2023 - Day 6, Part 2: Games and Clinics at the Pan American School

 After the morning clinics we came back to the house for a much needed rest, ate lunch, and did Devos for the morning. We then headed back across town (every trip we take is at least an hour in San Jose's never ending traffic) to play a volleyball game, host a basketball clinic, and play a basketball game at the Pan American School. In comparison to the school we were at this morning, the two couldn't be more different. The Pan American school is a private school for international students and their vision is to be the best bilingual school in Central America. The good thing is that playing there today and performing our clinic was a lot easier because a lot of people speak English! 

We started off with our volleyball game, we warned the other coach that we don't quite have a full team and she said not to worry because her team wasn't very good. Well we switched up our lineup and played a lot better today! Kate ended up setting and Colby played opposite with Allie going in back row, Abbi and Alena played middle with Sophia going in back row for Abbi, and Kalei & Korah played outside. Learning rotations is really hard, so for all of our newbies to learn them on the fly was very impressive! I was especially thankful for Kate & Korah's patience in teaching rotations and Allie & Sophia's positive attitudes as they went in the game! While the boys were distracted by the kids in the stands the first two games and the girls lost, they started cheering in the 3rd set and it was our best one! The Trojans came out with a win! (We did tell them if they didn't win that one we wouldn't go to the grocery store for snacks). 

When the game ended the boys and Sophia immediately started their basketball clinic. They all reported this one was a lot easier to run because the kids spoke English. Because of gym time this one only lasted 45 minutes, then it was on to the basketball game against Coach Farid and his friends. Coach Farid has been our friend the last couple of years as we've led clinics with his Piwer Basketball club. He usually gets a group of guys together to play against us and so far VC is up 2-0. This year Farid really brought a good team and the game was neck and neck, but we ended up winning 47-45 after 3 quarters (gym time ran out). After the game Coach Bryan and Coach Farid exchanged jerseys and clipboards - very cool. 

Team reflections:

• Kalei - I had a lot of fun at the volleyball game tonight. There was no stress and we all enjoyed it! 
• Allie - I enjoyed sitting next to different and new people all day - I had a lot of fun and enjoyed good convos.
• Talon - I enjoyed the kids at the basketball clinic, they asked for my number and my autograph. It was kinda cool.
• Jake - It was such a relief that the kids at today's clinic spoke English! When they were asking us questions they kept asking what kinds of basketball shoes were available at a normal sporting goods store - here there are usually only one type available and everyone has the same.
• Scottie - My highlight was the basketball clinic - it was a relief that they spoke English. I also think it's interesting that I get so numb to the fact that I can dunk, but here I'm like an NBA player - everyone thinks it's amazing! 
  Jose - found it funny that during the clinic Coach Farid (his twin) kept talking trash. 
  Senora - I love seeing our kids work in their gifted beds. Whether that's a really good singer or a really good athlete. I love seeing people own their craft and step into it with confidence! She loved seeing Kate hit it 2 ft line on a girl's head and Korah the Destroyer dominating in the game. She wants everyone to step into that confidence and let God use you! 
  Clausen - my favorite parts of tonight were seeing Allie get 5 aces; Sophia getting some sweet digs, and Abbi and Colby each getting a kill and a block! I also loved the boys cheering on the girls (K-A-T-E, KATE!) and the girls cheering on the boys (B-T, ughh). I felt like today our team made a positive turn with being more intentional in conversation, sitting with new people, and having fun together as a group. I'm looking forward to our last few days together. 
  Emily - It was so interesting to compare the school we started in and the school we ended in today. It was such a crazy contrast. The first school the floors are cement and uneven, their were puddles everywhere. The second school was immaculate with a huge gym. It's so crazy that such different schools can be so close together. (The same can be said of Valley and the schools just up the road in Guadalupe) 
• Bryan - we keep saying this, but we're not going to impact someone right away, it's all about relationships. It's fun to come back year after year to catch up with the same people and build relationships. The group we worked with today trains in a poorer neighborhood, but they were able to get a group together to go visit Georgia this year and actually got a kid to the US on a team! They're coming back to the states this summer. It's fun to come back and see and hear about the impact. 
  Luke - basketball was a highlight. Especially blowing the kids to the guy who kept calling me little boy. We talked afterward - he laughed, I laughed.
• Jose - I had fun talking to the kids at the volleyball game. It was especially funny when Luke was learning all their names and saying our names and when he said Jose the kids said "Jose the Mexicano". Also, the Kenny kid was wild.
• Alena - cheering during the basketball game was the most I've laughed in a long time.

Tomorrow we are going to YWAM (Youth With a Mission) in the morning to serve, then we have volleyball and basketball games at the Lincoln School (another international school) in the evening.