September 2, 2025 • 37 mins
Peter Mutabazi is a Ugandan immigrant didn’t accept the cultural narrative that only white married people can foster and adopt kids. So far, this single dude has fostered 47 kids, adopted 3 of them, and he’s in the process of adopting 2 more of them! His radical love also happened to go viral, making him the most famous foster dad in America, with 2.5 million followers across social media.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
All the families were adapting from Uganda were always white people,
so that I never saw anyone who looks like me
who was doing what I saw but also being coronized
by the English.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I think we were toltal lie.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
You know, certain people can do these things, and certain
people can do these things.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
So for me, adaption was for these people, white people exactly.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Let's say, let's just speak.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
We people white people, and then fixed that.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
You know, I think for me is I can do
what I can do. You know, for me is changing
the native or the liar was told and leave the
opposite way. The white people can do this. I'm destined
to do this, you know. And for me, I said no,
that that that can't be, and I want to leave
a different way.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Welcome to an army of normal folks. I'm Bill Courtney.
I'm a normal guy. I'm a husband, I'm a father,
I'm an entrepreneur, and I've been a football coach in
inner city Memphis. And that last part incredibly led to
our film getting an oscar. That movie is called Undefeated.
I believe our country's problems are never gonna be solved
(01:13):
by a bunch of fancy people in nice suits. Using
big words that nobody ever uses on sinn and thoughts,
but rather by an army of normal folks. Y'all, that's us,
just you and me deciding, hey, maybe I can help.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
That's what Peter Mudabazi, the voice you.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Just heard, has done. This Ugandan immigrant didn't accept the
cultural narrative that only married white people can foster kids,
and so far, this single dude has fostered forty seven kids.
He's adopted three of them, and he's in the process
(01:53):
of adopting two more. His radical love has also happened
to go viral, making him the most famous foster dad
in America with two point five million followers across social media.
I cannot wait for you to meet Peter. Right after
these brief messages from our general sponsors.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
We have a great episode.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
First of all, the guy you all are about to
be introduced to and I am going to screw this up.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I can do. Peter well, okay, last name Muda Bossi.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
You got it right, did I do good?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (02:49):
All right, Peter Muda BOSSI. I think that's Irish right. Okay,
he's here to join us. But this is another in
our series of luncheon listens. And today we're in Memphis,
hosted by a GAPE and we're going to open with
(03:13):
allowing our host to just tell us briefly about a
GAPE and what their mission is and why we're here today.
So because we're to lunch and listen all of you
people watching or hearing my voice. Now, there's probably forty
or fifty people in attendance for our lunche and listener
(03:35):
as usual, So everybody, let's give a kind welcome to
the CEO of a GAPE who just celebrated.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Thirty years here.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
I think you know where the bathroom is by now,
David Jordan, come on up, David.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Bill, thank you.
Speaker 5 (03:55):
It is so good Bill to have you in to
be a part of this in our team and visitor
who are here, Peter, my goodness, what a privilege to
have you so thank you for being here.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
We are an army of normal folk doing this work,
the team here, the staff as we come alongside families
in communities, so a GUYPA Child and Family Services here
in Memphis. We fight poverty through God for families to flourish.
That's what we're about.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Every day.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
We're deep in neighborhoods. We come alongside. In schools, we're
deep in churches where where people live, we walk alongside, holistically,
wrapping around for families to flourish spiritually, educationally, economically, relationally, systemically.
So we're thankful we just join you in being this
army of folk together. We're glad you're here, so bless
(04:48):
you and look forward to the show.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Thank you, thanks for having us, Thank you. All right,
So here we are.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
I typically open with Peter, Welcome to Memphis, which I'm going,
but just as a setup. Peter's an author of a
book Love Does Not Conquer All and other surprising lessons
I learned as a foster dad to more than forty children.
(05:17):
Peter is uh is known as the foster dad flipper.
And that doesn't mean he flips kids. He flips he
flips houses. It is a foster dad. And then, of
course metaphorically, he has flipped an amazing number of children's lives.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
So Peter, welcome to Memphis.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Thank you for having me here.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
You flew in from Charlotte, Yes, this.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Morning, this morning? Yes?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah? So are you staying tonight? Uh?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
No, I'm going by Camme. I'm a single dad with
six children. You know, I want my house to not
be bunny down, so I have.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
To go back. Well I guess, I guess baby sitting
services for six with cost a small fortune.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Anyways, you got to get back, got it? Okay?
Speaker 4 (06:06):
So everybody, Peter's story is unique in a number of ways.
One because of the numbers of children he's affected. Two
because of the book, which, by the way, everybody, Peter
was kind enough to bring one, And at the end
of this it's complimentary to interview one and he is
(06:26):
going to sign it for you. Those of you who
are listening that didn't take the time to come to
lunch and listen, you miss out on that. Peter is
also interesting because in the story you will find out
why he thought he couldn't be a foster father, which
(06:50):
screams of social, cultural and systematic preconceived inaccuracies that we
just got to fix in this world. But we'll get
to that the meat of your story. But maybe most
uniquely is because this very American foster father, who has
this very American love of giving and service and philanthropic endeavors,
(07:22):
did not start out American at all. So first set
the stage for us for a few minutes, Peter and
just let everybody know the truth and candidly the trauma
of your childhood.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yes, absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
By the way, I speak sivin languages or English is
my full language, so that means I might say something rude,
you know.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So he's why you can do through your.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
iPhone at me and have two teenagers at home and
they will be able to use your iPhone.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Every night, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Uh true. Yes, my name is Pizza Sabasi and I'm
originally from Uganda.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
My dad is from Rwanda and my mom's from Uganda.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
So that's why I get to speak so many languages
where I come from.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
You know, most people.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Speak at least three and that's how I got to
really learn well. My background is sometimes it really had
to explain to American what life is as a street
kid or as a poor kid in Uganda. You know,
I grew up in a home where I was never
never told to be hopeful.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
You know, hopeful was lying yourself.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
You know.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
I think this way that I had to go fetch
water three to four miles away one way and back
and twice a day.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
We could not.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Afford to buy food, so we had to grow the food.
So my mom spent most of the time in the garden,
so she wasn't there to take care of us. In
a way, that's how she was taking care of us.
