The Thunder women's soccer team is on its Sports Ministry trip from May 10-22, traveling to the African country of Senegal. The team will be competing while in Senegal, as well as parterning with Dakar Academy and other mission organizations. We will post updates of the trip here from coaches and players during the course of their trip.
UPDATE #5 (Received on May 21)
From head coach Pete Felske: Well, we're coming down to the end of our trip; a trip where we've seen God do some great things. The last couple of days we've seen all of our work projects wrap up. The last coats of paint are being applied to the outdoor kitchen, stone has been put down, fences have been installed, mended and painted and we're all very tired because of the hard work we've put it.
We had another game vs. Ngor and shared another meal and and more fantastic fellowship.
Erin Strom,
Laura Karsten and Katie Shubin all shared the love of Jesus and the difference He's made in their lives. They were great, and once again, I'm proud of how open and clear each of the players were with the message of Jesus Christ. The evening was filled with much laughter and singing.
Yesterday was a nice day of relaxation and culture as we started winding down a bit. We spent the morning touring Goree Island, which was used as a hub during the height of the slave trade. If you've never heard of Goree Island, I would encourage you to take a few minutes to read about it sometime. Walking through the slave house was a very moving and humbling experience and one that our players won't soon forget. Our guide was very informative as to the significance of Goree during that time and we were all impacted by the stories we heard. Goree Island is yet another experience that we'll all be processing for quite a while.
Our afternoon was filled with our first real opportunity to enjoy some free time shopping at the local artisan market. We were all a bit hesitant at first to get out there and barter for the best price; you can get ripped off pretty quickly here if you're not careful. But by the end of the day, they got pretty good at it. I watched as
Katelyn Kishkunas worked for about a half hour to buy the African drum she was hoping for; finally settling on the price she wanted, while throwing in a pair of her cleats as well...pretty funny!!! All-in-all, it was a pretty successful day as the ladies found some clothes, carvings, lots of jewelry and about 6 large drums; just don't know how we'll get those home....
Today, we finish up with more work with the Talibe children and one painting project. Tonight we'll enjoy a nice dinner on the banks of the ocean before our flight home. I should probably mention that we haven't had water for showering for the last couple of days, so we're all praying for a shower sometime by the end of the day; I'm sure our fellow passengers would appreciate that as well.
Throughout the past two weeks, we've continued time and time again to see God's faithfulness. We came here to encourage and spread His love and we're leaving very encouraged ourselves. It great to see that God is alive and doing great things through the missionaries that are here full time. Our players have seen what it means to serve Christ in a different and exciting way and a few are now considering the possibility of ministry full-time. It's exciting to see and talk about. Thanks to all of you who have helped make this trip possible. Your prayers, encouragement and financial support have made it possible for our students to be renewed, experience another culture and it's people, and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ....we'll see you soon!
UPDATE #4 (Received on May 18)
From head coach Pete Felske: Well, the last few days have been kind of a blur. We've done quite a bit of traveling and have played a couple of games; including a 4-0 loss to the Senegalese National Team. We didn't play very well, but seemed to be worn out due to the heavy schedule we've had. Yesterday, we had the opportunity to head north to Saint Louis, a fishing hub, and got to experience the culture up close. Wow, pictures and words are just not enough to describe the people, the culture and all that we saw. But, I'm sure the players will try when they get home. To and from Saint Louis, we had to travel through hot, desolate land where we felt like we were in a National Geographic magazine; cows, goats, oxen, camels and even a few elephants meandered by the wayside....very cool!!!
We start every day, and finish every day, with a devotional time. Paige Drygas and Jaime Allen (both former players) have done a fantastic job of leading those and I think everyone has been looking to starting and finishing our day focused on what we're here to do; to serve Christ and to make Him know. The other alums share at night during a more informal time; great discussion has taken place and many different issues have been discussed...GREAT STUFF!!! Again, I'm proud of the ladies for their upbeat spirits, their commitment to working hard and for the way they've show Christ's love to the opposing players with whom we've come to know. We've pushed them hard, hoping to take advantage of the time we have here, and have been pleasantly surprised with the pace they've kept. Who knows when we'll all have another opportunity to see this side of the world, enjoy the people and the culture, and spend time will others that have felt led to serve in Dakar? We only have a few more days here, so we want to take advantage of it while we can.
I hope to have the chance to write again, but you never know. If not, we'll be home soon. Though we're tired, and a few have struggled with "digestion" issues, we're certainly been blessed...the Lord's good!!! Thanks for your continued prayers.
UPDATE #3 (Received on May 15)
From head coach Pete Felske: Wow, another fantastic day. It started this morning with an early trip to Thies; from the city to a much more rural area of the country...mud huts, goats/horses/cows wandering through the roads, and hot and desolate landscape; much like the pictures you see of Africa in National Geographic magazines.
We had the opportunity to play soccer with about 100 Senagalese children who came out of everywhere to see us and join in. Though communication is tough, the international game of soccer has a way of bringing a smile to everyone's face. It was great!!! We then took time under the shade of a big tree to talk about the love of Jesus Christ. We've grown to love the friendly people of Africa who have welcomed us into their lives and with whom a great bond is being formed.
