1st Match

The Suba Lakers played their first game in the inaugural Kenya Division I Ladies League last Saturday, August 18th.  The new football federation has started the 2nd tier league for ladies as a springboard to the Premier League.  Our zone is made up from teams all over the Western half of the country.  The first match was at home against Oserian from Naivasha.  They come from just outside of Nairobi.

Because schools are having a three week holiday, every one of our school going girls were available for the game.  We only had one player missing from the team because she hadn't yet been approved by the Federation.

Oserian scored in the 10th minute on a goalkeeping error, but the Lakers battled back to score a goal in the 2nd half in the 60th minute.  Dorothy Adhiambo struck it into the back of the net.  A few minutes later Pheny Akoth also hit the back of the net with a header, but for some unexplained reason the referee disallowed the goal and brought the ball back for a free kick instead.  Even though the Lakers battled hard, Oserian later netted the winner in the 80th minute to take home a 2-1 win over the Suba Lakers.

Outstanding performers for the ladies included Lydia Awino playing fullback, Raysher Jedida manning the midfield and Irine Achieng on the left wing.

The Lakers will travel to Eldoret and Kakamega this weekend for two more matches.

Well Done

Last Monday, August 13^th, a dear Saint went home to heaven to be with her Heavenly Father.  I am sure the first words that Jean Schabinger heard when she passed from this life into eternity were, “Well done good and faithful servant.”  She lived an extraordinary life.  She was born, along with her twin sister Joan, in 1932 and grew up in Wichita, Kansas.  When she was at Friends University she received salvation through a relationship with Jesus Christ and continued to grow in her faith while being involved with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship during Grad School at Penn State.  Jean finished her undergrad in 3 years and her grad work in 1 year.  Her career started by teaching at Taylor University when she was only 21 years old.  She later taught P.E. in Michigan, Arizona and for her last 22 years at Hemet High School in California.  She was an active lady fixing things, building boats, planting gardens, painting pictures, reading books, playing games, doing puzzles, hosting guests, travelling, kayaking, camping and so many other things.  She took P.E. classes in Norway on hiking glaciers and then led a class hike on a glacier in Washington State.  She kayaked on the Inside Passage of Alaska and British Columbia.  When she was 50 she built her own cedar strip canoe and christened it with chocolate syrup. 

But her biggest joy came in serving the Lord.  She loved teaching Sunday School, helping with the midweek Awana program in her church and discipling new believers.  And she loved missions.  She encouraged many missionaries on the field with her letters.  She visited some of them all the way to Africa and Ecuador.  She also supported several missionaries, but didn’t want them to know it was coming from her.  That was the kind of lady she was, humble to the core, but yet very competitive.  She loved to play Scrabble, card games, board games or anything that would give her a chance to “trash talk” to her competitors.  One night after losing a new card game she had introduced to my dad, she presented him with a certificated score card, but wrote on the back: “The only reason you won was because you had the best teacher!”

The last years of her life were filled with much physical pain.  It started in her back in the year 2005.  In March 2006 the doctors finally confirmed it was multiple myeloma, cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow.  For six years she dealt with much pain, night sweats, fractures and harsh treatments for this incurable disease.  This strong, active woman lost 8 inches of height in those years. 

That is when I had the pleasure of getting to know this incredible woman.  When I was back at home, we would go and visit her.  She would tell us stories of yesteryear and would ask questions about our work in Kenya, especially when it came to our football girls.  The true test of a person’s character is how they deal with the challenges of life.  Jean handled her trials like a warrior.  Even during her sickness, she served the Lord with gladness, with enthusiasm, with humility and with her whole heart.  Jean often inspired others to work harder, love God more, serve him better, travel farther and longer, or take a trip they thought they never could.  She had a deep knowledge and understanding of her identity in Christ.  And she continued to use the short time she had remaining to help advance God’s kingdom here in Hemet and throughout the world.  It is sad to lose a true saint like Jean, but I know God is rising up others like me and you to fill in the huge gap that she left behind.

Before passing away she had planned her Memorial Service.  One song she had requested was “When We All Get to Heaven.”  The words are pretty fitting, “Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, sing his mercy and his grace, In the mansions bright and blessed, He’ll prepare for us a place.  When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.  When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.”  I know that now Jean is rejoicing in the place Jesus prepared for her.  And I bet when I get to heaven, she will be waiting with a game of Scrabble (and maybe a little heavenly “trash talk”)!

