Special Feature Story: Written by Ryan Botkin - Corban Men's Soccer Player
HAITI – When I think about my team's trip to Haiti, I truly believe it was a miracle. Most of us had never thought of going there and especially not during school. Yet, we each felt that this God-given opportunity was too great to miss. From the beginning to the end, God worked within the hearts of the Haitians and ourselves, so that we came into a deeper relationship with our Creator and each other. Some of the main things we experienced was the Haitian culture, cross-cultural sports, and interacting with the local people.
The country of Haiti has many unique things about it. As we flew over the land, the incredibly steep terrain proved to us that Haiti deserved its name, which means, "land of high mountains." When we landed in Port-au-Prince, we noticed that the lower altitudes were dusty and rocky, while the hills were green with plants and trees like bananas, plantains, and mangos. The light-blue Caribbean ocean glittered brightly in the sun. As we drove to our guest house, each city we passed through felt like a giant machine made of millions of moving parts. Merchants lined the street side, workers pushed wheelbarrows, children in neat uniforms walked to school. Many cat-cats (large taxi trucks) had sayings like, "Thank You Jesus" and "God's Love" displayed across their windshields. The odor of garbage and sweat filled the city, while the country-side smelled of fresh ocean and forest. Finally, we arrived at our guest house on the beach, and prepared for the week ahead.
One of the core focuses of our trip was equipping local Haitian coaches with effective soccer strategies. Monday through Friday, we met with the coaches in the morning and Coach Lewis and Coach Collin would discuss different themes in soccer. Because of the language barrier, we needed a translator to help with communication, which was challenging and humorous at times. Our team would also perform drills on a nearby basketball court and have the coaches join in so they could understand each drill's function. After this, we would all have lunch, and then walk or drive to Camp Marie, where the soccer field was located. As we arrived, crowds of children from all over the area gathered onto the field, and the rest of the day belonged to the Haitian coaches. They would use what they learned to run a soccer camp for all the young players. Though the surface of the field was uneven, rocky, and mostly dirt, it did not matter to us and the Haitians, because the fun of soccer and teamwork overpowered these difficulties. Throughout the week, the Haitian coaches learned many new concepts and our team grew to know their culture in a more intimate way.
This trip to Haiti, though well planned and much anticipated, had plenty of unexpected moments. For my part, I knew that Haiti was poor and that our team was there to teach soccer to local coaches. But I had not realized the depth and determination of the people who became our friends. As I met and spent time with the Haitian adults, I could sense the pride in their country and their people. They wanted their lives to leave a legacy of endurance and character, inspiring the next generation to meet the challenges of their time. The children and teenagers at the camp were joyful and tough. They would often come up and hold our hands while chattering in Creole to us. When I played soccer against them, I experienced their intensity and passion for the game. Generally, the Haitian people lacked material resources, but they were rich in relationships. Though our cultures, nationalities, and languages differed, the common bonds of sports and loving Jesus brought us together as friends and equals. This trip was a beautiful time, and while we came to bless, the Haitians blessed us by accepting us into their family.
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