In sports we have a saying,"It's game time!"
Now, I truly hope you read that with some energy and not like a small boy running to the hall closet to pick out Candyland. You should feel like an athlete pacing around the locker room like a caged animal waiting for feeding time when you think of that phrase.
For athletes game days are sacred. Nothing is more precious than than the chance to put into play all that you had practiced so hard for weeks or days or even years. Deep down no one likes practicing. Practice is like an evil tease. At times it can feel almost like a game, but soon you are reminded that it is torture that you put yourself through for hours on end. You drill down different aspects of the game you love. You take apart certain weaknesses in your own game and perfect them so you can improve. In practice you learn new techniques and rehearse old ones. You watch game film of your team doing things well and more film of you doing things not so well. There will be more sweating, groaning, and mumbling under your breath in practice than you ever do in a game.
Practice stinks...but then there is game day.
Aaaaaahhhh, game day. It is a glorious day when you seem to wake up before your alarm goes off and don't even care. You have set out your uniform the night before or maybe even slept in it. Birds land on your window and you join them in their song and in perfect harmony. Game day is when all the hard work, learning, teaching, and sweating of practice become a distance memory.
Yesterday was game day.
Sure we played a little staff vs. kids softball game and it was awesome to see some of the kids I had coached in baseball do well. Without question that was awesome to see, but it was like the Jonas Brother Pregame show compared to the evening session.
This week at camp the theme has been The Journey and we have looked at several aspect of a Journey with God.
- Jesus Journey
- Leaving Home
- You are not alone
- Staying focused
- Overcoming Difficulties
We sang songs, did English lessons, memorized Bible verses, and even listened to the band Journey (OK, so the band comment is a joke, but I couldn't help myself.) as we "practiced" and drilled into the kids the idea of a journey with God. We had conversations, we played basketball, we played soccer, we went to 7-Eleven more times than a Hippie with the munchies, and we built relationships with these kids.
We loved on these kids with all we had.
Now I think I should stop for just as second. All of that could sound very prideful and a bit manipulative if you aren't careful. We weren't acting like pharmaceutical salesmen going to the doctor's office with lunch and free tickets to the White Sox game so we could butter them up into believing in Jesus. We were there to show genuine Love to these kids that many have never seen. We were trying to show them Jesus.
Friday night was the Journey to the Cross. I won't make you endure the play-by-play commentary of the drama, sermon, or even worship. However I will tell you that all of those elements wove together like a perfect tapestry to create one final moment. A moment that all of the "practice" these kids had done all week culminated to...game day...a possible game day with Jesus.
Many kids came forward when asked if they would like to accept Jesus or leave a burden at the cross. For me it was so special to see these kids come forward to accept Christ who I had lived life with for this week.
- Mickey - the boy I talked about earlier...turns out he wasn't a Christian, but in his words "Today i start my journey"
- Efram - he is the first student I met when we loaded the bus. He was a typical 13 year old when I met him, but now he is changed by Jesus!
- Vivian - she was in our English class and was soaking up the teaching! Easiest best smile on campus.
- Tiffany - she too was in our English class and was so excited to speak and answer the questions.
- Jovy - he was in our baseball group and really improved, but looks like Jesus did the real work.
- Peter - he lives in a foster home near the camp. He too was in the baseball group with us and was the ONLY kid I hit with a pitch the whole week. I hope he forgives me :)
Taiwan has a rough culture though. Each kid that accepted Christ and wanted to be baptized had to call their parents for permission. Several of the names listed above were told no by their parents when they called. In fact some were very, very upset that they had decided to accept Christ to the point of yelling. Fortunately for these kids Jesus doesn't need their parent's permission to come into their lives and change them forever. It's a done deal baby!
So tomorrow we pack up, clean up, hug up, and load up to head our separate ways. The trip however is not good-bye completely. For those that have made the eternal jump to accept Christ it is only "see ya later." The rest of them that are on the fence or just need more time our prayers will continue with them.
They may just need a little more practice before they are ready for Game Time!
p.s. I forgot one...Vicky...sweet Vicky. She came forward and is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo close to accepting Christ. I wish I could tell you that she went from a broken face to accepting Christ, but there is always tomorrow!!!
Regardless she had an amazing week and I feel your prayers helped her accomplish that. She has felt the love of Jesus without question.
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