Day 2 - PE Classes and a Basketball Clinic

After a good night's rest we woke up early to get ready for a day full of clinics! While we were waiting on our food we got to see the property in the light and our students all commented on how close we were to the clouds and how fast they moved! The property we stay on is a fern farm set above the city, so we have beautiful views of San Jose.

The Team Outside of Our House This Morning

Following breakfast we headed to the Maura Hernandez School to lead some PE classes! We were incredibly lucky to have 18 students from Liberty Christian School join us to provide 1:1 translation for our first clinic! We ran a volleyball lesson on one court and a basketball lesson on the adjoining court. In total we ran four sessions on each court, teaching both high school and junior high students the basics of our sports. I was incredibly impressed by the way our students jumped in, had great attitudes, and found ways to connect with the kids we were working with!

Justin Setting Up Our Volleyball Boys
Zach Getting After it on the Soccer Field
Kyle and His Buddy Celebrating Kyle's Goal
The Second PE Class of the Day
Our Fearless Leader, Ronald & Our New Friends
The Girls Really Wanted a Photo With Our Guapo Boys
The Ladies Running Our First Volleyball Clinic
Diana and Ben Helping the Girls Score on a Layup!  
Jacee and Her Fanclub

Once the clinics were over the school actually provided us with a "snack"--also known as a full meal and our first experience with Costa Rican rice and beans! We also tried a new fruit, which as a group we affectionately labeled the "Booger Fruit". It had a great taste, but the texture was a struggle for most of us! We continued to play with the students after their lunch period and even got in on a soccer game!

Eating Lunch With our LCA Translators
Lunch #1-Our First Taste of Rice and Beans
The "Booger Fruit"

We came home for a second lunch of rice and beans, showers, and naps, then we drove back out for a basketball clinic with the Tibas basketball team. This was a U-18 that was training for the national games later this year and they appreciated our boys working with them on their technical skills and scrimmaging!

Cheering Section
Coach Timmer Schoolin' the Youngins
The Tibas Basketball Team & VC Athletes
Tibas Assistant Coach and Mr. Juist
VC for the Win
Mama Juist & Her New Friend, Camilla
When we got home for the night and did our devos, these were some of the resounding themes from the day:

  • We do not realize how blessed we are to have a gym with four walls and a hardwood floor.
  • God was evident in the way he protects us as we are driving through the crazy streets of Costa Rica. 
  • It is amazing that even though we have a huge language barrier, sports is an easy platform to create relationships with others around the world.
  • Driving through the streets and seeing the barbed wire and metal bars makes us thankful for our version of "normal" at home. 
 A couple other fun facts: 
  • We DEFINITELY need to bring sunscreen with us every day--sometimes we think we're playing in a gym but we're actually outside all day! Yikes, we're toasted! 
  • Justin was a mini celebrity today because he looks like a pro futbol player. 
  • Ben said, "This is the first time I've ever been the best at any sort of organized basketball game and been the best and it feels GREAT!"
Justin & His Doppleganger
Somebody believes she fell in love with Ben today! 



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