Sorry for the gap in any blog updates. The last few weeks have been crazy with a road trip to Utah and the beginning of our summer soccer camps. While I have been busy, my experience has been invaluable... even in my second season with the Seahorses.
As my last blog includes some information regarding our trip to Mexico, Don Godwin (the pastor of Hope Chapel) wrote a great summary of our six day trip in their Church's blog titled Seahorse Crazy. It is quite extensive, but if you have the time I greatly encourage clicking the provided link and checking out his summary of the week, accompanied by some great photos as well.
Simply being able to encourage the Godwin family was already incredibly rewarding, when you include all the relationships that were built and the opportunities that came up, the trip itself was simply unbelievable. All those who participated came back with a new perspective of being a Sports Minister, and how useful soccer can be to engage people and culture.
As far as the soccer goes, I've been fighting a few minor knocks... a couple of ankle sprains and the last week getting a nice big dead leg that spread over my entire thigh (I do not expect this to go away any time soon). Fortunately, I can still play... but some days it's a bit more of a struggle than others. Hopefully I'll be back to 100% here soon, we've got a few important games coming up against the Fresno Fuego.
As of now we stand 3-5-1. After starting out 2-0 this is not exactly where we had planned to be, but we can't go back to the 'what ifs' now. Time to work out our own kinks, do the little things right... no excuses, no explanations (Tony Dungy).
Our topic for SMT tonight was "Taming the Tongue"... It was a nice time to reflect over James 3, analyze the power of our words (not just our actions), and how we might take Salomon's advice a little bit more to heart... being quick to listen and slow to speak. It's crazy what words can do to a person. And from conversation your words are the hardest to tame because they are a true representation of the condition of your heart. However, we can gain self control over what we say. We don't always have to express the condition of our heart, and sometimes it would be best not to because someone may take offense to what we say... I believe that control only comes from giving God our best and our first, seeking after Him, and pursuing His love. This brings me to the verse of the week (or undetermined period of time):
Proverbs 15:4
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
I know I have left a lot out, but time and sleep are hard to come by these days so I will hope to update again this weekend. Please keep praying for my time here in California as well as for those we met in Mexico.
Blessings,
Cyrus
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
PDL outreach to Rosarito Mexico.
Even though we made it back on Monday, it's taken me a week to get these photos uploaded onto my computer. I won't say too much about the trip, I'll let the photos do most of the talking.
Overall, there were 11 of us total who made the trip (with the addition of 2 others on the weekend). We partnered with a missionary family from Huntington Beach California, the Godwin family. Our role: play soccer. After a few of our games we would tell people about our ministry, have food, and invite them to events and game later that week. A few of the people we would play against we saw more than once.
The Godwin family and the associate pastor Carlos were very encouraged by how soccer simply allowed us to get places (like a local school) that they have been hoping to gain access to for quite some time.
While most of those of us who were able to go shared many of the same thoughts... we didn't think that we did anything spectacular on this trip, but we were encouraged to see how God used a game we love to help encourage the Godwin family and open new doors for them to share the good news.
There will be plenty more thoughts to come, but enjoy the photos for now.
View from behind the Church
Talking to the youth group about the Seahorses and about why I play soccer.
Hosting a clinic to the school in Vista Marina.
The kids at the Vista Marina school just before the Clinic started.
Getting ready for a game of "Shooter Keeper"
After our first game at Primo Tapia.
Playing in our second game at Primo Tapia.
Playing a game of "Head Catch" with the young ones while we waited to play on the court.
A group photo after our tournament on the "Cancha Rapida", we hosted an indoor tournament with Hope Chapel and had a great turn out. Afterwards Nate Wood was able to share his story.
We also played a game against the team the Godwin's sponsor. "Hope Chapel".
We played a game against some locals of Vista Marina on the big field as well.
Coach Todd using the "evangecube" to share the story of Jesus to the kids after a game of Head Catch.
This was my "room with a view" for the week. I decided to sleep outside after the firs night inside. It wasn't bad waking up to the ocean every morning.
Overall, there were 11 of us total who made the trip (with the addition of 2 others on the weekend). We partnered with a missionary family from Huntington Beach California, the Godwin family. Our role: play soccer. After a few of our games we would tell people about our ministry, have food, and invite them to events and game later that week. A few of the people we would play against we saw more than once.
The Godwin family and the associate pastor Carlos were very encouraged by how soccer simply allowed us to get places (like a local school) that they have been hoping to gain access to for quite some time.
While most of those of us who were able to go shared many of the same thoughts... we didn't think that we did anything spectacular on this trip, but we were encouraged to see how God used a game we love to help encourage the Godwin family and open new doors for them to share the good news.
There will be plenty more thoughts to come, but enjoy the photos for now.
View from behind the Church
Talking to the youth group about the Seahorses and about why I play soccer.
Hosting a clinic to the school in Vista Marina.
The kids at the Vista Marina school just before the Clinic started.
Getting ready for a game of "Shooter Keeper"
After our first game at Primo Tapia.
Playing in our second game at Primo Tapia.
Playing a game of "Head Catch" with the young ones while we waited to play on the court.
A group photo after our tournament on the "Cancha Rapida", we hosted an indoor tournament with Hope Chapel and had a great turn out. Afterwards Nate Wood was able to share his story.
We also played a game against the team the Godwin's sponsor. "Hope Chapel".
We played a game against some locals of Vista Marina on the big field as well.
Coach Todd using the "evangecube" to share the story of Jesus to the kids after a game of Head Catch.
This was my "room with a view" for the week. I decided to sleep outside after the firs night inside. It wasn't bad waking up to the ocean every morning.
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