Well, the first week of soccer camp is done! We split up into 3 groups, my group did a camp working with the Moody Church, founded by D.L. Moody. We went to the church service on Sunday and it was cool because I remember learning about D.L. Moody in my sports ministry class- he was an amazing man. I saw in the bulletin there would be a tour of the church after the service and that they would talk about Moody’s life so I went on the tour. They didn’t talk about Moody’s life as much as I would have liked but they gave me a cd on his life that I will listen to when I have time. The sanctuary holds about4,000 people and is very traditional looking- but they put on a huge addition and have tons of children’s classrooms and places to fellowship and eat. Everyday after camp we would come to the church and eat lunch, play games in the youth room and take naps! It was great.
Camp was awesome. We had about 90 kids which is about 20 more kids than previous years. I coached 7-9 year old girls and they were adorable. Everyday we taught them a different soccer skill (passing, dribbling, shooting, etc.) and then we split them up into teams so they could play real matches. We wanted them to improve their soccer skills but even more than that we wanted them to hear the gospel and grow in their faith. Everyday we would do a skit for them that would get our message across clearly. We broke up into our groups and had questions for discussion and would read from the bible, pray with them, etc. Thursday the skill of the day was “change in direction” so we taught them a few soccer moves to turn the other way on the field. We tied this in spiritually as well, changing directions in their life and this was the day we asked them if they wanted to receive Christ. I had everyone in my group close their eyes and if they wanted to receive Christ to raise their hand and repeat after me as we prayed. Many of the girls were already saved but two of my girls prayed to receive Christ! It was so exciting for me because I had grown closer with the girls over the week and that’s what I was praying for.
On Friday I received gifts from my girls and one of them gave me a card that said thank you for making this week so special for me, I will remember it forever! She often told me it was the best week of her life and she wanted to follow me to where I’d be coaching next week. I tried to reach out to the quiet kids. It’s easy to stick with the ones that love you andwant to be with you all the time. But one girl was very quiet and I asked her if she’d pray for me right then and did…afterwards I was so appreciative and it made her feel really special. It was cool to see the quiet kids open up to me towards the end. They were joking with me and throwing water on me and I was so happy to see that. It was sooo hot everyday- the fire truck came by and sprayed all the kids which was probably their favorite part of the week. Children are such a precious gift from God and I think this week I got a small glimpse of how much God loves children. Parents were telling me their kids didn’t stop talking about camp fromthe minute they got home until they went to sleep. I’m so glad we had such an impact on them.
We got to practice on a really nice turf field close by and it was right next to the beach. One day after practice a few of us jumped into the water with our clothes on- it felt so good because like I said it was really hot- in the 90s. We had our first game on Tuesday. We played a really good team and lost 2-0. I rolled my ankle and the next day it swelled up really badly, so if you think of it, that’s something I could use prayer for. But I’m thankful it was only that- at the same game my friend Ali tore her ACL. Ali was my roommate for a week in Brazil so we had many good talks about soccer and her desire to be a light on her team. She was one ofthe first people to exchange testimonies with me and she was in tears sharing with me because she felt like she had lived a good Christian life but is missing out on true intimacy with God. I was excited about forming a friendship with her. On Monday night she was writing in her journal, praying for God to strip her of pride and draw her closer to him andthe last thingshe wrote was “Do whatever it takes.” Tuesday soccer was completely stripped from her. I was heartbroken for her because I know how passionate she was about soccer and if that happened to me I would be devastated. I saw what one of my best friends went through after she tore her ACL- 4 surgeries. So I feel Ali’s pain even if I don’t fully understand. But I shared with her that eventhough it’shard, consider it an honor that God wants her whole heart, and if that’s what it takes, then so be it. She is going to grow so much in this time and is already able to use it to reach out to others. We’re sad that she has to go home though and miss out on the rest of the summer and her fall season.
Wednesday night we got to serve at a homeless shelter. This was a very special mealfor them because normally they just get a sandwich or soup. I wastalking with this one woman for a while and she decided she wanted to eat. So as I was making her a taco it hit me that Jesus said, “If you do this for the least of these, you do it for me.” Right then I said, “Jesus, it’s my honor and privelage to serve you right now.” And handed her the taco. Imagine if I saw Jesus in every person I came in contact with- how differently I would treat people.
This weekend we stayed back in Wheaton at a girl’s house on my team. They live in a gorgeous house and it was so much fun to relax, have cookout with everyone, and have devotional time with the girls. This is one of my favorite things about being here. We talked about taming the tongue- what gossip is, how to stop yourself from speaking it and how to stop others when they start speaking it. Gossip is selfishness really, and it tears apart teams and groups of people. So it’s great to know that gossip is not welcome on our team!
I talked with Rick, the director of the Chicago Eagles and told him that I am interested in doing sports ministry with my life and I didn’t want this summertogo by without me connecting with him. I told him about my desire to study abroad in Australia next spring and he said he knows a couple working with Athletes In Action in New Zealand right now- an amazing couple that are at the heart of sports ministry that I would love. I’m going to connect with them soon and see if that’s an option. Just praying that if God wants me to go there He’ll open the doors and work out all the details.
On Friday the board members of Missionary Athletes International had lunch with us. They had a conference or something so they all came out to Chicago. Rick asked me if I would share my heart about sports ministry. I had no time to prepare but I agreed to it. I started out saying I have felt called into ministry since I was 16 and my ultimate dream has been to be the next Beth Moore- writing books and speaking. But God is teaching me to value serving in secret- not being recognized (ironic that I was saying that while speaking to a large group of people!) but I just shared my heart and afterwards all the board members were coming up to me saying that what I shared was great and one person said, “Don’t rule out your dream to be the next Beth Moore…you have a true talent and gift!” The Charlotte Eagles director wants to connect with me about doing an internship next summer in Charlotte or Los Angeles. For so long I’ve been wondering when God was going to reveal his plans for my life. I feared graduating and not knowing what todo. But God is slowing puttingthings together and I know I’m not headed for an ordinary life…but an exciting life of following Him. I shared with you before about how God is working on pride in my heart and how I haven’t stepped up with sharing because I don’t want to do that to be recognized anymore. But it’s like God chose me to share my heart on that day and when I was done I knew that it wasn’t about me, I felt released to share my heart without it feeding my pride. It was an amazing thing.
I’m so excited about what God is doing and there’s no better feeling than to know you are right where God wants you to be- in the palm of His hands.
