A couple weeks before
I left for the World Race, I watched a little documentary. I was bored one
night, so I went on Hulu and searched through the movies to see if there was
anything good. I ‘stumbled’ upon Kickin’
It, which is about the Homeless World Cup. I highly recommend the film.
After watching it, I
remember going upstairs to specifically tell my parents about the film and how
awesome it was. I don’t know if I verbally communicated this or if I just
thought it, but I thought that it would be so ridiculously cool to get involved
in the Homeless World Cup. So, I’m in the Philippines, and I have a funny
story…
International Ministries, which just so happens to partner with Jeepney Magazine (as in the office is in the same complex
that I’m staying in). It is a street newspaper that employs the homeless, which
helps them provide for themselves and their families. Jeepney Magazine is the
sponsor and coordinator of the Filipino Homeless World Cup Soccer Team.
Psalm 37:4 says: Delight
yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
I have been hearing
this verse from other racers a lot lately. Usually they use it in devotionals
for little kids, but I’m really resonating with this verse right about now. God
knew I loved soccer and sports. God knew that I had a desire to somehow get
involved with the homeless soccer teams represented throughout the world. And I
truly believe that God knew that He was going to put me on the World Race where
I would, at one stop along the way, be blessed with the desires of my heart.
how God orchestrated this thing. I went to a meeting for the Jeepney magazine.
The World Racers that went to the meeting were there to offer their journalist,
photography, and marketing skills. I went because I heard they put together the
homeless team. I mentioned that I just wanted to help out any way that I could
with the team. Bill, the CEO of Jeepney, said that the next day they were going
to have something with the team where a couple of us could tag along. Come to
find out, the team was asked to star in an independent film here in the
Philippines. The film is about a soccer team from Happy Land (which is
ironically one of the worst slums in Manila) that eventually plays the Homeless
World Cup team. Anyway, the boys from the team were part of this film. A fellow
racer from N squad, Jake Kennedy, and I were blessed to come along.
Filming the soccer match The Homeless Team. There’s Jake in the back with Coach Sel
homeless team didn’t have a full team to play for the movie, so Coach Sel asked
Jake to be a player in the movie. If you look at Jake’s blog, you’ll understand
why that is funny. He is the exact opposite
of a Filipino in that he has very blonde hair and very blue eyes. I’ll have
you know, though, he held his own and did a fabulous job playing with the guys.
So, I got to hang out
with the team and meet the guys. They are all amazing soccer players that have
a lot of heart. You can tell just how much soccer means to them. It gives them
confidence and encouragement. After getting to know some of them better, God just
really started to break my heart for them and the homeless. It’s a common
problem all around the world; I saw it in the states: the homeless are so
suppressed without any encouragement. If Christians are reading the same Bible
as I am, there should be more encouragement for those that are poverty
stricken. The Bible says that nothing is impossible for those who are in
Christ. I believe that. I want those boys to believe that. But I find an
overwhelming number of people are unwilling to believe that those boys could do
anything they wanted. Why aren’t
more Christians telling the poor, widows, and orphans that when they delight
themselves in the Lord, He will give them the desires of their heart? I
honestly believe that those boys want to walk in freedom; freedom from
oppression, hunger, poverty, helplessness, and hopelessness. And I know that
God never intended anyone to live in oppression, hunger, poverty, helplessness,
and hopelessness. One thing to note is that their freedom may not look like the
American Dream, which is something I have had to come to understand. They may
never leave the slums or they may continue to live in shanty houses, but their
perspective and reason for living can change. They won’t be living in a house with running
water, but they will have the living water of the Lord running through them. They may not be able to find a job, but their identity won’t be in the fact that they are unemployed. And how great is the American Dream anyway? Why
aren’t we telling people that truth?
It’s sad to realize
that our human condition wants to belittle those around us to make ourselves
better and higher socially. But as Christians, we have a different calling:
“loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the
oppressed free and break every yoke” (Isaiah 58:6). All these boys need is for
someone to tell them that they can do it. That the simple act of playing a game
of soccer could change their day, their life, their world, and it’s well worth
the effort. They inspire me and I know that they need someone like me to speak
life into them. They need to realize that God has far more in store for them
than just simply surviving. He wants them to share in the inheritance of His
Kingdom. It’s our time to stand up for these boys and those oppressed by
poverty around the world. We need to stand in the gap and help them get their
feet on Solid Ground. Speak life into the homeless, widows, and orphans. Let them
know that God desires for them to live the life He intended for them-life
abundant.
God is amazing. Here I
am, in the Philippines, hanging out with His beautiful people, being blessed
with the desires of my heart. And He’s graciously given me His eyes and heart
for His children. Praise God!
