Reflection Time...

Sorry there hasn't been an update on how things have been going for awhile...  But since the last couple weeks of the season, finishing camps, driving home, and now back to Tennessee, I have had very little time to sit down and write out my thoughts regarding just the last month, let a lone my whole summer.  The bad part about blogging is when you get behind, there is so much you want to talk about, but continually find less time to talk about more happenings.  However I think I have figured out a way to adequately reflect on my summer of playing soccer, loving people, and being encouraged to do as much of those as possible...  I'll put up some pictures, and you know what they say about pictures... they paint a thousand words... or something.

The trip to Pinotepa and Ometepec in the south west pacific coast of Mexico was great... My eyes were opened to so much in terms of ministry and culture.  A culture so consumed by soccer provided us with an amazing platform for ministry...  even if they weren't interested in hearing our story at half time or after the game, they still wouldn't miss the opportunity to see there hometown players play against a group of Americans.  This trip challenged me in so many ways in dealing with so many people... my teammates, the missionaries we partnered with, the players we played against, the fans who watched us play, and the churches who helped us a long the way.  The amount of contact we made was incredible and hopefully it's a project that the Seahorse organization can continue to follow up with in the years to come.

Seahorse Soccer Camps- "All My Might"- Colossians 1:29 "And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power which mightily works within me."  That was the theme verse for our week of camp... on top of our soccer curriculum of dribbling, passing, shooting, heading and defending, we also had a bible curriculum which focused on what it means to love God with all our might.  Topics included what is so mighty about might, loving god with all our might, when our might isn't enough, and the gospel which represents God's might power.  Every thursday was decision day...  we would use the evangecube and tell the kids the story of Jesus on the cross and what that means for us.  It was great to see kids make personal decisions to follow Christ through our camps, and to be able to sit down and talk to them personally about these decisions...  I don't think I will be able to view soccer camps in the same way ever again. The pictures below include pictures from decision day, coaches campers game, jersey day, and crazy hair day. 

coaches campers game

Jersey Day

Jersey day with the Chik-fil-a Cow

Crazy hair day (with my mustache)

Decision day/coaches time

On top of our missions trip, and camps, we still had our PDL season...  we finished the season 4-4-8 right in the middle of the pack...  It was a tough season, the demographics of the team always seems to be changing.  I found myself playing all positions again, which is something that I have been used to doing in the past.  Except now the competition was even higher.  I can honestly say that growth came in all areas this summer...  Faith, soccer, and relationships... Being on a team of quality soccer players who could also encourage me spiritually is not a situation you will often find yourself in.  Yet the bar has been set, and I have a good idea of what it means to bring Christ central to competition... which is something that I have struggled with my whole life, balancing Christ and soccer.  The pictures below are just various pictures throughout the season...

Game vs. LA Legends

Getting announced

Home game vs Ventura

Me being a dork... walking out to the field.

Away game at Ventura, I ended up getting knocked out this game with a run in with the keeper.  Uncle Chip and my parents were there for that one.

Me and fellas for our last home game together.  Solid bunch of dudes.  

For one of my last home games, my parents were able to come watch me play as well as a few of my uncles (dad's brothers) who were currently living in California.  It was great for me to catch up with my parents and play in front of my Uncle Chip since he had never been able to attend any of my high school or college matches, yet he was always able to remain one of my biggest fans and closest supporters.  Being able to spend time with Chip, Doug, my parents and even some new friends John and Ryan was a good way for me to wind down the season.  I don't know how much soccer I have left in my future, but it wouldn't have felt right without being able to play in front of Uncle Chip.  (Pictures compliments of Chip, thanks!)

My cousin Coryn was there too!

Coryn lives in Newport, unfortunately I didn't get to see her until the 4th of July and she was able to make it to a few of my games shortly there after. 

The Webb family- (Left to Right) Bethany, Robb, Myself, Faith, and Melanie.  This was my host family for the summer and some of my biggest fans.  Unfortunately they had to leave before my last week there to go on vacation so this was our last day together before our game that evening.  I was truly blessed to live with such a generous family and felt more like a member of the family than a guest in their house.  

On my way back to TN I was able to spend some time in Colorado with a lot of cool people...  The Suttons were a family that my parents had met only once before but were able to get to meet the whole family, (Left to right- Heather, Vickie, Stormin Norman, Ryan, Myself, Mom, Cristina, and Dad) and instantly hit it off with everyone... The best part was all of us kids were the same age and just had a blast going hiking, cliff jumping, sight seeing, and playing board games till the wee hours of the morning.  

