El Salvador

Last week I finally decided to take some vacation days, and traveled with some of our young adults to NPH El Salvador, for the first Annual International NPH Soccer Tournament.

The age of the kids was supposed to be around 15-17 years old, however, our kids weren't able to get their papers together to get permission to cross the border, so we ended up traveling with only those older than 21 (no longer minors, therefore didn't need passports). It was a real shame the selected teams weren't able to travel, because they have been practicing for months, and had put together a dance presentation for the cultural night, where each country was supposed to present a traditional dance.

In any case, it was a great week with those that were able to go. Actually several of them are good friends of mine, so it was wonderful getting to spend some down time with them.

Five different NPH homes were represented for the tournament: Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Each house, except for Mexico due to lack of funds, brought 2 teams, one mens and one womens. They played both on the field, and cement court. Since our teams were just thrown together last minute, they had never played together before, actually, some of them don't really even play soccer. So, much to our surprise both teams came in third place!!! They were such good sports, even when they were getting tromped on, especially since we were short players.

It was a neat experience being with our youth, hanging out with their "brothers and sisters" from our other NPH Homes, seeing them interact with each other.

(photo - Honduras guys and Mexico guys became great friends over the course of the week)

Words from Fr. Phil Cleary, at the closing of the games...

" The First Annual NPHI International Soccer Tournament is over. Who won? (The crowd yelled back different answers... mainly, “Guatemala – the boys’ winner, and Nicaragua – the girls’ winner”).

No! Who won?! (Again, different answers roared back from the crowd.)

No! You want to know who won?! NPH won! NPH wins because of this experience that all of you have had of being a part of the larger NPH family. NPH will continue to win if all of you go back to your respective countries and homes and tell the rest of your brothers and sisters about your experience here, and if you help them see that when we talk about being a “family” of brothers and sisters in 9 homes and countries, that that is more than just a pretty image, but rather is the reality!

I am so grateful to everyone who had a part in organizing this tremendous event. I am so grateful to God for allowing me to be a part of your lives, and for having you be a part of mine!

I am so proud of every one of you, for what you have accomplished and experienced this week. I am even more proud of you, as I see you living day after day as a family of hundreds and hundreds of brothers and sisters in your own homes, and in this larger NPH family!

May God bless us our family and every one of us, today and every day – and keep us well and happy until we meet again: in December... of 2008... at NPH GUATEMALA!!!" --taken from NPH website www.nph.org