Chapter 5: Brighter Days Ahead

Gaudencia and I chillin before the day:)

The day started out like every other day on this incredible Kenyan adventure, an early breakfast, loading the Toyota Landcruisers with our graciously donated volleyballs and volleyball nets, compliments of USA Volleyball and Volleyball USA, and a prayer for a safe and successful journey. My Kenyan sisters and BFF’s Brackcides, Gaudencia and Veronica, and my now Kenyan family from World Concern, jumped in the Landcruisers and off we went. Our destinations today were the villages of Lolita and Marijo. This trip redefines remote – a rough two-hour off-road adventure on dusty trails, switchbacks, deep crevasses from recent rains, and seemingly every other challenging obstacle imaginable. It was terrain only a specially equipped Landcruiser, monster truck, or a team of dedicated servants from World Concern could enjoy.

I really began to realize what World Concern meant when they said they go to the end of the road, and then keep on going , to find those most in need. As challenging as the ride was, the scenery was specular, as was the wildlife; zebras, ole bastard birds , wildebeests, and many goats.

World Concern has been making this trip for several years to bring clean water, schools, and educational opportunities never before available to the distant villages throughout the region. But to put an exclamation point on their commitment to serve and bring hope and opportunity to the poorest communities and people on earth, they even set up an office in Loita with three full-time staff members to be closer to these forgotten villages. When I say office, forget what you perceive as an office. We’re talking 250 square feet of living space for three people, with a detached outdoor toilet and shower. But it’s the Ritz compared to what the villagers live in. That is their commitment to serve.

When we finally arrived at their Loita office, we had a chance to stretch, grab a quick lunch, see a chiropractor (kidding) and have another briefing of the day’s events. It was going to be a long and powerful day. We would be touring the Lolita primary school, home to 350 children who came from Loita, Murijo and several distant villages. Some of these children walk as much as three hours each way to start school at 7:30 am. A one to 1 ½ hour walk each way, rain or shine, to be at school at 7:30 am. No bikes, carpools, or public transportation. Their daily journey is along a sole unpaved dusty road, or through the rolling hills bypassing streams or whatever obstacles are in the way. Their day ends at 5 pm when they make the journey back home. Can you imagine your elementary school son or daughter doing that every day? I can’t. But that is their life.

At the briefing, we go over our schedule once again. We will go to Loita Primary school where we will be greeted by all 350 children, and meet with the village elder and both the primary and secondary school principals.

We will then have a tree planting ceremony which is traditional when an honored guest visits the school. Another first – I’ve never planted a tree before, not that it sounds complicated, but an honored guest? I’m honored to be in the company of the peaceful and loving people of Kenya, and the incredible staff of World Concern that is dedicated to bringing hope and opportunity to people long forgotten. All of this is the prelim’s – I’ll get to the main event in a moment.

We arrived and the school, and everything happened as planned. What wasn’t scripted was the unbridled emotion I felt when we were greeted by 350 clapping and cheering children. All I can say was love was in the air, both inside and outside of the Landcruisers as we drove up to the school. Children throughout the world are amazing.

The rest of the prelim’s went off without a hitch, but there was a surprise welcome we had not been briefed. Organized by the village elders and the primary and secondary school principals, ten Marijo secondary school students performed a traditional Maasi Ceremonial Dance dressed in traditional Maasi Warrior clothes. It’s amazing to watch, virtually impossible to describe, so take a minute and Google it.

I was then asked to join in, including the jumping ritual. I have to say, playing volleyball gave me a leg up, and I rocked the jumping part. Hahaha.

After the Maasai Warrior Ceremony, we got down to business – volleyball. The boys volleyball teams from both Loita and Marijo secondary came to play on a BRAND NEW volleyball court, compliments of World Concern. The old court was an uneven grass field with two dead trees holding up a homemade net made of rope and fishing line, with only one volleyball for the two schools to share. The new court was a legit sand volleyball court, with proper poles and real sand brought in on that long, dusty, obstacle course ridden goat track of a road. I have no idea how World concern did it but given what I have seen over this last five days, nothing is impossible with that organization. Like the new volleyball court, World Concern is legit.

The old court they used to play on before World Concern stepped in:)

Now the boys from Lolita and Murijo Secondary School got busy with a best of three, six on six match, and they were good, especially given the field that they had always practiced and played on, and a teacher turned coach to instruct them. Murijo won the best of three. Now it was our turn to play.

Instead of jumping into 2v2 beach volleyball, we decided to jump in for some six on six on the new court giving each of the Loita and Murijo boys a chance to show their stuff, and let me tell you they didn’t disappoint. First of all, they were beyond happy to play with three Olympians and one Kenyan National Team star. Their eyes and smiles showed it all, and they upped their game. Throughout the game we gave them some tips and right away you could see their level of play increase! Just a pointer or two mixed in with some encouragement went so far for them! After our six on six games, the four of us jumped on to introduce the new game of beach volleyball to them!

After our match, we did a short clinic for both teams and then it was time to show some more love. With 350 primary school children and 100 secondary school kids watching, we presented each of Lolita and Murijo secondary schools five volleyballs and a net, graciously donated by USA Volleyball and Volleyball USA.

The shock and awe on their faces when they held their gifts in hand was more than worth navigating those roads to the villages. Their smiles and big hugs spoke volumes. Simple gifts, at least by our standards, meant the world to them. From a pretend volleyball court, one ball, and a fishing net imitating a volleyball net, to 10 balls, two legit nets, and a real sand volleyball court. For the small gift of a volleyball court, some volleyballs, and a couple of nets, the village elder proudly proclaimed May 11th as “Sarah Sponcil Day”, to be celebrated each year, and it to be the official opening day of the volleyball season.

As we prepared to leave the school at the end of the day, the kids all flocked to the Landcruisers with smiles, hugs, and waiving goodbye. As we got back on the road and began our return to Narok, we drove in front of the schools, and the kids were already on the volleyball court playing 30 on 30 volleyball while the others gathered around the court to cheer them on. It just shows you that kids of all ages and backgrounds love to play, it’s in their DNA, and a small gesture of love will add a glimmer of light, of hope, and can make their day just a little brighter.

My take from these past five days – we have so much to be thankful for, yet we take what we have for granted, spend too much time wishing for more, and don’t take time to reflect and truly appreciate all that we have. Guilty as charged. They live in huts, at best 150 square feet, with no running water, no electricity, and outdoor toilets. To us, that may sound like camping, but to them, it’s their world each and every day. We should all count our blessings, and reach out and help those that have been ignored and forgotten because someone is always watching. World Concern does, every day. It’s in their DNA.