I want to say that for the most part sums up my summer in California... there's just no way.  I know there is stuff missing here or there.  The experience was invaluable, and you can't even try to quantify the amount of learning that took place this summer.  I was constantly reminded that God is everywhere, working in everyone, even when they are unaware of it... and often times I am unaware to God working around me.  I don't know where this experience fits into God's big plan for me, I met a lot of people who I feel have been very influential in my life this summer and can see working with them again in the future loving people together...  I can say that I am very excited about the new stage of my life which begins soon here in Nashville.  In a week I will start training for my new job working campus recreation and have been accepted as a graduate student into Belmont's grad program.  

I originally started this blog to keep you all posted on how my summer has been going.  I do not know if I will continue to blog or not... but as this new job unfolds I may consider putting my thoughts down and just to discuss how God's been challenging me.  Thanks again to all those who helped me in making this summer possible, it was a true blessing.

-Cyrus

UPDATED- Fotos de Mexico

Here are the updated photos from out Mexico trip, including games and clinics!  Enjoy!

At Aculpoco getting ready to fly back

Me and Kramer in Ometepec for our last game.

Me and Nate working with some kids during one of the morning clinics, we'd do clinics and invite them to come to our games.

Line-up

Shaking hands before the game

Pablo Shedd at the field in Pinotepa

Action photo, good shot of the stands.

Nate was our ringer, he was the Missionary kid we picked up who could play some ball.

Beginning stages of Sr. Bigote

Clinics with the kids during the PE classes.

Party truck we drove around Ometepec blasting music and promoting our game.

Kramer, Pablo, and German with some of the players we played against in Pinotepa- This was after our dinner with them.

Pinotepa game and fans... the fans actually lined up around most of the field but those were the only stands to sit in.

My coach sharing his testimony at half time- Pablo translating

The Crew at our hotel in Pinotepa.

Paul Gizzie- The Don/Grandpa/Abuelo/The Silver Fox... Ready to go.

In Ometepec outside our hotel on the calle (street).

Headless Joe

O.J.

Welcome to Ometepec

Catholic Church in the Center of Ometepc, huge!  John Brooks and Josiah talking with Dr. Norman...

View from the Party Truck- Driving through the Streets.

After our dinner with the opposing teams in Pinotepa.

John checking out the trash on the side of the road-

Same Catholic Church in the center of Ometepec.

Eder gave Josiah, Matt and Myself all signed shirts to remember him by...  Naturally I got the pink one.

The Woods, the Missionary family who made our trip possible!

Me showing off my bigote at the airport before returning home... the 'stache is enhanced when accompanied by a sombrero and musical instruments...  no doubt. 

Learning... a never ending process...

Let's see...  don't even know where to begin this post or what to call it...  I'll have to think of a title when I've finished putting my thoughts down.  I still haven't been able to get a USB cord for my camera to put up pictures of our Mexico trip, hopefully I can take care of that today or tomorrow since I have a bit of free time on my hands I hope to be able to work that out.  

Since the last posting on soccer camps we were able to finish up what I felt was a successful week of camps.  Kids were crazy, but I am bit crazy too so it worked out.  This week we have off from camps since it is July 4th weekend coming up...  This break will be nice and much needed.

Our season so far has been going alright, we sit in 5th position in our region with 6 games left.  We are still very much in the run for post season and within reach of the top of the league but we'll have to stop drawing our matches and start getting some wins.  Currently our record is 3-2-5...  I've been playing well and have been floating around in positions on the the field from defense, to midfield, and even forward...  Coach has told me that playing the Utility role is a bit tough on a summer team with lots of new players every year, and I've noticed where he comes from.  Still I feel I have grown a lot as a player and a "sports minister".   

I've found myself getting pretty stretched between trying to juggle friends, work, and soccer...  Unfortunately yesterday I was reminded about something that tends to wear me down real quick.  People pleasing.  I struggle with saying "no" and as a result get buried in things to do/people to please.  I understand that I can't please everyone, and that I shouldn't live to please people but to please God and God only...  yet for some reason I still struggle with saying "no" to people, especially when they are trying to do something for me.  Which seemed to be everyone yesterday since it was my birthday. 

I am not a fan of birthdays, well I love other people's birthdays but I struggle with my birthday.  I have never been one to organize or lead any sort of big celebration and am very content on being in the presence of good company, hang out or maybe dinner.  But because I never know what I want to do on my birthday, or what I want when people are trying to do something for me...  since they still want to do something for me, I've just made it more difficult on them and myself.  That is what happened yesterday with trying to accommodate all those who had me in mind, and unfortunately my host family got the brunt end of my craziness.  I'm sure my host parents were a bit more understanding, but I struggle with letting kids down and not being here for the birthday dinner they had planned for me would, in most cases, fall in that category. 

