Basketball Begins!

My brain is on overload with everything that I am learning, and this coming week I am adding another topic to learn: basketball.  Tuesday is the first day of PICS high school basketball tryouts.  My role in this extra curricular activity is girl's assistant coach.  Please please try to hold back your laughter as I explain how this came to be.

Pyeongtaek International Christian School is small.  So small that my director says the only requirement to be a coach is to have a pulse (and be willing).  I didn't want to start the year with a new job that has four classes to prepare and coaching. So volleyball was out of the question.  A month into school, I volunteered to help sponser Student Council.  I help guide this group of students who are in charge of the Spring  Formal in May.  It would be a little much to plan for that while coaching soccer.  With the fall and spring sports gone, the winter season (aka basketball) was left over.

To clarify, when I took a job as a high school teacher, coaching didn't even cross my mind.  I did not come to PICS seeking out a coaching position.  I did, however, come to Korea as a missionary teacher.  I am concerned about the spiritual state of my students, and I feel called to help them grow closer to Christ.  I yearn for relationships with my students that go further and deeper than just the typical classroom setting. Insert 'coaching' here.  As I prayed and thought about ways to get to know my students more, I realized that coaching would be a great way to disciple/mentor the high school and middle school athletes.

I agreed to help coach.  I don't know much about basketball, but I do like watching it (thanks to those good ole days in pep band at FZW).  I enjoy being active, and am confident in my ability to workout.  These are the few skills I have to offer, and I'm looking forward to learn more.  I am most excited about building relationships with the girls who will be on my team!  Please join me in prayer that God enables me to be a good example of a godly woman and that He works through me to show his love to these girls.  (And maybe pray that we win at least a few games.)