But we had to mature very very early to be
able to provide for the family. So at the age
of four, I can go fetch to wars by myself,
and back at the age of five, I can cook
(09:02):
food for my siblings. You know that you had to
learn so fast in order to be there for your family.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
When it takes when it's four miles to get water
and four miles back and that's twice to day. How
do you find time to go to school.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
As a child, Well, you don't go to school.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
You know that my family could not afford five dollars
to send me to school.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
But also because.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
My mom needed that help that I needed to be
part of the family, I provide and do the things
that she needed or she could not do in a way. Yep.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
So in addition to growing up early and no education formally,
which is the reality of many children where you come from,
you also dealt with abuse.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Craigs, Yes, you know.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So at the age of four, I began to realize
that my father was different from other dads. You know,
for me, before I went to bed and when I
woke up, these are the words that I had from
my dad.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Peter. You're worthless, Peter, you never mount anything.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Peter. I wish you were never born so I did
not have to feed you. So when you hear that
from the passion that should provide those for you or
take care of you, it's really hard to think you
have an extra day. And it wasn't just to me,
but also to my mom, my mom, you know, so
the same abus that was coming towards me was also
(10:32):
coming to my mom. And as a kid and the oldest,
sometimes you're afraid of saying what you need are because
you want to protect your mom. So I could never
say I'm hungry. He's why every time my mom went
to my dad and said the kids have not eaten
for days, she got beatings for them. So as a kid,
you always in order to protect your mom, you can't
(10:55):
say you're hungry, because it was the best way you
you could protect her. But in that way, but also
you're starving in a sense. So for me, I couldn't
hope for tomorrow. I couldn't hope for the next day.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
That for me you know, I don't know how to pray,
but I wish such a day ended.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
There, you know. And that was every day and that's
what was our lives as kids. That there was poverty
outside waiting, but there was abuse inside the home. So
there was no place that you can go and say
maybe I'm a little safe here. The only time I
felt selfe was feting water that walk of and I
want to have to go get water was the safest
(11:35):
way or to feel unsafe, you know. But again you
go to get water there, you know, the animals are
in the water, the shipherds are there, so most time
you also get the beating or you gotta wait as well.
So there wasn't really a room like at one time
place where you can say I'm safe at all. And
(11:55):
that was for me as a kid.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
And now a few messages from our generous sponsors. But first,
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(12:28):
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(13:18):
of your story. This may sound weird, but my heart
broke for your father. And the reason my heart broke
for your father is he wished you were never born
because he didn't have to feed you. And if your
(13:40):
mom spoke up and said, our children haven't eaten for
two days, they're hungry, and he would beat her. The
truth is he was acting out on his recognition of
his own inability to care for his family, and I
think he hated himself more than he hated.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
All of y'all.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
But that's that's the relationship between poverty and in an
ability to get out of it in a generational sense.
And although that was all the way in Africa, I
feel like that exists in our midst too here.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
What do you think about that thought?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yes, absolutely, I mean I'm a single forced dad. I
get to see that. I get to to talk to
the dads who sometimes are viable, abusive and physical to
their children and their wives.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
U Sometimes they feel I can't provide.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
So you're asking me, it's taking me off, you know,
So I'm gonna lash at you instead of providing, go
instead of saying I've tried and I cannot, or let's
work together and see how we can provide for a family.
Usually when men cannot, you know, they result to the abuse.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Do you think your father grew up the same way.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
I don't know. I don't have so much background of
how he grew up. You know, to me, he was
just different from other men that I knew. You know,
I had uncles who were kind, but he was just
mean at any time. And you didn't know where it
was coming. You know, you could be sitting here, if
it's holding this bottle, that's what came towards you. If
it was you're eating that food came towards you. So
(15:18):
there was no sense of being human in a way horrific.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
So at ten, you said you probably didn't know Spanish,
at that time, but I would just say you said
adios at ten.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
So, you know, for me, I knew I was going
to die. But I knew my father would take my life.
So in my head as a ten year old, I thought,
why give him the opportunity to do so?
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Like why?
Speaker 1 (15:52):
So one day he said, he said me to go
fetch water and not to go get cigarettes at three
in the morning. You know, as a ten year old,
you know the dogs you you're afraid, you know. So
for me, I went to get the cigarettes. But all
the way it ran, so the cigarettes got damage. So
I knew, okay, I don't have the cigarettes. I'm going
to go home and get the beatings, you know, But
why I'm going to die anyway. So for me, instead
(16:15):
of going home, I walked to the bus station at
ten miles away. Walked to the bus station and I
got there and I asked the lady here, of all
these buses, which one goes the farthest for me? Why,
I asked, was I wanted to go as far as
I could so he would never get to see me.
But also when I die, he would never have the
joy of burying me. That was my my thinking as
(16:35):
a ten year old, like, I will not give you
any opportunity take my life or even burrow me. So
that's why I asked the lady which one goes the father,
and she said that one and I go on the bus. Absolutely,
I had never been twenty miles away from my village.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
So for you idea where the bus was going.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
No, just the farthest farthest can go, you know, at ten.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Years old, ten years old and you ended up in Compiler.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
That how many hours away?
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Well that's by then it took about maybe sixteen hours
to get there from my village, you know, So I
went five hundred kilometers away from my village.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
So to me, you know, all I can remember by the.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Time I arrived, my legs were swollen that I could
not walk that much because for me, I was afraid
that every time the bus stopped that my father would
be behind me. So I push, as a ten year
old push the bus. You know, in my head, I
thought I was helping the bust move, but I wasn't,
you know.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
And that's how I realized.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
When I got to Compeler and had one option, one
option was to be a street kid. So right there
and then I knew this is going to be my
life for now.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
So describe to us briefly with a street kid and
the capitol is I gotta believe that's the kids that
we shoe away from our windows when they're trying to
scrounge up a quarter. Those are the kids we shoe
away when begging for food or asking for this or
asking for that. We've all seen the overgeneralized videos and
(18:10):
images of what we think that looks like. What is
it to be a street kid?
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Really? From a former street kid.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
That's again hard to experience on American because there's nothing
in the United States that you have the leaves like
a streetch out.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
In Uganda or in Kenya or anywhere.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
You know, your street animals live a better life than
most kids we live alive. So think this way. I
slept in the sore so in the middle of the compound.
There was a sewer canw that smells stinching all but
that's where.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
We slipped as street kids.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Why because normal people didn't go there, So for us
that was a safe place for us. You know though
it smelled, but it was just better way to avoid
any abuse from anyone else. You know. The other part
is that's who I went through the garbage as well.
Most people didn't like us, so they would throw away
the food in the garbage, so we had to run.
(19:05):
So if I live next to the garbage, that means
I will be the dog before the dog gets that food.
So that's kind of the life that you lived, where
you're seeing as less of a human being, seen more
like a stray animal. And that's how we're treated every day,
every night, every hour of your life. That that's how
they saw you. And you believed this also as well,
because people said, hey.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
You stink.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Well we never took showers, you know, and also we worked.