So since then I've been wondering why it is I struggle so much with people pleasing?  Or if it's just that I can stand someone being disappointed in me?  It has to be disappointment, because anger doesn't bother me.  Probably because if someone is disappointed in me (or I feel I have disappointed someone if they really aren't) it probably  means I have "failed" on some level.  I also struggle with failure, I hate failing.  However without failure it would be awful hard to get grow or respond to life as we are challenged.  God doesn't want us to fail, in fact C.S. Lewis says that God wants just the opposite, that God desires to make us perfect.  Not only that, but He would... if it wasn't for us always getting in the way.  Someone once prayed for me that God would "Help me fail..." or better understand what it is that God wants us to take away from our failures that shapes us into a more useful tool to do His works.  4 years later I'm still working on it...  And I probably will continue to work on it for a very long time. 

These were just some current thoughts that I felt putting on paper would do me some good...  I know that failure is inevitable... that I am not perfect... but it is also something that I easily forget.

Thank you all again for your prayers and support...  We have a game coming up wednesday and I've been seeing quite a bit of playing time, pray that I stay healthy and that I can be used by God wherever He has me...  Blessings!

-Cyrus

Team Yaaaa mooonnnn! Go Jamaica!

Thanks to "Intern Ashley" (that's what I call her) working for the Seahorses we have some great photos from camps that I can put up...  So far camps have been going good, this is our first week and we are just getting into the camp routine, but things are starting to smooth themselves out.  

My group of kids meets by the Jamaican flag, so we have decided to call ourselves "Team Ya Mon", naturally...  I'll be sure to add more photos and update more information as the weeks go on camps but they have been great.  We get participate in crazy sock day, crazy hair day, favorite jersey day, and all sorts of fun stuff that a big kid like me loves to do.  As you can see they keep me smiling and hopefully these young ones will walk away from camp with Jesus on their hearts and in their minds.  

Everyday has a theme verse that includes a skit during "half-time" followed by a bible story-  the theme and verse for the week of camp is "All My Might- Colossians 1:29 and for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me."  

It really has been an awesome experience being able to work in an environment like the Seahorse organization...  can't tell you all how much I've learned already in my first month of being here.  We have a game tomorrow night so I'll be sure to update you all as soon as this camp schedule allows.  Blessings,

-Cyrus 

Me being the Commissioner for World Cup- I make the trades.

Brian sniffing his ball during warm up.

Crazy sock day.

Scott- He's my little Ukranian Baller.

Rockin Raquel

Mateo!

"Ball on your head shows me your listening!"- what i tell the kids when they are running all over the place.

Golden Holden

Team Ya Mon!

Sunz out gunz out!

Sleep tight, don't let the Sharks Bite... That's Snot Funny...

June- 15th 

Apparently my chances of being attacked by a shark are about as good as me being struck by lightning...  Thanks to Rob (my host dad) I've still somehow developed a fear of Sharks and of lightning....   last lighting storm there were two people who were struck by lightning in LA, which means my chances for getting struck by lightning just went up, along with me getting bit by shark...  (We are doing some sea kayaking in the harbor tomorrow for camp training, that's why we've been discussing this.)  Now Rob tells me, "Sleep tight, don't let the sharks bite"... where I reply, "That's Snot funny" (another one of Rob's response to my booger joke).  

So it's been nearly a week since we got back from Mexico, and already I've been down and out a good couple days with a cold...  and now I think that I may have passed on my cold to Melanie (my host mum).  Hopefully she doesn't hold it against me...

Fortunately I was still able rest up enough to play in last night's game...  We won 3-1 over the Lancaster Rattlers... moving us from 7th to 5th in the region.  We played well, and I felt I had a relatively good game considering my recovering.  After the game I was able to share my testimony, which is something we have at all of our home games.  Our "featured" player will welcome everyone down onto the field and give there story then close the evening in prayer... and last night was my turn.  

I'd write you guys my story, but I believe I included most all of it in the posting below from Mexico...  Only thing that I would include here in front of the Seahorse fans is how my story is constantly being added on too, where God has me now and where he seems to be taking me. There is no telling where I will end up, but if there is anything that God has taught me these past couple of years is that there is no use in worrying...  as long as I'm being diligent in what God has blessed me with (talents, resources, and such...), He will take care of me.  

What I've been challenged to think about this week is in correlations with Ephesians 2:8,9 and James 2:14-25

Summary:

Ephesians 2- It is by grace you have been saved, through faith- not by works so that no man can boast... 

