Day 5: Immeasurably More
Today we started the soccer camp.
Oh boy, that surely tire me out.
Started off with just a few kids in the first session, but we ended up having more kinds in the 2nd session.
Many of them has never play soccer before. But I can tell that some of them are naturally talented, with coaching and organized competition, they could easily play at high school level, maybe even college.
Of course, I’m not a professional scout or recruiter, so that’s just my opinion based on what I saw during my years working with kids as a referee.
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Future members of USMNT & USWNT
With Coach Billy
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I spoke to one of the elder, — who also serves as a pastor in one of the church we’re partnering with — and he actually mentioned that genetically, the Navajo kid’s body type fits well for soccer. I couldn’t agree more.
Later that day I did a little research, and found that soccer is not offered as a competitive sport at High School level. That explains why many of them has never play before and just want to try out and learning how to play.
It’s amazing to see how this little community (Shiprock population is 8,200, with 1,100 estimated between the age of 5-19) managed to cater for 450 kids over 5 days of camp. That’s 40% of kids from the whole town.
Counting those who might be traveling at the time of camp, in hospital, or unable to participate for various reasons, that’s roughly half of the kids from all over the town.
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Field Trips
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Oh, remember the immeasurably more I mentioned yesterday? (read yesterday's entry here)
Well, we got a little taste of it. As we walked the kids to their lunch room yesterday, I spoke with one of the registration lady, she said we had at least 150 NEW kids registered that morning.
Today, we have even more kids. Didn’t get the exact headcount but it’s more than the first 2 days.
We had 225 on the first day. It might not looks like we had that many, because we sent 2-3 busloads of kids on field trips, swimming and hiking activities. So they’ve been off “camp” for the day.
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The Kids
These pictures above doesn't really do justice. Although it should give us some idea with the number of kids attended camp.
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It’s an amazing number.
As always, we’re interested in more than just numbers.
Every numbers has a name, and every name has a story.
Two more days of camp, and we hoped to learn more of their stories.
One story we shared today how one kid, just standing on one corner, playing with an electronic gadget… refused to participate in any activities, whether sports or arts/crafts. Finally he opened up when one of the adult volunteer asked if they (I’m using they for gender neutrality, as I can’t remember if it was a boy or a girl) have eaten anything. They was hungry. After given a little snack, they finally joined the activities.
Later on we found out that it’s very common for them to be hungry. They’re used to it. They don’t even bother telling people that they’re hungry and need food. Maybe it’s part of the culture, that they have no sense of entitlement, or maybe because of poverty. Who knows.
One thing I could really tell, they’re grateful for everything. Every little thing.
These people and community really have a low sense of entitlement. Such a nice community with big hearts and full of gratitude.
Today, they really taught us what being content really means.
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After the first 2 sessions, we have lunch and story time, this time one of the community elder share some encouraging message to the kids. Continued by 3rd session. We only opened soccer camp for the 2 morning sessions, as the heat might be a little too much to play soccer outdoor at that hour. So I went back helping football camp for the 3rd session.
Speaking of Lunch . . . another amazing moment how our local partners managed to tied up this camp to local government program to get lunch for the kids at a middle school right next door. That alone is a relief for many families in this community.
That's Day 3 of camp, half-way done. As the day winds down, sitting in my hotel room, I've had many mixed emotions.
Part of me just getting used to life at camp. The rhythm, the activities, getting more familiar with the people, their culture . . . at the same time realizing that we've just passed half-way point. The clock keeps ticking, live goes on. Time to rest and get ready for Day 4 of camp.
Today, they really taught us what being content really means.
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After the first 2 sessions, we have lunch and story time, this time one of the community elder share some encouraging message to the kids. Continued by 3rd session. We only opened soccer camp for the 2 morning sessions, as the heat might be a little too much to play soccer outdoor at that hour. So I went back helping football camp for the 3rd session.
Speaking of Lunch . . . another amazing moment how our local partners managed to tied up this camp to local government program to get lunch for the kids at a middle school right next door. That alone is a relief for many families in this community.
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Lunch Room
Provided by Local School District
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That's Day 3 of camp, half-way done. As the day winds down, sitting in my hotel room, I've had many mixed emotions.
Part of me just getting used to life at camp. The rhythm, the activities, getting more familiar with the people, their culture . . . at the same time realizing that we've just passed half-way point. The clock keeps ticking, live goes on. Time to rest and get ready for Day 4 of camp.
