Still Fighting Cancer

Spending a week in Kisumu with the football coaching clinic was also a new experience. Usually I sweep into Kisumu in the morning, rush around for a few hours to finish all my errands, and then I bolt out of town early to try and catch the last ferry back to Mbita. Last week I actually had time to do some other things while there. I did some shopping, went to a movie, connected with some old friends and attended a school performance of “Oliver.” The highlight though was spending a couple of afternoons with Barak and the other patients in the Children’s Cancer Ward. On Thursday I was able to bring a ball for the children. We played many different games with it for almost two hours. It was so much fun. Barak has missed his last two chemotherapy treatments. The first one was because he had malaria that week and the second time was because his blood counts were not high enough. We are praying hard that this week he will be able to get his next dose. When I saw him he was in good spirits and enjoyed running around and joking with his friends. Please continue to pray for him and the other patients there in Kisumu.

Coaching the Coach

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a youth football coaching clinic in Kisumu conducted by Kisumu Youth Football Association. KYFA is an organization that has multiple leagues for different ages of players with over 1,200 players participating each weekend. The clinic was a great opportunity to be exposed to different coaching styles and techniques. I have been a college basketball coach in the past, but football is still rather new to me. The trainer was a Kenyan who coaches a local professional team and was trained in the Netherlands. He did an excellent job in training us how to make football enjoyable for the players we are coaching and how to get them maximum repetitions so that they can develop their skills. There was classroom training and then practical training on the field where we were the players and the coaches. I am better equipped now to read the game and understand systems of play.

It was a little unique for me as we met in a classroom at a Muslim primary school, next to a mosque. Their calls to prayer would interrupt our lessons a few times a day. The field we trained on was a nice stadium right next to where they burned large piles of trash so the humongous clouds of black smoke would sweep over us as we were breathing heavy after a drill which probably wasn’t the healthiest for my lungs. I am thankful for the opportunity and what I have learned that will help me do my job better at school and with our football club.

A Big Road Block

On the way back from the secondary sports tournament in Homa Bay, we got a rare treat. It was dusk and we just passed through Luanda town, only about 10 km from Mbita. As we were driving and talking, we looked up to see a Hippo as big as an elephant crossing the road and stepping up onto the embankment on the other side. My co-pilot exhorted me to hurry up and get past it before it charges the vehicle. In my 6 years of being in Kenya, I have never seen a big hippo like that out of the water and walking across the road. I guess that is another good reason to not drive at night!

Secondary Success

During the weekend of June 26th and 27th I was able to travel to two different districts for their secondary school sports tournament. Several of our students from CGA that we sponsor in high school were participating. Ronny Otieno was playing defense on the Mirogi Boys soccer team. They lost in the semifinals. Denis Odhiambo was playing as a striker for the Mbita High School team. Mary Lucy Adhiambo was playing defense on the Sindo Girls team. Violet Achieng was playing volleyball for her school. Brenda Ollimo was the captain of the Asumbi Girls volleyball team that reached the finals of the tournament before losing. Two others from CGA played on the Asumbi Girls Soccer team. Cathorine Agiro was their strong midfielder while Martha Akinyi played some tough defense. Their team reached the finals and played to a 0-0 draw. Because it was getting late and the rains were approaching the rescheduled the final to be played at a later date.

It is quite a pleasure to see our students compete at a high level in sports as well as in academics. They displayed good character and leadership skills while leading their team. It also gave me a chance to connect with them in an informal setting and be able to sit down and share with them and encourage them. We were able to enjoy a cold soda with each of them.

Going to secondary school in Kenya is difficult. They are away from home for long periods of time. There are many temptations and trials that they face from their peers. The academic demands are high and the amount of sleep is little so health also becomes a big concern. It is good for them to see a familiar face and for them to be able to share their problems with someone who cares.

Taking the Trophy

The Suba Lakers competed in their first tournament since their official registration as a Sports Association with the Kenyan government a few weeks ago. The divisional officials asked the team to represent the Gembe location in the Constituency Football tournament at Mbita High School Saturday. Usually the choose the best players in the area that are under the age of 30 and put them together to compete against the other locations. This time, they decided to ask our club to represent them.

The Laker Girls took home the trophy with a resounding 2-0 win in front of a large throng of hometown faithfuls who had their first chance at seeing a strong girls football team. The fans were impressed at the way the girls controlled the ball, passed and played a game they are only accustomed to seeing boys play. Their performance drew many praises and accolades as they controlled the ball virtually the entire match.

Keta Corazon opened the scoring towards the end of the first half with a superb strike. Second Half subsitute, Irine Achieng from CGA, put the game out of reach with a long range bomb that sailed into the top right corner of the net beyond the goalkeepers reach. The girls had many more chances to score, including a penalty shot, but they had to settle for the two goal victory.

The Journey

The journey to Mfangano Island was a learning experience in many ways for our kids. They learned from interacting with other kids from a different school. They learned from watching the attitudes and behaviour of their teachers and other staff as they competed in sports. They also learned from the boat ride home.

The day’s program lasted a little longer than we had hoped. By the time we were boarding the boat to return home, the sun was already setting. Some members of the group were noticeably worried. Even though these children have grown up around the lake, many of them have never been on a boat before and a majority of them don’t know how to swim. It was a little frightening as darkness set in and the storm clouds moved overhead. We could see lightning in the distance on both sides of the boat which isn’t very encouraging when you are inside a wooden boat. About halfway into the trip, it began to rain. With no covering and no place to hide we had to make the best of a bad situation. The children continued singing to keep their minds off the troubles and the staff prayed. Fortunately the rain didn’t last long and the captain guided us safely to our destination though we were pretty wet upon arrival. The children recognized the hand of God through the situation and were quick to praise his name upon reaching. A safari outside of our own school helps to expose the children to many new things and teaches them many valuable lessons.

Journey Across the Lake

On Saturday morning a group from CGA boarded a boat and rode across the lake to Mfangano Island. The delegation included thirty students and twenty staff tightly squeezed in the wooden boat. After the hour long journey we were greeted by the students at Gethsemane School who were awaiting our arrival. The hosts treated us like kings with their warm greetings and great meals. We spent the day with our sister school competing in various sporting activities. Like us, they are working to educate the orphans of Suba District and instill the word of God in them to see God’s Kingdom come to Kenya through their lives.

The games began with a three-set win for the CGA volleyball team. The boys did not fair as well against a very tough Gethsemane team. The staff took the court next and played an extremely competitive match that eventually saw CGA lose in a third set thriller. After a light lunch they headed out to the football pitch. Once again the CGA girls proved strong with a 1-0 victory when Irine Achieng put the kick through the goal-keepers legs and through the goal. The staff teams competed next. Once again the staff had a very even match that ended with a 0-0 draw. The final competition of the day was the boys’ football match in which Gethsemane prevailed with a 2-0 win. The boys, girls and staff all walked back to the school together and enjoyed a late lunch or early dinner. After the speeches CGA rushed to board the boat and set off for home. The sun was setting as they waved goodbye to their friends from the island. Within a short time the students broke out in a chorus and never stopped singing until we reached the shores of Mbita. The joyous singing helped the delegation to keep their minds off the dangers of travelling on the lake and the rain that soaked us a for a few minutes. It was a great field and good exposure for most of the children who have lived their whole lives by the lake but had never even been