213
  • I don't know, you know.
  • 00:11:41.213 --> 00:11:42.515
  • But realizing that christ died for me on the cross, i didn't
  • 00:11:42.515 --> 00:11:45.217
  • Have to do that.
  • 00:11:45.217 --> 00:11:46.385
  • And that's really what helped me let it go,
  • 00:11:46.385 --> 00:11:48.754
  • The anger.
  • 00:11:48.754 --> 00:11:49.989
  • But also i didn't want the behaviors he had towards me and
  • 00:11:49.989 --> 00:11:53.392
  • My family kind of determine what my future was going to be,
  • 00:11:53.392 --> 00:11:56.829
  • You know?
  • 00:11:56.829 --> 00:11:58.063
  • So i said, you know, god, help me let go so i can have a
  • 00:11:58.063 --> 00:11:59.865
  • Future that is best for me and you destined for me.
  • 00:11:59.865 --> 00:12:02.735
  • And that's how i became a believer.
  • 00:12:02.735 --> 00:12:04.537
  • I remember watching the movie hotel rwanda and being just
  • 00:12:04.537 --> 00:12:08.808
  • Devastated by the the mass genocide.
  • 00:12:08.808 --> 00:12:12.545
  • And you at that point, you're volunteering with an
  • 00:12:12.545 --> 00:12:14.713
  • Organization, is that right?
  • 00:12:14.713 --> 00:12:15.748
  • That's why you're in rwanda, correct?
  • 00:12:15.748 --> 00:12:17.183
  • Yes. my job was to bring food
  • 00:12:17.183 --> 00:12:18.651
  • And medicine and rescue the children.
  • 00:12:18.651 --> 00:12:20.920
  • And that's why i was in rwanda during the genocide.
  • 00:12:20.920 --> 00:12:23.122
  • Wow. so tell me what happens next.
  • 00:12:23.122 --> 00:12:26.091
  • Well, so yes.
  • 00:12:26.091 --> 00:12:26.892
  • So i go to school in uganda.
  • 00:12:26.892 --> 00:12:28.828
  • I went to university in uganda, went to university in england,
  • 00:12:28.828 --> 00:12:31.096
  • And that's how i came to united states.
  • 00:12:31.096 --> 00:12:32.832
  • So coming to united states--
  • 00:12:32.832 --> 00:12:33.933
  • You went to university in england as well?
  • 00:12:33.933 --> 00:12:35.668
  • Yes. you know, i've, i've gone so far, you know, a little boy
  • 00:12:35.668 --> 00:12:39.939
  • Who didn't dream, somehow that the god would lead me to places
  • 00:12:39.939 --> 00:12:42.942
  • That i never thought i could be through the kindness of one
  • 00:12:42.942 --> 00:12:46.212
  • Stranger who saw the best in me.
  • 00:12:46.212 --> 00:12:48.480
  • Uh, so i came to united states.
  • 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:50.115
  • And i think for me, i struggled the first day because the
  • 00:12:50.115 --> 00:12:53.319
  • Family that brought me, they took me for dinner and i saw,
  • 00:12:53.319 --> 00:12:56.488
  • Uh, the best amazing food you could imagine, you know, but
  • 00:12:56.488 --> 00:12:59.792
  • What i'm eating, i watch plates pass by and i asked, where are
  • 00:12:59.792 --> 00:13:03.095
  • Those plates going?
  • 00:13:03.095 --> 00:13:04.530
  • And they said, well, they're going to the trash, you know,
  • 00:13:04.530 --> 00:13:07.032
  • And those moments, i think i began to question my own faith.
  • 00:13:07.032 --> 00:13:10.369
  • God, do you love us the same way that others can have so
  • 00:13:10.369 --> 00:13:13.606
  • Much to eat, and others can lose their lives for lack of
  • 00:13:13.606 --> 00:13:16.642
  • Beans and potatoes, you know.
  • 00:13:16.642 --> 00:13:18.477
  • But at the same time that i knew i can have three meals,
  • 00:13:18.477 --> 00:13:21.480
  • That i knew i have a place to sleep,
  • 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:23.382
  • That luke 12:48 really convicted me.
  • 00:13:23.382 --> 00:13:25.918
  • You know, to whom much is given, much is required,
  • 00:13:25.918 --> 00:13:29.521
  • That i felt of all people on the earth, i was the wealthiest
  • 00:13:29.521 --> 00:13:32.758
  • Human being, that i didn't have hope.
  • 00:13:32.758 --> 00:13:35.828
  • He gave me hope.
  • 00:13:35.828 --> 00:13:36.795
  • I didn't know him as my lord and savior.
  • 00:13:36.795 --> 00:13:38.731
  • He brought a stranger who taught me that. i didn't have a
  • 00:13:38.731 --> 00:13:41.133
  • Family and i have a family. i didn't have education.
  • 00:13:41.133 --> 00:13:43.669
  • Now i have education living in the most wealthiest country
  • 00:13:43.669 --> 00:13:46.672
  • You could imagine
  • 00:13:46.672 --> 00:13:48.107
  • That really began to say, wait a minute, i have been given.
  • 00:13:48.107 --> 00:13:51.844
  • What i'm going to do about it? and those are the questions
  • 00:13:51.844 --> 00:13:54.813
  • That really began coming to my life
  • 00:13:54.813 --> 00:13:56.849
  • In a way.
  • 00:13:56.849 --> 00:13:58.050
  • I think that's fascinating.
  • 00:13:58.050 --> 00:13:59.351
  • If you're just joining us, i'm talking to peter mutabazi, ten
  • 00:13:59.351 --> 00:14:02.955
  • Years old, running away from home,
  • 00:14:02.955 --> 00:14:06.325
  • Brutally beaten by his father, living rough on the streets for
  • 00:14:06.325 --> 00:14:10.529
  • Four years, and then a stranger seeing him.
  • 00:14:10.529 --> 00:14:14.533
  • There's something about this program that i really want us
  • 00:14:14.533 --> 00:14:16.869
  • All to understand, that my prayer is that god would give
  • 00:14:16.869 --> 00:14:20.506
  • Us all eyes to see what we're going to miss without him,
  • 00:14:20.506 --> 00:14:24.009
  • Because we live in a world of hurting people.
  • 00:14:24.009 --> 00:14:27.012
  • And it might not just be orphans, or it might not just
  • 00:14:27.012 --> 00:14:29.481
  • Be foster children, it could be children of divorce,
  • 00:14:29.481 --> 00:14:32.184
  • People who feel i don't think anybody really sees me.
  • 00:14:32.184 --> 00:14:35.888
  • Can you imagine if we, as the church, woke up and began to
  • 00:14:35.888 --> 00:14:40.993
  • See people the way that the lord sees them?
  • 00:14:40.993 --> 00:14:43.395
  • I think that would change everything.
  • 00:14:43.395 --> 00:14:45.431
  • So, peter, one of the things i found fascinating about your
  • 00:14:45.431 --> 00:14:47.566
  • Story is having come from so little
  • 00:14:47.566 --> 00:14:50.135
  • And then, you know, being able to come to a place like
  • 00:14:50.135 --> 00:14:52.571
  • America, you would think almost you just want to settle down
  • 00:14:52.571 --> 00:14:55.741
  • And take care of yourself now.
  • 00:14:55.741 --> 00:14:57.509
  • And that's not what happened.
  • 00:14:57.509 --> 00:15:00.045
  • You have fostered over--
  • 00:15:00.045 --> 00:15:01.880
  • 47. 47 children.
  • 00:15:01.880 --> 00:15:04.883
  • Where did that even begin?
  • 00:15:04.883 --> 00:15:05.884
  • Where did that idea even--
  • 00:15:05.884 --> 00:15:07.353
  • How did you even hear about fostering?
  • 00:15:07.353 --> 00:15:09.688
  • So i had-- you know, i've been in more than 100 countries, and
  • 00:15:09.688 --> 00:15:12.658
  • I have never seen someone who looked like me who was adopting
  • 00:15:12.658 --> 00:15:15.427
  • In uganda, in ethiopia.
  • 00:15:15.427 --> 00:15:17.062
  • So i always, you know, i believe the lie.
  • 00:15:17.062 --> 00:15:18.630
  • I thought, you have to be white and you have to be married.
  • 00:15:18.630 --> 00:15:21.000
  • You know, so i thought, that's not for me in some way.
  • 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:23.802
  • But i always, always worked for charities that provide
  • 00:15:23.802 --> 00:15:27.473
  • Resources, uh, in developing countries for children.
  • 00:15:27.473 --> 00:15:30.476
  • That was my calling.
  • 00:15:30.476 --> 00:15:31.710
  • So i always wanted not just to go help, but i wanted to
  • 00:15:31.710 --> 00:15:34.747
  • Somehow live it in a way in america.
  • 00:15:34.747 --> 00:15:37.483
  • But i knew i wasn't qualified in some way.
  • 00:15:37.483 --> 00:15:39.551
  • Well, that's a lie that i believed.
  • 00:15:39.551 --> 00:15:41.186
  • So one day i walked into the foster care system and i said,
  • 00:15:41.186 --> 00:15:43.822
  • Hey, i would like to mentor teenagers.
  • 00:15:43.822 --> 00:15:46.025
  • Would you allow me? you know, because i thought, come on,
  • 00:15:46.025 --> 00:15:49.028
  • They can allow me at least to mentor one teenager for one
  • 00:15:49.028 --> 00:15:51.764
  • Hour a day, uh, a week.
  • 00:15:51.764 --> 00:15:53.766
  • And the social worker said, hey, have you ever thought
  • 00:15:53.766 --> 00:15:55.634
  • Of being a foster dad?
  • 00:15:55.634 --> 00:15:57.002
  • And i said, no, because i don't qualify.
  • 00:15:57.002 --> 00:15:59.938
  • And she said, why? i said, i'm single.
  • 00:15:59.938 --> 00:16:01.473
  • And she looked--
  • 00:16:01.473 --> 00:16:02.674
  • She calmed down, looked in my eyes and said, 30% of our
  • 00:16:02.674 --> 00:16:06.712
  • Foster moms are single.
  • 00:16:06.712 --> 00:16:08.514
  • You can be. literally,
  • 00:16:08.514 --> 00:16:10.249
  • It was on a monday and on a thursday i signed up to take
  • 00:16:10.249 --> 00:16:14.253
  • The classes to be licensed as a foster parent, you know.
  • 00:16:14.253 --> 00:16:17.056
  • But also, i felt like, you know, i was 40.
  • 00:16:17.056 --> 00:16:19.091
  • I had gone, you know, educated, lived by myself.
  • 00:16:19.091 --> 00:16:22.261
  • I said, you know what? it's time to give back.
  • 00:16:22.261 --> 00:16:24.530
  • It's time to truly help children, uh, in a way.
  • 00:16:24.530 --> 00:16:28.233
  • But also, i believe it takes a village to raise a child.
  • 00:16:28.233 --> 00:16:30.436
  • So for me, living in the united states, i didn't want to lose
  • 00:16:30.436 --> 00:16:32.738
  • That african concept of it takes a village knowing that
  • 00:16:32.738 --> 00:16:36.642
  • There were kids in my neighborhood, in my county, in
  • 00:16:36.642 --> 00:16:40.012
  • My state, that had nowhere to go.
  • 00:16:40.012 --> 00:16:42.247
  • They were going to bed with no food.
  • 00:16:42.247 --> 00:16:44.049
  • I could not just look the other way, you know.
  • 00:16:44.049 --> 00:16:46.418
  • I could not just hear the gospel and say, this is how we care
  • 00:16:46.418 --> 00:16:49.354
  • For the least of these and go home and somehow enjoy that.
  • 00:16:49.354 --> 00:16:52.291
  • I wanted to do something.
  • 00:16:52.291 --> 00:16:53.892
  • So once i had the opportunity,
  • 00:16:53.892 --> 00:16:55.661
  • That's when i said, you know what?
  • 00:16:55.661 --> 00:16:57.096
  • I've never been a parent.
  • 00:16:57.096 --> 00:16:58.330
  • I've never been married, but i'm going to step in and do
  • 00:16:58.330 --> 00:17:00.933
  • What i get to hear every sunday saying, take care of the
  • 00:17:00.933 --> 00:17:04.136
  • Least of these. and that's really what
  • 00:17:04.136 --> 00:17:06.839
  • Drew me to want to be a foster dad.
  • 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.408
  • So what was that first experience like?
  • 00:17:09.408 --> 00:17:11.243
  • Because i can't imagine.
  • 00:17:11.243 --> 00:17:12.744
  • I mean, just suddenly--
  • 00:17:12.744 --> 00:17:13.812
  • Was it a very young child you got first time?
