I think I'm in Love...

...with seventeen 1st, 2nd, and 3rd form boys! Let me explain.

We recently started softball season out here. Practices began about two or three weeks ago, with anywhere from 7 to 18 kids showing up. We've been throwing softballs around and hitting in the small field that sits in the center of our campus. The softballs gracefully BANG(!) onto the tin roofs of the food-processing room and the bio lab a well as the basketball court. It's a miracle we have not taken out a student leaving school. It honestly reminds me of the sandlot, some of us playing in bare feet and tripping on the grass (a kid was even wearing converse sneakers the other day). Miss Brynne is head coach and Mr. Mike W., Mr. Mike D., and I are assistant
coaches. The first few days of practice, we were wincing as softballs dropped from gloves every three seconds. Some of these students had no idea about the game of baseball/softball. We worked them on the field after school and tried to get kids to throw double plays and "turn and go!" in the outfield. The outfield was terrifying. (These guys have come a long way!)

Slowly but surely, we found players that fit in the various positions and we began having them work on batting. The softball season here is a tad bit short: two games to be exact. This is because there are not many schools that play softball/baseball. Last week we had our first game against "Mopan" who beats us at every sport. They come out with spiffy new uniforms and the knowledge of Mount Carmel High School being the high school that has literally lost every game we've played this year. We run out in our donated uniforms ("Miss! Why does it say "Ladies Medium" on this tag?" Woops. Thought they wouldn't notice) and start throwing balls around.

We were down by four in the first inning. Great. It's over. The kids at MCHS are so used to losing that they will root for the other team or ask at a game, "Are we losing?". Okay, it's not over yet we have plenty of innings. Before we know it, we catch up and end up winning 8-4! Our first MCHS sports win of the year! I ran out and just about knocked over the left-fielder out of excitement. It was an amazing feeling! We coaches wondered if we were more excited than the students!

The second game (and the game that could be our ticket to regionals) was yesterday afternoon. We played at a tournament this weekend and did surprisingly well with two wins and one loss and two homeruns as well as a blowout game 11-1! The boys were so excited. They just kept on hitting...everytime I looked up the ball was a line-drive into the outfield. Then it started pouring and we were soaked. Next thing I knew we were trying to climb over a little stream to get to our lunch and Brynne and I were falling all over ourselves into the mud. The tournament ended up getting postponed due to weather. (We were at the top of the tournament when we last checked but not every team was able to play as many games as us...so we will see).


Yesterday afternoon, we beat Mopan again 14-9. It was a glorious win and a fantastic feeling to be going to regionals! The boys got the fabulous idea of spraying everyone with water after we won so we were all wet (this seems to be a trend). Regionals are this weekend---wish us luck and say a prayer! (Still not sure if God helps teams win sports but it's worth a shot haha)

It's an amazing thing to see these guys grow as a team and in their friendships. They are a joy to get to know---each one with their own distinct personality. They are all so different but each one brings a light to my life out here in Belize. They are young enough that they still think Brynne and I are "cool" and they are like our little brothers: it is one of the greatest gifts I have received in my time in Belize. I am very grateful for each one of them.


Brynne: Who would have guessed that Mt. Carmel's only win would be in softball?
1st form player: God knew, Miss...God knew.