NORTHERN THAILAND
On Friday, April 17th, a group or traveling American missionaries were challenged to a soccer game by last year’s Thai National Champions. The travelers accepted the challenge with some hesitation, primarily due to the apparent superior skill of the opposing team. Much to their surprise, the US Consulate contacted the missionaries and informed them that the outcome of this game held great importance to the American way of life and if they did not win the game, they would not be allowed to re-enter the United States (or Canada) for the duration of their lives. So the missionaries went out on the field shirtless (because it was a shirts and skins match) with war paint on their faces and bodies, and sporting brand new ADIBAS apparel (see Miles Tiegs’s video blog). The whistle blew and they charged the Thai team like a bunch of freedom fighting warriors, screaming “FOR AMERICA!” Yes, friends, this is manistrty.
To skip over the sports commentary, scroll down to the last paragraph for the spiritual application.
Okay, okay. So I might have exaggerated a few of the details. But it was quite awesome. One of our ministry contacts, known to us as Pastor Vee (seriously) helps coach an under-20 age class soccer team in a nearby village as part of his sports ministry. And last year they did win the Thai National Championships in their league. So he thought it would be cool if he put them up against every missionary group that comes through. Apparently, Joanna (a live-in missionary that works with Vee) had seen many of these games and told us that many of these guys could have gotten scholarships to schools for their skills. She was so sure of their skills that she told us if we were able to score a goal against them, even once, she would buy us all a popsicle from the local snack shop (apx. 3 cents a piece). She said that she had never seen an American missionary team accomplish this feet. We were
worried.
So we get there, and none of them had shown up yet. So we just played around on our own, hoping they had heard of our crazy skill with the ball and backed down from the fight. That was not the case, as about 45 minutes later, they were all there, warming up for “the big game”. We all lined up and V gave us the rules for this game. Due to the fact that we were playing on a half sized field, we were playing with no off-sides, which apparently means they can get as close to the goalie as they want. This made us very worried. After the rules were laid down, they started singing their national anthem, so we sang what we knew of ours. Then we all shook hands and it was out to the field. Dave Brown took the position of goalie and Nick and I back him up as guards on the left and right. Benny took center and Dave Hoogendam & Nate Hood were playing forwards and Miles & Chris were our front men trying to score. (Pardon the bad soccer terminology.)
After five minutes, the Thais drew first blood with a smooth shot right down the center. We saw this as a sign that if we did not shape up, this would be a long game. So we tightened up our defense and got a little bolder with our offence. Within 10 minutes we had held off their advances and answered back with a goal of our own! We erupted in shouts and screams resembling a battle cry from Brave Heart. At this time, Dave Brown spoke up and said he would buy Cokes for everyone after the game if we were able to pull out a victory. We were full of ambition now, not nearly as intimidated by them as we were. At the same time, our goal let the locals know that there was more to us than met the eye, informing them that we were going to give them a run for their money. Both sides tightened up and we finished off the first period with no more score board action.
We had a 5 minute water break between periods, which was much appreciated as well as needed. As we took our break we noticed that more players had showed up allowing them to change out all of their players for fresh, unexhausted players. We knew that this was going to be a big disadvantage for us. So we went back out on the field full of adrenaline and ready for the fight of our lives. We came in ready for World War 3. The whistle blew and we got possession. After a few almost-turnovers, Chris took it to the hole and launched that baby straight in! 2 goals! In the lead! New players to boot! We were on top of the world. In the first 2 minutes of the “fight of our lives”, we broke through their defenses and took the lead. We now had real hope for victory.
The Thai team did not waste any time in bringin’ the battle back to our side of the field. They came strong and they came fierce, but we were able to hold them back for several minutes. However, they had no intentions of backing off until they repaid us the goal. 
They finally got in the left side and hooked the ball in at the corner of the goal stand. They had answered back and we were once again tied up. We were exhausted and soar, but we were determined not to let them take the lead again. We only had 5 minutes left in the game. Surely we could hold them off long enough. Well, we did. It was tough and they held the ball more than we did, but we did not let them get in close enough to shoot. The second period ended 2 to 2. And I guess that soccer only has 2 periods because they said we were going into overtime. The sun was getting rather low in the sky, so they said the first goal wins.
Back and forth it went for some time with no goals. The 1 minute warning sounded right before the ball was kicked out of bounds. As I ran to get the ball, the guys hollered out that it was do or die time. We were not satisfied with coming this far to end in a tie. So we decided we would ALL go down the field with the ball, leaving the goal wide open. That would make it easy for them to score if they got the ball, but with all of us down there, it would force them to cover us one on one and spread out their defenses. This could either hand us over to them or deliver us into victory over the Thai National Champions. Either way, we would go out giving it our best. With 45 seconds on the clock, Dave kicked it in to Miles and we all ran down the field after him. After plenty of evades, spins and passes, Chris got the ball 15 ft in front of the goal, and with only one guy on his tail, he ran it straight for the goalie, faked left, went right, launched it, and it went right through the goalie’s feet and on to victory! Cokes for everyone!
We won! Against all odds, a group of amateur American missionaries defeated the Thai National Champions (in their league). It reminds me of our fight against the fight against sin and evil. We are at a disadvantage because we are a people prone to sin. The enemy is strong and skilled in the moves of this game. They have had many victories before us. They show no mercy. But our coach is right there rooting us on, giving us strength when we are weak, and rest when we are weary. And although we win some battles and lose some, we will stand victorious in the end. We risk it all and leave our defenses down as we run to the cross and trust in the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. And the Lord meets us there and opens it up for us to run it in (ironic that CHRIS scored the winning goal, being only one T away from CHRIST). By his grace, we are able to withstand the enemy and emerge victoriously. Cokes for everyone!
(I hope the reward of heaven is better than a Coke after the game:)
Fighting the good fight,
Nate Chaplin
