Soccer Beyond Borders Final Day
On our final full day we took New Life to the beach to
have some time away and to celebrate the 4th of July. All of New Life really enjoys this trip each
year and we shared the trip with teams from Georgia, Virginia and Texas. I was
blessed to sit with James a five year old with the greatest smile and Pastor Jacque
on the drive to and returning from the beach.
James sang to me and fell asleep on the drive there and James slept
while Jacque sang Creole worships songs on the return trip. One of the things I always share with others
about our team trips to Haiti is that you receive more human contact in one
week than you may even get in a year back in the states. There is usually
always a baby to be held a toddler on your lap or a hug from a teen. When anyone holds Moses he loves to throw up
his arms and yell hallelujah and then laugh.
I finally had the chance to spend some time with Samson today. Samson
has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheel chair, but has a spirit we all
could only hope for in our lives. As I
fed him his dinner I dropped some food on his shirt and he thought it was so
funny he began to laugh. As I pushed Samson around New Life in his wheel chair
(he loves the trip) I again realized that no matter how much we all give on
this trip we receive far more love, laughs, hugs and blessings than we could
ever imagine. The day finished with a time of dancing with the kids and we
passed out glow sticks as a way to celebrate the 4th of July. We even got a fireworks show as they would
turn out the lights and throw all to glow sticks in the air to create a
wonderful show. We had a much larger
team this year, but as in prior years the team came together and each member
found their way to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Haiti. I was blessed to
see the entire Keefer family experience Haiti this year. It was great as always
to see Courtney hold the babies and Megan make new friends and Laura now
understanding what I have shared with her the past two year. I wrote this as we are on our final approach
into Miami. It was another truly blessed
week in Haiti and I pray that our entire team will return home knowing each
member did their best to be a blessings to others, but remembering how we are
blessed even more profoundly by our time in Haiti.
John
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