  • 00:17:13.812 --> 00:17:16.048
  • Well, so, you know, you get licensed and then they say, you
  • 00:17:16.048 --> 00:17:18.517
  • Know, i thought they give you like, three months to think
  • 00:17:18.517 --> 00:17:20.619
  • About it. you know, you got a license.
  • 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.987
  • So. sure, as soon as you came in, they said, hey, keep your
  • 00:17:21.987 --> 00:17:24.423
  • Phone nearby.
  • 00:17:24.423 --> 00:17:25.424
  • We might call you in 30 minutes or an hour.
  • 00:17:25.424 --> 00:17:27.025
  • I'm like, wait, hold on. that fast?
  • 00:17:27.025 --> 00:17:29.628
  • Sure enough, literally six hours later, they said, hey,
  • 00:17:29.628 --> 00:17:32.364
  • There's a little boy who needs a home and we would like to
  • 00:17:32.364 --> 00:17:34.800
  • Bring him to your home.
  • 00:17:34.800 --> 00:17:36.068
  • I panicked.
  • 00:17:36.068 --> 00:17:37.302
  • I mean, i had never been a parent, so i was thinking the
  • 00:17:37.302 --> 00:17:40.005
  • Worst you could think of, you know.
  • 00:17:40.005 --> 00:17:41.907
  • And sure enough, the little boy comes in at two in the morning.
  • 00:17:41.907 --> 00:17:45.377
  • He goes to bed.
  • 00:17:45.377 --> 00:17:46.678
  • I pull the couch and i put it against his door, and i slept
  • 00:17:46.678 --> 00:17:49.815
  • In that couch because i thought, he's going to wake up,
  • 00:17:49.815 --> 00:17:53.352
  • Open the door and run.
  • 00:17:53.352 --> 00:17:55.120
  • Oh, wow.
  • 00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:56.155
  • And guess what he did? that morning, i woke up,
  • 00:17:56.155 --> 00:17:58.290
  • He said, dad, what are we having for breakfast?
  • 00:17:58.290 --> 00:18:01.493
  • Wow.
  • 00:18:01.493 --> 00:18:02.594
  • And i was like, i've been worried the whole night.
  • 00:18:02.594 --> 00:18:04.563
  • And that's all you can ask for.
  • 00:18:04.563 --> 00:18:06.131
  • Well, i think it helped me to
  • 00:18:06.131 --> 00:18:07.499
  • See that i was overthinking that.
  • 00:18:07.499 --> 00:18:09.601
  • What i needed to think was the simple ways,
  • 00:18:09.601 --> 00:18:11.670
  • Eat, safe, and feel loved.
  • 00:18:11.670 --> 00:18:14.406
  • And that's really what helped me say, i think i can do this,
  • 00:18:14.406 --> 00:18:18.043
  • And it's really been a joy since then.
  • 00:18:18.043 --> 00:18:20.412
  • And anthony, um, your son, your adopted son, who's about to go
  • 00:18:20.412 --> 00:18:24.516
  • Off to college, i found it interesting in your book
  • 00:18:24.516 --> 00:18:27.319
  • You talk about you'd fostered so many children, and then when
  • 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:30.055
  • You were asked for one more, which you were going to say
  • 00:18:30.055 --> 00:18:33.592
  • No originally. yes.
  • 00:18:33.592 --> 00:18:35.327
  • And what happened with that? well, because--
  • 00:18:35.327 --> 00:18:37.162
  • So i had had 11 children and they have gone. you know, they
  • 00:18:37.162 --> 00:18:39.598
  • Have come-- they have come in your home and left.
  • 00:18:39.598 --> 00:18:42.000
  • And sometimes when they leave you, you it's hard.
  • 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:44.636
  • It's hard.
  • 00:18:44.636 --> 00:18:45.871
  • And you want to recoup and think through, uh, to care for
  • 00:18:45.871 --> 00:18:48.473
  • A child for one year and a half and say goodbye,
  • 00:18:48.473 --> 00:18:51.176
  • It's the one lesson that no one ever taught me,
  • 00:18:51.176 --> 00:18:53.345
  • You know, how to say goodbye. so the two had left on monday.
  • 00:18:53.345 --> 00:18:56.548
  • Uh, so i got a phone call from the social worker saying, hey,
  • 00:18:56.548 --> 00:18:59.017
  • Would you take the kid in?
  • 00:18:59.017 --> 00:19:00.118
  • And i said, no, i said, i need a break, you know?
  • 00:19:00.118 --> 00:19:02.588
  • She said, look, this kid at the hospital. only for the weekend.
  • 00:19:02.588 --> 00:19:05.857
  • So i said okay, only for the weekend.
  • 00:19:05.857 --> 00:19:08.493
  • If you don't pick himup on monday, he'll be outside
  • 00:19:08.493 --> 00:19:10.495
  • Waiting for you.
  • 00:19:10.495 --> 00:19:11.863
  • And sure enough, he comes in.
  • 00:19:11.863 --> 00:19:13.198
  • You know, he comes at two, three in the morning.
  • 00:19:13.198 --> 00:19:15.767
  • I tell him my name is peter
  • 00:19:15.767 --> 00:19:16.868
  • Mutabazi, but you just call me peter.
  • 00:19:16.868 --> 00:19:18.737
  • He looks in my eyes and says, hey, but can i call you my dad?
  • 00:19:18.737 --> 00:19:22.774
  • Well, i said a word that i can't say on television, but i
  • 00:19:22.774 --> 00:19:25.711
  • Was like, absolutely no, you know.
  • 00:19:25.711 --> 00:19:27.746
  • And then he looked at my eyes and said, hey, i was told since
  • 00:19:27.746 --> 00:19:31.316
  • I'm 11 years old, i can choose who my father should be.
  • 00:19:31.316 --> 00:19:34.620
  • So he should be my dad.
  • 00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:35.754
  • I said, dude, you're leaving on monday.
  • 00:19:35.754 --> 00:19:38.790
  • Knock it off, you know.
  • 00:19:38.790 --> 00:19:40.158
  • And sure enough, monday came.
  • 00:19:40.158 --> 00:19:42.027
  • And once i signed the papers for him to go, that's when i
  • 00:19:42.027 --> 00:19:44.596
  • Had the guts to ask,
  • 00:19:44.596 --> 00:19:45.631
  • So why was he left at the hospital?
  • 00:19:45.631 --> 00:19:48.166
  • Come to find he came into foster care
  • 00:19:48.166 --> 00:19:50.402
  • I think about one year and a half or two.
  • 00:19:50.402 --> 00:19:52.638
  • You know, the family that took him in adopted him.
  • 00:19:52.638 --> 00:19:55.907
  • And it's the same family that had dropped him at the hospital.
  • 00:19:55.907 --> 00:19:59.177
  • They brought him back.
  • 00:19:59.177 --> 00:20:00.145
  • They brought him back nine years later.
  • 00:20:00.145 --> 00:20:02.347
  • You know, never said goodbye.
  • 00:20:02.347 --> 00:20:04.016
  • Never gave him the reason why they did not want him anymore.
  • 00:20:04.016 --> 00:20:07.085
  • And in those moments, i think my, my, my picture went back to
  • 00:20:07.085 --> 00:20:10.022
  • When i ran away as a ten-year-old
  • 00:20:10.022 --> 00:20:11.823
  • Looking at him, saying he's 11.
  • 00:20:11.823 --> 00:20:14.059
  • Where is he going to go?
  • 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:15.460
  • You know, that we are looking for a group home.
  • 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:17.896
  • Sometimes, you know when god, you've asked god, give me,
  • 00:20:17.896 --> 00:20:21.099
  • Provide for me and he gives you
  • 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:22.367
  • And say, are you sure it's today?
  • 00:20:22.367 --> 00:20:24.436
  • But you've been asking all this time.
  • 00:20:24.436 --> 00:20:25.704
  • And that's how i felt like. i've always wanted to be a dad.
  • 00:20:25.704 --> 00:20:28.473
  • He's a kid asking for me to be a dad.
  • 00:20:28.473 --> 00:20:31.009
  • Like, what is wrong with me?
  • 00:20:31.009 --> 00:20:32.144
  • You know, and that's when i realized that,
  • 00:20:32.144 --> 00:20:34.112
  • Wait a minute.
  • 00:20:34.112 --> 00:20:35.280
  • Sometimes we ask god to provide for us and gives us in
  • 00:20:35.280 --> 00:20:38.917
  • Ways that we didn't even assume or think through, that
  • 00:20:38.917 --> 00:20:42.554
  • I think in those moments i was like, me, are you sure?
  • 00:20:42.554 --> 00:20:45.490
  • God, me? and i said, yes.
  • 00:20:45.490 --> 00:20:47.926
  • And he's my first adopted son and he's now 19 years old.
  • 00:20:47.926 --> 00:20:51.863
  • Wow. and about to go to college?
  • 00:20:51.863 --> 00:20:53.598
  • Yes. that is amazing.
  • 00:20:53.598 --> 00:20:55.600
  • Now, i can imagine a lot of-- because i was thinking, what if
  • 00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:58.970
  • Every church in america took on to make sure that at least one
  • 00:20:58.970 --> 00:21:02.641
  • Child was fostered, adopted, cared for.
  • 00:21:02.641 --> 00:21:05.510
  • I mean, if every church did that, even just for one child,
  • 00:21:05.510 --> 00:21:08.613
  • How that would change america.
  • 00:21:08.613 --> 00:21:10.782
  • But a lot of people think, oh gosh, it's too hard.
  • 00:21:10.782 --> 00:21:13.552
  • I couldn't do it. and it was--
  • 00:21:13.552 --> 00:21:15.654
  • It's not always been smooth sailing for you.
  • 00:21:15.654 --> 00:21:17.556
  • Absolutely, yes.
  • 00:21:17.556 --> 00:21:18.590
  • In fact, that's why i love your second book.
  • 00:21:18.590 --> 00:21:19.991
  • This book is called love does not conquer all.
  • 00:21:19.991 --> 00:21:23.395
  • Whenever i read that title, i was like, okay, i want to read
  • 00:21:23.395 --> 00:21:25.497
  • This book, um,
  • 00:21:25.497 --> 00:21:26.765
  • Because you have learned a lot of hard lessons.
  • 00:21:26.765 --> 00:21:29.401
  • But honestly, peter, the kind of lessons that i need to
  • 00:21:29.401 --> 00:21:32.037
  • Learn as well about how to really see people.
  • 00:21:32.037 --> 00:21:35.507
  • What have you learned in your journey of fostering kids that
  • 00:21:35.507 --> 00:21:38.777
  • Come from traumatic places?
  • 00:21:38.777 --> 00:21:40.779
  • Well, it begins with me.
  • 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.813
  • You know that i was a thief.
  • 00:21:41.813 --> 00:21:42.948
  • I had never had no, any formal of anything at all.
  • 00:21:42.948 --> 00:21:46.451
  • You know, didn't know what boundaries were.
  • 00:21:46.451 --> 00:21:48.186
  • But this man, he didn't see a thief.
  • 00:21:48.186 --> 00:21:50.122
  • He didn't see a smelly teenager
  • 00:21:50.122 --> 00:21:51.957
  • That he saw a little boy with potential.
  • 00:21:51.957 --> 00:21:54.159
  • I think for me, that--
  • 00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:56.395
  • That is all that made it for me to see others the same way.
  • 00:21:56.395 --> 00:22:00.432
  • The way he saw me, that he didn't call me names, but he
  • 00:22:00.432 --> 00:22:03.702
  • Said, i want to help you and i want to give you food.
  • 00:22:03.702 --> 00:22:06.638
  • And in foster care,
  • 00:22:06.638 --> 00:22:07.906
  • I feel like sometimes we've labeled our children because of
  • 00:22:07.906 --> 00:22:11.076
  • The trauma they've gone through.
  • 00:22:11.076 --> 00:22:12.411
  • Oh, they are terrible kids.
  • 00:22:12.411 --> 00:22:13.879
  • Foster care is broken.
  • 00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:15.080
  • We can't do anything.
  • 00:22:15.080 --> 00:22:16.448
  • And in some way, we've given up on them, you know.
  • 00:22:16.448 --> 00:22:18.650
  • And i think for me, learning to how far i could come that i've
  • 00:22:18.650 --> 00:22:22.287
  • Learned the same that we ought to give to our children in
  • 00:22:22.287 --> 00:22:24.756
  • Foster care.
  • 00:22:24.756 --> 00:22:25.991
  • These kids did not choose to be born in homes where these
  • 00:22:25.991 --> 00:22:28.126
  • Things happen to them.
  • 00:22:28.126 --> 00:22:29.294
  • But along the way, something happened.
  • 00:22:29.294 --> 00:22:31.263
  • And for us to to love on them
  • 00:22:31.263 --> 00:22:33.398
  • And care for them, even their parents.
