AIS visitors!

This week we have Jon Ortlip, International Director of AIS, Aaron Tredway, Executive Director of the Cleveland City Stars (CCS) (www.clevelandcitystars.com) and Carlos Calderson, reserve team coach/manager of the CCS. Jon and Carlos arrived with no travel problems on Thursday. In fact, they said it seemed easier to get into Haiti than it was to get into several other countries they have visited! Aaron Tredway arrived Friday morning after getting very little sleep. He was delayed because of a problem getting his passport.

Friday they visited with the Haitian Soccer Federation and then visited the national stadium (Sylvio Cator Stadium) and the training "ranch" for the Haitian National teams. The U17 team was there and they came out to meet our group. Jon amazed Rich with how well he still speaks Creole. (For those who don't know, Jon grew up here.)

The meetings went well--the main subject of the discussion being the goal of bringing the Cleveland City Stars, (www.clevelandcitystars.com, a United Soccer League Division 2 team) to Haiti for a tour, in which they would play the Haitian National U23 team as well as a Futsal team. They talked about the players sharing a message of hope with the teams and spectators.

The ideas and even the prospective dates (May 31-June 10th) received an initial OK. (As an extra blessing, the Federation even offered use of their air-conditioned bus!)

Today ( Saturday) they are meeting with the UEBH (Union Evangelique Baptist d'Haiti), with Bobby Duval, who has a non-profit soccer academy here in Port-au-Prince and hopefully with others who are interested in soccer ministry in Haiti.

The team will help to establish AIS-Haiti by demonstrating Footsal to more people, doing clinics and creating excitement for bringing hope through soccer.