Tough Circumstances for These Girls

We had another great sports day yesterday. I have been coaching the local girls soccer team through all their different levels (pre-base, base, zonal, and divisional). Each time we play a mini-tournament and then they select the best players from all the different teams to move on to the next level. I thoroughly enjoy the whole process so much. I love coaching the teams and trying to bring out the best in each individual and the team as a whole. I love the opportunity to hang out with students in a relaxed setting where they feel free to open up and talk about things, ask questions and joke around. There are so many chances to impact their lives through speaking words of truth and words of encouragement that are rare in their lives. It has really given me a chance to develop some good relationships with students and teachers outside of CGA.

Some of the stories can be so sad. There are so many around here that have lost both their parents to HIV/AIDS and are burdened with so much responsibility in their homes. Things that 7th and 8th graders should not be undertaking. In some ways they act as parents or the heads of their households for their younger siblings. Phenny has to take her sickly mother to the clinic 5 miles away every morning before school for treatment so she is always late to school. Lavenda lost her father when she was two and her mother last year. As a 14 year old, she is now caring for her three younger siblings in the house as she is the oldest remaining relative. Pauline comes from an island. She has lost four of her siblings to HIV and other diseases. All of her older sisters were married off when they finished 8th grade. I could share many more, but these few give you an idea of what these girls deal with.

Sports give them an opportunity to do something they love and get away for a few minutes from the pressure, responsibility and the difficult circumstances in their lives. I feel blessed to have the chance to know them and try to impact them in any small way that God puts before me.