  • 00:22:33.398 --> 00:22:35.133
  • You know, as a street kid, i would hear people say what
  • 00:22:35.133 --> 00:22:37.669
  • A mother would let their kids be on the streets?
  • 00:22:37.669 --> 00:22:39.771
  • But i knew my mom could not protect me, and she was
  • 00:22:39.771 --> 00:22:42.307
  • Enduring the same abuse that i was going through.
  • 00:22:42.307 --> 00:22:45.076
  • And in some way, for me to have the same grace towards bio
  • 00:22:45.076 --> 00:22:48.580
  • Parents, especially moms, that before we can judge that we
  • 00:22:48.580 --> 00:22:52.517
  • Ought to truly come alongside and say, i don't know what
  • 00:22:52.517 --> 00:22:55.053
  • Happened, but how can i come alongside and help?
  • 00:22:55.053 --> 00:22:57.155
  • And i think in the same way that god calls us to truly be
  • 00:22:57.155 --> 00:23:00.692
  • There for the least of these.
  • 00:23:00.692 --> 00:23:02.093
  • That is our responsibility to be there for them. and for me,
  • 00:23:02.093 --> 00:23:05.630
  • I've learned that the behaviors
  • 00:23:05.630 --> 00:23:07.165
  • Is more of a, um, an after effect.
  • 00:23:07.165 --> 00:23:10.368
  • Something else is going on.
  • 00:23:10.368 --> 00:23:11.603
  • Think about if you're missing your mom and your dad and
  • 00:23:11.603 --> 00:23:14.105
  • You're not sure when you'll see them.
  • 00:23:14.105 --> 00:23:15.774
  • Yeah, you're going to be angry.
  • 00:23:15.774 --> 00:23:16.808
  • You're going to break a few things, you know.
  • 00:23:16.808 --> 00:23:18.743
  • Is it the right thing to do? absolutely no.
  • 00:23:18.743 --> 00:23:20.912
  • But it's just viable for that child?
  • 00:23:20.912 --> 00:23:22.814
  • Absolutely. yes, in some way.
  • 00:23:22.814 --> 00:23:24.716
  • And so for me, learning that, uh, that seeing the best in
  • 00:23:24.716 --> 00:23:28.920
  • Others and by not just focusing on the behaviors, but by
  • 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:32.557
  • Looking for the roots, why my child does this, why do they
  • 00:23:32.557 --> 00:23:36.495
  • Not trust me?
  • 00:23:36.495 --> 00:23:37.796
  • Why do they find it really, not to do well with kids at school?
  • 00:23:37.796 --> 00:23:41.099
  • The why has helped me to have empathy, but also to know how
  • 00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:44.503
  • It can be there for my kids.
  • 00:23:44.503 --> 00:23:45.937
  • And i wish all of us could do so.
  • 00:23:45.937 --> 00:23:48.306
  • I love that you brought the idea of the church helping one
  • 00:23:48.306 --> 00:23:50.675
  • Another, you know? yeah.
  • 00:23:50.675 --> 00:23:51.843
  • We know the church is not a home, but we know that
  • 00:23:51.843 --> 00:23:55.046
  • Church shepherds families.
  • 00:23:55.046 --> 00:23:57.048
  • You know that.
  • 00:23:57.048 --> 00:23:58.216
  • I think if we can help one family in one church come
  • 00:23:58.216 --> 00:24:02.320
  • Alongside, but i think we can put a dent on full scale, you
  • 00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:05.624
  • Know, uh, in so many different ways.
  • 00:24:05.624 --> 00:24:08.326
  • Yes, i'm a foster dad.
  • 00:24:08.326 --> 00:24:09.728
  • Yes, i've had 47 children, but i wasn't alone.
  • 00:24:09.728 --> 00:24:12.797
  • The people in my care group, they always show up. when i need
  • 00:24:12.797 --> 00:24:16.067
  • Diapers at three in the morning.
  • 00:24:16.067 --> 00:24:17.636
  • I say i need diapers and someone will bring me diapers.
  • 00:24:17.636 --> 00:24:21.339
  • You know, i ran out of eggs and someone's at a grocery store.
  • 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:23.542
  • Peter, what can i get you?
  • 00:24:23.542 --> 00:24:24.576
  • I need eggs and milk and milk and milk and milk.
  • 00:24:24.576 --> 00:24:27.879
  • And they bring it.
  • 00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:29.180
  • And in some way, it's taken a village in some way to help me
  • 00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:31.750
  • Be the best i can.
  • 00:24:31.750 --> 00:24:32.918
  • And i think the church can do the same.
  • 00:24:32.918 --> 00:24:34.920
  • Coming alongside those who are willing to say, uh, we don't
  • 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:38.757
  • Have the resource, but we have the space, you know. or to
  • 00:24:38.757 --> 00:24:42.360
  • Say, i don't have the training, but i would like to.
  • 00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:45.030
  • And i think we can do that as a church and come alongside
  • 00:24:45.030 --> 00:24:48.400
  • Families that are are doing so.
  • 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:50.535
  • Even families that are struggling.
  • 00:24:50.535 --> 00:24:52.203
  • You know, it's always better to stop the children before they
  • 00:24:52.203 --> 00:24:54.940
  • Come into foster care.
  • 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:56.274
  • But what if we open up opportunities for families who
  • 00:24:56.274 --> 00:24:58.476
  • Are struggling to say, hey, you
  • 00:24:58.476 --> 00:25:00.011
  • Don't have, you know, baby care.
  • 00:25:00.011 --> 00:25:02.581
  • How can we help you?
  • 00:25:02.581 --> 00:25:04.149
  • Can you bring your child for an hour at church?
  • 00:25:04.149 --> 00:25:06.251
  • Someone can take care of you while you're doing one,
  • 00:25:06.251 --> 00:25:08.520
  • Two, three, four.
  • 00:25:08.520 --> 00:25:09.788
  • And i think in that way, we get to be there for both the bio
  • 00:25:09.788 --> 00:25:12.857
  • Parents and the kids who are in foster care as well.
  • 00:25:12.857 --> 00:25:15.994
  • One of the things you talk about in this book,
  • 00:25:15.994 --> 00:25:18.263
  • Love does not conquer all,
  • 00:25:18.263 --> 00:25:20.231
  • Um, which was just it was it's so good,
  • 00:25:20.231 --> 00:25:24.169
  • I underlined so many things in this book, but you talk about
  • 00:25:24.169 --> 00:25:28.540
  • The fact that one size does not fit all.
  • 00:25:28.540 --> 00:25:30.775
  • You even talk about having taken in two boys and the
  • 00:25:30.775 --> 00:25:33.812
  • Reactions are totally different.
  • 00:25:33.812 --> 00:25:35.380
  • How do you learn?
  • 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.982
  • How do you learn to listen to what's actually going on, as
  • 00:25:36.982 --> 00:25:39.451
  • Opposed to what might be coming out of someone's mouth?
  • 00:25:39.451 --> 00:25:42.387
  • You know, our kids, most of
  • 00:25:42.387 --> 00:25:43.755
  • Them speak a different language.
  • 00:25:43.755 --> 00:25:45.023
  • You know, what i try to say,
  • 00:25:45.023 --> 00:25:46.558
  • What i try to call it is, um, actually, what is normal for us
  • 00:25:46.558 --> 00:25:51.763
  • Is abnormal for them.
  • 00:25:51.763 --> 00:25:53.198
  • And what's abnormal for them
  • 00:25:53.198 --> 00:25:55.000
  • It's normal for us.
  • 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:56.401
  • And in some way, parenting through those lenses of this is
  • 00:25:56.401 --> 00:26:00.038
  • How i create or this is how i understand the world, but my
  • 00:26:00.038 --> 00:26:02.874
  • Child not necessarily understands the same way.
  • 00:26:02.874 --> 00:26:05.210
  • You know, we grew up in a home where we say thank you.
  • 00:26:05.210 --> 00:26:08.013
  • We grew up in a home where we are held.
  • 00:26:08.013 --> 00:26:10.382
  • You know, we grew up in a home where we speak kindly with each
  • 00:26:10.382 --> 00:26:13.084
  • Other, but these kids have never had that.
  • 00:26:13.084 --> 00:26:14.986
  • So when we get to see them do things that are not norm,
  • 00:26:14.986 --> 00:26:18.256
  • Rather than say, hey, what a bad behavior, but say, i want
  • 00:26:18.256 --> 00:26:21.860
  • To learn, i want to go
  • 00:26:21.860 --> 00:26:22.861
  • Deep, deep, deep, deep, deep to
  • 00:26:22.861 --> 00:26:24.729
  • Figure out what is the root cause.
  • 00:26:24.729 --> 00:26:27.098
  • And once we understand that, then we have empathy
  • 00:26:27.098 --> 00:26:29.634
  • Towards our kids.
  • 00:26:29.634 --> 00:26:30.902
  • You know, uh, you know, i've had kids who put walls in my,
  • 00:26:30.902 --> 00:26:33.972
  • In my, in my house, you know, and in those moments, i've
  • 00:26:33.972 --> 00:26:36.908
  • Learned to say, peter, it's not about you, like to move myself
  • 00:26:36.908 --> 00:26:39.911
  • On the side, to be able to hear the child who's on the other
  • 00:26:39.911 --> 00:26:42.514
  • Side screaming, angry, but has a reason.
  • 00:26:42.514 --> 00:26:45.750
  • He's communicating to me, and i--
  • 00:26:45.750 --> 00:26:47.819
  • I need to remove myself in some way to understand the why.
  • 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:51.823
  • And that really has helped me to parent the child as who they
  • 00:26:51.823 --> 00:26:54.759
  • Are rather than who i want them to be, you know, and that has
  • 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:57.929
  • Been a key thing, to also parent each child differently
  • 00:26:57.929 --> 00:27:02.100
  • Because that's huge.
  • 00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:03.334
  • What you just said, their parent, the child who they are
  • 00:27:03.334 --> 00:27:06.604
  • Rather than who you want them to be.
  • 00:27:06.604 --> 00:27:09.074
  • I mean, that applies to all of us.
  • 00:27:09.074 --> 00:27:10.875
  • Absolutely. i come from africa.
  • 00:27:10.875 --> 00:27:12.510
  • Education is the one only way you can get successful because
  • 00:27:12.510 --> 00:27:16.314
  • Not everyone has the resource.
  • 00:27:16.314 --> 00:27:17.782
  • So education, we privatize or
  • 00:27:17.782 --> 00:27:19.984
  • We put so much emphasis on education.
  • 00:27:19.984 --> 00:27:23.154
  • But that's me.
  • 00:27:23.154 --> 00:27:24.355
  • If i force my kids to study hard, to make sure if they
  • 00:27:24.355 --> 00:27:27.258
  • Fail on their homework and i'm like, no, you know, well,
  • 00:27:27.258 --> 00:27:29.627
  • That's projecting my understanding on what my
  • 00:27:29.627 --> 00:27:32.630
  • Background is to my children.
  • 00:27:32.630 --> 00:27:34.799
  • You know, my children might not be-- education, might not be--
  • 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:37.802
  • The way to go.
  • 00:27:37.802 --> 00:27:39.070
  • The way to go, but rather, how do i meet my children where
  • 00:27:39.070 --> 00:27:41.539
  • They are in order to help them and see?
  • 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:44.909
  • You know, i have kids who hoarded food. think about,
  • 00:27:44.909 --> 00:27:48.279
  • Like you in america, but you go home every night saying, is
  • 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:51.816
  • There food for me tomorrow?
  • 00:27:51.816 --> 00:27:53.284
  • And sometimes they bring it to their room.
  • 00:27:53.284 --> 00:27:55.653
  • Are they stealing?
  • 00:27:55.653 --> 00:27:56.755
  • No. are they trying to cause any problem at all?
  • 00:27:56.755 --> 00:27:59.357
  • No. but in their little mind,
  • 00:27:59.357 --> 00:28:01.025
  • It says there's no food tomorrow.
  • 00:28:01.025 --> 00:28:03.027
  • I'm going to take extra so i can have the next day.
  • 00:28:03.027 --> 00:28:06.197
  • Can you talk about this little
  • 00:28:06.197 --> 00:28:07.065
  • Boy where you ended up with ants
  • 00:28:07.065 --> 00:28:08.333
  • Because he's just hoarding food
  • 00:28:08.333 --> 00:28:10.502
  • Because-- i think most of us don't understand that kind of
  • 00:28:10.502 --> 00:28:13.938
  • Food insecurity,
  • 00:28:13.938 --> 00:28:15.006
  • Of what that that would feel like.
  • 00:28:15.006 --> 00:28:17.142
  • Did you ever get a chance to go back and see your mom again?
  • 00:28:17.142 --> 00:28:20.245
  • Yes, i, you know, i really wanted to give my mom pride.
