Africa

FINALLY-
I can squeeze in a blog!!  Have to wake yo Chris in 3 minutes, so this will be fast!! All is well and words can not describe what we have experienced...will take a LOOOOONG time to reflect and this place will be TOUGH to leave.  One of the biggest things that is still soaking in is that WE (AMERICANS) have A LOT.  I can tell you I was one of those (previous to this trip) that would say,"Why go somewhere else to serve...we have so much here (in America) to help/serve".  While this is true, even the poorest in the U.S. is RICH compared to the middle class in Tanzania.  The U.S. has SO MUCH to offer in terms of "help".  there is VERY little here.  When you read history book about the U.S. about racism and treatement of women 50 years ago, that is what it is here in the PRESENT!
I must go wake up my husband:) but more to come....

Faraje Orphanage

 Gaston telling Chris "God loves you"

Some of my new friends!!

Loves Chris's hat and shades

Yes, Kelly we are in Amsterdam...:):)

The Bulldog party had made it to Amsterdam...a little foggy, but yes, we made it.  After a 6-7 hour shuttle ride to Chicago (full of fun and GREAT conversation), we boarded our flight.  With a nice 8 hours later,we are here in Amsterdam awaiting ANOTHER 8 hour flight to Kilimanjaro airport.  Sat next to a young woman in our National guard headed to Poland...LOVE FLYING INTERNATIONAL.  Although I would love to come up with more details and something witty, but my head is a little foggy and I have 17 minutes left on my free internet:).  Will update when my head clears with some sleep!! LOVE TO YOU ALL!.

Right place....Right time

Have you ever had to attend an event that you almost dread...either due to being so busy, overwhelmed, etc.?  Although I love getting out of the house and communicating with adults most of the time, last night was not one of them.  There have been MANY events, meetings we have needed to attend pre-Africa and last night I felt overwhelmed.  BUT I took a shower got myself ready in a FAST 25 minutes and headed to meet my husband at the college to hear one of the most compelling men I've ever heard, Dr. Richard Lapchick.  With his busy schedule he flew from Florida to Des Moines to speak to the team and others.  If I begin to list the accomplishments and awards, the blog would blow up.  But the people he runs with are Mohammed Ali, Nelson Mandela, and Kareem Abdul-Jabar....just to name a few....maybe you've heard of them:).  He is described as the "racial conscience of sport".  Not a waste of time to google him to see how he has affected the world in race relations through the area sport.  He told stories about working for the United Nations, personally fighting apartheid in South Africa and being the LEADER in the boycott against South Africa in sport.  I could go on and on about the different mind-blowing stories he shared in his fight to help others.  I will say this man has been beaten to near death with words (a word I can not even bring myself to type)carved in his stomach.  In the end he shared in all his years of race relations and sport....35 trips to Africa, he has never seen, been a part of a trip like this and the impact it will hold.
Due to my poor writing it is tough to communicate the gravity of emotion I felt during and after his talk.  I have a new appreciation and perspective of what it possibly means to go to the country of Africa, play a Mexican team, teach a country about the most popular sport in America.....serve the people of Africa and then climb the largest free standing mountain in the world.  WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY!!!   We are told our guys will be looked at like rock stars on this trip....then those "rock stars" will go and serve/help the community of Arusha and Moshi....then those "rock stars" will need to be served/helped on the mountain:).  Although I will only be on the first leg of the trip, I can not wait to watch what the guys and others experience...WOW!  It 'sTRULY INCREDIBLE to realize the impact you can have when you are on the platform in SPORT!!  So thankful I was at the right place at the right time last night!!

Getting out the gear....and ready for GAME WEEK!

Well, this Mother's Day was a little different than most. A morning of worship, lunch, and then
GET ORGANIZED for AFRICA!! The kids jumped right in...literally...the new sleeping bag for the climb.  Lots to gather...lots of thoughts to organize and put on paper. HERE WE GO....
I'm blogging while my husband puts guys into groups for climb, safari, service projects in
orphanage, etc. Tomorrow its GAME PLAN time!! It;s like the week before August camp....scripting practice, etc.  Then the guys arrive a week from today to begin practice for game week!! WAHOO!!!
I LOVE GAME WEEK....I don't care where we play or who...it's GAME WEEK!! GO BULLDOGS!!!

Two weeks and I'm on my way....

YES, two weeks from today I'm hoping to just be waking up (with an attempt to make myself sleep on the first leg) from the first 8 hour leg of flights...arriving in Amsterdam.  Lots to do in preparation, but ready!  In reading the itinerary, I stopped and daydreamed what the youth clinics will be like.  The Drake and CONADEIP teams teaching African children a game they have either never played...at least very little.  Can hardly wait to see the first African child throw their hands up with the TOUCHDOWN pose!:)  At the game what will the fans be doing??  Most of the spectators will be seeing this game for the first time.  I'm guessing I will not have to hear all the "experts" in the stands yell at my husband about play calling...HA!...well, he will still have me yelling:).  EXCITED for the opportunity and to watch the guys as they experience it all!  Tupande!!

Swayed by a friend.....

My first blog, only to be swayed by a friend, to report on a pretty AMAZING trip!! I will be departing in two weeks for Tanzania, Africa with the Drake University football team to watch the first EVER sanctioned American football game on African soil. Drake University will play the CONADEIP All-star team from Mexico. This HISTORICAL event will be followed by youth football clinics (teaching African kids the game of American football), service work in the local orphanages and end with a summit of the largest free standing mountain in the world...Mount Kilimanjaro!! WOW!!

So tonight I attended an informational meeting, signing my life away on many waivers. Received a REALLY cool backpack and stocking cap for the Global Kilimanjaro Bowl from Global Football (company responsible for planning of trip). Being in the room with players, coaches, alums, the school President, professors, volunteer doctors and photographers was OVERWHELMING!....truly an INCREDIBLE group!! I HOPE to be able to journal this trip (even if it's just for Kelly:)). Tupande Kileleni!!