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord…they rest from their labors and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13,14        

Tentative U.S. Schedule

I am putting together my schedule while I am home and have already booked some flights, but not all of them.  Here is a tentative schedule:

 

Aug 6-22 Southern California (my family)

Aug 23-28 Ohio (my brother's family)

Aug 29-31 New York/New Jersey (Jodi Felty McCall)

Sep 1-11 Charleston, SC

Sep 13-24 Louisiana

Sep 24-28 Minnesota?? (my relatives)

Sep 28-Oct 22 Montana

Oct 22-29 Seattle and Portland

November California, Arizona and Vegas

Nov 24 Back to Kenya

Back Home

I arrived back in the good old USA on Tuesday, August 7th just in time to indulge in the last week of the Olympics.  Honestly I didn't schedule it that way, but the timing was perfect.  After a couple of good days in Nairobi running errands and catching up with old friends, I flew through London (layover wasn't long enough to go outside the airport and watch the Olympics live) and landed in San Diego, greeted by my parents,my brother Sam and my nephew Zachary.  Though he is only 4 years old (going on 20) he insisted on helping me roll my carry on luggage to the car.  We proceeded to his house which happens to be a boat at San Diego yacht club and met the smiling faces of my sister-in-law Sally and 2 year old niece Kylie. 

The last time I was home was two years ago, but that was only for 3 weeks.  My last long visit to America was 4 years ago.  It feels a little strange coming back home.  All of the cars shine so bright and look so immaculate.  Everything seems to be organized so well with clean streets and no dust.  Before ever leaving for the mission field I was told that the longer you live overseas the more comfortable and adaptable you will become in both places, but even though you feel more "comfortable" in both places you will begin to feel like you don't completely "fit" into either place.  I think that is definitely true for me after 9 years in Kenya.  I love both Kenya and the U.S., but don't feel totally "at home" in either place, but I guess that is to be expected since this world is not our home, we are just passing through. 

We enjoyed a wonderful day in San Diego with Sam's family and even got to take the kids swimming.  I was amazed that my four year old nephew can jump into the pool alone and swim all the way across to the other end, even through the deep end.  And he must have done it at least ten times.  I have to remember to take a video of it so I can show my kids in Kenya because they won't believe me if I just tell them. (on a side note, he also learned to ride a bicycle alone this week).  My 2 year old niece also feels very comfortable in the pool, but only when an adult is helping her.  She loves to climb on your back and catch a ride to the other end.  I enjoyed putting her on my front and swimming backwards across the pool so that I could enjoy her million dollar smile as I laboured in the water. 



Since then I have come back to Hemet with my parents and enjoyed a pretty subdued 4 days.  I have indulged in the Olympics, mostly basketball, football, track and field and volleyball with a little dose of sychronized swimming and rythmic dancing when nothing else is on.  My favorite though was the U.S. women's soccer team in the semis vs. Canada and the finals vs. Japan (redemption).  I have also been unpacking and beginning to prepare for my travels around the country.  With my dad now retired and my mom off for summer break until next week it kind of seems like a holiday since they are around the house 24/7.  I will get to enjoy CA for about 12 more days before I begin travelling. 

Being home just reminds me once again of how blessed I am to have grown up in a country like the U.S. and to have such great family, friends and supporters.  I couldn't ask for better parents than what I have.  If anyone tried to design and create the ideal parents, they couldn't do better than the ones I have!

     

Kobala are Champions

The Nyanza Province Secondary School Girls football final between Jera and Kobala was highly anticipated. There were three Suba Lakers playing for Jera and one playing for Kobala. All of them are in their first year of secondary school. Last year's final matched the same two teams and came down to a goal in extra time from Jera to propel them to Nationals. This year it was obvious to everyone as the two teams moved through their zonals, districts, regionals, and provencal preliminary games that they were destined to meet again in this year's final.

This time around Kobala began very strong, but it only took Jera a few minutes to move ahead as the goal keeper made a mistake on Jera's free kick and allowed the ball to roll into the goal. After the goal Jera quickly took control of the game possessing the ball and creating more chances around the goal. After the first 35 minutes, Jera was ahead 1-0 going into halftime. The beginning of the 2nd half looked very similar to the end of the first half with Jera dominating ball possession and creating many chances. They finally capitalized on one of those chances when the ball was kicked high in the air in the box and Alicent Awuor (Suba Lakers) cushioned the high ball with a soft header directed at the goal. The keeper lunged for it, but didn't get it cleanly and Alicent poked it in the goal to take a commanding 2-0 lead for Jera.

At that point most people thought the match was over since Jera had a two goal lead in the 2nd half and had controlled the game, especially the midfield. But Kobala kept fighting. Buoyed by a couple of substitutes that had a lot of energy, they managed to get a goal back from a free kick with about 10 minutes to go. As time was winding down, the 4th official signaled to the center referee that time was up, but two minutes were added for injury time. With Jera ready to celebrate the championship, everything changed when the linesman raised her flag and began running towards the goal signalling for a penalty kick. It was a very questionable call (especially in the dying seconds) where it looked like the ball might have hit the defender's stomach, but the referee called it a handball and gave Kobala the penalty kick. They took full advantage by converting the penalty and sending the match into extra time for the second consecutive year.


