Today we put on a clinic for the children of the orphanage. Children ranged from ages 8-16. It was hard not to fall in love with them quickly. They were so eager to learn and they listened very well. We taught them offence and defense skills. They played some fun games and then it was time for them to watch us take on the University of Jo-burg Women’s Basketball team along with some national players.
The court wasn’t ideal to play on. The chain nets were not all there, the court was hard concrete and very uneven, the sun was blinding, and the air was thick with smog. However, it made the experience even better. We always play on polished courts with fresh air, but being in the middle of Soweto made the experience unique and capturing the emotions and feelings of the day.
Gina, Sam, and I (michelle) were injured so we got to sit on the sidelines with the children during the game. That was an amazing experience, getting to talk to the kids more. They told us about their favorite things to do and their dreams. One boy told me how he wants to start his own business someday. It was really hard saying goodbye to him. I was speechless and about to cry and he just looked me in the eye and said “Until I see you again.” It was really sad knowing that I probably won’t ever see him again or hear if his dreams came true.
Another thing that was fun to do on the sidelines was to teach the children our cheers. We taught them our “d-d-d-defense” along with many others. It was so cute watching them cheer for Luther. They really got into the game and wanted to learn whatever they could about the players. We really were celebrities to them.
Hearing the children chanting on the sidelines was priceless. It probably made us pull out the victory with all the fans cheering! At the end of the game, all of the Luther players and South African players got together with the orphanage children. It was special and felt like a big family. One thing is South Africa I found is everyone treats you like family. They are warm and welcoming before they even know you. It was a real treat to be around so many natives to South Africa to learn about their culture.
We then had lunch at the orphanage with the children. It was fun getting another chance to hang out with them and talk with them. We learned some facts about the orphanage, and then got a tour of it. While taking the tour, we saw the small rooms they sleep in and their living spaces. It was very tough going into the nursery and seeing all the newborn and little babies all alone. It was hard to come out of there with a dry eye. Every one of us was impacted by this experience in one way or another.
And now we’re off to Cape town for more adventures…
Bethany, Michelle, Katie
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