Soccer

Saturday Lamar and I went to watch the boys at Nho Djunga (the youth center where Lamar works) play soccer. It was a sort of tournament for local youth centers. All the boys from the centers formed teams and played fifteen-minute soccer games against each other. We arrived at Nho Djunga, and when the boys saw Lamar, they were super excited. It was so sweet to see how happy they were to see him there. It made me so proud to be his wife. They absolutely love him there, and it is no secret to me why they do. All the kids were rounded up, and we walked to the nearest “soccer field.” It is really just a concrete area that is smaller than a regulation soccer field. They all got together for a group photo.

Then out of nowhere, they all changed jerseys. I did not ask questions. I have learned that there is quite often simply no rhyme or reason here, and you will only frustrate yourself if you try to rationalize things. So, they changed jerseys and started warming up. It was incredibly cute.  I am sure they would be so disappointed if they knew I was calling it cute.  As far as they were concerned, they were practicing like the pros. 

They all decided to have a pre-game huddle to talk strategy.

Here is a picture after their first goal. You seriously would have thought they had just won the World Cup. But as Lamar pointed out to me, this is the World Cup to them. They were so proud, and so were we.  I finally understood my Mom's crazy cheering at any sporting event of mine.  You just can't help but be crazy proud of them!  Notice too that they play without shoes....on concrete.  Amazing!

Well, we did not win the game, and the boys were heartbroken. The other youth center had enough money that the boys actually had someone there to work with them as their coach. But Lamar used the opportunity to talk to them about good sportsmanship, about how winning AND losing are part of sports and that even the best players lose once in a while. He was there when they were hurt and crying to cheer them up and encourage them.

Now for this little guy:

His name is Ravitson, but everyone calls him “little one,” and for good reason. He is nine years old, and he looks about the same size as most five year olds, if not smaller. Lamar carries him around like he is a gallon of milk. He is the sweetest little guy you ever met. The very first time I met him, he came up to me out of nowhere and gave me the biggest hug. It was so sincere. Well, we have been friends since then. On Saturday, we was hanging pretty close to us because he could not play. It broke my heart, but I understood why; he was just too small. I could tell it really hurt him, but it was for his own good.  There is no telling how often he is left out of things because of his size. About halfway through the day, he comes up to me, puts his little bitty arms around my waist and gives me a hug. I pat him on the back, thinking he is done, and he just stands there. He stood there resting his head on me and hugging me for almost thirty minutes. It really struck me how deprived of human contact most of them are. There are simply not enough people and there is simply not enough time in the day for them all to receive individual attention from a caring and loving adult. All he wanted was someone to hold him and give him their time. Finally, something here I feel I can do and be good at......

Overall, it was a great time.  I was reminded of what an awesome person Lamar is and how great kids can be.