Soccer Clinics Begin

We went to the first feeding center today. I loved it and it was so much fun. The kids are so happy and fun to play with.

We had to make some changes to my plans for the Soccer Clinic but it worked out really well. The girls were SO happy that they could play soccer.

I have a feeling that they don't get the opportunity to play very much, if at all.  When I think back to the planning of what I might contribute during this trip I considered that possibility.  That and my love of the game is what made me decide to run soccer clinics for girls while in Malawi. To see the happiness on the girls faces is better than I could have imagined.

Tomorrow we will continue with the clinics, can't wait!

First Full Day in Malawi

It is mid-afternoon on my first full day in Malawi.  The day started at 6:15 with a cold, actually frigid, shower. There was no power for breakfast which made things kind of slow, but still enjoyable.  We then went to Ministry of Hope, where I am now, and we had a meeting with the staff to discuss our plans while we are here.

I also met with the supervisor of the Matapila feeding center named Joseph.  He is very excited about what I am doing and even said that the girls (22 of them) have already done some practices and made teams. This is very exciting news and I can't wait to get started.

Our van drivers name is Felix and he is so nice, but he speaks no English. Communicating is like playing charades!

For the remainder of the afternoon the men are going supply shopping for the projects we are starting and the women are going to the Crisis Nursery.

More updates to follow.

Beyond Soccer Clinics....

The preparation for my trip has primarily been focused on the collecting of cleats, uniforms, soccer balls and planning the soccer clinics for the girls at the feeding centers.  That is not all we are hoping to accomplish while we are there.  Here is our list of activities that the team will be doing while in Malawi:

We will spend a few days at two rural feeding centers:  Matapila and Khwamba (hundreds of children gather here daily for their meal of porridge and beans).  

While at the feeding centers, we will:

• Expand the drip irrigation system that was piloted last summer - enlarging the plot 3 times what was completed last year
• Install solar panels - this is the 2011 pilot and we hope to have enough power to charge solar lanterns and some local cell phones and adding lights in the center 
• Run soccer clinics for the girls at the Feeding Centers.  Distribute all of the soccer gear we have collected over the last few months.
• Teach dental care and distribute hundreds of toothbrushes/toothpaste
• Run VBS program focusing on how God loves the world, regardless of what country you live in
• Repair thatched roofs for some of the widows

When not at the FC's, we will be spending time at the crisis nursery caring for the babies, attending a local church service and meeting with local folks to understand the culture and community.

Today is the Day

So excited, below is a picture of my dad and me as we are loading the "soccer crates" in to the van. Can't believe this day is finally here.

Excitement abounds as we gathered to head to JFK airport.  All the crates and suitcases are loaded onto the van and the group took pictures before saying goodbye to family and friends.

I will do my best to send updates while in Malawi. With spotty internet service and rolling blackouts it may be challenging sometimes but I am sure I will be able to some of the time.

24 HOURS!!

Finished packing and now to run the last minute errands! I can not believe that in only 24 hours, the almost 2 years of anticipation will all just be starting. The team and myself have all been getting so excited and prepared for this amazing journey. All of the crates with the soccer equipment are at the church cottage currently and will come with us on the plane!

I am so excited to finally go on this trip...but the nerves are starting to kick in. I am going to a third world country where they barely have anything and there are rolling blackouts in the capital. So different from what we have here in the US, but I am ready for a culture shock and escape the Basking Ridge bubble.

The plane ride (a short 15 hours 20 minutes) will definitely cause my nerves to increase but I can't wait till we finally land in South Africa!

Soccer Balls!

These were the hardest things to pack because they are so bulky! We emptied out all of the air, yet they were very hard to pack. We finally decided to get a pump and fully deflate them all, then packed them very tightly together using the vacuum bags! Surprisingly that ended up working.  I was able to pack 30 balls, but hopefully more will fit eventually.

The yellow and black tub are the crates that we are bringing. Everyone has one "crate" that they are bringing in order to bring more things over to help to people of Malawi!  Thanks to the Julie Foudy Foundation's grant, we are able to bring over two additional crates with equipment and uniforms.

Packing up the equipment!

I have finally packed up and vacuum sealed all of the jerseys along with the shorts and socks. In total I have collected over 100 cleats that I am bringing, and also 150 jerseys that were mostly donated from Jersey Knights and Somerset Hills Soccer Club. I have a bag of white uniforms and a bag of red ones, and some black uniforms as well! A whole bunch of socks were also collected and I am bringing them over!

I am so excited to distribute it out to the girls in Malawi! In one week I will be there!!