HEYY AGAIN!!
Soccer ministry is wild.
We have been to so many soccer fields! Wow! Soccer is such a big thing here in Costa Rica! Every community we have been too, there is a giant soccer field is in the center.
I have never played soccer before the race and I don’t know what goes on during a soccer game. But I got to learn in a latin American country, where soccer is the most known and played sport.
Every community we have been to has a different group of soccer players. We have played with a group of only 6 young adults and played small soccer games every few weeks!
Another place we went, we were blessed with 20-30 boys and girls ready to do soccer drills and games! The next group we played was a team. A legit team. A team of 16-27 y/o strong women.
Rasta scheduled a real soccer game for us ladies on the squad to play. He gave us all ETBU jerseys. Thats right East Texas Baptist University jerseys. I don’t know how or where or what or why. But we looked legit. So we put on the soccer uniforms and I put on my converse.
We did a few soccer warm ups and sang some intimating cheers to look like we knew what we were doing.
We actually did really good! I played the last 25 minutes and wow both my team and the opposing team crushed it! About 4 girls on my squad have played soccer in the past, so they played almost the whole time, so the rest of us filled in when needed. Many people in the community came to watch. This was the event of the month. The gringos v. Costa Rica.
The score was 1 : 5. We lost.
BUT! We played a soccer game! We played a soccer game in Costa Rica!
Some encouragement my squad mate Rachel shared with us before the game was about how important our attitudes are on the field. How we play the game. We aren’t only playing this game to win, but to be examples of Christ. Our reactions towards our opponents are so important. Saying “Good job” when they score a point, instead of booing them. Helping them up when they fall, instead of walking away. Having good attitudes after the game, even though we lost.
Those LITTLE things matter. People definitely were watching us. Half of the community was on the sidelines!
So our LITTLE actions of kindness can bring up a BIG conversation about Jesus.
Every LITTLE thing matters!!
Even though we lost, the real soccer uniforms and being able to play soccer in Costa Rica was an incredible memory!!! WOWZA!!!
Soccer ministry was something I didn’t think I would enjoy. It hasn’t been easy. But looking back at all the beautiful people I got to meet, the communities I got to experience, the awesome workout playing soccer and being able to talk to people about Jesus really makes it all worth it;)
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
Seriously, every LITTLE thing matters.
LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
Part 3 coming up