The afternoon and evening couldn't have gone much better. We played a game and then invited the opposing team to our hotel for dinner. The place came alive with good food, new friends and a lot of laughter. We have a lot of memories to share with everyone at home.
Ali Kopelman and Kaitlyn Kishkunas shared their testimonies and though they were a bit nervous, they did a great job. The opposing players were glued to their every word; I'm proud of Ali and Kish!! We also found out today that a game has been set up with the Senegalese National Team for next Tuesday....again, smiles all around!!!
It's late and the power keeps going off, so I'm off to bed...again, the Lord's good and it's been a good day!!!
UPDATE #2 (Received on May 14)
From head coach Pete Felske: I'm very proud of our players. They have continued to work hard the past couple days, serving with upbeat spirits and lots of energy. You parents would be happy to know that your daughters are capable of carrying wheelbarrows of rocks more than 100 yards at a time, are gaining valuable experience with white-washing and painting, are learning the valuable skills of fence building. Through it all they have overcome heat, mosquitoes, lack of sleep, and poor showers... But the Lord is good. Yesterday we spent the day at Dakar Academy and had the opportunity to interact with the students, faculty, and staff. We ran a soccer clinic, experienced life in the dorms by having a meal with the kids, and joined the youth group for good fellowship and worship. We came to encourage, and we ourselves were encouraged. It was a good day. Tomorrow we hit the road for 2 games in back-to-back days and are anticipating meeting lots of new people and sharing the 'good news'''.
Everyone is safe and enjoying the chance to experience a new culture and people. Thanks for your continued prayers.
From Val Lelle: It is so great to be in Africa. As each day passes I am filled with more knowledge about our great God, understanding of a different culture, strength to accomplish new tasks, and a deep love and appreciation for my teammates, the alumni, our coaches, and those we meet. Yesterday, our team split in 2 and half the group when to Dakar Academy to paint and hang out with the kids while my group went into the city to spend time with the Talibe children.
The Talibe are young boys who are sent away by their parents to learn to memorize the Koran by a Muslim teacher. Needless to say, their living conditions are drastically less than adequate- little food, poor sleeping arrangements (60 boys in a small room), no shoes, and potential beatings if they don't return with enough money from begging. The ministry we went to gave the boys bread and milk, taught them bible stories, and put on a disney movie for the boys to watch. =) After a little while it was time to do what we had come there for- play soccer. =) We played 6 v 6 on a small sandy field with cinder blocks for goals. It was awesome. The kids were so wonderful and sweet and so excited to be playing with us. And they were really good! Haha I definitely learned a thing or two from their sweet moves. =) After the game we toured a deaf school- the only one in the country,- heard from 2 missionaries who lived in Dakar, and watched a slideshow about the Talibe.
Then we went to Dakar Academy to meet up with everyone else and run the soccer clinic which was super fun. The girls were great, and it was awesome to hear about their lives and learn the similarities and differences between ours and theirs. But ulitmately the best part was recognizing that we all love and serve the same God although we're on completely different continents. We had dinner in one of the dorms which was surprisingly nicer than ours...
Today was a work day, and it felt great to get dirty and accomplish something. =) We put up fences, laid gravel, dug ditches, painted walls, and shared our testimonies and lives with each other while doing it. The devotions that Paige (one of the alums) has been giving each morning have been awesome...really challenging our faith and teaching us new ways of thinking. Today we talked about testimonies and it was so great to get to know my teammates on a deeper level and learn from their stories of faith. After a hard day's work we went to the beach and jumped around in the waves for a while until dinner. Tomorrow we're going to play our first game, and everyone is PUMPED. =) Please continue praying for us- that God would make himself real and we would see His power and work, and that He would make Himself known through us and our time here. God's Blessings to all of you.
UPDATE #1 (Received on May 12)
From head coach Pete Felske: The Lord is good. After a day and a half of tiresome travel, we have arrived safely in Dakar, Senegal; our home for the next 10 days. Though tired, the ladies are excited to see what the Lord has for us during our time here. Today was a good day. We started a few projects at the Phare (The Beacon of Hope Conference Center) which included pouring concrete, painting the kitchen, installing some fencing, and reconstructing a new gravel driveway. We cooled off with a nice dip in the ocean before rapping things up with a quick time of reflection of how we've been blessed.
I personally am thankful for the opportunity we've had to 6 former players join us on this trip. It's been good to catch up and listen to the many stories of how God has worked in their lives following their time at Wheaton. Their experiences are good for our current players to hear and to learn from. I am grateful that they have sacrificed their time away from their jobs and families to impact our players lives the way they are.
From Keri Shannon: My first time traveling East of my home in New York has been quite an adventure so far. You could tell that each of us were excited to begin on Monday afternoon. We made our presence known at O'Hare International airport as 26 girls all wearing the same outfit and smiles on our faces. Some of the stares we got turned into questions like "Who are you all?" and "Where are you headed?" These were the exact questions that we were hoping to be asked. We found ourselves in conversations with a musician and his wife, an older couple on their way to Rome, and French Stewards and Stewardesses. Each conversation had one thing in common, we were using soccer as a tool to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those early conversations set the mood for what we hope to be a very positive and successful 2 weeks full of sharing our faith with the people here in Senegal and the people we meet along the way. We appreciate your continued prayers and we promise to keep in touch.