James 2- Faith without works is dead...

Well then, if we are saved by faith and not by works... yet faith without deeds is dead... how is it that we are not saved by works.  I have heard once before this being brought up as a "contradiction" in the Bible and failed to look into it a bit further and had completely forgot about it until now.  But last week in small group we came to the conclusion that they aren't contradictory... they are complimentary.  When you read them in parallel, joined by a simple conjunction- "It is by faith you have been saved, not by works BUT faith without deeds is dead..." it makes sense. 

Now the tough questions are when to distinguish whether our works/actions are a result of our faithful obedience to God or done selfishly and impulsively.  Can we help others and not be acting out of faith?   I do not ask this to discourage myself or anyone to not help people, it is more of a challenge to truly understand the nature of our actions and if they are spirit led or not.  But to answer my previous question, I think it is possible to help others and not be acting in accordance with our faith...  That is why Ephesians states we are saved by grace through faith, and it isn't a list of good works that gets us to heaven.  Understanding and believing God's gift of grace through Jesus is all we need... yet there is that conjunction- BUT - James (the brother of Jesus) tells us that simply believing that we are saved yet failing to show it in our actions is not good enough either.  I think what James is challenging all believers to feel a sense of conviction, if we truly believe that we have been saved by grace, through faith, yet fail to show the love of Jesus to others...  how will they believe us when we tell them about our faith?  Or is the result what we see today, the label that many Christians receive because of what they claim to believe contradicts what they do- "hypocrites".  

So my questions- is there really a contradiction in these two verses?  How do we "act out" our faith?  

More to come!

June 19th-  My family is bigger than yours...  I guarantee it!

Currently I'm spending the weekend in Illinois for my cousin Patrick's wedding, I had to miss practice yesterday and will be missing our match in Bakersfield tomorrow...  unfortunate timing for me considering I had been playing well, hopefully this doesn't affect my standing in the lineup for next week.  However it's been six years since I've seen many of my cousins (27 on my mom's side), aunts, uncles, and grandparents...  I'm super excited that I get to see most all of them, minus a few, this weekend.

I just wanted to update everyone as to where I've been since I got back from Mexico and had meaning to publish this last post but failed to finish it till now...  so, continue to keep me in your prayers as well as a happy wedding and blessed wedding for my cousin Patrick and his bride to be Sarah.  

Blessings,

-Cyrus

They call me.... Sr. Bigote!

Senor Bigote-  Translation "Mr. Mustache".  Yes, I went to Mexico and grew a Mustache...  

Sorry for any anticipation, we went to Mexico and made it back safely...  I was unable to access the internet during my time down there and have so much to tell all of you  that I just don't know if I can do it in one sitting...  We'll see how this goes.  Also, word on the street is that people are having trouble leaving comments so I will look into that as well and can hopefully get some info up here shortly that might help with that.  

As for MEXICO y "los Caballitos del Mar"  (little horses of the sea) as they called us...  It was amazing.  When going on Missions trips I try to have the mind set that God is always working and not to enter into any missions opportunities with my own agenda.  Meaning that I feel that showing up with a set plan, and believing that this is what will happen, (or if it doesn't I am going to continue like it does) really is entering less prepared than those with less planing and much more flexibility.  That is what missions are all about flexibility.  Luckily for me the last few missions trips I have been on I have not been sure of what to expect, which helps me to remain flexible and open to any "unexpected" happenings.  

First things first...  We flew from LAX to Mexico City where we had a 5 hour layover before flying into Acapulco where we were met by the Nathan and Tim Wood (Son and Father of the missionary family who we were partnering with)... from there we had to drive another four hours to Pinotepa where our first two matches were going to be played, it was about an hour away from Ometepec, the second city we stayed in...  From Acapulco to Pinotepa, we counted (in spanish of course) speed bumps or "reducires de trafico"...  119 in the four hours we traveled.  We played four games...  started off with a couple draws in Pinotepa...  And in Ometepec we finished up with a win and a loss.  

Leading up to each game we advertised by passing out flyers in the street with little information about some of our staff, the team, and what we believe to be true about salvation on the back and how soccer is a means for us to glorify God all over the world...  just like there in Pinotepa and Mexico.  We did clinics at schools during the week and at the stadium on saturday, we played with the kids, told them about the games and about our team and were often able to share our testimonies of how God has called us into Sports ministry.  The welcome we got from the kids was amazing and with the little that they had I was humbled to see how much joy they still had in their lives.  Sometimes the clinics were a bit chaotic, but in the end we had a little bit of organization and a lot of fun...  the two favorite games we played were "Delanteros y Porteros" (Forwards and Keepers) and "Robar el Jamon" (Steal the Ham)... Sometimes we would end up with hundreds of kids and only 4 or 5 balls to occupy them for an hour or so...  

