David & Lola Sanford
with Missionary Athletes International
Kenya & Germany 2014
Training Kenyan Coaches
The TARGET = LIFE TRANSFORMATION IN YOUTH!
"Research shows that after their parents, coaches 
and teachers are the most influential people in the 
life of youth."
     The Barna Research Group
Lola, Mitch and I just returned from Kenya where we were continuing the training of coaches and teachersthe most influential role models for youth. We were joined by Terry Moffitt, a great friend and principal with whom I worked for years. He and Lola served the teachers. Graham West, a MAI staff member and Logan Thompson, an Urban Eagles intern, Mitch and I helped serve the coaches.
People That are Making the Impact
OUR TEAM OF COACHES
We met with 15 key coaches on the coast of Kenya where there has been unrest, difficult life conditions and a great need for the Gospel of Jesus. Soccer teams are the delivery method and the coaches are the deliverers.

OUR TEACHER GROUP
Terry and Lola met over five days with teachers from all over the northeastern coastal region. These teachers are amazing servants in some difficult settings. If it were not for them the children in some of their villages would have no education.

COACHES

 

MODELING IS A POWERFUL WAY OF TEACHING!
Many of the strategies and concepts we teach must be demonstrated to fully grasp. Who better to do that than Mitch and the MAI team?

THEY MAY BE COACHES, BUT THEY STILL LOVE TO PLAY! 
Each afternoon after sports ministry training we would travel to a village where one of our coaches lives and has a team. They would introduce their peers to their kids and elders and then they would play a game with the kids. It was great!
TEAM BUILDING
Logan Thompson, Messiah grad and Urban Eagles intern, came with us to contribute to the training. Here he is teaching a team building exercise. We saw Logan grow during the training as well. He is a fantastic sports minister!

THE KEY LEADERS IN KENYA 
Lemmy Dalano (left) was our first trainee in 2006. He is now full-time staff with Sports Friends, a partner ministry that is significantly impacting the ministry in Kenya. Zachs (right) is a big help to Lemmy in the region.
TEACHING THE GAME
  Each afternoon we would take time to provide coaching training. You can see them literally leaning into this. These coaches have little to no coaching development opportunities.
MAKING THEM BETTER COACHES
They may be a  mentor and life influencer, but they coach the game too. We want them to be excellent in every way possible for their kids they serve.
BEING TOGETHER
  The most important things happen when you are together as friends, enjoying being with each other.
OUR KITCHEN FOR THE WEEK
This is not a scene from the Hobbit. This is the kitchen where amazing meals were made during the week.
Talk about resourceful:  Check out the homemade soccer ball! It is made from plastic bags and twine. 
David asked this young man how much for the ball and was told 100 shillings (roughly $1.15).  David then broke all the rules when he said, "OK, I'll give you 200 shillings."  Someone needs to give the big American guy a lesson in bargaining!

TEACHERS
  
LOLA IS A SAINT!
After a whole day of training Lola joins the ladies on the sidelines of a game in a village. How many games has this woman watched in her mom-wife career? 
TRAINING IN THE SHADE 
Under this shelter is where Lola and Terry met with the teachers. Most days it was over 130 degrees in the sun. The shade could make all the difference!
STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL/CHURCH OF ONE OF OUR TEACHERS
This small building is where one of Lola's teachers serves and it holds about forty children for the village school. There would be no education opportunity for these children without this project. 
THE STUDENTS ARE SERVED LUNCH DAILY THROUGH A SPONSORED FEEDING  PROGRAM 
This feeding program serves about sixty children every day. During last year's drought this was the only food they had. The teacher runs this program too.
LEADERS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
 
This Pastor leads four churches and schools. He loves the people in his region and carries the love and honor of the people. Leaders like this are critical. It is a privilege to serve them.
THEY NEED LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Lola prays with a teacher who is from a hostile community that killed 36 people last year because they were Christians. These are amazing and powerful brothers and sisters.


 
        OUR GOAL - 
      EMPOWERMENT! 
  Coaches and teachers touch  lives like no one else!  Our      investment into these tireless  servants is a no lose        proposition - resources of    time, money and energy 
well  spent.


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We stopped in Marienberg, Germany to be with a remarkable church that has caught the vision to use sports as a environment to impact the lives of youth. They run camps in the summer and 'Adventure Days' throughout the year. It is having a big impact on the youth and community. Mitch has sown into these folks since he took our Lady Eagles team in 2011. We were blessed to be with them and help strategize with them about current approaches and next steps.
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David & Lola pic Lola and I want to thank each of you that prayed for us and supported us in making this trip. We are grateful for each of you. You may not have travelled with us physically, but the fruit from this training is just as much your reward as ours. We are a team and we are doing this together. We appreciate each of you and you have great value in this work.
                           Much Love,
                      David & Lola Sanford


We want to thank you for helping to empower us to serve with MAI and encourage these amazing friends in Kenya and Germany.
WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!
If you are not part of our team and want to be or desire to make a contribution please use the link provided here. You can make a recurring or one-time gift. All contributions are tax deductible.


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