Boys Growing Up

While the girls were competing in Kisii, the Suba Laker Boys were nearer to home participating in a junior tournament. They swept through their preliminary matches on Rusinga Island and I made it back in time to see them play in the semifinals and finals. They played good football, playing the ball on the ground and making good passes back and forth to get into scoring position. I was also impressed with their discipline when the referee was being unfair and when the other team was getting rough. They scored an easy 2-0 win in the semifinals and dominated the finals, though the 1-0 score doesn't necessarily paint an accurate picture. It was encouraging for them. The Rusinga Island fans weren't happy that we were taking the trophy away from the island and back to Mbita, but they had kind words to say about how our boys played and their character. They even asked me to share a word with all the teams and all the fans during the trophy presentation so I took the chance to talk about the way to eternal life through Jesus. It was dark by the time the boys accepted the trophy and walked it across the courseway back home to Mbita.

This December was the first time our CGA boys competed in football tournaments as a group. The holiday months (April, August, December) are difficult for teenagers in this area with many temptations that can derail their life. For orphan boys it is even more challenging. Once these boys reach puberty, their mothers or guardians have a tough time controlling them and the boys end up doing whatever they want; and that is not usually good for them. Several of them have realized this and took steps to making wiser decisions. It has been fun this December to see them involved with the remedial teaching at CGA and the football training and tournaments. Some of them have even volunteered to work at CGA when they have free time.

They had come to me and asked if they could form a team and have taken most of the work and responsibility themselves. When I asked them what name they wanted, they responded they wanted to be the Suba Lakers Boys, just like the girls. So when the girls win, they can also be a part of it.

It has made a dramatic change in several of their lives to stay busy with positive activities and to hold each other accountable this holiday. I know it will pay dividends in their academic performance next year and in their futures. They have showed good responsibility and have been very grateful for the opportunities they have received. (They are pretty good players too!)