They used us in a way that we found ways
of how to steal food by those who used I
know you're gonna get cheap laver, but before I get it,
I'm also get something to eat, you know. So in
a way, it's how they treated us. That's how they
saw us, and we believed every word they thought of
(19:47):
us less of human being. And that's how truly I
believe myself that I was in as a human as
anyone else because of how I was treated.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
And you learned all these street kids learned how to
hustle up. Some money, how to hustle up some food
and that street smarts. Hustling up led you to be
introduced to a man one day.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Great, so as street kids for us, we you know
by then, you know, this is in the eighties, most
people didn't make a dot or seventy five cents a day,
you know, so most people didn't make that, So we
didn't steal money, but rather hustle for food, you know,
and that's why people used us. So think this way
that you have a market place where people bring their produce,
but these women and men have to move these produce
(20:36):
from one end to the other.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
So that's how we would.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Be used as carry these potatoes from here to there.
And if you don't, I'm gonna I'm gonna hit you.
So you do so, but in that doing so, you
get one banana. And we had a strategy. We can
only steal what we can roast when we burn the trash,
so we couldn't take anything that needed a pint, not
only potatoes, cassava, ash, potatoes, things that we can ross
(21:03):
while we are burning anything. And so that is how
we were able to survive. You know, get used, but
while you're being used, find a way to eat. So
so like women sometimes that would use us in a
sexual way that you knew they're asking me what they
want and so I'll give it to them.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
But knowing at the end of that that she would
give you something to eat, you know.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
So you worked for that food. That's all you worked
for in a way from anyone. The buses remember they
came from all other cities and came packed right there.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
So for as the streak.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Kids, we're the ones who are to wash the buses
and clean them while cleaning them because while you're cleaning,
you're going to find a potato that fell off, you know,
or while you're removing them, you leave the bananas on
top because you know when you go cleaning there will
be a meal there. So that was what we used
to do every day so and survive. Use me, I
(21:57):
find a way to use you to get something in
a way. So that was my life for five years.
So one day, so as treakies, we learned how we
were always in a group, the group of tins, because
the older one would abuse us as well or use us.
So if they wanted to steal a tire, they will say,
if you don't get that tire, for me, I'll slash you,
you know. So you get to learn how to literally
(22:18):
steal a tire in five seconds. But you knew who
you're giving two But you knew you've been in trouble
if you didn't do so, you know. So that's why
we had to stay in groups of what our agements
were to survive. So we also knew if I steal
food from you and you give it to me, that
means I'll be the face of everyone else in the back,
(22:39):
you know, because you gave me food, they will always
forward me to give you food or to give me
food because at the end of the day we all
put them together and share.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
So we knew who we can steal food from.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
So you had to be wearing glasses, shoes and khakis.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Boy, I would have been a mark all day.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Lord absolutely got shoes, I.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Got khakis, and I got glasses.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Yeah, so any of you, if you have khakies, you know,
glasses and shoes, watch out for your wallet. I promise
you know, it might not make it to where you're going,
you know. So that's kind of how we lunch. Who
can afford food or who we can steal from in
a way, you know.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
So For me, I saw a mark.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
I said, I'm gonna follow this guy, and as soon
as his boy's food.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
I'm gonna take it, you know.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
And the way we will do it is you're gonna
carry it before he says anything. Because if you can't ask,
like I'm gonna take it, you better show me where
you're going because if you don't, it might end up somewhere.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
But also you have no time to say no.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
So I got to get this food from this guy
and he said, hey, put my foot down. I put
his food down, and then he followed by asking me
something that nobody ever asked me, said hey, what is
your name? And that rollwed me that this person wanted
to know my name, but also his why for everyone
(23:59):
was mind was also abusive at the same time. So
for me, him asking me my name was oh, no,
you're gonna do something to me, you know. But also
it wollowed me because for five years, no one human
being had ever asked me what my name was, no one,
no one I ever said what is your name?
Speaker 3 (24:24):
We'll be right back.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
We have people who.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Begging in our city in the United States. I dare
you one day before you give them and even if
you didn't give it anything, say hey, what is your name?
You see how they will look at you because none
of us ever get When.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
I read that, I thought about the ninety times in
the last three years I've pulled up to an Exon
or a stop and go or outside of Walgreens and
somebody homeless walks up to me. I've never I've Sometimes
I will go in store and buy water and given
(25:15):
to them. Sometimes, if I have a dollar and they
don't look completely ridiculous, I'll give them a dollar. Sometimes
I'll give them a little coupon for a night at
the Union Mission. I don't think I've ever asked, hey,
what's your name?
Speaker 3 (25:31):
Once?
Speaker 4 (25:34):
And it's just so human for someone to want to
know your name. And so when I read that about you,
I thought about my own interaction as the guy with
the khaki and the glasses and the shoes, and I
myself has never asked what's your name?
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Yes, so if I may ask you what's your name?
Speaker 3 (25:52):
What?
Speaker 1 (25:53):
What's your name?
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Bill?
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Bill? But we know you Bill, and we either coach
why you get to do or what.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
You're known for, and that makes you unique and human,
you know, so for us, not when when you ask
a homeless person, you're basically assuming they don't live in
the same arena as you are, so you're gonna treat
them less. I don't deserve to get to know your name,
or I don't want to, you know. So for me
when you ask my name, that is what rouled me.
(26:21):
Well what you want to know my name? But also
for me, he broke memories that my mom named me Peter.
So the idea that you could say Peter, I could
hear my mom on the other side, like, oh my child.
You know, we all travel. When you're in the airport
and hear someone yetting someone's name, you always look back.
(26:41):
Are they calling me or calling my son? Or your
son is not there? But because our names give us
the dinner who we are. When you don't have that,
you are less of a human being in a way.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
But you've grown up to realize the kindness equeled abuse.
So felt good to hear your name. But you took
your apple and you ran off.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Well put his food down a few steps back, like
you're gonna harm me, you know, But before I could
go his say his food, you can take my food.
But still in that in my mind, you're gonna abuse me.
So I'm gonna put your food down and run the
other way. So as soon as I put it there,
I run. I didn't think of it to me, I
thought he's gonna abuse me, so I don't want to
know you. Next week I see him again, I was like, wait,
(27:25):
this is the same guy. So third week and fourth
week and every time he will say Peter that he
just remembered my name. So for me, in a week,
you had one day, one day where someone new your name.
That was the only day that I felt, oh, a
little human in me, like I'm human. He knew my name.
(27:50):
I didn't have to steal food. He will always give
me something to eat. So for me on Monday between
five and seven, I knew someone knows my name, and
he's gonna give me something to eat before I steal it.
And that's all it took. And so he fed me
for one and a half, you know, one and a half.
He will always come. And for some reason, it wasn't
the It ceased.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
To be about food, but the idea.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
That someone knows me, you know that someone knows me
is all that I was always looking for. On that
Monday when he came, so he fed me for one
and a half and one day he said, hey, Peter,
if he hadn't over to go to school, who did
you love to go to school? I laughed so hard
because I thought he was mocking me. You know, think
this way you live in the Swore, treated like a
(28:34):
strange animal, Like when do you hope to go to school?