  • 00:28:20.245 --> 00:28:23.047
  • So i had to go back and i wanted to show him that, hey, i
  • 00:28:23.047 --> 00:28:26.684
  • Think as africans, we want to give mom pride in a way to
  • 00:28:26.684 --> 00:28:29.954
  • Feel that they did the right thing.
  • 00:28:29.954 --> 00:28:32.157
  • They raised us well.
  • 00:28:32.157 --> 00:28:33.258
  • And i wanted to give that to my mom.
  • 00:28:33.258 --> 00:28:34.959
  • But also my siblings had never moved, so i wanted to give them
  • 00:28:34.959 --> 00:28:37.962
  • The glimpse of hope that, hey, yes, you're in the midst of
  • 00:28:37.962 --> 00:28:40.899
  • Still my father's behavior, but there's hope for you because
  • 00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:44.169
  • See how far i have gone.
  • 00:28:44.169 --> 00:28:45.804
  • But i think i also wanted to give my dad a kind of a nose
  • 00:28:45.804 --> 00:28:48.773
  • Like you wish me bad, but it didn't really happen as you
  • 00:28:48.773 --> 00:28:51.810
  • Wished, in a way.
  • 00:28:51.810 --> 00:28:53.111
  • So for me, i wanted to go back in a way to face the problem,
  • 00:28:53.111 --> 00:28:57.982
  • To face the abuse and the
  • 00:28:57.982 --> 00:28:59.551
  • Abusers that i've had all my life.
  • 00:28:59.551 --> 00:29:01.186
  • What was that like going home?
  • 00:29:01.186 --> 00:29:02.487
  • Oh, it was tough.
  • 00:29:02.487 --> 00:29:03.588
  • I think for my mom it was the best i would say,
  • 00:29:03.588 --> 00:29:05.557
  • And my siblings, to see your child come back, not come back
  • 00:29:05.557 --> 00:29:08.593
  • As a nobody, but to come back that they are already in high
  • 00:29:08.593 --> 00:29:11.596
  • School, to come back that they are doing well and they have
  • 00:29:11.596 --> 00:29:14.132
  • Hope in a place where, you know, growing up, my father
  • 00:29:14.132 --> 00:29:17.602
  • Said, you'll never amount to anything.
  • 00:29:17.602 --> 00:29:19.671
  • You're a nobody.
  • 00:29:19.671 --> 00:29:20.939
  • I wish you were never born so i did not have to feed you.
  • 00:29:20.939 --> 00:29:23.107
  • Those are the words i had before i went to bed
  • 00:29:23.107 --> 00:29:25.076
  • And when i woke up.
  • 00:29:25.076 --> 00:29:27.412
  • So for me to come back and say,
  • 00:29:27.412 --> 00:29:29.681
  • This is what you wish for me, and you thought of me, but
  • 00:29:29.681 --> 00:29:32.350
  • Actually god had a different way.
  • 00:29:32.350 --> 00:29:34.219
  • And that's really why i went back home, to help my
  • 00:29:34.219 --> 00:29:37.088
  • Siblings as well, and my mom.
  • 00:29:37.088 --> 00:29:38.423
  • Were you able to forgive your dad?
  • 00:29:38.423 --> 00:29:40.124
  • Yes. during that time, like, you know, the anger that i held
  • 00:29:40.124 --> 00:29:43.995
  • That i really wanted to forgive him, but also my foster
  • 00:29:43.995 --> 00:29:46.965
  • Parents, you know, they told me one story that stuck with me.
  • 00:29:46.965 --> 00:29:49.968
  • You know, he always said every time i wanted to give up, he
  • 00:29:49.968 --> 00:29:52.170
  • Always say, peter, what did joseph do?
  • 00:29:52.170 --> 00:29:54.239
  • You know? and i always remember that
  • 00:29:54.239 --> 00:29:56.007
  • Joseph, he was sold by his family.
  • 00:29:56.007 --> 00:29:58.543
  • But when they found him and they found each other, they
  • 00:29:58.543 --> 00:30:01.346
  • Were worried that he was going to do something, you know.
  • 00:30:01.346 --> 00:30:03.681
  • But the words he used, he said for what he meant for evil,
  • 00:30:03.681 --> 00:30:06.684
  • God used it for good to save life.
  • 00:30:06.684 --> 00:30:09.354
  • And i think that really helped me to say i'm not going to let
  • 00:30:09.354 --> 00:30:12.190
  • My past define me, but i'm going to use it as a foundation
  • 00:30:12.190 --> 00:30:15.727
  • To do better for myself and for those around me.
  • 00:30:15.727 --> 00:30:18.463
  • And i think that's what inspired me to let it go,
  • 00:30:18.463 --> 00:30:20.999
  • Forgive, but also to live freely without really holding
  • 00:30:20.999 --> 00:30:24.535
  • That anger towards my dad.
  • 00:30:24.535 --> 00:30:26.104
  • But also, i didn't want him to win in some way.
  • 00:30:26.104 --> 00:30:28.206
  • I thought, no, letting him
  • 00:30:28.206 --> 00:30:29.941
  • Determine my future and be my future,
  • 00:30:29.941 --> 00:30:32.410
  • That's kind of letting him win.
  • 00:30:32.410 --> 00:30:33.945
  • And i'm not going to do that in a way.
  • 00:30:33.945 --> 00:30:35.914
  • And that's how i was able to forgive him.
  • 00:30:35.914 --> 00:30:37.649
  • The first time i interviewed you
  • 00:30:37.649 --> 00:30:39.017
  • You told me about this, and this is just fantastic.
  • 00:30:39.017 --> 00:30:42.954
  • Um, tell us about this, because this is something that, um, you
  • 00:30:42.954 --> 00:30:50.028
  • Want foster children to have.
  • 00:30:50.028 --> 00:30:51.829
  • Yes. tell us about it, peter,
  • 00:30:51.829 --> 00:30:53.431
  • Because i think it's absolutely beautiful.
  • 00:30:53.431 --> 00:30:55.500
  • Yes. so when i grew up with this family, when they took me
  • 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:58.436
  • In, they will always use words that i never heard before,
  • 00:30:58.436 --> 00:31:00.872
  • Words of affirmation.
  • 00:31:00.872 --> 00:31:01.973
  • Peter. you matter, peter, you belong.
  • 00:31:01.973 --> 00:31:03.541
  • And they will say, peter, you're a gift.
  • 00:31:03.541 --> 00:31:06.711
  • I didn't know i was a gift to anyone.
  • 00:31:06.711 --> 00:31:08.913
  • Peter, you were chosen. because i always felt nobody wanted me.
  • 00:31:08.913 --> 00:31:13.184
  • And those words stuck with me and also helped me move forward
  • 00:31:13.184 --> 00:31:16.454
  • In some way.
  • 00:31:16.454 --> 00:31:17.755
  • So when i became a foster dad, i wrote three, one to put on my
  • 00:31:17.755 --> 00:31:20.558
  • Steering wheel, those 12 words on my steering wheel, and then
  • 00:31:20.558 --> 00:31:23.461
  • One in my closet, and one in the kitchen.
  • 00:31:23.461 --> 00:31:25.496
  • In the kitchen, why?
  • 00:31:25.496 --> 00:31:26.764
  • Because we hang out in the kitchen often, so i needed to
  • 00:31:26.764 --> 00:31:28.833
  • Be able to see them so i can tell my kids. driving. sometimes
  • 00:31:28.833 --> 00:31:32.403
  • My kids, oh yeah, when you're driving, they just go ah,
  • 00:31:32.403 --> 00:31:35.406
  • So for me to be able to see the words and say, hey, you matter,
  • 00:31:35.406 --> 00:31:38.676
  • You belong.
  • 00:31:38.676 --> 00:31:39.978
  • And also in my closet, because every time i want to give up,
  • 00:31:39.978 --> 00:31:42.413
  • That's where i go. i hide in your closet.
  • 00:31:42.413 --> 00:31:45.650
  • But if it's there to remind me, like peter, you're chosen.
  • 00:31:45.650 --> 00:31:48.219
  • You're a gift.
  • 00:31:48.219 --> 00:31:49.153
  • And those are the words that we have.
  • 00:31:49.153 --> 00:31:50.955
  • So once i got kids, you know, we created that and we put it
  • 00:31:50.955 --> 00:31:54.659
  • On the bandana for our dogs because my kids will always
  • 00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:58.096
  • Take the dog, everything went wrong,
  • 00:31:58.096 --> 00:32:00.231
  • But also the dogs love them despite of whatever behaviors
  • 00:32:00.231 --> 00:32:03.501
  • Or whatever challenges they have, they're their safety.
  • 00:32:03.501 --> 00:32:06.170
  • So i wrote that and put on the on the bandana for the dog.
  • 00:32:06.170 --> 00:32:09.640
  • So sometimes my kids will come and say, i'll hear them say,
  • 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:12.176
  • You matter.
  • 00:32:12.176 --> 00:32:13.644
  • You know, i realize like, wait a minute, it's really working.
  • 00:32:13.644 --> 00:32:16.547
  • And then we came up with, what if we created a duplicate of
  • 00:32:16.547 --> 00:32:20.385
  • Our dog and write those words of affirmation so we can give
  • 00:32:20.385 --> 00:32:23.388
  • It to kids in foster care to know they are cared, they are
  • 00:32:23.388 --> 00:32:26.391
  • Loved, and they are not alone.
  • 00:32:26.391 --> 00:32:28.126
  • So our viewers at home, they can order one of these and then
  • 00:32:28.126 --> 00:32:32.096
  • One goes to a foster child.
  • 00:32:32.096 --> 00:32:33.731
  • Yes. so they can order one,
  • 00:32:33.731 --> 00:32:34.999
  • One can go to the foster child and the one they can take it
  • 00:32:34.999 --> 00:32:36.934
  • Home, or they can give both. both. both.
  • 00:32:36.934 --> 00:32:39.103
  • And we give them to one foster agency so they can give to all
  • 00:32:39.103 --> 00:32:42.206
  • The kids in that, in that agency as well.
  • 00:32:42.206 --> 00:32:45.143
  • It's so interesting, peter.
  • 00:32:45.143 --> 00:32:46.444
  • When i graduated from seminary, i worked for a year as a parent
  • 00:32:46.444 --> 00:32:50.314
  • In a home for emotionally disturbed teenage boys.
  • 00:32:50.314 --> 00:32:53.217
  • And there was this one little boy.
  • 00:32:53.217 --> 00:32:54.652
  • I kept trying to get through to, and i couldn't.
  • 00:32:54.652 --> 00:32:56.921
  • I mean, if he would go home on weekends, he would come back
  • 00:32:56.921 --> 00:32:59.390
  • Covered in bruises and he would say he'd fallen off his bike
  • 00:32:59.390 --> 00:33:02.226
  • And knew his dad was beating him.
  • 00:33:02.226 --> 00:33:04.495
  • And it was actually through-- i had a little snoopy dog, and
  • 00:33:04.495 --> 00:33:07.965
  • Jimmy asked, could he have the dog?
  • 00:33:07.965 --> 00:33:10.668
  • And i said, yeah, of course you can.
  • 00:33:10.668 --> 00:33:12.603
  • He talked-- in my company,
  • 00:33:12.603 --> 00:33:14.072
  • He would talk to the dog.
  • 00:33:14.072 --> 00:33:15.339
  • I learned so much because somehow this was not
  • 00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:18.376
  • Threatening to a child, and i learned so much about what was
  • 00:33:18.376 --> 00:33:21.913
  • Going on in his life through the fact that that was, i mean,
  • 00:33:21.913 --> 00:33:25.416
  • For every child in foster care to have something that says,
  • 00:33:25.416 --> 00:33:27.752
  • Because you've also got in there there's stickers that say
  • 00:33:27.752 --> 00:33:31.089
  • You are loved, you are seen, you are known.
  • 00:33:31.089 --> 00:33:33.257
  • You matter. yeah.
  • 00:33:33.257 --> 00:33:34.559
  • How can we, um, as a family at tbn, how can we
  • 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:38.996
  • Support what you are doing?
  • 00:33:38.996 --> 00:33:41.199
  • So i, you know, one, first of all, really thank you for
  • 00:33:41.199 --> 00:33:44.502
  • Giving me the opportunity to be
  • 00:33:44.502 --> 00:33:46.003
  • Here, to share to to your viewers.
  • 00:33:46.003 --> 00:33:48.906
  • And in some way, i feel like you're giving every child in
  • 00:33:48.906 --> 00:33:51.142
  • Foster care to be seen, heard and known.
  • 00:33:51.142 --> 00:33:52.944
  • And we truly appreciate that.
  • 00:33:52.944 --> 00:33:54.579
  • For me, i'm also about really helping the teenagers.
