Former child taken in by WID founder in the 1980s expresses gratitude, “better late than never!”
Steve reaches for basketball hoop, shared by Derek and boys in the 1980s, now embedded into tree trunk!
Below is a letter written to the father of WID founder Steve DeMoss. The letter comes from a man named Derek, who, as a child, was left at a home opened by Steve in the 1980s in an area of Uganda called Busega. He was left only with a note asking Steve to care for him.  Derek spent several years with Steve in post Idi Amin Uganda inflatable tents. He now lives in America with his Olympic athlete wife and children. He is writing to thank Steve’s father for raising a son who loves God and serves him with his life. The letter is unedited, giving you a glimpse into “Ugandan English!”
Gathering water at Busega well in 2009.
Busega kitchen, serving 20+ street boys in the 1980s.
Dear Steve’s Daddy,
Allow me even if it is a late message but as we say better late than never, just allow my warm regards and that of my entire family to thank you for affecting us all direct and indirect how you have and still living your life as a positive force in this world. Direct because I saw you personal in the 80s in a home your son opened in Africa and that was Busega home as we used to call it even though you did not like the lizard that was on the wall that one night, thank God you did not loose the love for Africa and through your humble up bring of your son Steve Demoss, I can say with all joy that I come out to be a good man and a responsible daddy too a force of good in the society and a good child of the most high, lets put this way, had you not lived a God fearing life, that would have passed over down to your son, and I real don’t know where I would be may be in prison and dead, who knows, but this I know, you choosing the best gift of God and that is salvation through Jesus, that gift was passed on to your son Steve Demoss and here we are rejoicing as a direct connection from the life well lived and still going strong and it is our family prayer to see that all your grands sons and daughters follow in the same foot steps you planted in your early age. Indirectly you have affected so many lives positively through helping the needy in so many ways and trust me on this, today someone in Africa or somewhere in the world is able to read or write because of your financial help and that is a positive way of living your life on this wonderful planet God has blessed us all with. You have a legacy that no man that I know can match and we pray and hope your Son may continue to carry on the touch as he has done and still doing all these years which I can also see his daughter and your grand daughter Stacy carrying on. I am proud of your family and am blessed to be part of your legacy’s family cause I am one those fruits that have yielded out of the well lived life you chose in your youthful age. God bless you and live many more years the World is a better place because of you and your entire family. Much love from Derek Sr., Derek Jr., Steve, and Lady Christine Mayanjaz
This entry was posted on Monday, March 28th, 2011 at 8:36 pm and is filed under Uganda. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.