You know, it's like me saying, hey, Bill, you know
they're sending people to the moon.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Would you like to go?
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Actually would, but it's never going to happen.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
Absolutely, But how many nights did you go to bed?
Saying I wish I could go to the moon? No, Well,
to a stric kid who lives in the Swore, it's
from garbage every day. Yeah, going to school, that's how
it felt. I Yeah, that's far far away. Another as
a falster parent, I think sometimes that's how we treat
our children when they come and you're like, you know,
I need you go to school and do your homework.
(29:07):
Sometimes that is like there's are ten fifty steps to
before they can know what that means, Like there are
things in between now and what are you asking me
that I it would take me a while to act
to believe that I can go to school, you know,
And so for me, I said no.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
Like.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Another step would be for kids that are in bad
situations to believe they could go to college, or have
a job, or be a proper husband and father right,
or create a family.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Those levels back up to.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
Your reality as a child, and things that seem so
ordinary and obvious to many of us are not even
dream a bull.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Yes, and you don't want to lie yourself. You don't
want to give yourself false hope. So for me, even
if I wanted to think about it, that was lying
to myself and putting my place, putting myself in a
place that I never wanted to be, but to be hopeful.
Speaker 4 (30:16):
This khaki guy with glasses that gave you food for
all this time and knew your name.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Correct, But that's all that I could. I could go,
you know, And he earned it.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Remember, he earned that right to ask me would go
to school because he fed me for one and a half,
you know. So I said no. So next time, he says,
by the way, if you go to school, there'll be lunch, dinner,
and breakfast. I said, what time can we go?
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Now?
Speaker 1 (30:39):
When we go? Why? Because for the first time he
mentioned the one thing I needed the most, the one
thing I lived for. To me, I stole food every day.
It wasn't just like an earned money, no food. So
by him saying there's three meals in my entire life,
I had never had two meals a day, So three meals,
(31:01):
I was like, that can't be possible, Like are you sure?
That must like when we think of heaven, you know,
for us Americans we think of gold and I don't
know angels. For me, as a kid growing up in
the street, I knew food, there will be food. So
him saying three, yeah, that felt like heaven. So I
said I'll go. I'll go right now. But he fed
(31:22):
me for one and a half, so he had in
some way I trusted him that if he fed me
for one and a half and he says there's three,
maybe there's three.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
So I went too.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
But he did something really cool or something I did,
like he said, go uh clean, He said go go wash,
go wash, so I can take you to me washing.
So I had never taken a shower, so we always
wait for it to rain so he can take a shower.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
I mean, so for him.
Speaker 1 (31:46):
Say go take a shower, I feel like, Okay, now
you really don't understand my world, Like I don't.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Take showers, so forget it, you know.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
So he's kind of like could not understand what's going
on in my brain.
Speaker 3 (31:57):
You know.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
Next time he comes, he says, hey, go clean up,
you know, clean up.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Anyone can clean up.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
So I went to the store, I put a little hair,
you know, water in the hair, cleaned my eyes, and
came back and he'd given me clothes to wear. And
as soon as I entered his car, he opened every window,
you know. And that's when I realized, like, okay, I
don't think I smell good, you know. But that didn't
stop him, and so he take me to me to school.
So when we arrived, there was lunch, so I was like,
(32:24):
this guy could be real, you know, there'll be lying.
So then I waited for dinner. Then I came and
then it was breakfast. But when I came in, I
never slept on a mattress before, so they gave me
a bank bed and put me on top, you know,
and I was like, dude, no, I am not, you know,
So for me, I slept on the floor for the
few weeks, you know, because I had never slept on
(32:46):
a mattress. So I felt like I'll die, I'll fall off,
you know, But his wife stayed. I didn't stay because
I wanted to go to school. I didn't stay. You know.
He gave me my first pair of shoes at sixteen.
I never had a pair of shoes before. So what
made me say at school was I waited for the
next meal and the next meal. Now I began to
(33:08):
work for the next meal. So for example, for us
as street kids, if you look in my eye, that
means you want to fight, you know, So I'm going
to hit you as quickly as possible before you hit me.
But then I'll hold back saying, well, I'm not going
to hit you because dinner is coming, you know, dinner.
I'm not gonna do that. I'm gonna risk my dinner,
you know. Or the kids was a boarding school, so
(33:28):
the kids would grow classes For me, I will stay
gathering through their stuff.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
So know how much am I gonna steal?
Speaker 1 (33:35):
So as I'm trying to take it, but I will say, hmmm,
but lunch is coming, so I'll put it back. So
I wait for lunch. So with time, I realized I
can work this thing out, you know. So now I
put on my shoes, no, because I wanted to go
class because I knew if I put on shoes, they
will allow me to have the next dinner, you know.
(33:55):
So now I had to go to class because now
I was like, wait, if I go to class, they
will allow me to have lunch. So in so doing
for me because I when you've never had a meal,
you always feel that it's the next one is the
last one, you know, and you work for the next one.
And that's how I stayed in school over and over.
After three months, he took me to his home. So
(34:19):
once he took me to his home, also, I was
afraid because it was Sunday and they had dinner. You know,
there was lunch everywhere. So for me, I was like, no,
you're gonna hit me and you're gonna beat up your family.
So outside my food and still on the exit because
that's what my father did. So I thought every father
does that to their family. So I started the exit
door because I was waiting for him to beat up
(34:41):
his family, you know. So next week he invited me again.
After service, we went. You know, the thought I was like,
I think they are making it up. He would do
one day, he's gonna hurt somebody, you know. The fourth week,
they did something really special. So on the dining table,
they put one extra seat and they put my name
on the seat. Maybe that's the one action that made
(35:19):
my whole life change because I didn't know I was
worthy to sit on the tape. I didn't know it
was good enough. And so that was the first time
(35:41):
that I felt like, oh wow, I belonged to this family.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
And so I sat on the table.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
And now my whole life changed because I said, if
there is a man that I want to be, if
I want to be like him, if there's a family
that there is on the planet, I just want to
be like his family. Because I never saw him yelling
at his family. I never saw him beat them up.
I never saw what I thought every man every day does.
That he was the opposite. And so now not only
(36:10):
was I going to school, but now I had something
to dream for because I knew what that looks like.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
Oh, this is what a.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Good family looks like. This is what a normal father
looks like, This is what a normal day to day
life looks like. And so now I went back to
school and I excelled because I had an example of
what I wanted to be.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
You had dreams now because he showed to school besides food. Yes,
And that concludes Part one of my conversation with Peter
Mudabasi and you don't want to miss part two that's
now available to listen to. Together, guys, we can change
this country, but it starts with you. I'll see in
(36:53):
part two
All the families were adapting from Uganda were always white people,
so that I never saw anyone who looks like me
who was doing what I saw but also being coronized
by the English.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I think we were toltal lie.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
You know, certain people can do these things, and certain
people can do these things.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
So for me, adaption was for these people, white people exactly.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Let's say, let's just speak.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
We people white people, and then fixed that.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
You know, I think for me is I can do
what I can do. You know, for me is changing
the native or the liar was told and leave the
opposite way. The white people can do this. I'm destined
to do this, you know. And for me, I said no,
that that that can't be, and I want to leave
a different way.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Welcome to an army of normal folks. I'm Bill Courtney.