  • 00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:57.482
  • You know, most people want the little ones.
  • 00:33:57.482 --> 00:33:59.417
  • And most of our teenagers truly, truly have the
  • 00:33:59.417 --> 00:34:02.753
  • Hardest when it comes to
  • 00:34:02.753 --> 00:34:04.622
  • Getting a place where they belong.
  • 00:34:04.622 --> 00:34:06.324
  • You know, most children who are trafficked, 70% are kids
  • 00:34:06.324 --> 00:34:09.427
  • From foster care.
  • 00:34:09.427 --> 00:34:10.695
  • You know, 60% almost of kids who are homeless are our kids.
  • 00:34:10.695 --> 00:34:14.532
  • And so for me, i wanted to do something because i was rescued
  • 00:34:14.532 --> 00:34:17.735
  • When i was almost 16.
  • 00:34:17.735 --> 00:34:19.537
  • You know, that i can do the same to the kids here who are
  • 00:34:19.537 --> 00:34:23.341
  • Foster youth. so i do room makeovers.
  • 00:34:23.341 --> 00:34:25.276
  • I'm good at creating room makeovers.
  • 00:34:25.276 --> 00:34:26.744
  • That's so cool. i watched the video.
  • 00:34:26.744 --> 00:34:28.346
  • Tell us about how you do that.
  • 00:34:28.346 --> 00:34:29.981
  • So most kids move from home to home.
  • 00:34:29.981 --> 00:34:31.649
  • You know, all my teenagers, i think they have been in more
  • 00:34:31.649 --> 00:34:33.484
  • Than 12 homes before they came to my home.
  • 00:34:33.484 --> 00:34:35.920
  • So you don't belong.
  • 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:37.155
  • You find the bed, you find the everything is there so you
  • 00:34:37.155 --> 00:34:39.624
  • Never feel it's part of you in that room.
  • 00:34:39.624 --> 00:34:42.360
  • And i wanted to change that because when this family took
  • 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:44.929
  • Me in, they put a little chair and they put a little bed for
  • 00:34:44.929 --> 00:34:47.832
  • Me, and they made me pictures on the wall.
  • 00:34:47.832 --> 00:34:50.201
  • And i always felt that was my safe place.
  • 00:34:50.201 --> 00:34:52.837
  • And then so i wanted to do the same for kids in foster care,
  • 00:34:52.837 --> 00:34:55.806
  • Especially the foster youth.
  • 00:34:55.806 --> 00:34:57.208
  • When they go to homes or they adopted,
  • 00:34:57.208 --> 00:34:59.210
  • How can we give them an opportunity for the very, very
  • 00:34:59.210 --> 00:35:01.612
  • First time to choose their own bedding, their own style, and
  • 00:35:01.612 --> 00:35:05.149
  • We can do whatever.
  • 00:35:05.149 --> 00:35:06.317
  • If it's green painting, we'll do that.
  • 00:35:06.317 --> 00:35:08.419
  • If you need only black, i mean beddings, we'll do that because
  • 00:35:08.419 --> 00:35:13.724
  • We're giving them dignity.
  • 00:35:13.724 --> 00:35:15.359
  • And for the very, very, very first time they are able to
  • 00:35:15.359 --> 00:35:18.262
  • Choose. remember they're able to say, yeah, this is your
  • 00:35:18.262 --> 00:35:20.798
  • Room, but you can make it whatever you want to.
  • 00:35:20.798 --> 00:35:23.134
  • And for me and my colleagues to be able to say, we can do this
  • 00:35:23.134 --> 00:35:26.637
  • For you, just like someone--
  • 00:35:26.637 --> 00:35:28.639
  • You do bedroom makeovers for all the foster children that
  • 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:31.542
  • You bring into your home. yes.
  • 00:35:31.542 --> 00:35:34.111
  • Wow. yeah.
  • 00:35:34.111 --> 00:35:35.713
  • You take them shopping and they get to choose?
  • 00:35:35.713 --> 00:35:37.682
  • Yeah. they get to always. usually bedding,
  • 00:35:37.682 --> 00:35:39.383
  • So we remove them.
  • 00:35:39.383 --> 00:35:40.651
  • Every time i get a child we have to remove the beddings and
  • 00:35:40.651 --> 00:35:43.087
  • What's on the wall, you know. and then we take them to the
  • 00:35:43.087 --> 00:35:45.723
  • Shop and say, what would you like?
  • 00:35:45.723 --> 00:35:47.558
  • Buy them choosing their own bedding and what they want
  • 00:35:47.558 --> 00:35:50.261
  • On the wall.
  • 00:35:50.261 --> 00:35:51.262
  • That makes me feel i belong here.
  • 00:35:51.262 --> 00:35:53.931
  • This is my space.
  • 00:35:53.931 --> 00:35:55.399
  • And in some way also, they feel that we give them the dignity
  • 00:35:55.399 --> 00:35:58.903
  • To feel they can pick what they want.
  • 00:35:58.903 --> 00:36:01.105
  • And for me, that is more than anything else.
  • 00:36:01.105 --> 00:36:03.341
  • When you've been moving from home to home, even if you're
  • 00:36:03.341 --> 00:36:05.876
  • There temporarily,
  • 00:36:05.876 --> 00:36:07.178
  • But to know that for one time you're given an opportunity to
  • 00:36:07.178 --> 00:36:10.748
  • Dream big and say, i want my room this way.
  • 00:36:10.748 --> 00:36:13.618
  • And we always make it happen.
  • 00:36:13.618 --> 00:36:15.152
  • Wow. you know, i was thinking you've adopted three children,
  • 00:36:15.152 --> 00:36:19.590
  • Fostered over 47.
  • 00:36:19.590 --> 00:36:21.259
  • How did the three children that are your children
  • 00:36:21.259 --> 00:36:25.263
  • Acclimatized to new children coming in all the time?
  • 00:36:25.263 --> 00:36:28.332
  • Absolutely. you know, anthony was my number 11.
  • 00:36:28.332 --> 00:36:31.269
  • Luke and isabella were my
  • 00:36:31.269 --> 00:36:32.603
  • Number, i think 30 and 31, i think.
  • 00:36:32.603 --> 00:36:35.906
  • So they've had so many kids come and go.
  • 00:36:35.906 --> 00:36:38.175
  • But i think for me it's how i live my life.
  • 00:36:38.175 --> 00:36:39.710
  • I have always told my children i'm all about helping the kids
  • 00:36:39.710 --> 00:36:43.981
  • Who are in need, you know.
  • 00:36:43.981 --> 00:36:45.816
  • And so by by living it and making sure that-- i will never
  • 00:36:45.816 --> 00:36:49.020
  • Bring a child without asking them.
  • 00:36:49.020 --> 00:36:50.721
  • You know, when they say no, i'll say no.
  • 00:36:50.721 --> 00:36:52.456
  • But they always have to be part of the decision.
  • 00:36:52.456 --> 00:36:54.825
  • But i think because they get to see my passion, it's more like
  • 00:36:54.825 --> 00:36:58.062
  • An obvious thing.
  • 00:36:58.062 --> 00:36:59.330
  • You know, every time we have that phone call, they're like,
  • 00:36:59.330 --> 00:37:00.665
  • Okay, who's coming?
  • 00:37:00.665 --> 00:37:01.932
  • You know, and for me to be able to to be there for them, but
  • 00:37:01.932 --> 00:37:04.969
  • Also to to know that they are really impacting another child.
  • 00:37:04.969 --> 00:37:08.005
  • You know, most of these kids,
  • 00:37:08.005 --> 00:37:09.206
  • We are still in touch with them.
  • 00:37:09.206 --> 00:37:10.574
  • So they get to have extended
  • 00:37:10.574 --> 00:37:11.876
  • Friends who lived with us for a while.
  • 00:37:11.876 --> 00:37:14.378
  • And for me, it's richer.
  • 00:37:14.378 --> 00:37:16.514
  • It's better for my kids to feel, yes, they are adopted.
  • 00:37:16.514 --> 00:37:20.151
  • They have a home.
  • 00:37:20.151 --> 00:37:21.452
  • But to be able to provide for those who are in the same place
  • 00:37:21.452 --> 00:37:24.221
  • As they were, and they're able
  • 00:37:24.221 --> 00:37:25.856
  • To see the change in their lives.
  • 00:37:25.856 --> 00:37:28.092
  • I'm just wondering from from the perspective of god, from
  • 00:37:28.092 --> 00:37:32.596
  • The perspective of why jesus came, the whole everything we
  • 00:37:32.596 --> 00:37:36.534
  • Believe was about us being
  • 00:37:36.534 --> 00:37:38.169
  • Reunited with our with our father.
  • 00:37:38.169 --> 00:37:41.272
  • What you do seems to me to be.
  • 00:37:41.272 --> 00:37:43.741
  • It's like jesus with skin on.
  • 00:37:43.741 --> 00:37:46.277
  • It's like, let me--
  • 00:37:46.277 --> 00:37:47.812
  • I'm not going to talk to you about god's love.
  • 00:37:47.812 --> 00:37:49.513
  • I'm going to show you how god loves you.
  • 00:37:49.513 --> 00:37:52.283
  • I remember the first time i was in, um, i think it was trying
  • 00:37:52.283 --> 00:37:57.088
  • To think of what country i was in, but angola, i was in
  • 00:37:57.088 --> 00:37:59.390
  • Angola, and we were putting, um, water wells in villages
  • 00:37:59.390 --> 00:38:02.860
  • Where there was no clean water.
  • 00:38:02.860 --> 00:38:04.862
  • And i was out with a mom with two children who were gathering
  • 00:38:04.862 --> 00:38:09.066
  • This muddy water from a
  • 00:38:09.066 --> 00:38:11.202
  • Hand-dug well. horrible.
  • 00:38:11.202 --> 00:38:13.137
  • And part of me wanted to knock
  • 00:38:13.137 --> 00:38:15.072
  • Out their hands because it was filthy.
  • 00:38:15.072 --> 00:38:16.507
  • And i'm thinking, i don't have the right to do that unless i'm
  • 00:38:16.507 --> 00:38:19.243
  • Going to provide something that's clean, right?
  • 00:38:19.243 --> 00:38:22.246
  • Do you ever get to the stage where you're like, okay, lord,
  • 00:38:22.246 --> 00:38:24.081
  • I think i'm done?
  • 00:38:24.081 --> 00:38:25.483
  • This is-- this is-- it's got to be exhausting.
  • 00:38:25.483 --> 00:38:28.352
  • Absolutely. and especially like, right now, i have six
  • 00:38:28.352 --> 00:38:30.121
  • In my home. it's exhausting.
  • 00:38:30.121 --> 00:38:32.156
  • But when you know your child, when you know there are so many
  • 00:38:32.156 --> 00:38:34.492
  • Kids in foster care that have no home to be in,
  • 00:38:34.492 --> 00:38:38.729
  • When you know your kids are struggling feeling
  • 00:38:38.729 --> 00:38:42.600
  • They belong or feeling what happened to my mom,
  • 00:38:42.600 --> 00:38:44.902
  • But there's no one to explain that to them,
  • 00:38:44.902 --> 00:38:47.238
  • Uh, it is difficult to take
  • 00:38:47.238 --> 00:38:50.374
  • That, but also to, um, --
  • 00:38:50.374 --> 00:38:53.644
  • You know, he calls us, you know, what's the
  • 00:38:53.644 --> 00:38:55.813
  • Religion, to take care of, you know, the fatherless.
  • 00:38:55.813 --> 00:38:59.817
  • And for me to feel that we can do that for children, that we
  • 00:38:59.817 --> 00:39:04.221
  • Can provide a safe and loving home for them, but also for
  • 00:39:04.221 --> 00:39:06.757
  • Their parents as well.
  • 00:39:06.757 --> 00:39:08.025
  • Like to live a life where we we don't villain people, but we
  • 00:39:08.025 --> 00:39:10.961
  • Reach out to them.
  • 00:39:10.961 --> 00:39:12.129
  • We don't wait until they fall, but we come alongside
  • 00:39:12.129 --> 00:39:14.965
  • Before they fall.
  • 00:39:14.965 --> 00:39:16.200
  • And also for me to know that it's a call.
  • 00:39:16.200 --> 00:39:18.769
  • Jesus doesn't say, you know when you feel like, you know,
  • 00:39:18.769 --> 00:39:21.505
  • When you're comfortable and done all you need, you know,
  • 00:39:21.505 --> 00:39:24.608
  • Take care of this.
  • 00:39:24.608 --> 00:39:25.910
  • No, he says, you know, if you want to know me, if you want to
  • 00:39:25.910 --> 00:39:29.246
  • See me, if you want to be part of me, this is the first. you
  • 00:39:29.246 --> 00:39:34.251
  • Take care of the least of these.
