Ancient Greece is the theme of study for the Elementary age students at FES (Field Education System – home school cooperative for children of missionaries) where Ben is a 6th grader.  Three times a year (Aug, Dec and April) families who serve in villages come to Yaounde for FES so their home schooled children can experience a classroom setting and do activities that just don’t work when they’re the only student.  Their physical education classes have been preparation for the Olympics.  Each morning at 7:30 the students gathered for nearly an hour of runing, throwing, jumping, balancing, tumbling, and more running!

On the day of the games all the students lined up and passed the torch – through the neighborhood streets – to the Olympic Stadium, also known as the soccer field inside “Newland” missionary housing compound.

Let the games begin!  Students were put into 4 teams made up of a balance of ages from Kindergarten through 6th grade.  A couple of different events took place at one time; running races and tumbling, hurdles and balance beam, ball throwing, shot put, long jump, and more races! 

Besides arranging for the sawdust to be collected and delivered to the olympic field, Ron helped by measuring the jumps.  Suspicious that his son won the Gold Medal?  Don’t be, two other moms were there to rake the sawdust and to write down measurements. 

Throughout the day medals were awarded for various events. 

The grand finale of events was a relay race involving all the students. 

Yellow team won the relay, with Red coming in second, Ben’s Blue team was 3rd just barely beating his good buddy Caleb on the Green team.  We parents were so proud of how well all the children did – great sportsmanship, cheeering and encouraging everyone, regardless of the team color.  They all had a great time and were proud of their accomplishments!