I'm a normal guy. I'm a husband, I'm a father,
I'm an entrepreneur, and I've been a football coach in
inner city Memphis. And that last part incredibly led to
our film getting an oscar. That movie is called Undefeated.
I believe our country's problems are never gonna be solved
(01:13):
by a bunch of fancy people in nice suits. Using
big words that nobody ever uses on sinn and thoughts,
but rather by an army of normal folks. Y'all, that's us,
just you and me deciding, hey, maybe I can help.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
That's what Peter Mudabazi, the voice you.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Just heard, has done. This Ugandan immigrant didn't accept the
cultural narrative that only married white people can foster kids,
and so far, this single dude has fostered forty seven kids.
He's adopted three of them, and he's in the process
(01:53):
of adopting two more. His radical love has also happened
to go viral, making him the most famous foster dad
in America with two point five million followers across social media.
I cannot wait for you to meet Peter. Right after
these brief messages from our general sponsors.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
We have a great episode.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
First of all, the guy you all are about to
be introduced to and I am going to screw this up.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I can do. Peter well, okay, last name Muda Bossi.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
You got it right, did I do good?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (02:49):
All right, Peter Muda BOSSI. I think that's Irish right. Okay,
he's here to join us. But this is another in
our series of luncheon listens. And today we're in Memphis,
hosted by a GAPE and we're going to open with
(03:13):
allowing our host to just tell us briefly about a
GAPE and what their mission is and why we're here today.
So because we're to lunch and listen all of you
people watching or hearing my voice. Now, there's probably forty
or fifty people in attendance for our lunche and listener
(03:35):
as usual, So everybody, let's give a kind welcome to
the CEO of a GAPE who just celebrated.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Thirty years here.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
I think you know where the bathroom is by now,
David Jordan, come on up, David.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Bill, thank you.
Speaker 5 (03:55):
It is so good Bill to have you in to
be a part of this in our team and visitor
who are here, Peter, my goodness, what a privilege to
have you so thank you for being here.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
We are an army of normal folk doing this work,
the team here, the staff as we come alongside families
in communities, so a GUYPA Child and Family Services here
in Memphis. We fight poverty through God for families to flourish.
That's what we're about.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Every day.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
We're deep in neighborhoods. We come alongside. In schools, we're
deep in churches where where people live, we walk alongside, holistically,
wrapping around for families to flourish spiritually, educationally, economically, relationally, systemically.
So we're thankful we just join you in being this
army of folk together. We're glad you're here, so bless
(04:48):
you and look forward to the show.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Thank you, thanks for having us, Thank you. All right,
So here we are.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
I typically open with Peter, Welcome to Memphis, which I'm going,
but just as a setup. Peter's an author of a
book Love Does Not Conquer All and other surprising lessons
I learned as a foster dad to more than forty children.
(05:17):
Peter is uh is known as the foster dad flipper.
And that doesn't mean he flips kids. He flips he
flips houses. It is a foster dad. And then, of
course metaphorically, he has flipped an amazing number of children's lives.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
So Peter, welcome to Memphis.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Thank you for having me here.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
You flew in from Charlotte, Yes, this.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Morning, this morning? Yes?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah? So are you staying tonight? Uh?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
No, I'm going by Camme. I'm a single dad with
six children. You know, I want my house to not
be bunny down, so I have.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
To go back. Well I guess, I guess baby sitting
services for six with cost a small fortune.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Anyways, you got to get back, got it? Okay?
Speaker 4 (06:06):
So everybody, Peter's story is unique in a number of ways.
One because of the numbers of children he's affected. Two
because of the book, which, by the way, everybody, Peter
was kind enough to bring one, And at the end
of this it's complimentary to interview one and he is
(06:26):
going to sign it for you. Those of you who
are listening that didn't take the time to come to
lunch and listen, you miss out on that. Peter is
also interesting because in the story you will find out
why he thought he couldn't be a foster father, which
(06:50):
screams of social, cultural and systematic preconceived inaccuracies that we
just got to fix in this world. But we'll get
to that the meat of your story. But maybe most
uniquely is because this very American foster father, who has
this very American love of giving and service and philanthropic endeavors,
(07:22):
did not start out American at all. So first set
the stage for us for a few minutes, Peter and
just let everybody know the truth and candidly the trauma
of your childhood.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yes, absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
By the way, I speak sivin languages or English is
my full language, so that means I might say something rude,
you know.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So he's why you can do through your.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
iPhone at me and have two teenagers at home and
they will be able to use your iPhone.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Every night, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Uh true. Yes, my name is Pizza Sabasi and I'm
originally from Uganda.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
My dad is from Rwanda and my mom's from Uganda.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
So that's why I get to speak so many languages
where I come from.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
You know, most people.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Speak at least three and that's how I got to
really learn well. My background is sometimes it really had
to explain to American what life is as a street
kid or as a poor kid in Uganda. You know,
I grew up in a home where I was never
never told to be hopeful.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
You know, hopeful was lying yourself.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
You know.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
I think this way that I had to go fetch
water three to four miles away one way and back
and twice a day.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
We could not.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Afford to buy food, so we had to grow the food.
So my mom spent most of the time in the garden,
so she wasn't there to take care of us. In
a way, that's how she was taking care of us.
