Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday June 15th
Today was another full but good day. We continued with the team competitions and also continued teaching through the AIA principles. Today was also the first day that our AIA team got to train with all the South African players in a session run by our AIA coach Mike. The South African girls at this training camp come from four different teams, all playing at some of the highest levels for their age groups in South Africa. One of the teams is the U17 National team who has just recently qualified for the U17 World Cup! Needless to say, the competition is good and we are enjoying learning a thing or two from these players.
In order to get better insight into what our girls are experiencing in these training sessions and teaching sessions, here are some thoughts on the day from on of our AIA girls, Laura Novikoff...
"This afternoon we continued talking about the principles, and today the one we talked about was "Inside Game." It deals with the athlete's mind, and where we get our motivation. As a Christian athlete, it's so easy to say that my motivation is glorifying God, but that is definitely tested when I get into an actual competition. After we listened to Asif, the speaker today, we went right outside to play soccer and try to apply what we learned, and the staff, who act as referees/coaches, deliberately make life difficult for us so we can see how we respond. Needless to say, emotions can get a little heated, mine included. So today, we were playing and Mike, our coach for the AIA team, stops the game and tells us that the intensity of the game is awful. he says this in that low, "I;m very disappointed in you" tone that makes everyone feel like the scum of the earth, we didn't know until later that the whole thing was planned. He then looks at me and calls me out by name, in front of everyone, ouch. I, of course, felt the need to redeem myself and played like a madman for the rest of the match. The point of the whole exercise was that we need to have motivation that is more constant than coach, and the message definitely rang true with me. The funny thing about coming on tour is that you show up, thinking you're going to help the people around you, and you find yourself learning and growing from the things that you're supposed to help facilitate...humbling for sure.
On a lighter note, a couple of us were interviewed by FIFA. A couple reporters came to our camp and wanted to do a story about what we've been doing here, and the story will hopefully be aired before the US plays Slovakia on Friday on the BBC channel I believe, but there's a chance that it might make it to America!! Very exciting!"
In order to get better insight into what our girls are experiencing in these training sessions and teaching sessions, here are some thoughts on the day from on of our AIA girls, Laura Novikoff...
"This afternoon we continued talking about the principles, and today the one we talked about was "Inside Game." It deals with the athlete's mind, and where we get our motivation. As a Christian athlete, it's so easy to say that my motivation is glorifying God, but that is definitely tested when I get into an actual competition. After we listened to Asif, the speaker today, we went right outside to play soccer and try to apply what we learned, and the staff, who act as referees/coaches, deliberately make life difficult for us so we can see how we respond. Needless to say, emotions can get a little heated, mine included. So today, we were playing and Mike, our coach for the AIA team, stops the game and tells us that the intensity of the game is awful. he says this in that low, "I;m very disappointed in you" tone that makes everyone feel like the scum of the earth, we didn't know until later that the whole thing was planned. He then looks at me and calls me out by name, in front of everyone, ouch. I, of course, felt the need to redeem myself and played like a madman for the rest of the match. The point of the whole exercise was that we need to have motivation that is more constant than coach, and the message definitely rang true with me. The funny thing about coming on tour is that you show up, thinking you're going to help the people around you, and you find yourself learning and growing from the things that you're supposed to help facilitate...humbling for sure.
On a lighter note, a couple of us were interviewed by FIFA. A couple reporters came to our camp and wanted to do a story about what we've been doing here, and the story will hopefully be aired before the US plays Slovakia on Friday on the BBC channel I believe, but there's a chance that it might make it to America!! Very exciting!"
Monday June 14th
Today was our first full day here at training camp-and it was definitely a full day! All of the girls have been placed into six different teams that are competing against each other for the entire week in a mock "Survivor" style competition. The team names are : Moraka, Maroyaya, Wakachu, Tamburi, Hakiri, and Rumbaki.
Here are some thoughts on the obstacle course this morning from one of our AIA girls, Brianna Roth...