Our first day in Ometepec we drove on the back of a big truck that had a large flatbed and we rigged up speakers with a generator and had a mix that one of Nate's friends put together that was mainly Techno and included information about our Game...  "Los Caballitos Del Mar Contra Selecionados de Ometepec"  It was the party truck, we drove all over the city and passed out flyers of the truck bed and invited people to the games.  

In each city were had dinner with the opposing teams and were able to perform a short song and skit... the song- "Jesus is Lord" and the skit was about the Wiseman who built his house on the Rock for the rock was sound.  My roll in the skit was the river, and had to do the worm across the stage in front of the house....  but it wasn't nearly as cool as the rain dance that our goalkeeper (forward on this trip) pulled out "when the rains came"...  haha.  

The games were great, the fields took a little getting used because of their lack of grass, but when the final whistle blew we were able to meet a lot of the people we had invited and had the Gospel of John available to pass out with information on local churches for anyone who wanted them.  The conversations were not always easy, even though a lot of my teammates used me to translate as best I could, I don't know if I was always able to get my point across.  The first game was a highlight for me, my friend John and I were able to talk with a group of teenagers who asked us great questions about being Christians and Athletes and the struggles we have...  the cultural differences that we may have the they don't understand...  and why we think it is important to have God as the center of all aspects of our lives, including soccer.  All these questions really caught me off guard, so we tracked down Nate Wood to translate for us since I didn't have the vocabulary in spanish to get my point across fully.  In the end this proved to be a good choice, Nate really had them understanding how God has changed our focus from soccer first... to God first.  

The second game I shared my testimony at halftime with my friend Paul Shedd translating for me...  Much of my story includes God challenging me to learn how to not let competition ruin everything that God has blessed me with.  It took me a long time growing up before I was able to balance competition and God, and I will admit that it is something that I still struggle with.  Winning to me was all that competition was about, and it wasn't until a friend of mine told me how different I was at soccer than when we were hanging out that I finally realized that my competition had hurt quite a few of my relationships, and most importantly my relationship with God.  Our last game I was really challenged to remain in control, we played a game that was very fair in its officiating and ended up playing 2 men down due to red cards...  I can't find any justification for any of the 10+ cards we received...  in the end we still lost, but it always seems to leave a sour taste in your mouth when you lose something that seems unjust.  And I was reminded that to be angry is not a sin, however to act out of my anger IS a sin, and is very hard not to do.  

The best part about it was after our last game, and losing 2-0, the people just came pouring down onto the field... Tim Wood asked the questions later in our debriefing it we had felt that had we won would the people have just come down onto the field like they did to meet us.  I was able to invite a group of teens to join us for church, meet with a lot of the players, and give a little encouragement to a few of the kids there who said they were christians... they said that being a Christian there in Ometepec is rarely easy, and I just pray they can be encouraged by our presence there to keep searching for Truth.

Being in Mexico and being able to share my story and how God desires a relationship with us really reinforced the verses I've been studying in I Corinthians 9- 

"To the weak I became weak, so as to win the Weak.  I have become ALL things to ALL men so that I by all possible means I might win some..."  We must meet people where they are at, that is the most powerful means of reaching them.  Soccer has given us the opportunity to meet a lot of people where they are at in mexico....  but at the same time I had to become aware of the cultural and economic differences to reach others.

Being able to share this time and this opportunity with my teammates was an experience in itself outside our ministering.  We challenged each other to love life like God intended us to and to get to know each other and learn from each other.  God gives us all very different gifts so it was great to see everyone using their gifts as much as possible.  Just to top our amazing week off, we drove back to Acapulco where me and a few of the guys went and played on the beach till 2:15 in the morning before we topped of an amazing night with ice cream sandwiches and street tacos...  mmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm....  love it.

I want to continue to thank all of you for your prayers and support, I can't tell you how much this experience has meant to me and the directions that God continues to take me is motivation enough to get up every morning.  Thank you... or as we say in Mexico... Muchas Gracias.

Prayer requests:

-For all the gospels that were passed out to be read and used.

-For all the people in Ometepec and Pinotepa who we met.

-The Wood family, that they'd be able to find the help they need to run all their ministries through their church, school, soccer club and camp.  

-For me and the Seahorses as we want to continue to share God's love with these people and showing them God cares by returning on a regular basis.

-For the season and our ministries here in LA, that we continue to glorify God in all that we do... especially soccer.