  • 00:39:34.251 --> 00:39:35.553
  • And so for me to know that i've lived, i've been given-- as i
  • 00:39:35.553 --> 00:39:38.589
  • Said, i'm the wealthiest human on the planet, that i didn't
  • 00:39:38.589 --> 00:39:42.893
  • Have a home.
  • 00:39:42.893 --> 00:39:43.761
  • I have a home. that i didn't know
  • 00:39:43.761 --> 00:39:44.929
  • Christ, my lord and savior that i have, that i dream.
  • 00:39:44.929 --> 00:39:47.498
  • I've been in more than 120 countries not because i could,
  • 00:39:47.498 --> 00:39:51.869
  • But because of his grace and mercy that he's given me, that
  • 00:39:51.869 --> 00:39:55.105
  • I ought to do the same for other kids.
  • 00:39:55.105 --> 00:39:57.074
  • Give them an opportunity to dream.
  • 00:39:57.074 --> 00:39:58.676
  • Give them an opportunity to be seen, but also provide a safe.
  • 00:39:58.676 --> 00:40:02.513
  • Here's what i try to say.
  • 00:40:02.513 --> 00:40:03.881
  • My job is not to take away the trauma.
  • 00:40:03.881 --> 00:40:06.283
  • My job is to provide a safe and loving home so they can take
  • 00:40:06.283 --> 00:40:09.753
  • Off that trauma at their own time when it's right for them,
  • 00:40:09.753 --> 00:40:13.557
  • You know, and there's a difference there.
  • 00:40:13.557 --> 00:40:16.126
  • But also to to know that i have been given. you know,
  • 00:40:16.126 --> 00:40:19.096
  • What can we do?
  • 00:40:19.096 --> 00:40:21.098
  • Usually i tell my fellow americans like, you know,
  • 00:40:21.098 --> 00:40:23.934
  • Do me a favor.
  • 00:40:23.934 --> 00:40:25.236
  • Go back to your home, open the closet, count what's in there,
  • 00:40:25.236 --> 00:40:29.306
  • And if it's not enough-- and if it's enough to say, god,
  • 00:40:29.306 --> 00:40:32.843
  • You've given me so much. and be grateful for that.
  • 00:40:32.843 --> 00:40:36.380
  • Open that fridge before you go and see how much food is there
  • 00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:40.217
  • And saying, god, i'm glad you get to provide for me because
  • 00:40:40.217 --> 00:40:44.321
  • What is normal for us is not normal for most people outside
  • 00:40:44.321 --> 00:40:48.058
  • Our country here.
  • 00:40:48.058 --> 00:40:49.326
  • And that's my joy that we can also do that for kids who go
  • 00:40:49.326 --> 00:40:52.963
  • Home hungry, that it's not just happening in africa,
  • 00:40:52.963 --> 00:40:55.399
  • But here at home.
  • 00:40:55.399 --> 00:40:56.967
  • Kids are looking for a place to feel safe and loved.
  • 00:40:56.967 --> 00:41:00.337
  • Wow. i'm talking tonight to
  • 00:41:00.337 --> 00:41:03.340
  • Peter mutabazi, a phenomenal story.
  • 00:41:03.340 --> 00:41:05.676
  • His book love does not conquer all is,
  • 00:41:05.676 --> 00:41:09.113
  • I found it so challenging because it made me think,
  • 00:41:09.113 --> 00:41:12.650
  • You know what?
  • 00:41:12.650 --> 00:41:13.884
  • Lord, sometimes we think, well, i do this and i do that.
  • 00:41:13.884 --> 00:41:16.820
  • But it's like to live with open eyes,
  • 00:41:16.820 --> 00:41:19.290
  • To live where you're constantly-- i mean, i,
  • 00:41:19.290 --> 00:41:23.193
  • I was speaking at a conference and at the end of the
  • 00:41:23.193 --> 00:41:25.129
  • Conference, this woman came up to me and she i could tell
  • 00:41:25.129 --> 00:41:28.566
  • She was mad. she was angry.
  • 00:41:28.566 --> 00:41:30.267
  • And she said, i'm so sick of
  • 00:41:30.267 --> 00:41:31.569
  • Hearing about your perfect family.
  • 00:41:31.569 --> 00:41:33.571
  • And so i said to her, well, just hang on a second.
  • 00:41:33.571 --> 00:41:36.407
  • Let's go for a walk, because one of my daily prayers
  • 00:41:36.407 --> 00:41:40.411
  • I prayed today is god, give me eyes to see what i'm going to
  • 00:41:40.411 --> 00:41:43.948
  • Miss without you and give me ears to hear behind what's
  • 00:41:43.948 --> 00:41:46.850
  • Going on and to what's really in the heart.
  • 00:41:46.850 --> 00:41:49.753
  • Because sometimes anger is just, it's a cover.
  • 00:41:49.753 --> 00:41:52.590
  • It's like pain inside.
  • 00:41:52.590 --> 00:41:55.125
  • So we went for a walk and i said to this woman,
  • 00:41:55.125 --> 00:41:58.062
  • What happened to you?
  • 00:41:58.062 --> 00:41:59.797
  • And honestly, at first i thought she was going to hit
  • 00:41:59.797 --> 00:42:01.632
  • Me, but she collapsed into my
  • 00:42:01.632 --> 00:42:03.534
  • Arms because she'd buried two children.
  • 00:42:03.534 --> 00:42:06.103
  • Can you imagine how different this country would be wherever,
  • 00:42:06.103 --> 00:42:10.240
  • Wherever we are, if instead of reacting to what people are
  • 00:42:10.240 --> 00:42:13.544
  • Saying and to how they appear to be, we actually ask the
  • 00:42:13.544 --> 00:42:17.014
  • Holy spirit, what's the truth here?
  • 00:42:17.014 --> 00:42:19.550
  • You know, what's going on?
  • 00:42:19.550 --> 00:42:21.085
  • How can i be your hands and feet?
  • 00:42:21.085 --> 00:42:23.621
  • We could start a revolution in this nation, in this church, if
  • 00:42:23.621 --> 00:42:27.658
  • We began to be people with eyes that are seen, that see people
  • 00:42:27.658 --> 00:42:31.362
  • Through the holy spirit and
  • 00:42:31.362 --> 00:42:33.163
  • Ears that hear behind the anger.
  • 00:42:33.163 --> 00:42:35.132
  • So, peter, i'm just thinking there's a family watching right now.
  • 00:42:35.132 --> 00:42:37.935
  • They're in minnesota.
  • 00:42:37.935 --> 00:42:39.136
  • They're just finished their dinner and they're sitting
  • 00:42:39.136 --> 00:42:40.671
  • There thinking, oh, what a great story.
  • 00:42:40.671 --> 00:42:42.272
  • I'm so happy you did all of this.
  • 00:42:42.272 --> 00:42:44.742
  • What can i do today? tomorrow?
  • 00:42:44.742 --> 00:42:48.545
  • Well, absolutely. i love that question.
  • 00:42:48.545 --> 00:42:50.280
  • You know, here's what i believe.
  • 00:42:50.280 --> 00:42:51.782
  • It takes a village to raise a child.
  • 00:42:51.782 --> 00:42:53.417
  • But not everyone can be a foster parent.
  • 00:42:53.417 --> 00:42:55.219
  • Like, i know it's a calling. it's not a calling for everyone.
  • 00:42:55.219 --> 00:42:57.688
  • But what can we do in our powers to come alongside those
  • 00:42:57.688 --> 00:43:01.058
  • Who are doing it? you know?
  • 00:43:01.058 --> 00:43:02.359
  • Do you make good cookies?
  • 00:43:02.359 --> 00:43:04.061
  • You know, can you make extra and give to a single mom or to
  • 00:43:04.061 --> 00:43:07.364
  • A foster family. you know, do you like to play video games?
  • 00:43:07.364 --> 00:43:10.668
  • You know, but this time, could you maybe invite two teenagers
  • 00:43:10.668 --> 00:43:13.971
  • And you bring them alongside and play video games with them?
  • 00:43:13.971 --> 00:43:17.241
  • Two girls somewhere?
  • 00:43:17.241 --> 00:43:18.642
  • Would you take them for a girls night?
  • 00:43:18.642 --> 00:43:20.644
  • You know, man, we love to mow our yard, but this time you
  • 00:43:20.644 --> 00:43:24.181
  • Mow your yard,
  • 00:43:24.181 --> 00:43:25.149
  • Can you mow the yard for another family?
  • 00:43:25.149 --> 00:43:26.917
  • Needs of a foster family,
  • 00:43:26.917 --> 00:43:28.619
  • You know, meals for me.
  • 00:43:28.619 --> 00:43:30.654
  • Meals i like is usually on a thursday.
  • 00:43:30.654 --> 00:43:32.556
  • Why? because it's a visitation day and sometimes the parents
  • 00:43:32.556 --> 00:43:35.526
  • Don't show up.
  • 00:43:35.526 --> 00:43:36.794
  • And sometimes those are the hardest time for my children.
  • 00:43:36.794 --> 00:43:38.929
  • But to be able to provide a meal and give me a meal is
  • 00:43:38.929 --> 00:43:41.932
  • Always the best way you can serve.
  • 00:43:41.932 --> 00:43:43.701
  • So is it a meal?
  • 00:43:43.701 --> 00:43:45.002
  • You know, christmas is coming up.
  • 00:43:45.002 --> 00:43:46.937
  • You know thanksgiving is coming.
  • 00:43:46.937 --> 00:43:48.706
  • Like what weighs on those big because they are the hardest
  • 00:43:48.706 --> 00:43:51.308
  • For our kids.
  • 00:43:51.308 --> 00:43:52.543
  • Thanksgiving, everyone is talking about family, but our
  • 00:43:52.543 --> 00:43:54.378
  • Kids have no family.
  • 00:43:54.378 --> 00:43:55.679
  • But how can we come alongside those who are really struggling
  • 00:43:55.679 --> 00:43:58.382
  • And say, we're going to embrace you and give you the best way
  • 00:43:58.382 --> 00:44:01.351
  • We can to provide for you?
  • 00:44:01.351 --> 00:44:03.253
  • Is it giving to a charity in your neighborhood?
  • 00:44:03.253 --> 00:44:05.255
  • You know, is it that you've been really wanting to foster
  • 00:44:05.255 --> 00:44:08.058
  • And you're like, wait a minute, you know, maybe take that step
  • 00:44:08.058 --> 00:44:10.728
  • To be a respite.
  • 00:44:10.728 --> 00:44:12.029
  • Respite is you taking a child for the weekend while mom and
  • 00:44:12.029 --> 00:44:14.898
  • Dad can have a little time to have a date or go for something
  • 00:44:14.898 --> 00:44:18.902
  • For themselves.
  • 00:44:18.902 --> 00:44:20.104
  • So there are many ways we can do something, and i know
  • 00:44:20.104 --> 00:44:22.873
  • It's not all that we can be fosters.
  • 00:44:22.873 --> 00:44:24.708
  • It is hard and difficult, but we can do something.
  • 00:44:24.708 --> 00:44:27.111
  • We can all do something.
  • 00:44:27.111 --> 00:44:28.345
  • And what's that one small thing you can do in your home?
  • 00:44:28.345 --> 00:44:30.547
  • What's one thing you can do?
  • 00:44:30.547 --> 00:44:32.182
  • You know, i know scripture said it's more blessed to give
  • 00:44:32.182 --> 00:44:34.818
  • Than to receive.
  • 00:44:34.818 --> 00:44:36.120
  • But when you do, you discover how true that is.
  • 00:44:36.120 --> 00:44:38.822
  • Barry and i, my husband and i, we decided that we looked
  • 00:44:38.822 --> 00:44:41.291
  • Through our closet and thought, you know what?
  • 00:44:41.291 --> 00:44:43.293
  • There's a bunch of things we have not worn in a year.
  • 00:44:43.293 --> 00:44:45.829
  • So that clearly means we don't need it in any season.
  • 00:44:45.829 --> 00:44:48.565
  • So we took them, and then we went through our pantry and
  • 00:44:48.565 --> 00:44:51.835
  • Looked and took half of the things out the pantry.
  • 00:44:51.835 --> 00:44:54.271
  • And i just googled.
  • 00:44:54.271 --> 00:44:55.539
  • I found out where there was a place in our little village
  • 00:44:55.539 --> 00:44:59.209
  • Where it's like a food pantry and a place where people who
  • 00:44:59.209 --> 00:45:02.412
  • Have so little.
  • 00:45:02.412 --> 00:45:03.847
  • And i cannot tell you how that impacted me that day, peter.
  • 00:45:03.847 --> 00:45:06.884
  • Just being able to-- and it was so little.
  • 00:45:06.884 --> 00:45:08.652
  • I mean, it was nothing to us and it was everything to some
  • 00:45:08.652 --> 00:45:11.622
  • Other people.
