Towards the end of the summer I've found it difficult to find the time, and desire sometimes, to sit down and put a couple of thoughts together about the summer. As they say, time flies when you are having fun... and it flies by even faster when you are having fun and save little time to think/relax.
There really is no way to sum up my summer in words, but I will still try my best. The experiences that I have had with the Seahorses during the last two summers is a great reminder to put God first in all the we do. Soccer was pretty much all I did for a good part of my life, it wasn't until high school that I wanted God to be a part of that. It hasn't always been easy... but over time, with God's help, it will.
So much has happened in the last month, I'm still recovering from a nagging injury acquired while playing against BYU in Utah, but I've managed to play in a few games since then and notching my first goal of my PDL career. We finished the season 5th in the region at 6-7-3. I missed a handful of games because I was not well prepared when I arrived, and then getting hit pretty hard in Utah would sideline me for 3 games or so. Had it been with any other organization, I would have struggled being injured and not on the field. However, with the seahorses there is so much more to our season than just soccer.
I was able to see God working in and around me and was encouraged to really seek God in my time "off". We continued as usual with our SMT time before practices, and our 4 weeks of youth camp didn't slow down for any injuries. The time spent doing bible study continued, and it included much encouragement for me and for others who weren't healthy enough to play. We were truly able to see lives changed, both in my teammates and with the young players that we coached.
At camps it was business as usual, like last year, with the return of Coach Mustache (Senior Bigote). We had some great campers, and we had some terrors, but they all left lasting impressions with all of the coaches there. There is nothing better than a job that requires you to act ten years younger than you are, especially when that's what you want to do most of the time anyways.
Mexico was incredible, as I said in my earlier blog it was incredibly encouraging just to be able to show who we are and what we believe by playing a game of soccer. It didn't matter that many of our players didn't speak Spanish, and others like myself didn't speak Spanish well, but still were able to communicate about things important to us. We met non believers, believers, youth pastors, former professionals, and non soccer players just by playing soccer and playing soccer well.
After season ended in the last week of July, I made my way back to Colorado where I have been for the last 10 days catching up with friends and family, and helping one friend find work here in the valley while she saves up for grad school. Fortunately I've been able to visit just about everyone who is around and find some time for myself. The time off has given me a chance to think back and reflect on where God has taken me, and only imagine where I'll be going to next. The truth is God has been good, and he has challenged me to keep on keeping on with what I love, but not without him and not without others.
A special thanks to all who supported me financially and through prayer this summer, it could not have been possible without your help!
Last thing, I've meant to put a link up to this website for a year... it was passed along to me by a friend and I was recently reminded about it when talking with him (even though he never brought it up). If you want to equip the saints with the tools they need, check out Bibles Unbound. They look to get copies of the New Testament to those who have no means to get them. http://www.biblesunboundmovie.com/
Verse for the week (or undetermined period of time):
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your hear as if working for the Lord, not for me.
Here are a few photos from my summer! Enjoy!
(My computer is being silly, I'll upload them ASAP)
