Sports Day Medalists!

We had a bunch of kids win medals at this year's Sports Day in relay and individual running events, high jump, long jump, and soccer. We announced all who won a medal at Anija the next day while the kids were all lined up in the morning before school started.

(This picture is for you mom and dad! My parents sponsor Yeraudy.)

Sports Day 2010

If you remember by blog post about Sports Day from last year, it is a crazy and not very organized day. This year though, we were prepared with knowing which students were participating (all 5th-8th graders along with several 3rd & 4th graders), who were in charge of each sport (I was in charge of older volleyball girls), water and food, which day it was (last Monday), etc but unfortunately Sports Day got cancelled due rain and a very muddy field. So Sports Day was rescheduled for today, although we heard that public schools were going on strike either Monday, Tuesday, and/or Wednesday of this week. Needless to say, it all worked out and we had Sports Day today. Here are a few pictures!

The kids started the day by parading through town to El Colegio de los Padres where the competition was at.

This was the speakers system. I wouldn't have expected anything less.

This picture is at the finish of the 80 meter race. You could hardly tell who was racing there were so many people at and around the starting line.

After each race finished all the spectators from the starting line would run down to the finish line and crowd around to see who won. Not a very efficient way to get through a lot of races.

My buddy Winifer and I while waiting for her race. :)

The saddest high jump "pit" I've ever seen... yes, that is sawdust.

Hanging out with the boys, Yeraudy (who my parents sponsor) and Nataneal (one of the Ark house parent's kids).

The fabulous soccer field. Notice that there are no lines, boundaries, nor referees.

I think some of the girls played with my hair more than they played sports!

We even visited with and played against some Anija alumni (these girls graduated from Anija last year).

Overall, Sports Day was a success with many Anija students receiving medals!

Volleyball Outreach

Last Friday I got to spend the day with our Anija volleyball team at a tournament put on by my friend and fellow missionary Jessica. Jessica has been doing a great job reaching out and ministering to girls through volleyball over the past year. During the month of August, Jessica put together a volleyball tournament for two of the teams she's been coaching in Barrio Blanco and Pinar Quemado and invited Anija to also be apart of the tournament. I was so impressed with the whole event and it was awesome to see how excited the girls were. The first game started with all the girls coming together to pray. Throughout the game the girls were singing and dancing to Christian worship music, and in between games a short Biblical based message was given to the girls and any family or friends that came to watch. Friday's message was about saving money and each girl received their own little piggy bank. After the games, all the girls went to Jessica's house to hang out and eat homemade pizza. Then we went to the river to cool off. It was so neat to see all these girls sharing together and I'm so glad and blessed that I got to bond with the Anija girls and the girls from the other barrios. I'm looking forward to seeing them at games during the fall!

Jessica has been practicing with each team once a week and wow! has she been doing a great job. The Anija girls even stretched before their game!

Anija won their game and will be playing in the finals next Friday.

At Jessica's house enjoying homemade pizza with all the girls!

Jillian's Dance with the Girls

One of our summer interns taught Irish dancing to the girls at Anija and this week at the Ark. Here's a video of some of the little Ark girls performing at Gran Circulo with Jillian. :)

Maraton del Arca

Every year during the summer there's a "marathon" out at the Ark. Everyone gets excited for it even though they don't train much (or at all). I think Dominicans call any race a marathon although the farthest I've heard of here is the 12k (7.45 miles) I did back in March. I helped with registration and putting on numbers. I also ran in the at the back of three of the races to encourage runners and to make sure everyone finished. Here's a few pictures from the afternoon.

Kids listening to instructions before the race.

Vic explaining that there are four different courses for different age groups.

Waiting around for awards.

Ahh, how cute!!

One of the winners!

I know a couple of people took pictures during the race so I'll try to get a hold of some of those pictures and post them soon.

Volleyball Clinic

Last week a couple of girls (Kelsey and Jessica) who play collegiate volleyball came to the DR to have volleyball clinics at Anija. The Anija girls loved having these "professionals" play with them during recess, PE, and after school. Kelsey and Jessica brought volleyballs and also sports bras for the girls! The Anija girls are excited to use their refined volleyball skills at the Friday tournaments.

Volleyball Club at Anija

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Anija's Club Volleyball team. This year Anija is having a tournament for the girls who attend or have attended Anija over the next few months. The girls were split into teams and will play games every Friday until May. The overall winners will receive medals :) Traditionally there is a ceremony whenever a new sports season starts (here in the DR) and so that's what we did. I was an honoree along with 4 others. A few people gave some encouraging words on working hard and sportsmanship, we sang their National Anthem, and Leslie (another KAI missionary) and I did the first play of the tournament.


Shoes that were donated for the volleyball girls. Over Christmas I asked friends to donate athletic shoes for the girls playing volleyball as the girls were wearing shoes with no backs, no support, no cushion, etc. I'm excited for them to see the difference although I couldn't quite explain in Spanish why athletic shoes are so much better to play sports in than crocs or converse. Thank you again to everyone who donated! We still need smaller sizes (5-8). Let me know if you have any to donate :)


One of the 6 or 7 teams formed. This team has all girls that live at the Ark.

I was so proud to see these girls attempting sit-ups. This was the first time I saw any of the girls doing strength exercises.


One of the volleyball players and also my student. It's great to bond with the girls outside of English class. They ask me to play but I keep telling them I'm not talented with any sport that involves a ball. I'm the type of athlete who runs and fetches the ball. Hopefully I'll get better...

A Day of Celebrating Sports

Last week the schools in Jarabacoa took a day to celebrate sports. What a different experience this particular day/weekend was compared to the last 8 or 9 years of my life when I was either competing in the Arizona High School State Championship or the GSAC Championships for cross country. These were always very intense, structured, and competitive days. But this day in Jarabacoa started with all the participants representing their schools in a big parade walking through town. Everyone ends up at El Colegio de Los Padres, a huge Catholic school in Jarabacoa. There were mostly 7th through 12th graders with a good hand full of 3rd-6th graders. Some of the sports included were soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, running, and even chess! Now, you would think there was a lot of planning involved for this event, not here in the DR! Anija arrived to the school and no one knew what was going on. There were different age categories, each playing at different times but no one had really coordinated anything. Basically, it was craziness trying to figure out who was playing which sport, when, and where. Overall, after a long day, the kids had fun, no one got hurt, and we even had a couple of teams and individuals win medals! Here are some pictures from the day.

Preparing to walk in the parade and represent Anija.

Excited for the days events!

Anija's cheerleaders!

Some of the 8th graders who play soccer.

Moises and I rode in a van instead of walking.

El Colegio de Los Padres

Waiting with Winifer for the next event to start.

Some Anija girls hanging with Anija's Director, Miriam.

Anija boys in action.

On the soccer field.

Hanging out with a few of the 3rd graders that got to come. It was a long day!