  • 00:45:11.622 --> 00:45:12.890
  • I watched a mom come in and pick up things that i had just
  • 00:45:12.890 --> 00:45:15.159
  • Put down, and i thought, you know what?
  • 00:45:15.159 --> 00:45:18.629
  • How do i forget that this is what jesus would do?
  • 00:45:18.629 --> 00:45:22.065
  • So every single one of us can do something.
  • 00:45:22.065 --> 00:45:24.268
  • And for people who want to contact you for people who
  • 00:45:24.268 --> 00:45:26.904
  • Want to, to do this,
  • 00:45:26.904 --> 00:45:28.639
  • How do they get in touch with you?
  • 00:45:28.639 --> 00:45:30.374
  • Well, there's so many ways they can.
  • 00:45:30.374 --> 00:45:31.542
  • One, they can join me on social media, or they can go
  • 00:45:31.542 --> 00:45:33.977
  • To my website.
  • 00:45:33.977 --> 00:45:34.912
  • They need to join you on social media.
  • 00:45:34.912 --> 00:45:36.280
  • And see my craziness. what is your instagram?
  • 00:45:36.280 --> 00:45:38.348
  • Foster dad flipper.
  • 00:45:38.348 --> 00:45:39.783
  • Foster dad flipper. you need to follow him.
  • 00:45:39.783 --> 00:45:42.085
  • Absolutely brilliant.
  • 00:45:42.085 --> 00:45:43.086
  • All the little videos you post.
  • 00:45:43.086 --> 00:45:44.788
  • Or our website, petermutabazi.com.
  • 00:45:44.788 --> 00:45:46.924
  • That you get to do that, and then we get to give it to the
  • 00:45:46.924 --> 00:45:48.992
  • Agency, uh, to change a life for for a child.
  • 00:45:48.992 --> 00:45:52.362
  • And that's how someone did for me.
  • 00:45:52.362 --> 00:45:53.897
  • You know, i love what you said, uh, that sometimes when you
  • 00:45:53.897 --> 00:45:57.534
  • Take time to to think about
  • 00:45:57.534 --> 00:45:58.769
  • Somebody that will change their lives.
  • 00:45:58.769 --> 00:46:00.671
  • When when i became a foster parent, i was really having a
  • 00:46:00.671 --> 00:46:03.974
  • Bad attitude towards their parents because they reminded
  • 00:46:03.974 --> 00:46:06.443
  • Me of my father.
  • 00:46:06.443 --> 00:46:07.411
  • Like, how could they do this to children?
  • 00:46:07.411 --> 00:46:09.246
  • How? but along the way, my first child, he wasn't feeling
  • 00:46:09.246 --> 00:46:12.516
  • Well, so i couldn't call the social worker.
  • 00:46:12.516 --> 00:46:15.152
  • So i called the mom.
  • 00:46:15.152 --> 00:46:16.119
  • I said, hey, he's wheezing, what can i do?
  • 00:46:16.119 --> 00:46:18.088
  • And the mom said, do one, two, three, four.
  • 00:46:18.088 --> 00:46:20.524
  • And i did that.
  • 00:46:20.524 --> 00:46:21.491
  • And after i did that, uh, the
  • 00:46:21.491 --> 00:46:23.093
  • Following morning, she called me.
  • 00:46:23.093 --> 00:46:24.161
  • She said, peter, thank you for
  • 00:46:24.161 --> 00:46:25.596
  • Letting me be your mom for two minutes.
  • 00:46:25.596 --> 00:46:27.464
  • Oh, wow.
  • 00:46:27.464 --> 00:46:28.732
  • And those moments, i began to realize that it almost had a
  • 00:46:28.732 --> 00:46:32.102
  • The light went off like, wait a minute, she's just a mom on
  • 00:46:32.102 --> 00:46:34.905
  • The other side.
  • 00:46:34.905 --> 00:46:36.306
  • And all i can do is really co-parent with with her, that
  • 00:46:36.306 --> 00:46:40.377
  • She loves her children
  • 00:46:40.377 --> 00:46:41.612
  • But along the way, something really went wrong.
  • 00:46:41.612 --> 00:46:43.747
  • And that's the posture that-- i love what you're sharing.
  • 00:46:43.747 --> 00:46:47.251
  • How do we come alongside and say, i don't know what you went
  • 00:46:47.251 --> 00:46:50.020
  • Through, but i want to come alongside.
  • 00:46:50.020 --> 00:46:52.556
  • I don't know if you had a meal tonight, but i'm going to do
  • 00:46:52.556 --> 00:46:54.825
  • The best i can to truly change a life for for those,
  • 00:46:54.825 --> 00:46:58.262
  • Because so often we're known as believers, as those who
  • 00:46:58.262 --> 00:47:01.665
  • Judge other people.
  • 00:47:01.665 --> 00:47:02.900
  • And we're always mad with somebody and we're, you know,
  • 00:47:02.900 --> 00:47:05.235
  • We're divided, we're polarized.
  • 00:47:05.235 --> 00:47:07.604
  • Gosh, what would it be like if we just decided, you know what?
  • 00:47:07.604 --> 00:47:10.641
  • No. we want to be the fragrance
  • 00:47:10.641 --> 00:47:12.609
  • Of christ in a world that stinks.
  • 00:47:12.609 --> 00:47:14.678
  • And we want to be the hands and feet of jesus.
  • 00:47:14.678 --> 00:47:17.047
  • Where-- because you're right. it's so easy.
  • 00:47:17.047 --> 00:47:19.249
  • We're very tempted in our human nature to think, this is the
  • 00:47:19.249 --> 00:47:21.618
  • Good guy and this is the bad guy, but jesus came for the
  • 00:47:21.618 --> 00:47:24.621
  • Good guy and the bad guy.
  • 00:47:24.621 --> 00:47:26.023
  • Yes. and he cared more
  • 00:47:26.023 --> 00:47:27.257
  • Sometimes for the bad guy, you know?
  • 00:47:27.257 --> 00:47:29.393
  • And that's how he taught us, to love unconditionally, to care
  • 00:47:29.393 --> 00:47:33.497
  • For those, and to be there for everyone that needs us in every
  • 00:47:33.497 --> 00:47:38.168
  • Way, shape or form.
  • 00:47:38.168 --> 00:47:39.202
  • The children who have come through your home,
  • 00:47:39.202 --> 00:47:41.071
  • Have you seen what love does?
  • 00:47:41.071 --> 00:47:43.607
  • Oh, absolutely, you know. tell us about that.
  • 00:47:43.607 --> 00:47:45.909
  • Oh, you know, for me, i'm still in touch with all my kids
  • 00:47:45.909 --> 00:47:48.645
  • That have come through my family.
  • 00:47:48.645 --> 00:47:50.514
  • And i think for me to see them go into high school and you get
  • 00:47:50.514 --> 00:47:53.550
  • The first phone call. you know, the other day, i just got a
  • 00:47:53.550 --> 00:47:56.353
  • Phone call from a mom. she said, hey,
  • 00:47:56.353 --> 00:47:59.189
  • We saved enough money and we're taking our kids to disney world.
  • 00:47:59.189 --> 00:48:03.327
  • Wow.
  • 00:48:03.327 --> 00:48:04.561
  • And to see that that mom and dad, they worked so hard for
  • 00:48:04.561 --> 00:48:07.931
  • Not having their kids for three years, but somehow they
  • 00:48:07.931 --> 00:48:10.934
  • Overcame that.
  • 00:48:10.934 --> 00:48:12.169
  • And now they are not just parents, but they're excelling,
  • 00:48:12.169 --> 00:48:14.871
  • You know?
  • 00:48:14.871 --> 00:48:15.605
  • And i got that first phone call,
  • 00:48:15.605 --> 00:48:17.140
  • Don't tell the kids, but we are really excited to take them.
  • 00:48:17.140 --> 00:48:20.077
  • And those are the blessings that i think for me to be able
  • 00:48:20.077 --> 00:48:22.612
  • To see this love, this kindness.
  • 00:48:22.612 --> 00:48:25.782
  • When i take a child, you have to have a conversation with
  • 00:48:25.782 --> 00:48:27.684
  • A parent so they can teach you or
  • 00:48:27.684 --> 00:48:29.252
  • Show you allergies about your children.
  • 00:48:29.252 --> 00:48:31.421
  • And most of them, they're angry, which is justifiable.
  • 00:48:31.421 --> 00:48:33.991
  • If someone took away my child, yes, i'll be angry.
  • 00:48:33.991 --> 00:48:36.360
  • Yeah. and sometimes people say a man single,
  • 00:48:36.360 --> 00:48:38.729
  • He's going to have my child?
  • 00:48:38.729 --> 00:48:40.630
  • And sometimes that doesn't go well.
  • 00:48:40.630 --> 00:48:42.766
  • But along the way i get to pursue them.
  • 00:48:42.766 --> 00:48:45.802
  • I don't want to adopt your child.
  • 00:48:45.802 --> 00:48:47.371
  • I don't want to harm your child.
  • 00:48:47.371 --> 00:48:48.805
  • I'm just there for you so you can have them back.
  • 00:48:48.805 --> 00:48:51.274
  • What can i do for you so you can have your children back?
  • 00:48:51.274 --> 00:48:54.411
  • And most of them, you get to see them and say, me?
  • 00:48:54.411 --> 00:48:57.447
  • You care enough for me.
  • 00:48:57.447 --> 00:48:59.049
  • Most of them, they are feeling, uh, humiliated, you know,
  • 00:48:59.049 --> 00:49:02.586
  • Degraded and embarrassing, too, that you got to lose your
  • 00:49:02.586 --> 00:49:05.222
  • Children, you know?
  • 00:49:05.222 --> 00:49:06.456
  • But in those moments when we can love the highest and the
  • 00:49:06.456 --> 00:49:09.059
  • Lowest, i think we get to change both our children and
  • 00:49:09.059 --> 00:49:13.130
  • Also the farmers where they come from.
  • 00:49:13.130 --> 00:49:15.132
  • And that creates a beautiful relationship still between the
  • 00:49:15.132 --> 00:49:17.968
  • Children and their birth parents
  • 00:49:17.968 --> 00:49:19.770
  • If there's able to be. the fact that you would reach out to
  • 00:49:19.770 --> 00:49:22.305
  • Them and show kindness and grace and mercy to them has got
  • 00:49:22.305 --> 00:49:26.043
  • To be very healing for their children as well,
  • 00:49:26.043 --> 00:49:27.778
  • When they're with you. yeah, absolutely.
  • 00:49:27.778 --> 00:49:29.513
  • They see you as a friend to mom, but also someone that
  • 00:49:29.513 --> 00:49:32.449
  • Really sees-- you know, most of the world sees their parents in
  • 00:49:32.449 --> 00:49:34.951
  • A different way.
  • 00:49:34.951 --> 00:49:36.119
  • But when you get to say, i love you, mom, i care for,
  • 00:49:36.119 --> 00:49:38.155
  • Let's take a picture for your mom,
  • 00:49:38.155 --> 00:49:39.890
  • When that dignity that you honor my mom truly changes the
  • 00:49:39.890 --> 00:49:43.960
  • Way they view you as well, because you care enough to want
  • 00:49:43.960 --> 00:49:48.265
  • To know their parents, and that's truly been a joy.
  • 00:49:48.265 --> 00:49:52.169
  • But also, as i believe, i feel like it's easy to say, share
  • 00:49:52.169 --> 00:49:55.338
  • The gospel, but it's it's harder to live it,
  • 00:49:55.338 --> 00:49:58.108
  • To live the god i know. yeah, absolutely.
  • 00:49:58.108 --> 00:50:00.110
  • You can leave a bible in somebody's table.
  • 00:50:00.110 --> 00:50:02.112
  • But how do you live out the gospel in front of them?
  • 00:50:02.112 --> 00:50:04.648
  • You know, and i think for me, i found that that's the best way,
  • 00:50:04.648 --> 00:50:07.050
  • You know, that i can truly say this is, i love the lord.
  • 00:50:07.050 --> 00:50:09.286
  • And here's how i'm going to treat you and honor you and
  • 00:50:09.286 --> 00:50:11.655
  • Give you dignity. uh, and it's really been a joy.
  • 00:50:11.655 --> 00:50:14.624
  • Hard, i can say, but a joy.
  • 00:50:14.624 --> 00:50:17.727
  • What do you do when you get discouraged and tired and
  • 00:50:17.727 --> 00:50:21.098
  • Think, lord, i don't know if i can do this much longer?
  • 00:50:21.098 --> 00:50:23.934
  • Well, i've got a kid sometimes who would give me, let's say,
  • 00:50:23.934 --> 00:50:26.570
  • A run for my money. is that the word they use?