The additional twenty minutes didn't settle the matter so they went for post-match penalty kicks. Kobala scored each of their kicks and emerged the champions of Nyanza Province. It was unfortunate that the championship was decided by a referee's call and then by post-match penalties, but it was a great, competitive match that showed the level of girls football in this country greatly rising. Both teams are extremely talented and well coached. Kobala will be a good representative for Nyanza at the Nationals in Mombasa. We hope they can show the country that the best players come from Nyanza.

Province's Best

The Nyanza Province Secondary School Tournament is going on this week in Homa Bay.  Nine of our Suba Lakers are playing with their secondary school teams.  Three are playing for Gekomoni, three for Jera, two for Sindo and one for Kobala.  Three of the teams managed to reach the semifinal stage.  In the first semifinal Caren Akeyo helped lead Kobala to an emphatic 3-0 win to qualify for the finals. 

In the other semifinal we had six of our players competing against each other for the opportunity to go to the finals.  It was a tough, hard fought contest with both teams putting pressure on each other.  Late in the first half, Jera had a free kick just outside the box.  Goalkeeper Eliva Awuor (Suba Laker) dove and got her fingertips on it, forcing it out of the goal and it hit the post and bounced back into the field.  Alicent Awuor (Suba Laker) collected the rebound and put it in the back of the next while Eliva was still trying to get off the ground.  Jera held on to the 1-0 lead and booked their ticket to the finals tomorrow. 

So on Saturday, there will be a rematch of last year's final between Jera and Kobala.  Last year it was a battle until the dying seconds when Jera scored a goal in extra time to win the championship and qualify for Nationals.  Both teams have reloaded this year and the final promises to be another nail-biting affair.  The four Suba Lakers who are all in their first year of secondary school will be playing on the biggest stage in front of thousands of fans!

Broken Heart

Today I had one of the most deeply moving experiences I have had in my nine years in Kenya.  We attended the burial of the mother of one of our CGA students.  Celestine is a 7 year old in 1st grade.   Because her home is outside of CGA's jurisdiction, we didn't accept her the first couple of times that her mother applied for her to join.  Finally, her persistence paid off and after agreeing to find a place to stay closer to school, Celestine started in Nursery in 2010.  The mother loved her very much and saw the value of education.  Celestine lost her father when she was very young.  The man was a polygamist with 5 wives.  Mama Celestine was the youngest of the five wives.  Each of the others  had passed away previously.  She was the only one remaining until she succumbed to a long bout of illness.

Seven of our CGA staff and five students drove out to the home to comfort her during the funeral.  As soon as we arrived Celestine came running to the vehicle.  She hugged each of us as the tears flowed from her eyes; and seconds later there were also tears flowing from our eyes.  It is rare here to see people show emotion and affection like that, which I think is what touched our hearts so much.  I could feel her pain and tried to imagine what was going through her mind.  I am sure she was asking herself questions about where she would now be staying, who would take care of her, would she have to change schools and will she be separated from her other siblings. 


But for me, it was more than just Celestine.  I was thinking about more than 200 other orphans at CGA, realizing that each of them have gone through the same trauma in their young lives.  They have all lost people close to them and most of them have lost multiple parents/guardians.  I thought about Micah and Denis who a few months ago lost their guardian (their parents had died a few years ago).  I thought about Petty and Benjamin who lost their father last month.  I thought about Daisy and Victor who lost their father shortly before that (their mother passed away in 2004).  What would it be like at such a young age to face a life ahead without your father and mother?  The uncertainty and doubts would be overwhelming.  Even our older students, no matter how tall or mature they might be, have the same fears and insecurities as little Celestine.  Sometimes as we teach them in school, they all look so normal in their school uniforms.  It is easy to forget what these children have passed through in their lives and how much extra love and attention they need from us.  That is why CGA was founded and what our role is in this community.

As we sat down during the funeral and as we were escorted to the house for a meal, Celestine clung tightly to us.  She shifted from person to person, holding our hands or putting her arm around us.  When we sat back down after the meal, she came and sat on my lap.  She gently brushed the hair on my arms back and forth.  After a while she decided to take a blade of grass and began cleaning under my fingernails one by one.  I couldn't keep my eyes dry and I couldn't stop praying for her and all of our kids.  It was a great reminder of why I am here in Mbita.  I wander if I will ever leave this place.