But we had to mature very very early to be
able to provide for the family. So at the age
of four, I can go fetch to wars by myself,
and back at the age of five, I can cook
(09:02):
food for my siblings. You know that you had to
learn so fast in order to be there for your family.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
When it takes when it's four miles to get water
and four miles back and that's twice to day. How
do you find time to go to school.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
As a child, Well, you don't go to school.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
You know that my family could not afford five dollars
to send me to school.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
But also because.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
My mom needed that help that I needed to be
part of the family, I provide and do the things
that she needed or she could not do in a way. Yep.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
So in addition to growing up early and no education formally,
which is the reality of many children where you come from,
you also dealt with abuse.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Craigs, Yes, you know.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So at the age of four, I began to realize
that my father was different from other dads. You know,
for me, before I went to bed and when I
woke up, these are the words that I had from
my dad.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Peter. You're worthless, Peter, you never mount anything.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Peter. I wish you were never born so I did
not have to feed you. So when you hear that
from the passion that should provide those for you or
take care of you, it's really hard to think you
have an extra day. And it wasn't just to me,
but also to my mom, my mom, you know, so
the same abus that was coming towards me was also
(10:32):
coming to my mom. And as a kid and the oldest,
sometimes you're afraid of saying what you need are because
you want to protect your mom. So I could never
say I'm hungry. He's why every time my mom went
to my dad and said the kids have not eaten
for days, she got beatings for them. So as a kid,
you always in order to protect your mom, you can't
(10:55):
say you're hungry, because it was the best way you
you could protect her. But in that way, but also
you're starving in a sense. So for me, I couldn't
hope for tomorrow. I couldn't hope for the next day.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
That for me you know, I don't know how to pray,
but I wish such a day ended.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
There, you know. And that was every day and that's
what was our lives as kids. That there was poverty
outside waiting, but there was abuse inside the home. So
there was no place that you can go and say
maybe I'm a little safe here. The only time I
felt selfe was feting water that walk of and I
want to have to go get water was the safest
(11:35):
way or to feel unsafe, you know. But again you
go to get water there, you know, the animals are
in the water, the shipherds are there, so most time
you also get the beating or you gotta wait as well.
So there wasn't really a room like at one time
place where you can say I'm safe at all. And
(11:55):
that was for me as a kid.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
And now a few messages from our generous sponsors. But first,
are you following us on Instagram? More than likely or not?
But you should be because it's awesome and we're cool.
We've briefly mentioned a few times this cool normal Folks
Wisdom feature that we've started doing there where we distill
down the most powerful points, data and quotes from our
(12:28):
guests into punchy text because normal folks got wisdom too,
and it's fun and a quick way of getting it
from them. I've even started writing them out on a
coach's clipboard because I'm a coach and you guys need
to see graphics and they are I polluting graphics. So
get on it. Follow us on Instagram at Army of
(12:53):
Normal Folks to check out normal folks Wisdom and other
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(13:18):
of your story. This may sound weird, but my heart
broke for your father. And the reason my heart broke
for your father is he wished you were never born
because he didn't have to feed you. And if your
(13:40):
mom spoke up and said, our children haven't eaten for
two days, they're hungry, and he would beat her. The
truth is he was acting out on his recognition of
his own inability to care for his family, and I
think he hated himself more than he hated.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
All of y'all.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
But that's that's the relationship between poverty and in an
ability to get out of it in a generational sense.
And although that was all the way in Africa, I
feel like that exists in our midst too here.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
What do you think about that thought?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yes, absolutely, I mean I'm a single forced dad. I
get to see that. I get to to talk to
the dads who sometimes are viable, abusive and physical to
their children and their wives.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
U Sometimes they feel I can't provide.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
So you're asking me, it's taking me off, you know,
So I'm gonna lash at you instead of providing, go
instead of saying I've tried and I cannot, or let's
work together and see how we can provide for a family.
Usually when men cannot, you know, they result to the abuse.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Do you think your father grew up the same way.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
I don't know. I don't have so much background of
how he grew up. You know, to me, he was
just different from other men that I knew. You know,
I had uncles who were kind, but he was just
mean at any time. And you didn't know where it
was coming. You know, you could be sitting here, if
it's holding this bottle, that's what came towards you. If
it was you're eating that food came towards you. So
(15:18):
there was no sense of being human in a way horrific.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
So at ten, you said you probably didn't know Spanish,
at that time, but I would just say you said
adios at ten.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
So, you know, for me, I knew I was going
to die. But I knew my father would take my life.
So in my head as a ten year old, I thought,
why give him the opportunity to do so?
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Like why?
Speaker 1 (15:52):
So one day he said, he said me to go
fetch water and not to go get cigarettes at three
in the morning. You know, as a ten year old,
you know the dogs you you're afraid, you know. So
for me, I went to get the cigarettes. But all
the way it ran, so the cigarettes got damage. So
I knew, okay, I don't have the cigarettes. I'm going
to go home and get the beatings, you know, But
why I'm going to die anyway. So for me, instead
(16:15):
of going home, I walked to the bus station at
ten miles away. Walked to the bus station and I
got there and I asked the lady here, of all
these buses, which one goes the farthest for me? Why,
I asked, was I wanted to go as far as
I could so he would never get to see me.
But also when I die, he would never have the
joy of burying me. That was my my thinking as
(16:35):
a ten year old, like, I will not give you
any opportunity take my life or even burrow me. So
that's why I asked the lady which one goes the father,
and she said that one and I go on the bus. Absolutely,
I had never been twenty miles away from my village.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
So for you idea where the bus was going.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
No, just the farthest farthest can go, you know, at ten.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Years old, ten years old and you ended up in Compiler.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
That how many hours away?
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Well that's by then it took about maybe sixteen hours
to get there from my village, you know, So I
went five hundred kilometers away from my village.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
So to me, you know, all I can remember by the.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Time I arrived, my legs were swollen that I could
not walk that much because for me, I was afraid
that every time the bus stopped that my father would
be behind me. So I push, as a ten year
old push the bus. You know, in my head, I
thought I was helping the bust move, but I wasn't,
you know.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
And that's how I realized.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
When I got to Compeler and had one option, one
option was to be a street kid. So right there
and then I knew this is going to be my
life for now.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
So describe to us briefly with a street kid and
the capitol is I gotta believe that's the kids that
we shoe away from our windows when they're trying to
scrounge up a quarter. Those are the kids we shoe
away when begging for food or asking for this or
asking for that. We've all seen the overgeneralized videos and
(18:10):
images of what we think that looks like. What is
it to be a street kid?
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Really? From a former street kid.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
That's again hard to experience on American because there's nothing
in the United States that you have the leaves like
a streetch out.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
In Uganda or in Kenya or anywhere.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
You know, your street animals live a better life than
most kids we live alive. So think this way. I
slept in the sore so in the middle of the compound.
There was a sewer canw that smells stinching all but
that's where.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
We slipped as street kids.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Why because normal people didn't go there, So for us
that was a safe place for us. You know though
it smelled, but it was just better way to avoid
any abuse from anyone else. You know. The other part
is that's who I went through the garbage as well.
Most people didn't like us, so they would throw away
the food in the garbage, so we had to run.
(19:05):
So if I live next to the garbage, that means
I will be the dog before the dog gets that food.
So that's kind of the life that you lived, where
you're seeing as less of a human being, seen more
like a stray animal. And that's how we're treated every day,
every night, every hour of your life. That that's how
they saw you. And you believed this also as well,
because people said, hey.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
You stink.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Well we never took showers, you know, and also we worked.
