SOFTBALL: Team USA players turn students, learn Belize culture
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 3, 2018 5:51 AM
By RUDY COGGINS
rcoggins@newsargus.com
The spiritual gifts of an amazing culture shined brightly.
Joy and happiness radiated from its residents.
And the visiting "teachers" turned into students during their week-long mission trip to Belize, a Central American country on the eastern side of the Caribbean Sea.
"I feel like you learn more about the people from there," said Georgia Parnell, a member of the USA softball team comprised of 13 players from North Carolina high schools and colleges who made the journey.
"You tell them stuff about God, but then you see how they react to it and you end up learning more from them than you intended to teach them."
It started in 2017.
Softball fields once covered with grass morphed into smooth playing surfaces so the players could conduct daily morning clinics/drills, and play games against different communities at night.
It was a bonding experience quite like no other. Once the contests ended, children and adults had their pictures taken with the American players.
The seeds had been planted.
"This year, everything looked really good," USA coach Jerry Forbis said. "You could tell they were taking care of their fields better, were more ready to play. A lot of the adults and children remembered the girls' names from last year.
"You could see the spiritual gifts coming through from last year."
It evolved into a powerful week.
The team stayed at a mission in Belize City and participated in daily devotions.
Forbis and fellow coaches Curt Hinton and Scott Barbour could see the players grow as individuals -- moreso when they participated in a prayer walk through the capital city of Belmopan and visited a local hospital.
The girls befriended numerous children who were either sick or injured.
"That was awesome," Taylor Waddell said. "I actually prayed over a boy who had broken his arm. I can't even describe what it feels like...you feel it on the inside of your heart.
"That whole week completely changed my point of life. It made me realize what I need to be thankful for in my life, not chase after things that aren't important. I just got my head back straight, and my faith grew enormous amounts."
Emotions aside, the real fun occurred at night.
Waddell, Parnell and their teammates who made the trip last year could see improvement in the teams they played. The pitching, defense and hitting -- at times -- was better than a year ago.
A few USA players returned to the dugout on strikeouts.
Even Forbis got caught up in the serious nature.
"I'll be either at first base or third base coaching and I'll say something like 'hey, what's up third?'" Forbis said. "Over here [at home], the players would talk to you. Over there, they wouldn't speak to you during the game. When the game is over, they want pictures, they want hugs, they want to share their love.
"It's pretty cool because you've got all ages of women playing ball from 15 to 58 [years old]. That's a true community. They're really involved."
Waddell and Parnell liked the relaxed, fun atmosphere created by the enthusiastic communities as they competed against Esperanza, Belmopan, Unitedville, BP Bandits, Roaring Creek and the Belize All-Star team.
Two other teams asked to play the girls if they return in 2019.
Who knows?
Should Team USA go back, it hopes to engage the coaches and sports officials in a coaches clinic. The suggestion received positive feedback, said Forbis.
The group won't miss cold showers, lizards and other creatures.
They will miss the people.
"You're in a foreign country together, stay in the same house, play ball together all the time...you become just like a family," said an emotional Parnell, who possibly played the last game of her career against Belize.
"You can talk to them through Facebook and Instagram, but it's not the same."