New Day, Same Soccer Field

If you read some of my blogs last week, you might know that my squad got the coolest opportunity to do soccer ministry in a small indigenous town called Sandbox. The Lord begun to use soccer, a skill I spent almost 2/3 of my life trying to be better at and completely dropped two years ago, for His glory. He met me on a soccer field with redemption last Thursday, surrounded by locals, my squad, and unprecedented joy in my lungs. It was exhilarating. 

The best part about being in a place for months at a time is that we get to pour into the same relationships over and over again. So this last Tuesday we returned to the same field in the little community of Sanbox. 

Our approach was a little different this time. Instead of jumping into a giant game of soccer, me and four of my other squamates were chosen to put together a mini soccer practice. Rasta, our YWAM base host, wanted to provide the locals with a little bit of discipline and structure that they most likely have not received from many other people in their lives. And we got to know them personally on a whole new level by being more interactive. 

We had about ten middle and high schoolers from the community who joined, most of whom were familiar faces from last week. It’s hilarious leading a “soccer practice” with almost thirty people ranging from those who have played soccer their whole lives to those who have never touched a ball to their foot before. We all laughed a lot because missing a shot or falling on our butts is a kind of funny that transcends language barriers. 

After the practice, we gathered everyone in a big circle and got to formally introduce our names and where are from in broken Spanish. The locals chimed in too. Then, Kate shared a little bit of her testimony as Rasta translated. I think that was my favourite part. 

The Lord placed it on her heart earlier that day to share about her experience playing on a really good soccer team in middle school. She said she was hands down the worst person on her team and was always striving to be good enough for them, but no matter how much she practiced, she never was as good as the others. Then she met Jesus, who found her in the striving because He died on the cross knowing she wasn’t good enough on her own. He died for all of us too. And now when all we have to bring to the alter is weakness, the Father doesn’t need anything else. Our weaknesses have become His strengths. 

That’s the most elementary, basic, fundamental message; yet, I need to be reminded of it almost daily. 

I also was reminded that soccer is essential in our relationship with these locals, and the most fun I have had yet, but we cannot forget the sport is merely the vessel in which we get to share the good news of Jesus. The only reason we even get to be playing on that field is because Jesus has radically changed all of our lives in different ways and has now asked us to abandon nearly everything for His names sake. How could we not share such crazy news? One thing we also learned that day is that, Talamanca, the region of Costa Rica that the community of Sanbox lies in, has the highest suicide rates in all of Costa Rica. I am in awe that God chose my squad to be apart of what He is doing in a place that is in such desperate need to know and experience His daily new mercies and goodness. 

A quote by John Piper that I have been clinging tight to recently says, “Any good-hearted goal, without the desire to give people eternal joy in God, is condemnation with a kind face.” Dang. That one speaks for itself. 

Of course, we ended that afternoon with another full field game of soccer. The funniest part was that it had poured rain all day long, so the field was one giant mud puddle. I was literally swimming in my tennis shoes. And wiped out. A lot. You know it was a good ministry when the bus ride home is so insanely uncomfortable because your clothes are soaked and your legs are painted with mud. 

If you prayed for our time at the soccer field this last Tuesday, THANK YOU!!! Your prayers don’t go unnoticed! I am not sure what day we will be going back, but if my squad is ever on your mind, you can be specifically praying for more kids to show up, for hope and encouragement to be left on the field, and for Jesus to be made known <333