They used us in a way that we found ways
of how to steal food by those who used I
know you're gonna get cheap laver, but before I get it,
I'm also get something to eat, you know. So in
a way, it's how they treated us. That's how they
saw us, and we believed every word they thought of
(19:47):
us less of human being. And that's how truly I
believe myself that I was in as a human as
anyone else because of how I was treated.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
And you learned all these street kids learned how to
hustle up. Some money, how to hustle up some food
and that street smarts. Hustling up led you to be
introduced to a man one day.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Great, so as street kids for us, we you know
by then, you know, this is in the eighties, most
people didn't make a dot or seventy five cents a day,
you know, so most people didn't make that, So we
didn't steal money, but rather hustle for food, you know,
and that's why people used us. So think this way
that you have a market place where people bring their produce,
but these women and men have to move these produce
(20:36):
from one end to the other.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
So that's how we would.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Be used as carry these potatoes from here to there.
And if you don't, I'm gonna I'm gonna hit you.
So you do so, but in that doing so, you
get one banana. And we had a strategy. We can
only steal what we can roast when we burn the trash,
so we couldn't take anything that needed a pint, not
only potatoes, cassava, ash, potatoes, things that we can ross
(21:03):
while we are burning anything. And so that is how
we were able to survive. You know, get used, but
while you're being used, find a way to eat. So
so like women sometimes that would use us in a
sexual way that you knew they're asking me what they
want and so I'll give it to them.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
But knowing at the end of that that she would
give you something to eat, you know.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
So you worked for that food. That's all you worked
for in a way from anyone. The buses remember they
came from all other cities and came packed right there.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
So for as the streak.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Kids, we're the ones who are to wash the buses
and clean them while cleaning them because while you're cleaning,
you're going to find a potato that fell off, you know,
or while you're removing them, you leave the bananas on
top because you know when you go cleaning there will
be a meal there. So that was what we used
to do every day so and survive. Use me, I
(21:57):
find a way to use you to get something in
a way. So that was my life for five years.
So one day, so as treakies, we learned how we
were always in a group, the group of tins, because
the older one would abuse us as well or use us.
So if they wanted to steal a tire, they will say,
if you don't get that tire, for me, I'll slash you,
you know. So you get to learn how to literally
(22:18):
steal a tire in five seconds. But you knew who
you're giving two But you knew you've been in trouble
if you didn't do so, you know. So that's why
we had to stay in groups of what our agements
were to survive. So we also knew if I steal
food from you and you give it to me, that
means I'll be the face of everyone else in the back,
(22:39):
you know, because you gave me food, they will always
forward me to give you food or to give me
food because at the end of the day we all
put them together and share.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
So we knew who we can steal food from.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
So you had to be wearing glasses, shoes and khakis.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Boy, I would have been a mark all day.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Lord absolutely got shoes, I.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Got khakis, and I got glasses.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Yeah, so any of you, if you have khakies, you know,
glasses and shoes, watch out for your wallet. I promise
you know, it might not make it to where you're going,
you know. So that's kind of how we lunch. Who
can afford food or who we can steal from in
a way, you know.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
So For me, I saw a mark.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
I said, I'm gonna follow this guy, and as soon
as his boy's food.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
I'm gonna take it, you know.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
And the way we will do it is you're gonna
carry it before he says anything. Because if you can't ask,
like I'm gonna take it, you better show me where
you're going because if you don't, it might end up somewhere.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
But also you have no time to say no.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
So I got to get this food from this guy
and he said, hey, put my foot down. I put
his food down, and then he followed by asking me
something that nobody ever asked me, said hey, what is
your name? And that rollwed me that this person wanted
to know my name, but also his why for everyone
(23:59):
was mind was also abusive at the same time. So
for me, him asking me my name was oh, no,
you're gonna do something to me, you know. But also
it wollowed me because for five years, no one human
being had ever asked me what my name was, no one,
no one I ever said what is your name?
Speaker 3 (24:24):
We'll be right back.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
We have people who.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Begging in our city in the United States. I dare
you one day before you give them and even if
you didn't give it anything, say hey, what is your name?
You see how they will look at you because none
of us ever get When.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
I read that, I thought about the ninety times in
the last three years I've pulled up to an Exon
or a stop and go or outside of Walgreens and
somebody homeless walks up to me. I've never I've Sometimes
I will go in store and buy water and given
(25:15):
to them. Sometimes, if I have a dollar and they
don't look completely ridiculous, I'll give them a dollar. Sometimes
I'll give them a little coupon for a night at
the Union Mission. I don't think I've ever asked, hey,
what's your name?
Speaker 3 (25:31):
Once?
Speaker 4 (25:34):
And it's just so human for someone to want to
know your name. And so when I read that about you,
I thought about my own interaction as the guy with
the khaki and the glasses and the shoes, and I
myself has never asked what's your name?
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Yes, so if I may ask you what's your name?
Speaker 3 (25:52):
What?
Speaker 1 (25:53):
What's your name?
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Bill?
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Bill? But we know you Bill, and we either coach
why you get to do or what.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
You're known for, and that makes you unique and human,
you know, so for us, not when when you ask
a homeless person, you're basically assuming they don't live in
the same arena as you are, so you're gonna treat
them less. I don't deserve to get to know your name,
or I don't want to, you know. So for me
when you ask my name, that is what rouled me.
(26:21):
Well what you want to know my name? But also
for me, he broke memories that my mom named me Peter.
So the idea that you could say Peter, I could
hear my mom on the other side, like, oh my child.
You know, we all travel. When you're in the airport
and hear someone yetting someone's name, you always look back.
(26:41):
Are they calling me or calling my son? Or your
son is not there? But because our names give us
the dinner who we are. When you don't have that,
you are less of a human being in a way.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
But you've grown up to realize the kindness equeled abuse.
So felt good to hear your name. But you took
your apple and you ran off.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Well put his food down a few steps back, like
you're gonna harm me, you know, But before I could
go his say his food, you can take my food.
But still in that in my mind, you're gonna abuse me.
So I'm gonna put your food down and run the
other way. So as soon as I put it there,
I run. I didn't think of it to me, I
thought he's gonna abuse me, so I don't want to
know you. Next week I see him again, I was like, wait,
(27:25):
this is the same guy. So third week and fourth
week and every time he will say Peter that he
just remembered my name. So for me, in a week,
you had one day, one day where someone new your name.
That was the only day that I felt, oh, a
little human in me, like I'm human. He knew my name.
(27:50):
I didn't have to steal food. He will always give
me something to eat. So for me on Monday between
five and seven, I knew someone knows my name, and
he's gonna give me something to eat before I steal it.
And that's all it took. And so he fed me
for one and a half, you know, one and a half.
He will always come. And for some reason, it wasn't
the It ceased.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
To be about food, but the idea.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
That someone knows me, you know that someone knows me
is all that I was always looking for. On that
Monday when he came, so he fed me for one
and a half and one day he said, hey, Peter,
if he hadn't over to go to school, who did
you love to go to school? I laughed so hard
because I thought he was mocking me. You know, think
this way you live in the Swore, treated like a
(28:34):
strange animal, Like when do you hope to go to school?
