Leaving Our New Family…
(Saturday, March 25, 2006)

Today is our departure day. It is also the day to determine the champion of the Cup of Hope Soccer Tournament. It’s a gloomy day to start with and it is threatening to rain but we know the games will go on as scheduled. The first one is the consulation game for third place. It gets started sometime after 8:00 am. Our first big challenge is to run power out to the field. We have had a tent and chairs brought in and have scheduled a Gospel Choir to perform. The awards ceremony will follow the games so we need to be able to run a sound system. Things are never easy to make happen in South Africa but with persistance and a lot of hard work, Brian manages to get us wired for sound.

Finally, the championship game begins and so does the rain. At this point, we are very thankful for the tent. At halftime, the choir group performs a couple of numbers. The rain slows as the game winds down and “Home Spurs” wins 2-1 over “Valentine”. The awards ceremony goes well but we know time is short. First, Brian and Nick handed out the Cup of Hope T-shirts to the players on all the teams. Then the MVP of each team received medals and shin guards. The third place winners received some caps that had been donated. Before handing out the first and second place trophies, Nick gave a mini-sermon on why we had come to Loskop and talked about Jesus and also about abstinance before marriage and to have only one sexual partner. Then Pastor Welcome prayed for the group. Then the first and second place team received a trophy and soccer jersey.

A quick tear down followed as we needed to rush back to Agathos to pack the combi. We were able to gather the children for one last picture. Good-byes, hugs and tears followed. It was very difficult pulling away but our time at Agathos was over…at least in the physical sense. We will carry the children and others we met here with us forever in our hearts.

* submitted by Becky