Wednesday, July 14 6:12 p.m. in Zambia
The soccer (I should say “Football”) game was very fun as we expected. Wiphan and Janet arranged new jerseys for the teammates, which to these kids are like gold. They were so proud in their new clothes.
They played on a field just outside Sinia school. It was an open dirt field scattered with rocks and bits of trash. The goals were simply rusted iron frames at each end with no nets.
It didn’t take long to notice the missing shin guards and socks that our soccer players wear. But something even more important to us was missing … shoes. Every kid on that team played as well as our student athletes back home, and every one of them did it barefoot. J.P. was asked to fill in on the Sinia team and almost tried it barefoot as well! For his sake, we are glad he didn’t. I imagine his feet would have been in rough shape after that.
Students from both schools lined the field to watch and cheer. This must have been like a Homecoming Football game to them! When a team made a great play or scored a goal, it seemed like everyone cheered, regardless of which school they attended. After a goal, the fans would run out onto the field for a quick celebration, and the players would jump, cartwheel, and flip in mid air. The younger children hovered around us once again to watch the game, some sitting in our laps or on the ground leaning against our legs. They just love any kind of contact with us they can get. I noticed many of them staring at us most of the time rather than watching the game.
The sun was setting as the game ended. The students moved in a crowd around us as we walked back to our van. Many who had not met us yet asked our names and other details. Others reached out to shake our hands or give Hi Fives as they learned from Christy at Soccer Camp. All had huge smiles.
As I got in the van, I realized this was goodbye. We will see Wiphan friends at dinner tonight but we won’t see the widows and orphans again on this trip. Tomorrow morning we leave for Victoria Falls. This trip has seemed surprisingly short. I still have pages and pages of notes and journaling I haven’t had a chance to post here yet. I will continue to share those even after we leave Ndola tomorrow.
The children waved and smiled, and some ran after our van as we drove away. We all waved back and I did my best to keep an encouraging smile on my face until the last child was out of sight. Then I just stared out the window as the tears came.
I miss my husband and children more than I ever have in my life. I ache to hold them and kiss them, to smell my daughter’s hair, to hear my son’s laugh, and to hear my other son’s latest story. I long for my husband’s arms around me. But suddenly my heart aches almost as much for more time with these precious souls. I want to go home but I don’t want to leave.
One of my favorite scriptures is “For where your treasure lies, there your heart will be also.” These women and children have become treasures to me, and forever a piece of my heart will remain in Zambia.
by Shannon Holden {Alpharetta Baby and Child Photographer}
1 comment
Asther - *tears*