Our new friends are putting things to good use!
Looks like this update was not published back in the fall 2017... My apologies!
As we settle back into reality and gear up for the holiday season, we are increasingly grateful for having had the opportunity to meet the kids at Sakala. We wanted the boys to feel connected to the country and to see how much they had in common with kids halfway around the world. I think they were genuinely blown away by the skill and toughness of the young Sakala athletes. When they heard that Stanley was a goal keeper, they all wanted to shoot on him but were surprised when Stanley wouldn't dive on the HOT PAVEMENT to block their shots. These kids were used to playing barefoot and were tough as nails!
Mike's mom has said since coming home that at first, she wasn't sure that raising money for soccer uniforms was the best investment- I mean, don't they need so much else? But, as a friend of Stanley and Dane's said, "these kids deserve new stuff too." We all know how it feels to put on a new outfit. How dressing up makes you carry yourself differently. We aren't under some illusion that bringing a few protein bars and new uniforms has changed the trajectory of these kids' very difficult lives. Still, your contributions that allowed us to outfit these kids in high quality uniforms allowed them to walk proudly onto the field for the next match, to stand a little taller, to recall that people halfway around the world are rooting for them and know they that they deserve the good things that come their way.
Thought you might all appreciate seeing the kids sporting their new uniforms for a very special visitor to Sakala- The U.S. Ambassador to Haiti.
As we settle back into reality and gear up for the holiday season, we are increasingly grateful for having had the opportunity to meet the kids at Sakala. We wanted the boys to feel connected to the country and to see how much they had in common with kids halfway around the world. I think they were genuinely blown away by the skill and toughness of the young Sakala athletes. When they heard that Stanley was a goal keeper, they all wanted to shoot on him but were surprised when Stanley wouldn't dive on the HOT PAVEMENT to block their shots. These kids were used to playing barefoot and were tough as nails!
Mike's mom has said since coming home that at first, she wasn't sure that raising money for soccer uniforms was the best investment- I mean, don't they need so much else? But, as a friend of Stanley and Dane's said, "these kids deserve new stuff too." We all know how it feels to put on a new outfit. How dressing up makes you carry yourself differently. We aren't under some illusion that bringing a few protein bars and new uniforms has changed the trajectory of these kids' very difficult lives. Still, your contributions that allowed us to outfit these kids in high quality uniforms allowed them to walk proudly onto the field for the next match, to stand a little taller, to recall that people halfway around the world are rooting for them and know they that they deserve the good things that come their way.
Thought you might all appreciate seeing the kids sporting their new uniforms for a very special visitor to Sakala- The U.S. Ambassador to Haiti.
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