Team Effort vs. Team of One

But this isn’t only about baseball!

It’s about team work. The Los Angeles Dodgers could not have won 37 of their last 45 games with 1 player. Not even with 5 amazing players. Not even with 8 of the greatest baseball players to play since Babe Ruth. No. They have needed all 9 of their players on the field. Playing together. Not playing selfishly, but playing as a whole team. When 1 player is struggling to hit, another is hitting home runs. When one player makes a fielding error, another picks up the ball to complete the play.

A team! Not one person winning, but everyone pulling together to win. This is something I’m learning this season.

Right now, our Guatemala Team has 9 players. And I couldn’t be more proud to call them my teammates. We’re hoping to win the World Series of Missionary work this year, or something like that, ha.

I’d like to take a second and give you a highlight of some of their top plays of the week. True stories!

Starting Pitcher:

Jonathan Little

Tonight – he pulled me aside to give me a list of instructions on how to make my game better. With kind words, firm and decisive instruction – he pushes me forward to become a better man, leader, and apostle for God. 

Today – as always, she showed grace and gratefulness. I was just about ready to puke, because of our van ride through the windy Guatemalan roads, and she offers her Ginger candy pills to settle the stomach. A little gesture, but she lives to care for and serve others – pitch after pitch.

Left Field:

Jenny Christensen

An unsung hero, she makes plays at the right time, and big plays, that save the game. Tonight – she graciously reminded me how I could best speak to women, treating them with care. As a man, I need this kind of correction. She makes huge catches out in Left Field that turn the tide of the game, that are turning the tide of how we all walk in high character for God.

Center Field:

Kristen Albritton

“Can you coach me?” – a simple question, yet so profound. Why? Because when a very fast ball was hit today, headed her way to take her out, she composed herself, and went after the fly ball with confidence to catch it well, and not hesitate in fear. She came up to me and asked for advice. A really great feat, for a person who the world would say she already has all she needs. In humility, she’s catching the ball well. A force to be reckoned with in the vast openness of center field (Upside down, on the Left!).

Right Field:

Ada Grantham

A rock! She siezes joy each day, it’s contagious. After a long 4 hour van ride home today, she took a nap, and came to dinner and our team meeting with a smile on her face, and love in her heart. Even if she was still itching for alone time, she shows up to right field, every day, and makes that part of the field a brighter place.

3rd Base:

Javier Villatoro:

He takes bullets better than we could have asked for. Today, I unintentionally hit a ball towards him, fast, that gave him a little bruise. Instead of rushing at me with anger ready to beat my face, he got up off the dirt, dusted himself off, and with grace gave me a pad on the shoulder and said, “It’s okay.” This guy has shown he’ll do his best to make sure every ball hit his way is handled with excellence and courage. 

Shortstop:

KK (Kristin Kendall)

She handles a lot. A lot of ground balls get hit her way. Tonight – in the midst of her own things to do, she surprised me by helping me complete one of my chores that would take a while. And then, she helped remind me of logistics that need to get done soon. And then she helped take Misha the Mascot out for a potty break. And then…it’s endless, her heart of giving is endless.

2nd Base:

Kacie Price

To be a great 2nd baseman, you need to have the quickest pivot skills. The ball gets hit to you so quickly, and to turn a double play you must have a quick catch and release. Kacie – catches and releases so well, she’s turned many double plays for this team. She was just as exhausted as all of us, after traveling all day, but offered to go shopping for dinner for the team of nine. Then quickly got home, with a big watermelon in hand (sorry it wasn’t good Kac), took a shower, then made smoothies for everyone. She serves so well, and helps complete so many double plays it makes our heads spin.

1st Base:

Misha the Mascot

Instead of inserting myself – today, the honor goes to…yes, ladies and gentlemen, our rambunctious mascot, Misha. We can’t leave her behind, and when we do, we miss her. We look forward to returning home to her. She receives us so well. She catches all the baseballs we throw at her with great joy. We might not have trained her fully well yet, but she still catches our attempts and acts of love with absolute perfection. (sometimes she barks back – but only in fun 🙂

Manager

God

Without him – our whole team would be a mess, the real Bad News Bears. Instead, he’s making us into the Field of Dreams – where dreams come true, and where Moneyball is more than a currency of dollars, but a currency of hope restored, and the impossible made possible.

Thank you God, for putting this team together. 

Let’s play ball!