Village of Hope--third times a charm

My third trip to Village of Hope was my favorite so far. I’ve worked FCA camp for a couple of summers and they always had the guys play sports first while the girls had their huddle on the first day. They did this because athletic guys often connect better through sports and the playing field than sitting around and talking. I knew that is how I would best connect with the guys there so as soon as I had the opportunity, I hopped on the football (soccer) field and wasted no time getting schooled. Haha Yeah they pretty much put on a clinic and I was the demonstration player that they do whatever they want to…except I was trying. Lol Oh well, it was fun and allowed me to meet some boys…soon I moved to the basketball court where I am more comfortable. Surprisingly, this obruni held his own there as the team I was on won 3 out of 4 games. I hit it off with a guy named Ernest on the basketball court as we played against each other and then on the same team in the best game of the afternoon, which we won on a last second shot I hit with him getting the assist! J We talked more between games and later I actually taught him how to throw and catch an American football…yeah he was a natural and could probably get a scholarship to a good-sized school if he had grown up playing the game. He’s about 6 foot 3 inches 200 pounds to give you an idea of his size (pictures from the orphanage should be coming in the next day or two). He is 18 and in form 3 (9th grade) but I don’t know his story and it’s likely he began school late because that is common here. He really impressed me with the way he handled himself on the court by trying to get everyone involved, even those who weren’t very good, and when we were throwing football he made sure to throw with the little boys too in order to include them. I also hung out with two boys, Samuel and Godfred, a lot as we wrestled together some—they asked about wrestling because I was wearing my Bradley wrestling shorts so I taught them a double leg. Ha I even ran a lap around the track with them and some other kids when they discovered I was a runner. Oh it was so much fun just loving on those boys! These were the most well-mannered kids I have met in Ghana which is a testimony to their parents (remember they run their 24 person homes like a family and call the husband and wife their Dad and Mom.) Honestly, I probably could’ve hung out at the orphanage almost every Saturday of this trip and been just fine. I feel a natural love and connection with these kids because I’m adopted and they are orphans so that just seems to unite us…I’m going back one more time Thursday and not everyone will want to go but some will probably want to go with me. I just want one more opportunity to love on those boys before I go…please pray that I will get a chance to talk to them and listen to their stories if that is God’s will…that would be incredible…btw I only teared up once at Village of Hope ha…several boys were writing their names in my journal so I would remember them and the moment just overwhelmed me…the love these kids showed me and knowing that most of them have been deserted as some point but now they are set up to succeed in a beautiful restoration project called Village of Hope…WOW! There are times in life when you end your day and think, “If Jesus were here, He would’ve spent some of His time doing this,” and Saturday was one of those days…because I truly believe that if Jesus was in Ghana for two months, He would’ve spent some time investing in and playing with orphans at the Village of Hope!