"Let me just say as a Survivor fan, I was thrilled to hear that we were going to be doing a Survivor challenge this morning! The place that we are staying at has some really challenging and interesting obstacle courses which we used, and I truly got a taste of what a Survivor challenge could be like. From wading across a muddy lake while trying to keep one teammate completely dry, to crawling through a very tight mess of wire cable without touching the ground, to completing a challenging low ropes course, the morning was filled with lots of fun and hard work. We also wound up with a lot of little cuts and some big bruises! As an athlete, I love competing and especially when I am competing as a team. I loved seeing my team and other teams come together so quickly after only meeting each other yesterday, and the encouragement and spirit of the teams was incredible! The spirit of the South African girls is so inspiring and I believe God has blessed us so much in allowing us to so quickly connect and interact with them. Needless to say, this morning was an awesome start to camp and to be able to work together with my team and be an encourager and be encouraged by them was something I will remember as we continue to build relationships with the girls. Can't wait to see more of what God has in store for the rest of the week!"
We also began teaching through the AIA principles, beginning with the first-Audience of One. This included a teaching session indoors as well as some on field application. Here are some thoughts on this first session from Jilisa Krushel, another one of our AIA girls...
"We had the pleasure of hearing from Riley, on of the AIA staff here in South Africa this afternoon. She talked about worship and how we as athletes can use worship while we play our sport and how our faith and sport should come together. One of the main points that I picked up on and that I think most of the girls related to was how God needs to be involved in every aspect of our lives, not just a portion of our lives that we focus on when we aren't busy with other things in our busy lives. She showed us an image of a dinner plate with different sections for each part of the meal and used each section to represent parts of our lives; relationships, sport, school, and God. The point that she was emphasizing was that God shouldn't be a portion of our lives, but instead He should be in the center of each of the portions. After we had the session we were challenged to take what we learned onto the field. We had a series of 5 v 5 games and we were each challenged to think about what we were thankful for and how they were going to incorporate this with soccer playing. To sum it up it has been an awesome experience and it's been overwhelming to see how everything has come together and how God is working in the girls here. I am really looking forward to see what else is to come for the week!
Here are some thoughts on the obstacle course this morning from one of our AIA girls, Brianna Roth...
"Let me just say as a Survivor fan, I was thrilled to hear that we were going to be doing a Survivor challenge this morning! The place that we are staying at has some really challenging and interesting obstacle courses which we used, and I truly got a taste of what a Survivor challenge could be like. From wading across a muddy lake while trying to keep one teammate completely dry, to crawling through a very tight mess of wire cable without touching the ground, to completing a challenging low ropes course, the morning was filled with lots of fun and hard work. We also wound up with a lot of little cuts and some big bruises! As an athlete, I love competing and especially when I am competing as a team. I loved seeing my team and other teams come together so quickly after only meeting each other yesterday, and the encouragement and spirit of the teams was incredible! The spirit of the South African girls is so inspiring and I believe God has blessed us so much in allowing us to so quickly connect and interact with them. Needless to say, this morning was an awesome start to camp and to be able to work together with my team and be an encourager and be encouraged by them was something I will remember as we continue to build relationships with the girls. Can't wait to see more of what God has in store for the rest of the week!"
We also began teaching through the AIA principles, beginning with the first-Audience of One. This included a teaching session indoors as well as some on field application. Here are some thoughts on this first session from Jilisa Krushel, another one of our AIA girls...
"We had the pleasure of hearing from Riley, on of the AIA staff here in South Africa this afternoon. She talked about worship and how we as athletes can use worship while we play our sport and how our faith and sport should come together. One of the main points that I picked up on and that I think most of the girls related to was how God needs to be involved in every aspect of our lives, not just a portion of our lives that we focus on when we aren't busy with other things in our busy lives. She showed us an image of a dinner plate with different sections for each part of the meal and used each section to represent parts of our lives; relationships, sport, school, and God. The point that she was emphasizing was that God shouldn't be a portion of our lives, but instead He should be in the center of each of the portions. After we had the session we were challenged to take what we learned onto the field. We had a series of 5 v 5 games and we were each challenged to think about what we were thankful for and how they were going to incorporate this with soccer playing. To sum it up it has been an awesome experience and it's been overwhelming to see how everything has come together and how God is working in the girls here. I am really looking forward to see what else is to come for the week!
