I specifically remember telling my brother Shaun about how I was going to be in Africa when the World Cup was going on. He excitedly asked if I was going to be in South Africa. I told him no and he, in a subdued manner, said “oh�. Yeah I mean it is weird to think that I’m in Kenya and the World Cup is a short drive away (well it would take many hours, really but I mean I’m closer than I would be in America…). But it’s been interesting to see how my love for soccer has filtered through to me on the World Race. Though I was not able to go to see a world cup game, and I haven’t even been able to see a game on TV yet, God brought soccer to me.
Nicole and I were able to help out with Christ Community Church’s sports camp at a school near where we were staying. It took a lot of energy and the days were long. But the kids were totally worth the effort. I made such awesome relationships with the kids in my group and I was able to get to know some of the girls better during “coaches huddles�. I really grew to love those kids. And it was heaps of fun to play and coach the basics of soccer again.
The last day of camp we had a tournament and I was the coach of the Buffalos. I started the day thinking we were going to be lucky to get past the first round (of course I didn’t tell them that). But those fighters wouldn’t stop! After the first round, we found out that we were actually the first out of all the teams! I told them, “Guys we’re number one of all the teams! Do you know what that means?â€� They looked at me unexcitedly and said they didn’t. I told them we were going to be going to the semi-finals and that if we won that we’d be going to the championship. They started getting really excited–ecstatic really. The look in their eyes was almost like this could possibly be the best thing that could happen to them all year. Then I said, “Guys if we go to the championship and win, do you know what that will mean?â€� They looked at me a little bewildered and before they could respond I shouted, “That means we’ll be CHAMPIONS! We’ll have won the whole tournament!â€� Then they lost it. I’ve never seen kids get so excited. We ended up going to the championship game…and WE WON!! The kids were SO excited. And honestly, the fact that they won the championship may very well be the best thing that happened to each one of my kids this year. The excitement they had was so contagious and I was so proud of them! Their attitude, effort, and enthusiasm was humbling for me. I played college level soccer and I don’t remember getting as excited as them. They saw every step of the tournament as such a blessing. They humbled me.
And then God brought someone super cool to camp. I’ll be totally honest and tell you that I didn’t now who this guy was at first, but he will be a man I won’t forget. The group was able to bring Musa (Moses) Otieno to camp. He is a Kenyan National player as well as a player for a major South African club team called Santos. He was the first Kenyan to make it big in soccer and every Kenyan knows about Musa. Musa’s appearance was a surprise to the kids and they were so excited to see him. I won’t lie, I got excited that I could name drop when I got back to the states (or even to write his name in this blog). But I want to explain how I changed and what impressed me most about Musa. It wasn’t really his accomplishments. He is a tall and strong man, but his stature didn’t impress me the most either. This man came with an authenticity that blew me away. Musa has a smile that only comes with knowing the joy of the Lord. I got to demonstrate some 3v3 and 4v4 drills with him (and seriously let him down as his teammate, but he had such a gracious and loving spirit about him). At the beginning of the camp I wondered if his money, success, and status would say a lot about him. I was quickly assured otherwise when all I could see was this obedient disciple of Christ. A man that desired to empower the youth, teach them soccer, and show them the love of Christ that he had so freely received. I’m glad God brought Musa into my life and into my race experience.
I will name drop in this way, I met a man named Musa who is in Christ. He is my brother and we are united through the blood of the only One to name drop about. How cool is it that we are united through the blood of our Savior as well as through the love of soccer!
*Pictures are coming as soon as I find internet that will allow me to do so 🙂
