Soccer at Veyrier

There is a soccer field 2 blocks from the house, and I noticed it right away. You can see the field in this picture (its from our hike up Saleve). I went running to the field many times and then I decided that I really wanted to play. So, I emailed the President of FC Veyrier to ask if they had a women's team. They gave me a number but I got no answer when I called, so I went to the field when they were supposed to have practice and talked with the coach. He told I was welcome to come practice with the team...but they are 15 and 16 years old. But, oh well its soccer and I really miss playing. The sisters were so shocked that I just asked to play and thought it was so funny.

The girls on the team are so great and they all speak English to each other so that is even better. They were so welcoming and immediately asked me who I was, what I was doing here and told me their names. I had to tell them I actually not in school and I have graduated college, so I am really old. haha. But they were so nice and excited that someone is gonna play with them who played in college.

On Thursday we had a practice game...against 11-year old boys. And these boys were awesome! Such good passers and ball handlers. They were great. And our team is obviously much older, but pretty inexperienced in soccer. So needless to say it was a pretty competitive match. We ended up losing 3-2, but of course I think we should have won and I should have scored more. Those who know how I am after games can picture this fairly easily. But anyway it was so great to be able to play soccer over here. I think it will be a great experience to get to know these girls.

So I started thinking about being on mission. While I was playing soccer I was thinking how I can be an example to them; how I can somehow be as Christ was to others in the short time that I will be with them during the week and only for a few short months. And then it hit me, that I play soccer all the time at home and never think thought about this. But being on mission, I am now aware that even the smallest things and the most ordinary tasks is the mission God gave us to live out. I think of Mother Theresa's when she says, "Do ordinary things with extraordinary love." And this is so true, because what I do in these three months in Geneva, and ultimately one year on mission, it will always be a series of small tasks. And when I am home, I am still on mission. We are all on mission, as we are challenged each time at the end of mass to "go and serve the Lord and one another."

This was a bit of a revelation to me during soccer practice. So God reveals things to us when we are doing what we love and having fun as well as in serious times. I am excited to spend time with these girls, and live as Jesus would have on the soccer field.