In this post, I have to brag on the Uhuru Academy girls for their character, humility, and patience. It's hard to know in the actual bible study lessons, or chapels, or clubs we do with them, if they are truly listening and able to apply what they are learning to their everyday lives. But, a few weekends ago when Uhuru Academy partcipated in a handball/netball tournament at a neighboring school, all doubt was removed from my mind.
They listen. They apply. They love.
We were 1 of 5 schools at the tournament that weekend, and if you don't know what handball or netball are (because I did not beforehand), handball is similar to rugby without tackling and you can only move with the ball if you are dribbling down the field (similar to a soccer field with goals). Net ball is similar to basketball except there is no dribbling and you must stand still or pivot once you are handling the ball (like in ultimate frisbee) and you shoot into a net like basketball. Anyway, this was our first time competing in a tournament with these games and our girls had only been practicing for about a month. Needless to say, the others were definitely more prepared and conditioned.
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| Our students are in the burgundy track pants |
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| She is going to kill me for posting this one, but it's so funny! |
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| The cheering squad with their posters! |
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| Excited after scoring a goal! |
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| That is one of our teachers in the background jumping for joy that we got the ball back! |
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| Playing some hard HANDBALL! |
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| Netball! We are in the red jerseys |
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| Setting up to shoot! We came in third overall in netball |
BUT THAT DID NOT STOP US! Our girls played with such heart and ferocity that you would almost believe some of the games we were losing were close games! They did not give up, no matter what the score deficit. Some even shed tears after losing a very intense game. When I say intense, I mean INTENSE. The other teams were ROUGH.
We, the Americans from Uhuru, soon found out how Kenyans play sports. It's rough, it's dirty, it's downright mean! But, that's just the culture. So, our teams go out to play and they are getting pushed down, roughed up, called names, and so much more but maintained humble heart postures through all of it. Sure our girls probably wanted to talk junk back or not help the girl you accidentally pushed down, get back up, but they didn't give into unsportmanslike behavior. Although the opposing players played unfairly and the coaches for the other teams were encouraging unsportsmanlike behavior and the fans of the other teams on the sidelines were calling them names and trying to distract them, the Uhuru girls did not waiver. They apologized when necessary, helped those up who had fallen, and all the while never uttered one word of disrespect even though they had every right to. They played their little hearts out despite the odds! We may not have won 1st place, but we turned heads.
Many students and faculty from other schools came up to our students or teachers complimenting them on how they carried themselves and played. They got compliments because they were different from the girls playing for the other teams. They did not display pride, selfish ambition, or hatefulness on or off the field. Even after our teams lost their last games, we went over to the vacant field to eat our lunches and hang out, and they were laughing and cutting up and talking about how much fun they had had despite the tears that were shed immediately after the losses. They learned how they could improve and what needs to be done to beat these teams without playing unfairly or putting others down. They also learned a lot about working together and the benefits of being on a team whereas some of the other school girls were putting down players ON THEIR TEAM for making a bad play.
I can't tell you how many times I thought to myself, they do listen! They are getting it! Even though in the classroom they are serious and sometimes their serious faces can look like blank stares or I interpret their silence for boredom, but they are taking it in. The difference in their actions and words during that tournament was not because of me or because they are morally good girls or whatever you wanna blame it on. They grew up in the same culture the girls from the other schools did, around the same ideas and temptations and are the same teenage school girls. It's only because of Christ in them. The difference is CHRIST. And I could not be more thankful.
It proves to me that its not my doing that is changing them but the Spirit moving in their hearts and overflowing into their actions. It shows that God is really doing something huge at Uhuru Academy that others are noticing for His glory. THAT is what this life is about. Making much of our Savior who made himself nothing for our sake. Honoring him with our lives because he received condemnation to save ours. They are getting it and maturing, even though they still remind you that they are just teenage girls sometimes! It's only because of Christ they are becoming leaders among their peers and in their society, because at the end of the day, they are just. teenage. girls. The difference is Jesus.
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