Women’s Soccer Jamaica Blog VI

Wow. I have no words to describe the kind of day we had today, but I will try my best to describe the realness of it to you through my eyes. Our day began late today, with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Around 10 a.m. we loaded up the bus and had our devotional for the day.

Senior Salem Woody wrote this blog...

Today's devotional was on "playing with pain." From an athletic standpoint, it discussed all of the obstacles Michelle Akers overcame during her daily life and career as a top notch soccer player. It then moved on to a spiritual aspect in which we examined the kinds of pain we face every day that hampers us. Our devotional ended with a very touching quote from Michelle herself, "God will never shield us from life's adversities, because pain can produce the beauty of true character and a deeper, more powerful faith." We were deep in thought about how, come to think of it, preseason practices really aren't as bad as we thought, or the blisters or sprained ankles that we might get along the course of the season really aren't near as bad as some of the pain others in this world experience.

Check out the photo gallery from Jamaica...

After our devotions, we continued our bus ride and made a pit stop along the way to one of the coolest houses in Jamaica … Oh yes, people, the actual house that Bob Marley lived in. Let me tell you, it was totally RAD! Colors of green, red, and yellow were splashed everywhere. We got to see the car he used to drive, we didn't actually go inside his house, but the premises we're so fun and the energy there was great. Pictures and quotes were up all over the fences and walls. It was a great experience.

Once we left there, we stopped at the most prestigious high school in Jamaica called Jamaica College, where they were holding a soccer summer camp for ages varying between three all the way to 14. Because of the staff with us at GSM this week who are involved with this camp, we were able to mingle into the fields and watch the youngest age group (called "little ballerz") and even play against the eldest group, who we actually (my teammates may be mad at me for admitting this to you) lost to…but don't worry, we weren't trying as hard as we would in a regular match. We then got to watch the coaches vs. dad game, in which Coach Ken participated in and scored a goal or two. After a fun morning filled with local soccer, we were able to tour the two top universities in Jamaica, the University of West Indies and the University of Technology in Jamaica. We got to see the very tracks that Usain Bolt trained on. After the tour, we headed to our favorite dining spot - the mall. If Corrine hadn't already mentioned in the earlier blogs, we have eaten there at least once (maybe even twice occasionally) a day.

With full stomachs we blindly headed to what I would vouch to say the most eye opening part of our entire trip. We headed back to the Maxfield home, which houses kids who were 1. abandoned, 2. court ordered to live there, or 3. not wanted by their parents. We visited there earlier in the week but were not able to stay long, but today we got to stay for the entire afternoon. We all got out of the vans and the kids started running towards us and waving and screaming out of pure delight that we had arrived. I and a few others headed over to the nursery to meet and play with the toddlers that we didn't get to see the first time we were there. Literally as soon as I walked into the door, a three year old ran right into me and gave me the biggest hug and had the most exhilarating smile on his face. The kids were so happy to see us all there. I got to go into the back nursery where kids still sleeping in cribs were in and wake them up from their naps. It was such a priceless and precious moment for me. Back in the main room, some of my teammates gave the kids their sunglasses and we got some of the cutest pictures I have ever seen!!! After awhile, I mingled on out from the nursery onto this huge open field behind a fence on the other side of the property where the older kids were out playing soccer, cricket, and running around. Immediately I had kids running up to me asking to use my camera and to pick them up and go play with them. They were just beaming with bliss because we had taken the time to pay attention to them. There was a church group on the other side of the field fellowshipping together and playing games and eventually we joined in on some races including three-legged race and running down with a rock on a spoon. All afternoon we enjoyed time with the kids as they freely loved us unconditionally from the moment we arrived. It was such a heart touching moment. I stopped time for a second to observe what was really happening here outside the picture we were currently in. None of us were concerned with what we were doing later in the day, what time we were leaving, or anything else. We were entirely submerged in the joy that these people have for LIFE. We were living with them in a world with no worries or distractions, but of pure happiness and gratitude for special moments like this. It was absolutely amazing.

Numerous pictures were taken - girls were braiding our hair, the boys were teaching us dance moves and schooling us with soccer tricks, and for the afternoon we were united as one in an indescribable bond. Finally our afternoon came to an end. Each of us had connected with one or two kids on a very personable level, and myself and several of my teammates gave away our watches because that is all we had to give to these kids to tell them we loved them. We taught them how to use them and they loved having them! Once we all loaded the bus is when the emotions kicked in. Not only were we all bawling, but the kids watching us drive away were crying too. It was such a hard moment to leave these kids knowing we would never see them again.

I cannot explain to you what happened today because it was just an intangible way that God portrayed His love for us and how he worked through both us and the kids to reveal Himself. With heavy but open hearts and a new lens to view the world, we end our adventures here in Kingston, Jamaica. We arrived back at the hotel to relax and clean up before supper knowing that tonight we have to pack up and head back home in the morning. We will get to attend a local church service before we head to the airport at noon. Thank you all for your continual prayers for us while we have been away and even as we travel tomorrow! God Bless.