Many thanks to Brandon Sneed and his feature article this Sunday in the Wilmington paper. Here's an exerpt:
Leanne LaFave is training to swim the 10 miles from Carolina Beach to Wrightsville Beach. That's equal to about 704 laps in the YWCA pool. And she's doing it to help kids halfway around the world.
LaFave, who teaches physical education at Holly Tree Elementary in Wilmington, right down the road from the YWCA, went to Zimbabwe in 2006 on a medical missions trip with ZOE Ministry. She gave the Zimbabwe kids a good time, playing soccer, jump rope and follow the leader. She's got an infectious laugh and smile, and she looks like she's in her late 20s when she's really, well, some years older than that. So there was lots of laughing and smiling. At least at first.
LaFave also helped teach the community how to treat HIV/AIDS, which runs rampant there. She learned some heavy stuff, such as how some men believe that having sex with a virgin can cure HIV/AIDS, leading to unspeakable treatment of young girls that, over here, would land a man in prison.
I don't mean to be dramatic about things. I am just plain surprised, shocked, frustrated, aggravated and sad all lumped together. I guess the word devastated is what I'm looking for and this is the story behind my feelings:
A few weeks ago, my boys and I attended the WAC triathlon. This time, I didn't go to compete (so unlike me!) - I went to support friends and teammates. My boys went to volunteer for their ROTC unit. The great thing about sprint triathlons is that they're short and sweet. Within 45 minutes of the starting gun you can expect the winner to cross the finish line. The swim, bike, run and awards are over in a matter of hours. Those hours are packed with encouragement, jubilation and triumph.
Mitch and Nick and I wrapped up our day at the race around 11am. In those few short hours -- by the time I made it home -- I had several texts asking me if I knew anything about a fatal bike accident that had occured a couple hours prior involving a father and son. Texting back and texting others got me worried that I may know this pair - the shock occured when a school teacher from New Hanover called to tell me that David Doolittle and his 17-year-old son Trey had been hit by an impaired driver at 9:30am on River Road. Those feelings from the hours before were turned on their head.
The Doolittles and La Faves had a long, lasting and close relationship. We met David and Joy when they showed up for softball practice with our church team. We hit it off with them immediately since our church was fairly small back then and there were many families our age with children about the same age, too. There were about 6 couples and our families that became close through church softball, Wednesday evening dinners, Bible study, lunches out after church, Super Bowl parties, children's birthday parties, birth of new babies - you get the idea. We were a tight group and we shared intimate details of our lives together. We basically helped raise each other's children and lifted up each other in our marriages.
Life happens -- and over the years, we joined another church, others dropped out altogether. Joy separated from David, found an a great job and moved to Charlotte with the twins. The group eventually disbanded and pulled apart. But, those years were some of the best memories in our family that we have ever shared with others. We will always hold closely to our children's primary years as the years we spent in such closeness with these other families. The Doolittles were a huge part of this experience.
One of our best memories was that David wanted to know how to surf and approached Doug for his first lessons. Being a southern California surfer, Doug was happy to teach David how to surf. They went surfing often and David felt the divine closeness of God while surfing waves. He used to sit back, arm around the backside of a chair detailing his latest surfing experience - how the waves were breaking, the line he took on this wave and that. It wasn't long before Trey took to the sport. Eventually, David and Trey were off on their own, scouting out the best surf spots around town. David joined Doug on a trip to Costa Rica - and even though he was still new to the sport, was able to catch some great rides due to his athletic abilities.
Trey and Nick were the same age and it was always wonderful to have him around. He had a bright smile, was thoughtful in conversations, always ready for fun and just an easy, good-spirited kid. We loved him so much! David was also very thoughtful and shared openly his feelings of salvation with me. He was confident in his salvation, and didn't believe in the practice of having to do things to be saved. He knew the act of going to church or doing certain things didn't make him a Christian. He believed in being saved by God's grace through His Son Jesus Christ. He believed wholeheartedly in his salvation even though struggling in life as we all do. He was so intelligent, athletic and loved the idea of "sticking it to the man"! I'll never forget that this was one of his favorite lines!
I am devastated by the events of their bike accident. I am heartbroken that they won't be able to go on their planned surf trip to Costa Rica to celebrate Trey's 18th birthday. I'm angry that they were taken by a drunk and drugged driver. I'm saddened that that we will never have a chance to renew the relationship with David. I praise God for having known them during the best years of our sons' growing up years -that will remain with me for the rest of my life. Rest in peace, David and Trey! I love you both and will forever miss you!
These last two weeks have been action-packed and full of ups and downs. This week I'll focus on the ups!
First off, my mileage [no more talk of yards, here!] is climbing! Since the start of March I've accumulated 75,000 yards! Nearly 60,000 for all of last month and about another 15,000 in the past two weeks! Holy Moly! Last weekend I did 8,000 yards. Ben and Sylvain kept me company through lap after lap in the pool!
As my mileage increases, so do the donations. I thank each an every one of you for contributing your time, money and prayers to ZOE Ministries. Our total is now $2850 thanks to our latest contributors: Tina Williamson and Ida Griffin. Tina is a tri club teammate and friend. Ida is actually a long lost Aunt from California who I've never met!
These daily rewards are keeping me kicking through this journey.
I've spent the last few weeks building my mileage in the pool! During the middle week in March, I did four workouts: three at 3000 yards and then THE 6000. I did the first 3000 with the YDubTriClub and the other two at night at the YWCA. These swims take me about 50 minutes. I end up doing 6 x 500's just to break it up. I swim freestyle the first 500, then use a buoy and paddles for the next 500, and then use fins for the third 500. I repeat that for a total of 6 x 500's or a full 3000. The fourth swim of the week: THE 6000. The first time I attempted that, I overheated in the pool due to a heater malfunction. This week, I accomplished this with excitement! There was a lifeguarding tryout for ocean rescue while I was swimming this distance, and it gave me a lot of entertainment. I was so glad to have a full pool while doing all those laps - it made swimming a straight line back and forth not so lonely. I didn't feel too bad afterward, either!
During the week of March 21st - 27th, I only got in 3 x 3000 yards! The swims + life [so much going on right now] = weakened immune system and an upper respiratory congestion! It was not a happy week of swimming, but I was glad for the lower distance than the week before. My head was so clogged with congestion that I felt like I was swimming night and day! That is a nightmare: having a runny nose waking me up through the night, ears plugged up so badly sounds were like sounds you'd hear in a cave, and blowing my nose constantly during the day - it felt like I never got out of a pool all week. I tried to rest as best I could, even taking a day off work. I am on the mend and have started back to training well again.
My third 3000 yard workout last week immediately followed a photo shoot for the Star News. I don't care who you are - supermodel or not - there is a certain panic and anxiety created when a woman knows she's being photographed in her swimsuit! I had to stand in the intracoastal waterway while a photographer took several photos. He told me to look natural and relaxed..........how natural and relaxed can you be when you're staring down the barrel of a telephoto lens in a swim suit in 45 degree weather?! Especially when all you can think is: make the smile look less like pain, suck in your stomach, drop the shoulders a little, turn the head to the right, stop shaking, please God don't let my headlights show, smile more, cross arms over belly, now hands on hips, smile again and repeat. I'd rather double my mileage than do THAT again! Stay tuned for the upcoming article from the STAR NEWS!
