If The Shoe Fits, Wear It

I know you have all heard people say something about "walking a mile in someone else's shoes." Well someone is literally doing that here in Nicaragua, but he is doing it in my shoes. Before I left the States for Nicaragua I put a box of old shoes on a container to El Crucero. I knew I would never wear them again, and that someone here might want them. I gave a few pairs of them to my friend Cesar. This morning I went to his office, and he told me a touching story. He was in Diriamba (a town nearby) at a meeting for the Gideons. An old friend and pastor he hadn't seen in a long time just happened to be there. They spoke for a while and Cesar noticed the man's clothes and shoes looked very worn. Cesar happened to have my shoes in his car and asked his pastor friend if he might want them. They were a little too small for Cesar anyway. When the pastor saw the shoes and tried them on he began to cry. Cesar was a little overwhelmed. He asked the man why he was crying, and the pastor replied that for the last 2 months he had been saving up to buy new shoes. It just happened that he was on his way that very morning to buy new ones in Jinotepe, but while walking he saw the Gideon meeting (of which he is no longer a member) and was compelled to stop in and see old friends such as Cesar. The pastor knew the Lord had led him to the Gideon meeting for this very reason: to get new shoes.

My friend from the football team, Luis (#69), asked me for some help a few weeks ago. He knew a guy who was selling a pair of cleats, and Luis really needed some for the team. He asked if I could help him out with the money situation. At the time I didn't have enough money to help him and really didn't want to just give him the money. So, I asked if the guy might be able to do a trade. I took 3 pair of shoes with me to meet the guy with the cleats. Once there, we started bargaining. He ended up giving us the cleats for 2 pair of my old shoes and 100 cordobas ($5). Luis was so proud and excited about his new cleats. He said it was a blessing from the Lord. However, I walked away feeling even more blessed to be able to help a friend. Jesus was right when he said it is more blessed to give than to receive. How often I forget that.

So, now there is literally a pastor walking miles in my shoes to bring the Good News to people in the mountains of Nicaragua. And a good friend of mine is playing a sport he loves in his new cleats because of my old shoes that have been collecting dust in the attic for years. It is just another example to me of how the little things we have yet ignore are an enormous blessing to many here in this country.

God & Football: An Interesting Combination

Yesterday we had our fourth football game of the season. We had just finished resting for two weeks and were ready to play. The desire to get our first 'W' was in the air. We all knew we had the ability, we just needed to work together as a team. To keep the story short, because I would love to give you a play by play, I will just give the highlights. The other team got the ball first and easily drove down the field for a touchdown (8-0, with 2-point conversion). We then received the kickoff and went 3 and out. We were trying to run the ball and it wasn't working at all. They got the ball back and drove down for another score (14-0, no conversion). The thought of victory was vanishing. With just a few minutes remaining in the first half we had the ball and were driving down the field. With no time remaining we scored on a 50-yard touchdown pass, and I ran it in for the 2 point conversion (14-8). Our spirits were high at halftime because we were going to get the ball to start the second half. I am really glad we scored at the end or the team might have easily given up. To start the second half we drove all the way down the field and were in position to score. I had a receiver open in the end zone, and I was seeing an easy touchdown, but when I threw the ball it came out of my hand funny and was intercepted. So, it's an understatement to say that I was a little unhappy.

*Side Note*
I went to the sidelines very frustrated and angry with myself. I was walking off alone to calm down. (I wasn't playing defense anyway, so I had time to be alone.) My friend and teammate Luis (#69 in photos from previous blogs) called me over. He was in the van alone with his pads off. I guess he had been hurt. I got over there and he said "Vamos a orar." (Let's pray.) I honestly wasn't in the mood to pray, but I bowed my head with him anyway. He didn't start praying so I assumed he wanted me to pray. Trying to calm myself, I prayed a few short prayers for patience, calmness, and wisdom. We sat in silence for a while and then I went back to the sidelines a little more comforted.
*End Side Note*

Getting back to the sideline I found that we had just started the fourth quarter. The other team still had the ball, and the very next play they fumbled the ball and we recovered it. 1st & 10, Knights!! I ran on the field in shock. Was God helping us out?! We drove down the field and scored on a QB scramble. The field is so poorly marked that I really didn't know I had scored. I thought we still had 10 more yard to go, but I wasn't going to argue. The two point conversion to go ahead went right through the recievers hands (14-14). We now had a chance to win. We just needed to stop them and get the ball back. I entered the game to play safety. They were moving the ball easily by running it. But I guess it wasn't enough for them to keep it on the ground, so they decided to throw. The quarterback was so easy to read, so as he released the ball I was in great position for the interception. As I was jumping for an easy pick, our other safetly hit me knocking the ball out of my hand, and I fell to the ground on my back. No interception and I went out because I had landed hard on my wrist. The other team ended up scoring on that drive (22-14, with 2 point conversion). We had less than two minutes to go all the way down the field starting on our own 5. I wrapped my wrist, sucked it up, and went in. We started moving the ball, and two big plays took us to the 10 yard line (at least I thought so) with 6 seconds remaining. The two big plays involved a "roughing the passer" penalty, of course, and a long pass. The last "long" pass had only taken 4 seconds, so I thought we might have two more plays. I called a play for the Tight End, said hike, and rolled right. And another busted play, no one was where I had hoped they be (man we need to practice!), so I started running trying to get a few yards and out of bounds. My best reciever was in front of me, and I thought he would release to the the endzone for an easy lob pass, but he stayed to block. I slipped, tried to get out of bounds, was tackled, but the ball went out so I thought we stopped the clock. But as I looked up the ref signaled the end of the game. I argued that we had stopped the clock to no avail. After a second and someone pointing it out, I realized that we were only 1 yard away from the endzone. This was the same side that was so poorly marked. I couldn't believe it! Had I known I might have been able to give it a little more effort to get that last yard instead of getting out of bounds. We were so close!! I wanted so badly to get a win for the team, especially the San Marcos guys who have become such close friends.

After all that, you probably thought we were going to win, huh? Well, me too. However, what stands out most to me was the prayer with my friend. I was putting the entire game on my shoulders, and God showed me that He is still in control, and all the glory is His. I can't necessarily say that the fumble recovery was His doing, but who knows? It would have been nice to give God glory through a win and not another defeat, but He is still teaching me and our team something. Maybe soon He will get all the glory for our victory.

Getting home from the game and licking my wounds, I found this picture on my facebook wall. I went 180 degrees from disappointment and pain to laughing hysterically. It's good to know I have such great support more than 1000 miles away!