Even though we've only been here for a couple of days, today was definitely a highlight for a lot of us. We woke up to a delicious breakfast made by our sweet friend Eljsha, who has been making most of our meals. After breakfast, Ben led us in a devotion and shared more about the mission and vision of Ambassadors South Africa. He has an amazing passion for training coaches to be mentors and father figures, and he is a great example of what that looks like, as we saw yesterday. Next, we drove to Capetown Stadium, which was used during the World Cup a few years ago, for a tour. We saw everything from the field to the locker rooms and we even got to touch the grass! After the tour, we headed to Khayelitsha, a poverty-stricken township, where Juju (an Ambassadors coach) coaches a team of guys between 18-27 years old. We drove on a dirt road past the shacks and cows, to the "field" (a bumpy, rough, half-sand, and half-grass surface) where they play. Despite the different conditions, we've never had more fun playing the game of soccer! It's not everyday that you get to play with your best friends, surrounded by mountains and the sunset. It was so awesome to see how soccer connects people from completely different backgrounds and cultures. Their love for the game was evident in their skill and the contagious joy they played with. We finished the day with dinner and ice cream at one of Roberto's favorite restaurants, Arugula. We are continually being reminded of God's goodness and the gift of soccer He has given us. Thank you for all your prayers!
Emily Flenniken
P.S. I love you Mom and Dad!