Pictures

MB addressing the kids before a full day of soccer. Saturday is a huge day of soccer.











Miraldi, Salome, and Edelsine on top of the truck. Though the three smallest on the team, pound for pound, they are three of the best.











MB with her Pumpkins. Though this is not all of them, it is the majority of those who show up week after week.











Ramashal being Ramashal. He is so much fun to be around. When Suzie was here she said she wanted to rescue him from Namibia and bring him to Greenwich Village.










Steve, a volunteer at the BNC, with Selma, Alfredo, Suzmita, and Phillip. Steve is an invaluable asset who has great patience and is a great male role model for these kids.










The boys playing soccer in Otjumuise. The field is mostly dirt and filled with stones, but the boys play the game as if it was the World Cup.











More soccer.













The little town of Otjumuise. Many of the houses are painted bright, loud colors.












Ricardo and myself during a game. The sun is so hot and intense that I have devised this little cover to keep my face from frying. It looks goofy but works wonders!










Shema during halftime of the soccer game at Otjumuise. Shema is half the size of the rest of his team, but a valuable member of the team.
















Ivan chugging water after a game. There was a picture a week ago of him doing a puzzle and I commented on his attitude. Every time I see him I am more impressed at how good he plays soccer, but also what a great little kid he is.









Gideon's soccer team after the game in Otjumuise. Gideon is in the back with his hands up. The team is actually pretty good, with more experience they should win more games. Often, they have to play teams that are bigger than them just to get some competition.








Gideon working with some kids in the computer lab. Gideon is a 20 year old who lives in the neighborhood and helps out at the center. The BNC is great for him because it keeps him from drinking. He is a really nice guy who just needs some direction.









This is Antonia, a tough little girl who is a sweetheart underneath. Like Edelsine, Salome, and Miraldi, she is a lot tougher than other kids twice her size and won't get pushed around. The other day she had a boy in a headlock to get her food back.







MB playing the guitar and singing with the kids. This is always very popular and all the kids sing along with her. Kids are always singing Feelin' Groovy now.










Esmi... she is like a mini-Wendy, always smiling, always helpful, and never a problem. She plays soccer with the other girls and is always playing hard and has just a great temperament.










Salome workingon her reading in the computer lab. She is very stubborn about learning and clams up and refuses to practice if any other children are around. She has a real confidence problem when it comes to learning.









Riding back from playing tennis with Innocentia, Salome, and Miraldi.