Photo Left: Bilingual School Gracias Middle: HS National Winning Team Right: Carter practice Roatan
I might burst with joy at God’s goodness! My red headed, first born, 15 year old son has been drafted to play basketball on the high school Honduras National Team, to compete in a tournament in Panama, against 6 countries, for the Central American Student Sports Games.
When Carter left his friends, family, school and hometown, it could not have been easy, just entering high school. If you asked him what he would miss most, besides friends and family, he would have answered his basketball team. He had a great coach, excellent program, a school that supported basketball, and they were just really starting to gel as a team. He left that behind, being obedient to his families’ call to cross cultural, full-time missions. To a 15 year old young man, he was leaving behind his passion for basketball, headed into the unknown. Something we learned quickly….it’s all about “Futbol” (soccer), here in Honduras. Let’s just say, we were grateful to even have a basketball team at his school.
7 months after moving to Honduras, making friends and building relationships, Carter’s bilingual school basketball team in Gracias, won their regional game to compete in the Capital, for the High School National team of Honduras. Our school team came in third, but the National winners from Roatan could draft two players and our Carter was one of them!
It would be easy to see the external factors and think “Cool opportunity. Fun. Way to go. This will look good on a college application…"
Not this mama! There is more going on and I don’t want to miss our God and how personally and uniquely He chooses to connect to us; grow us; and give us opportunity to know Him more in a way that reaches our hearts right where we are. Carter has an opportunity to reflect and share Christ to a team of strangers while he spends 4 weeks training with them in their hometown. How many situations may be presented over the next 4 weeks for him to stand firm in his convictions? This is a moment for growth and courage.
He has never been away from us 4 weeks, much less in a foreign country… with strangers.
You better believe I’m believing Psalm 34:7-8 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”
I love how Jennie Allen in her book "Restless" puts it: "Our God is big, but He moves into the small. He cares about eternity, yet He cares about every detail and second of our lives. If we only see God as big and about eternal things, we can miss Jesus, His Spirit and God’s creativity. We miss that Jesus loved each individually and deeply and met their unique needs. We miss how creatively he pursued each of us until we believed. We miss his vision for his church; one body, many unique parts coming together to make a difference with their small moments.”
I am blown away to know families and individuals who are living by faith and fully surrendered lives, reflecting His glory in the most unique and creative ways. Serving fisherman in Alaska; playing soccer with a muslim community in Houston to build relationships and share Christ; Adoption; Journey of home school; starting an Arts Academy to connect with Christ through the arts; caring for elderly parents; coaching; writing a book; running for office in the local community.
God takes the time to write intimate, unique moments for each of us…..why? Because our God pursues us and we have the privilege to reflect His glory with our passions for His purposes! What gifting is God calling you to trust Him with today? How is God calling you to use your passions for his glory?
When Carter left his friends, family, school and hometown, it could not have been easy, just entering high school. If you asked him what he would miss most, besides friends and family, he would have answered his basketball team. He had a great coach, excellent program, a school that supported basketball, and they were just really starting to gel as a team. He left that behind, being obedient to his families’ call to cross cultural, full-time missions. To a 15 year old young man, he was leaving behind his passion for basketball, headed into the unknown. Something we learned quickly….it’s all about “Futbol” (soccer), here in Honduras. Let’s just say, we were grateful to even have a basketball team at his school.
7 months after moving to Honduras, making friends and building relationships, Carter’s bilingual school basketball team in Gracias, won their regional game to compete in the Capital, for the High School National team of Honduras. Our school team came in third, but the National winners from Roatan could draft two players and our Carter was one of them!
It would be easy to see the external factors and think “Cool opportunity. Fun. Way to go. This will look good on a college application…"
Not this mama! There is more going on and I don’t want to miss our God and how personally and uniquely He chooses to connect to us; grow us; and give us opportunity to know Him more in a way that reaches our hearts right where we are. Carter has an opportunity to reflect and share Christ to a team of strangers while he spends 4 weeks training with them in their hometown. How many situations may be presented over the next 4 weeks for him to stand firm in his convictions? This is a moment for growth and courage.
He has never been away from us 4 weeks, much less in a foreign country… with strangers.
You better believe I’m believing Psalm 34:7-8 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”
I love how Jennie Allen in her book "Restless" puts it: "Our God is big, but He moves into the small. He cares about eternity, yet He cares about every detail and second of our lives. If we only see God as big and about eternal things, we can miss Jesus, His Spirit and God’s creativity. We miss that Jesus loved each individually and deeply and met their unique needs. We miss how creatively he pursued each of us until we believed. We miss his vision for his church; one body, many unique parts coming together to make a difference with their small moments.”
I am blown away to know families and individuals who are living by faith and fully surrendered lives, reflecting His glory in the most unique and creative ways. Serving fisherman in Alaska; playing soccer with a muslim community in Houston to build relationships and share Christ; Adoption; Journey of home school; starting an Arts Academy to connect with Christ through the arts; caring for elderly parents; coaching; writing a book; running for office in the local community.
God takes the time to write intimate, unique moments for each of us…..why? Because our God pursues us and we have the privilege to reflect His glory with our passions for His purposes! What gifting is God calling you to trust Him with today? How is God calling you to use your passions for his glory?