We've Arrived! Sunday June 13th
A women's team from North America has come to train with athletes from Banyana Banyana, U17, and the U20 SA teams. What a blessing it's been to have them here and pour into our South African women. Here are the updates from the North American team!!
We have arrived! The team has made it safe and sound to Pretoria, South Africa and all the girls are just now getting settled in to their rooms. Our two 13-hour flights were long, but we didn't experience any complications, praise the Lord! In fact, we even arrived in Johannesburg an hour early! We are already feeling a bit of the World Cup fever out here as the airport was filled with signs and propaganda everywhere! You can definitely feel the excitement in the air!
Our team chemistry already seems to be great. I'm very encouraged to see God connecting lives already as we build relationships with each other. Please keep praying for us as we continue to get to know each other and begin to share our lives with the South African women here.
Currently the girls are enjoying some much desired down time- and later this afternoon our AIA team will be meeting the South African players we will be training with this week. At this point we are expecting anywhere from 25-50 players at this camp, so it will be interesting to see how many girls show up! Please keep us in your prayers as we meet the girls tonight and being our training camp tomorrow morning!
Thanks for your prayers!
Rachel Baer, AIA Staff
We have arrived! The team has made it safe and sound to Pretoria, South Africa and all the girls are just now getting settled in to their rooms. Our two 13-hour flights were long, but we didn't experience any complications, praise the Lord! In fact, we even arrived in Johannesburg an hour early! We are already feeling a bit of the World Cup fever out here as the airport was filled with signs and propaganda everywhere! You can definitely feel the excitement in the air!
Our team chemistry already seems to be great. I'm very encouraged to see God connecting lives already as we build relationships with each other. Please keep praying for us as we continue to get to know each other and begin to share our lives with the South African women here.
Currently the girls are enjoying some much desired down time- and later this afternoon our AIA team will be meeting the South African players we will be training with this week. At this point we are expecting anywhere from 25-50 players at this camp, so it will be interesting to see how many girls show up! Please keep us in your prayers as we meet the girls tonight and being our training camp tomorrow morning!
Thanks for your prayers!
Rachel Baer, AIA Staff
Monday, June 7, 2010
Soccer World Cup Training Conference
Our staff in South Africa has been waiting and preparing for this moment for almost 4 years! And now it's here - already the second day of our training conference.
Yesterday was a very busy day with all the teams arriving from various countries, registering at the conference venue and registering with TUG - "The Ultimate Goal". The Ultimate Goal is the umbrela organisasion under which all the different outreaches/ministries during the world cup will function.
We are very privilege to have teams from Liberia, the United States of America, Canada, Zambia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, France and South Africa. When the conference end on Thursday morning (10 June), the teams will leave for different venues where they will minister with local churches in their communities: the USA team will minister in Cape Town, the French in Bloemfontein and the rest will minister in Johannesburg and Pretoria. The following churches will partner with us in Jhb: Bryanston Methodist Church, Northcliff Union and Veranderde Lewens.
During the training conference the participants will be trained in how to share their faith; how to share the Gospel and how they can effectively be a witness of Jesus Christ in their sport and competition.
Yesterday was a very busy day with all the teams arriving from various countries, registering at the conference venue and registering with TUG - "The Ultimate Goal". The Ultimate Goal is the umbrela organisasion under which all the different outreaches/ministries during the world cup will function.
We are very privilege to have teams from Liberia, the United States of America, Canada, Zambia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, France and South Africa. When the conference end on Thursday morning (10 June), the teams will leave for different venues where they will minister with local churches in their communities: the USA team will minister in Cape Town, the French in Bloemfontein and the rest will minister in Johannesburg and Pretoria. The following churches will partner with us in Jhb: Bryanston Methodist Church, Northcliff Union and Veranderde Lewens.
During the training conference the participants will be trained in how to share their faith; how to share the Gospel and how they can effectively be a witness of Jesus Christ in their sport and competition.
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