Thanks to Joe and Lisa Vander Haal, 8 members of Matsiko got the special opportunity to attend a cardinals baseball game! Leaders, Jason, Beth, Don, David W, David G, Kylie, and Jenai, and kids Zulmira, Alonso, and Ruth.
At first arriving at the game, we were welcomed by the uproaring of the crowd cheering and yelling for the first play of the day. A Home Run! This was gunna be a good game. The sun was so hot, that it was borderline unbearable to sit in our seats. After twenty minutes of watching the game, half the group left on a mission... For ice water.
After aquiring and downing approximately five cups of ice, and four snow cones, the children realized the discomfort wasnt as high in the shady seats..... So sneaky sneaky they were, each child with their accompanied chaperone, walked confidently into a section of empty seats, perfectly placed in a haven hidden from the sun. This was of course, AFTER the girls got a picture with the mascot!
"Aaaaaahhhhh. Much better!" Ruth (12yrs, Liberia) said as she slumped into her seat.
It was a matter of minutes before one of the childrens' wildest dreams was about to come true... A first time for the kids, and an odd experience as well. The opportunity had finally presented itself. Seeming to walk in slow motion towards Zulmira, she stared longingly at the fluffy treat packed tight in the merchant's hands. Cotton candy. The only exception made for the no sugar rule. "I guuueeessss!" Don said, as he ordered three packets for each of the kids.
After ripping and tearing off the chunks of sugary cotton, the facial expressions were priceless. After experiencing the candy so quickly dissolving on the tongue of each kid, they didnt know WHAt to think.
"It's so strange!" zulmira cried, with a look of horror on her face. Yet her actions seemed to contradict her expression as she continued to pop piece after piece into her mouth.
Ruth took a different approach, periodically taking the candy back out of her mouth to examine it more closely. "How does it do that?!"
After nine action packed innings, and a ten to seven win, everybody was sad to leave the stadium... Or should i say sauna. That is... until they saw the fire truck raining down a storm of cold water! Without hesitation, the kids darted through the fire truck hose screaming and laughing like they hadnt seen rain in years!
After successfully getting drenched, and leader Jenai (seattle, wa) absent mindedly ruined her white shorts with her never before washed red cardinal shirt, the group laughed their way back to the van, reminiscing over the wonderful day they had.
