Flochs home from China

Former Odessa residents Clay and Jewel Floch attended the Floch Memorial Games held at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake December 7. They returned to the U.S. in September after having spent 4.5 years in China working as foster parents at an orphanage for disabled children.

The Flochs lost their two sons, Ryan and Drew, in a fishing accident in the Pacific Ocean that also took the lives of Jewel's father and a nephew. Ryan and Drew were both graduates of Odessa High School, where both participated in sports and excelled at basketball. Ryan attended BBCC where he made the college team, playing two years for the Vikings.

Following the accident, Clay and Jewel and the administration of BBCC worked together to establish scholarships, one to be awarded to a student athlete at BBCC (in memory of Ryan Floch) and one to be awarded to an Odessa High School student (in memory of Drew Floch). The memorial games are played each year, with the venue alternating between Odessa and Moses Lake. All of the gate receipts are by donation and go in their entirety into the scholarship funds.

The tournament this year consisted of four games. Play began at noon with the high-school boys varsity teams from Soap Lake and LaCrosse-Washtucna-Kahlotus facing off, followed by the college game which pitted BBCC, now called the "Runnin' Vikes," against the Skagit Valley College Cardinals. The final two games pitted the Odessa-Harrington Titans against the Moses Lake Christian Academy Lions, with both girls and boys varsity teams playing.

Clay and Jewel had moved to Odessa, where Clay became the owner and operator of the Napa Auto Parts store. After the accident that took the lives of their sons and two other family members, the store was sold they moved back to their hometown of Valleyford. As part of their healing process, Clay and Jewel became involved with a Christian-based orphanage for disabled children in China. They spent the next few years living and working with children whose needs were many. They learned Chinese, taught English as a second language, and ultimately fell in love with two little girls who captured their hearts.

They first adopted Elizabeth, now 11, about two years ago, followed more recently by Ruby, age 8. Both girls use wheelchairs, although they can get around to a certain extent without their chairs. Elizabeth suffers from a weakness in her lower body that leaves her unable to walk unaided. Tests have been unable to determine what is causing her condition. Ruby has been diagnosed with a specific condition which causes brittle and sometimes misshapen bones. She has had several surgeries and faces more.

Despite the challenges these girls face, one's first impression of them is that they are quite simply very happy, even rambunctious, little girls. Clay told us he hasn't decided whether raising these youngsters will help keep him young or make him old before his time. One thing is very apparent, however, and that is the love shared by every member of this family.

Clay has accepted a job in Ritzville, managing a new Case IH parts store. He currently commutes there from Valleyford. Jewell is home-schooling the girls to prepare them for entry into public school when they are ready. They already speak English quite well but are not yet reading and writing at an age-appropriate grade level. Jewel is working with them to help them close the educational gaps created by their physical challenges and by having to cope with a second language. Jewel says that they are thinking of returning to Odessa in the spring because it is "where we raised our boys. We still think of Odessa as our second home, and many of our friends there are like family."

Official information from BBCC on the date of the memorial games arrived at The Record just a couple of hours after we had gone to print, so we were unable to provide advance notice to the public of the games. Attendance suffered as a result, but fortunately contributions to the scholarship funds can be made at any time. Anyone wishing to contribute to the scholarship funds in memory of either Ryan or Drew Floch is encouraged to send their donation to the BBCC Foundation, 7662 Chanute Street NE, Moses Lake WA 98837-3299. Additional information is also available by calling the Odessa School District at 509-982-2111 or 509-982-2668.