King College volleyball in Nicaragua with 25 packs of gum and Lady, Queen of the Street
A heartwarming story in yesterday’s Bristol Herald Courier told of a trip taken by the King College women’s volleyball team to Nicaragua to play that country’s national team as part of a global missions trip.
They spent time, as well, in Managua’s orphanages, and reaching out to kids on the street (using chewing gum at a key moment with Lady, one of the homeless children there), as the article reports:
They spent afternoons in poor city schools, distracting the students with goofy skits, songs and volleyball. Anything to get the kids involved.
But there were unplanned motions of inspiration, as well. Outside of the Managua gym where they played, the team was accosted by a youth street urchin named Lady.
The ringleader of a gaggle of homeless children, Lady would confront the players entering and leaving the gym.
“Queries chicles?” Over and over. “Queries chicles?” Every time she saw them. “Queries chicles?” Again and again.
“Do you have any gum?” Not at the present. But they would.
The team went to a grocery store and bought 25 packs of chewing gum. When presented to Lady, the Queen of the Street turned to her posse and began handing out sticks one at a time.