  • 00:50:26.570 --> 00:50:29.272
  • And then when i put them to bed and they look in my eyes, they
  • 00:50:29.272 --> 00:50:31.641
  • Say, dad, i love you very much, you know.
  • 00:50:31.641 --> 00:50:35.212
  • And for me, that word that i love you so much isn't like the
  • 00:50:35.212 --> 00:50:39.583
  • Love, but it's more like, i don't know where i would be if
  • 00:50:39.583 --> 00:50:42.552
  • You weren't there right now, you know?
  • 00:50:42.552 --> 00:50:44.454
  • And for me to go back to my room and say, god, i wanted
  • 00:50:44.454 --> 00:50:46.690
  • To give up.
  • 00:50:46.690 --> 00:50:47.724
  • But now i am not giving up, you know?
  • 00:50:47.724 --> 00:50:51.061
  • Uh, empathy as well.
  • 00:50:51.061 --> 00:50:52.295
  • Sometimes we get to deal with, uh, trauma in a some way.
  • 00:50:52.295 --> 00:50:55.732
  • You know, i got a kid, he came in, and first day he went to
  • 00:50:55.732 --> 00:50:58.768
  • The bathroom, and he did number two, and he smeared it in the
  • 00:50:58.768 --> 00:51:01.738
  • Entire bathroom, you know?
  • 00:51:01.738 --> 00:51:03.373
  • And in those moments, all i could think about the cost, how
  • 00:51:03.373 --> 00:51:06.543
  • Much it's going to cost me to clean that.
  • 00:51:06.543 --> 00:51:09.045
  • And so i was about to call the social worker to come and pick
  • 00:51:09.045 --> 00:51:11.081
  • Up the child, you know. and then i paused.
  • 00:51:11.081 --> 00:51:13.283
  • I said, god, before i can make this phone call, help me
  • 00:51:13.283 --> 00:51:17.120
  • Understand that, why he did it,
  • 00:51:17.120 --> 00:51:18.655
  • Why he did it.
  • 00:51:18.655 --> 00:51:19.689
  • And i come to find that he was sexually abused.
  • 00:51:19.689 --> 00:51:21.625
  • So in some way he was protecting himself.
  • 00:51:21.625 --> 00:51:23.793
  • You know, the empathy i had from zero to 100, because
  • 00:51:23.793 --> 00:51:28.198
  • Now i understood he was doing
  • 00:51:28.198 --> 00:51:30.400
  • The right thing to protect himself.
  • 00:51:30.400 --> 00:51:32.302
  • That story broke my heart
  • 00:51:32.302 --> 00:51:33.403
  • In your book, where a little boy--
  • 00:51:33.403 --> 00:51:35.138
  • Yeah, but i could have missed that.
  • 00:51:35.138 --> 00:51:36.673
  • Yeah. because, uh, i'm kind of really looking for what is
  • 00:51:36.673 --> 00:51:39.643
  • Normal or what works for me. yeah.
  • 00:51:39.643 --> 00:51:41.678
  • To be able to step back and say, god, show me how i can
  • 00:51:41.678 --> 00:51:45.148
  • Love in the midst, where
  • 00:51:45.148 --> 00:51:46.416
  • Sometimes i don't get to see it.
  • 00:51:46.416 --> 00:51:48.018
  • And in those moments, yeah, it's taught me to truly be
  • 00:51:48.018 --> 00:51:52.122
  • As the lord and he will guide you.
  • 00:51:52.122 --> 00:51:53.790
  • And the other part i thought, i thought i was a christian until
  • 00:51:53.790 --> 00:51:57.127
  • I became a dad.
  • 00:51:57.127 --> 00:52:00.163
  • I think a lot of people out there are amening right now.
  • 00:52:00.163 --> 00:52:02.532
  • Yeah, i'm sure that's when i checked it, i was like, oh man,
  • 00:52:02.532 --> 00:52:05.335
  • I need grace, i need mercy, i'm far, far from what the
  • 00:52:05.335 --> 00:52:09.239
  • Lord requires me.
  • 00:52:09.239 --> 00:52:10.774
  • And that has really helped me to be on my knees at all times,
  • 00:52:10.774 --> 00:52:13.276
  • You know, when i can't.
  • 00:52:13.276 --> 00:52:15.145
  • But to love as he loved me.
  • 00:52:15.145 --> 00:52:17.280
  • You know, i think when we reflect on how much he's loved
  • 00:52:17.280 --> 00:52:20.183
  • Us, it's easy to to really love even when it's difficult.
  • 00:52:20.183 --> 00:52:23.987
  • Peter, i'm wondering if you would pray for our audience,
  • 00:52:23.987 --> 00:52:26.022
  • Because i'm just thinking.
  • 00:52:26.022 --> 00:52:27.557
  • I mean, in some ways you're the least likely person to be
  • 00:52:27.557 --> 00:52:30.393
  • In this place.
  • 00:52:30.393 --> 00:52:31.628
  • I mean, a ten year old boy running away from home in the
  • 00:52:31.628 --> 00:52:33.763
  • Middle of the night, living rough in the streets.
  • 00:52:33.763 --> 00:52:36.266
  • And now you're like this beacon of the love of god and
  • 00:52:36.266 --> 00:52:39.135
  • The light of christ.
  • 00:52:39.135 --> 00:52:40.403
  • Would you pray for all of us that we would hear the call to
  • 00:52:40.403 --> 00:52:44.307
  • Love like jesus loves?
  • 00:52:44.307 --> 00:52:45.675
  • Absolutely. i would love that. yeah. let's pray.
  • 00:52:45.675 --> 00:52:49.846
  • Lord, we thank you today.
  • 00:52:49.846 --> 00:52:51.848
  • We thank you that you've given
  • 00:52:51.848 --> 00:52:53.316
  • Us an extra day that we don't deserve.
  • 00:52:53.316 --> 00:52:56.219
  • But because you love us, you've let us breathe again.
  • 00:52:56.219 --> 00:52:59.589
  • And so, lord, may we take this day to remember you,
  • 00:52:59.589 --> 00:53:03.360
  • To walk with you.
  • 00:53:03.360 --> 00:53:04.761
  • But also to remind us that whatever we're going through,
  • 00:53:04.761 --> 00:53:07.330
  • Lord, that you protect us, that you be there for us.
  • 00:53:07.330 --> 00:53:11.101
  • And, lord, for our parents out there listening right now.
  • 00:53:11.101 --> 00:53:14.371
  • We know parenting is not easy,
  • 00:53:14.371 --> 00:53:16.273
  • Especially when it becomes teenagers.
  • 00:53:16.273 --> 00:53:18.441
  • But lord, we know you have mercy and grace that you've
  • 00:53:18.441 --> 00:53:21.611
  • Entrusted us these kids to love on them, to care for them.
  • 00:53:21.611 --> 00:53:25.282
  • Lord, may you help us to learn how to love them at their
  • 00:53:25.282 --> 00:53:28.385
  • Lowest, and also to remember to come to you when we can't
  • 00:53:28.385 --> 00:53:31.921
  • Find the answer. lord, may you guide us.
  • 00:53:31.921 --> 00:53:34.791
  • May you teach us, lord.
  • 00:53:34.791 --> 00:53:36.092
  • For the kids in foster care we know today,
  • 00:53:36.092 --> 00:53:38.295
  • Some are worried. where will i be?
  • 00:53:38.295 --> 00:53:40.363
  • Will i see my mom?
  • 00:53:40.363 --> 00:53:41.898
  • Will someone care for me?
  • 00:53:41.898 --> 00:53:43.667
  • Will someone love me despite all my behaviors?
  • 00:53:43.667 --> 00:53:46.503
  • Lord, today we're coming to you, asking you that.
  • 00:53:46.503 --> 00:53:49.706
  • May you give us extra and extra
  • 00:53:49.706 --> 00:53:51.808
  • Love to love on the least of these.
  • 00:53:51.808 --> 00:53:54.210
  • May you guide us, lord, to love
  • 00:53:54.210 --> 00:53:55.745
  • Their parents and be there for them.
  • 00:53:55.745 --> 00:53:57.681
  • For the moms that are struggling and the dads that
  • 00:53:57.681 --> 00:53:59.516
  • Have lost their children,
  • 00:53:59.516 --> 00:54:00.784
  • Lord, we want to say, hang in there, do the best you can
  • 00:54:00.784 --> 00:54:04.054
  • For your children.
  • 00:54:04.054 --> 00:54:05.588
  • And as for us who are parents on this side, may you guide us
  • 00:54:05.588 --> 00:54:08.725
  • To love on those children as well, lord.
  • 00:54:08.725 --> 00:54:12.095
  • The foster care can be a mess sometimes, but lord,
  • 00:54:12.095 --> 00:54:15.332
  • You've governed countries.
  • 00:54:15.332 --> 00:54:17.967
  • You've governed the biggest empires.
  • 00:54:17.967 --> 00:54:21.471
  • But lord, we ask you,
  • 00:54:21.471 --> 00:54:22.972
  • May you come alongside our foster care system and fix it
  • 00:54:22.972 --> 00:54:26.476
  • Where you can, and gather people that run it, lord, to
  • 00:54:26.476 --> 00:54:29.646
  • Provide the resources, the needed above all, to love our
  • 00:54:29.646 --> 00:54:33.249
  • Children as they should.
  • 00:54:33.249 --> 00:54:35.051
  • Thank you for having me here.
  • 00:54:35.051 --> 00:54:36.519
  • Thank you for showing me, for making sure that every child is
  • 00:54:36.519 --> 00:54:41.291
  • Seen, heard and known.
  • 00:54:41.291 --> 00:54:42.559
  • And we thank you, lord. in your name i pray, amen.
  • 00:54:42.559 --> 00:54:46.029
  • Amen, peter.
  • 00:54:46.029 --> 00:54:47.030
  • Amen. um, remind people of your website.
  • 00:54:47.030 --> 00:54:50.567
  • Uh, petermutabazi.com
  • 00:54:50.567 --> 00:54:53.903
  • Or they can go to, foster dad flipper
  • 00:54:53.903 --> 00:54:56.206
  • And they'll find me. oh, now i'm known as well.
  • 00:54:56.206 --> 00:54:59.476
  • Yeah. would you join me in that prayer that i pray every
  • 00:54:59.476 --> 00:55:03.613
  • Morning of simply saying, lord, today, i mean, every morning
  • 00:55:03.613 --> 00:55:06.983
  • When i got up today, give me eyes to see what i'm going to
  • 00:55:06.983 --> 00:55:10.453
  • Miss without you.
  • 00:55:10.453 --> 00:55:11.654
  • You know, because we're always in such a hurry.
  • 00:55:11.654 --> 00:55:13.223
  • We're always going somewhere.
  • 00:55:13.223 --> 00:55:14.457
  • And sometimes i wonder who we trip over on our way to get
  • 00:55:14.457 --> 00:55:17.360
  • To help somebody else and not even notice them.
  • 00:55:17.360 --> 00:55:19.629
  • And ears to hear here behind what's coming out of someone's
  • 00:55:19.629 --> 00:55:22.532
  • Mouth to what might be going on in their hearts.
  • 00:55:22.532 --> 00:55:24.901
  • You and i can be god's boots on
  • 00:55:24.901 --> 00:55:27.871
  • The ground and make a difference.
  • 00:55:27.871 --> 00:55:29.339
  • And maybe in your church, maybe you're the one that starts the
  • 00:55:29.339 --> 00:55:32.275
  • Conversation and says, hey, you
  • 00:55:32.275 --> 00:55:34.344
  • Know, we're fairly decent sized church.
  • 00:55:34.344 --> 00:55:36.813
  • Perhaps we could get behind someone so that a child could
  • 00:55:36.813 --> 00:55:39.716
  • Be fostered, and we don't leave that one family to do it all.
  • 00:55:39.716 --> 00:55:42.986
  • Maybe we all gather around.
  • 00:55:42.986 --> 00:55:44.387
  • We all take different jobs, and we're all part of it because we
  • 00:55:44.387 --> 00:55:47.557
  • Are the body of christ and we are the ones who know what
  • 00:55:47.557 --> 00:55:50.627
  • Hope looks like. hope has a name.
  • 00:55:50.627 --> 00:55:52.996
  • His name is jesus.
  • 00:55:52.996 --> 00:55:54.531
  • Peter, thank you so much for being with us.
  • 00:55:54.531 --> 00:55:56.399
  • It was wonderful. thank you.
  • 00:55:56.399 --> 00:55:58.501
  • We love you so much.
  • 00:55:58.501 --> 00:55:59.602
  • Behalf of matt, laurie and all of us here at tbn,
  • 00:55:59.602 --> 00:56:02.238
  • God bless you. we'll see you next time.
  • 00:56:02.238 --> 00:56:02.238