The Day Krystle Became a Florida Gator

 

    After traveling through Europe last summer and meeting Gator fans in all six of the countries I visited, I am utterly convinced that the audacious claim made by the University of Florida is true.  “Remember, The University of Florida is in Gainesville, but the Gator nation is everywhere.”  At the outset of the World Race, I decided it would be one of my ridiculous goals to continue to prove this truth by finding a Florida Gator in every country.  So far (and much to Josh’s disappointment) I am proud to report my goal is being meet. First, I spotted a fellow Mexican Gator proudly wearing a National Basketball Championship shirt, as he biked through the streets of Palenque, Mexico.  In Antigua, Guatemala I had the privilege of spotting two Gator fans.  One was a tourist and one was a local. The first man was a American tourist site seeing in central square. The second Gator was wearing a tan  Florida hat as he trailed our team of hikers on horse back up to the top of a volcano. 

After debriefing in the beautiful city of Antigua, Guatemala, our team headed off to Nicaragua to begin this months ministry.  Our bus ride began at two-thirty in the morning with a shuttle ride to Guatemala City. From Guatemala City we caught a fourteen hour bus ride to Managua, Nicaragua. This trip included two trips through customs at both the El Salvador and Honduras borders. After arriving in Managua, we then crammed into a small taxi for the hour ride to Granada, Nicaragua. Due to time restraints I was expecting not be given adequate time to see my goals come into fruition in the countries of El Salvador and Honduras.  However, I was pleasantly surprised when the Lord had other plans in mind. 

I had the great blessing to spend the fourteen hour bus ride sitting next to Krystle. She a tiny little girl with a sincere desire to love God with her whole heart. She has a love of life that is contagious, and a faith in Christ that is truly inspirational.   In the midst of on-and-off sleep, in the most uncomfortable positions, we had a chance to talk. We talked and shared a lot about our  lives. Among the many important topics that arose in conversation was my allegiance to my alma mater the University of Florida.  Krystle explained that she didn’t have a college team to pull for at all.  So, naturally as her friend, I took it upon myself to fix this major problem. I decided that July 27th 2008 en route to Nicaragua would be a good a day as any to induct Krystle into the Gator Nation. We spent some time learning the appropriate Gator chomps, and I gave her my Gator scarf to kick start her Gator memorabilia collection. 

During our discussion I happened to turn around to get a good stretch, and I was astonished at what my little eyes beheld. Yes, there in the back left corner seat of the bus sat El Salvador’s very own Florida Gator!  He was fast asleep curled up with his jacket against the window. Yet as he slept, he wore a bright orange hat, with a gator blue “F” front and center of the cap.  At the El Salvador and Honduras boarder Krystle could feel the camaraderie overflowing from  connection of  any true Gator fan. As a result, she decided it would be appropriate time to initiate conversation with our now awoken man. The one small problem for me is I do not speak Spanish. So, Krystle, in broken Spanish turned to him, and told him we liked his hat.  Now here’s the part of the story that is quite intriguing.   If somebody compliments my Gator attire, my usual response is to say thank you. I may follow my thanks with a question such as “Did you graduate from Florida?”  But this back seat gentlemen didn’t say anything of the sort. He just smiled took off his hat and gave it to me!  Who does such a thing?

I don’t understand his motives behind giving me his hat, but I know this for sure: I want live like him.  “But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us- see that you also excel in this grace of giving” 2 Corinthians 8:7. We are  representatives of the most high God. As children of  God we are the tangible hands and feet of the Jesus Christ. May we give abundantly. May we give generously. And may we give often.  

And for the record, in the time it took me to get to an internet cafe to post this blog, a Gator fan has been spotted roaming the street of Granada, Nicaragua. Thus affirming that the Gator Nation is EVERYWHERE. Go Gators!