Each morning we are doing bible studies and these studies are totally rocking my world. We are diving deeper and deeper into the true meaning of tilling the ground and seeing the fruit in our lives. It’s a difficult study but one that makes you examine you life, your heart, your intentions and your trust in God’s plan.
Day five of our trip has been my favorite day so far. We cruised to the beach around ten and started to set up for our day. We would normally be putting on a surf competition but since the waves have been flat since we got here it was time to be flexible and time for a surf training camp. We set up our area, roped it off and got our stations ready. So many kids came out it was epic. Of course the regular Bedouin kids were there, all the boys I’ve been writing about days prior. But it was so cool to see their brothers and sisters hit the beach too, as well as some random kids that just wandered into the day. We first started off with Jazz doing some key stretches and warm up drills. It was so cute to see all of the kids circled up on the shore following the drills, most of them couldn’t speak English so it was a stretch - let them figure I out - than they copied the movement. After we did our stretches I was up. I had all the little kids circle up and it was “beach talk” time. The beach talk is what at home we call the land lesson. I was so overwhelmed with how stoked I was to do this. I had a grip of little Bedouin kids circled up around me as I drew waves and had sticks as surfers in the sand. It was just like being at home. But this time I had Tim translate for me and I had Faris and Ahamad beside me ready to teach what they themselves just learned. So basically it went like this. I drew in the sand and said what I needed them to know, Tim translated my words into Arabic, I stepped aside, Faris repeated the same lesson, than Ahamad. It was a teaching them how to fish sort of lesson. I wanted to make sure that Faris and Ahamad (the older of the younger group) knew how to teach as well as what to teach -- like how to not drop in on each other (which I’ve hear they both have issues with). I can’t wait to upload images and show you all of the stories in pictures I’m trying to describe in images. So once we were done with the lesson, it was water time. We got them out on boards and had them just paddle around and practice the techniques they were just taught. Some of the kids, like Norah, already knew how it was done and others like Jasmine needed some extra attention. We all jumped in the water and lent a hand to the kids that needed it the most and I came over to Jasmine to help her figure out the best and most affective way to paddle. She is the only Bedouin girl in the water these days. It’s super rare to find a girl in the water and I just pray that once she hits of age she stays surfing (which in this culture is a long shot). Jasmine just cliqued with me I guess because from than on she was by my side at all times. She is so cute, I was just standing on the shoreline and she came up to me and goes “ Will you go surf with me?” Of course I was stoked to take her out in the flat waves (literally no waves), so we just paddled around and played in the water a bit. Once we got to shore she asked if I would go on a run with her, so yup we went. There goes a tall white American running down the shore of the Mediterranean with a skinny little Bedouin girl (I’m sure it was an odd sight for most). We just ran and talked about what ever. She knows English super well so it made it easy for us to talk. She just wanted to tell me everything, I loved it. Some things were hard to hear, for they just broke my heart -- like the responsibilities she has as the older sister (at 12) and how much she hates it -- but others were fun -- like talking about High school Musical and Hannah Montana. At the end of the run she turns to me and goes, I love you - you are really nice - I love you. So cute! God provided such a great opportunity to get to know this little girl and I’m glad she did. I’m stoked to keep tabs on her in the years to come and continue to encourage her to stay in the water. She is a natural surfer and I would love to come back one day and see her ripping along side the boys. The beach clinic was pretty much over and with a few more games like Tug-O-War and duck duck goose we finished off the day with lots of laughter. By two we were back to the flat and ready to relax. A few of us jumped to the Internet café to catch up with family. Each day I try and make it for at least five minutes so I can check up on my Grandpa (I hate not being there for the family at this time). From there it was time to get ready and head to the Kahuna for dinner. The Kahuna is Mohamad’s restaurant down the street. The whole place is covered in Surfing The Nations posters and signs -- it’s epic. We were having a big BBQ there for the end of the Surf Clinic 2010. This place was straight out of a movie, well most of this town it too. A huge crew of us was there and we ate Kofta and danced the whole night. Kofta is basically a hamburger that is spicy but in the shape of a hot dog, wrapped in a pita with a slew of fresh cold slaw veggies inside. They played a bunch of American music, which was super fun to sing and dance too - since they knew the lyrics too. Not that they knew what they were singing but non the less they knew how to say the words. At the end of the night we handed our leis and goody bags full of surf stuff. All of the kids were crazy stoked. The bags ended up being our “fish and loaves” story of the night. There was no way we made enough bags for all of the kids that showed up. Tim just kept calling up kids and we kept handing out bags. At one point Robert tell Tim to juts pick the ones who surfed because we don’t’ have enough, Tim replies Dude it’ll be good no worries. And the Lord totally provided because when the last bag was handed it was the last person to be called. We honestly all stood there in shock of what just happened. There is no way we had enough bags and as we looked back at the crowd of kids, they all had their bags. Praise The Lord!
I also got to know Norah and her Mom a bit more during our BBQ, which was a total answer to prayer. Seeing how the boys connect with Tim and the potential this man has to be the man of peace here has totally kicked my butt in wanted to dive deeper with his little girl Norah and his Wife Gala. It would be an answer to prayer if this family was brought to know our Father. Norah and I played all night, a mix between tickle tag and kung foo panda wars - I miss having kids around all the time and it was a much needed fix. Gala and Re and I talked for a good long time about their story and just life. Gala just had some surgery done , not too certain on what it was, but surgery non the less - so it was cool to see her come out for this event. She kept telling us, “ I’m here all year and the minute you guys leave we never stop hearing about the day you’ll come back, these kids love you.” It’s so cool how we fell like such a family here already. I know if I ever came back I would have no problem just cruising with them and feeling at home.
The night was pretty much over and we were all saying our Thank Yous and giving our hugs. We still have a few more days here but it seemed like we were having to say goodbye. Robert said a great heartfelt thank you to the boys and their insane hospitality and Tim translated to make sure they heard it word for word and not in broken Arab English. Than with out hesitation Mohamed had something to say in reply that just about brought our whole team to tears. He said, “You guys are like family and we love you, you don’t’ have to bring boards or clothes, you don’t have to bring any gifts but yourselves. We want you to come and we will take care of you, anything you need with will give - just come back.” I can’t really explain how much this meant to our team. Sometimes it feels like they just want more and better each time we come and to hear this it was a slam to the heart that no they just want us. All of the boys were giving us hugs and kisses and I know that on Monday it is going to be hard to say goodbye.
This day just rocked my heart and during our clinic time I got to talk to Tim a little about the guys and here more of their stories. It just broke my heart and there is so much more I want to be able to share with them and most of that just being my time. Faris’s Father passed away last year and at the age of 14 he is now the man of the house for his little Brother and Mother. Even though I want to see him surfing, there is so much more he needs to understand about his impact on his little Brother and to my understanding (what Tim explains) is a little boy with a bad case of Autism.
By far the best day in Agomi and for so many reasons. God is just blessing this team so much by these boys it’s crazy. My prayers today are for the day we leave that the relationships don’t seize. I pray that we stay in contact and hold them accountable for what they have learned, both within surfing and life. I pray that Norah and Jasmine stay in the water for years to come and that the countries that separate us are simply physical space and the emotional connection will stay strong. My hands are lifted towards my Father today, crying out to him to wrap his hands around these little girls - protect them and open their eyes to see their true Father and Daddy.
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