Caleb’s First Soccer

Recently at Caleb’s school the children were able to choose one extra activity to learn on Friday afternoons: Chinese calligraphy, drums, painting, dancing, kungfu, or soccer. Caleb chose soccer. He was excited about it because we watch the university students play soccer in the stadium all the time. Caleb’s math teacher is the soccer coach. He is a young guy in his twenties, just his second year of teaching. So the first Friday afternoon there were 50 boys wanting to learn soccer and only one math teacher. The coach announced, “We have too many boys. We can only keep two from each class to learn soccer.” So you guessed it, Caleb’s class had three boys so they had to pick a number. Caleb guessed the wrong number. It makes my eyes tear up to think about a little boy, especially my Caleb, walking off the soccer field, not being able to play, because he guessed the wrong number. But the soccer coach called him back, “GaoJiaLe you can stay.” We really are treated as special guests here in China. We heard this story and GaoYan asked Caleb, “So did you feel sad when you thought you could not play soccer?” “No, I didn’t feel sad.” Well, GaoYan and I understand the math teacher extended a special favor to our family.

Extra note: At the Yellow Dragon stadium they have a soccer league for young children. Also we heard of one Christian mom with three boys and lots of energy who is trying to organize a soccer league in another part of the city. Both opportunities are too far away for us, but great to know other children have a chance to escape their homework, get out there and run and play.