You know, it's like me saying, hey, Bill, you know
they're sending people to the moon.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Would you like to go?
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Actually would, but it's never going to happen.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
Absolutely, But how many nights did you go to bed?
Saying I wish I could go to the moon? No, Well,
to a stric kid who lives in the Swore, it's
from garbage every day. Yeah, going to school, that's how
it felt. I Yeah, that's far far away. Another as
a falster parent, I think sometimes that's how we treat
our children when they come and you're like, you know,
I need you go to school and do your homework.
(29:07):
Sometimes that is like there's are ten fifty steps to
before they can know what that means, Like there are
things in between now and what are you asking me
that I it would take me a while to act
to believe that I can go to school, you know,
And so for me, I said no.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
Like.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Another step would be for kids that are in bad
situations to believe they could go to college, or have
a job, or be a proper husband and father right,
or create a family.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Those levels back up to.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
Your reality as a child, and things that seem so
ordinary and obvious to many of us are not even
dream a bull.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Yes, and you don't want to lie yourself. You don't
want to give yourself false hope. So for me, even
if I wanted to think about it, that was lying
to myself and putting my place, putting myself in a
place that I never wanted to be, but to be hopeful.
Speaker 4 (30:16):
This khaki guy with glasses that gave you food for
all this time and knew your name.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Correct, But that's all that I could. I could go,
you know, And he earned it.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Remember, he earned that right to ask me would go
to school because he fed me for one and a half,
you know. So I said no. So next time, he says,
by the way, if you go to school, there'll be lunch, dinner,
and breakfast. I said, what time can we go?
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Now?
Speaker 1 (30:39):
When we go? Why? Because for the first time he
mentioned the one thing I needed the most, the one
thing I lived for. To me, I stole food every day.
It wasn't just like an earned money, no food. So
by him saying there's three meals in my entire life,
I had never had two meals a day, So three meals,
(31:01):
I was like, that can't be possible, Like are you sure?
That must like when we think of heaven, you know,
for us Americans we think of gold and I don't
know angels. For me, as a kid growing up in
the street, I knew food, there will be food. So
him saying three, yeah, that felt like heaven. So I
said I'll go. I'll go right now. But he fed
(31:22):
me for one and a half, so he had in
some way I trusted him that if he fed me
for one and a half and he says there's three,
maybe there's three.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
So I went too.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
But he did something really cool or something I did,
like he said, go uh clean, He said go go wash,
go wash, so I can take you to me washing.
So I had never taken a shower, so we always
wait for it to rain so he can take a shower.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
I mean, so for him.
Speaker 1 (31:46):
Say go take a shower, I feel like, Okay, now
you really don't understand my world, Like I don't.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Take showers, so forget it, you know.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
So he's kind of like could not understand what's going
on in my brain.
Speaker 3 (31:57):
You know.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
Next time he comes, he says, hey, go clean up,
you know, clean up.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Anyone can clean up.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
So I went to the store, I put a little hair,
you know, water in the hair, cleaned my eyes, and
came back and he'd given me clothes to wear. And
as soon as I entered his car, he opened every window,
you know. And that's when I realized, like, okay, I
don't think I smell good, you know. But that didn't
stop him, and so he take me to me to school.
So when we arrived, there was lunch, so I was like,
(32:24):
this guy could be real, you know, there'll be lying.
So then I waited for dinner. Then I came and
then it was breakfast. But when I came in, I
never slept on a mattress before, so they gave me
a bank bed and put me on top, you know,
and I was like, dude, no, I am not, you know,
So for me, I slept on the floor for the
few weeks, you know, because I had never slept on
(32:46):
a mattress. So I felt like I'll die, I'll fall off,
you know, But his wife stayed. I didn't stay because
I wanted to go to school. I didn't stay. You know.
He gave me my first pair of shoes at sixteen.
I never had a pair of shoes before. So what
made me say at school was I waited for the
next meal and the next meal. Now I began to
(33:08):
work for the next meal. So for example, for us
as street kids, if you look in my eye, that
means you want to fight, you know, So I'm going
to hit you as quickly as possible before you hit me.
But then I'll hold back saying, well, I'm not going
to hit you because dinner is coming, you know, dinner.
I'm not gonna do that. I'm gonna risk my dinner,
you know. Or the kids was a boarding school, so
(33:28):
the kids would grow classes For me, I will stay
gathering through their stuff.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
So know how much am I gonna steal?
Speaker 1 (33:35):
So as I'm trying to take it, but I will say, hmmm,
but lunch is coming, so I'll put it back. So
I wait for lunch. So with time, I realized I
can work this thing out, you know. So now I
put on my shoes, no, because I wanted to go
class because I knew if I put on shoes, they
will allow me to have the next dinner, you know.
(33:55):
So now I had to go to class because now
I was like, wait, if I go to class, they
will allow me to have lunch. So in so doing
for me because I when you've never had a meal,
you always feel that it's the next one is the
last one, you know, and you work for the next one.
And that's how I stayed in school over and over.
After three months, he took me to his home. So
(34:19):
once he took me to his home, also, I was
afraid because it was Sunday and they had dinner. You know,
there was lunch everywhere. So for me, I was like, no,
you're gonna hit me and you're gonna beat up your family.
So outside my food and still on the exit because
that's what my father did. So I thought every father
does that to their family. So I started the exit
door because I was waiting for him to beat up
(34:41):
his family, you know. So next week he invited me again.
After service, we went. You know, the thought I was like,
I think they are making it up. He would do
one day, he's gonna hurt somebody, you know. The fourth week,
they did something really special. So on the dining table,
they put one extra seat and they put my name
on the seat. Maybe that's the one action that made
(35:19):
my whole life change because I didn't know I was
worthy to sit on the tape. I didn't know it
was good enough. And so that was the first time
(35:41):
that I felt like, oh wow, I belonged to this family.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
And so I sat on the table.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
And now my whole life changed because I said, if
there is a man that I want to be, if
I want to be like him, if there's a family
that there is on the planet, I just want to
be like his family. Because I never saw him yelling
at his family. I never saw him beat them up.
I never saw what I thought every man every day does.
That he was the opposite. And so now not only
(36:10):
was I going to school, but now I had something
to dream for because I knew what that looks like.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
Oh, this is what a.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Good family looks like. This is what a normal father
looks like, This is what a normal day to day
life looks like. And so now I went back to
school and I excelled because I had an example of
what I wanted to be.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
You had dreams now because he showed to school besides food. Yes,
And that concludes Part one of my conversation with Peter
Mudabasi and you don't want to miss part two that's
now available to listen to. Together, guys, we can change
this country, but it starts with you. I'll see in
(36:53):
part two
Host
Bill Courtney
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