December is starting off with a bang. Someone broke into my house last night. Don't worry, everything is fine...physically. They did steal my cell phone from the states and my cell phone for the DR, my IPod touch, and some cash. But it was a small price to pay to learn a small Dominican living lesson.
For those of you that have not been to someplace in Latin America, here is a brief description of what houses are like. Houses are made out of concrete and re-bar and therefore are very sturdy. In all the window frames are metal grates (bars) for security so that no one unwanted can enter your house. Also there are glass windows to keep the weather out, and in my case screens outside of the bars. Where most houses in the states have a screen door there is another iron gate that is locked with a sturdy padlock, and then of course there is your front door.
Here's what I assume happened. When I went to bed last night both the gate and the door were locked, the windows were open letting the cool breeze in, and (unfortunately) my keys were sitting on a chair under a window. Someone saw something they wanted and sliced the screen open in the window above my bed, but couldn't reach the desired items on my bedside table. They went to the front window to see if they could open the door from there and low and behold they could reach my keys. They then opened the door nice and quite like, sneaked into my bedroom and took these few things as their own. I woke up sometime after when the wind (or the thief) slammed the door shut to find my stuff missing and my keys on the ground just outside the front door. Needless to say, I'm a bit disturbed!!!
Lesson learned! My keys are now safely somewhere out of sight and well away from any opening. Thank the Lord that they didn't take anything more important, after all the keys to my truck were on the same key chain.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
November!!!!
What a month!!! I thought it would take me a while to top the greatness of October, but it didn't take long. Spending my birthday in Costa Rica with Jonesi, the EDCM board meeting, the National Missionary Convention (now International Conference on Missions), Thanksgiving in Cincinnati with my family, it has been a great month!!!! Thanks for all the prayers and comments about one of my previous posts, God has certainly heard you and has been ministering to my heart!!!!
It's always strange to go back to the states. I know I have only been here in the DR for about 3 months now, but it didn't take me long to feel like this is home. Of course some of what is strange about going back to the states is the physical differences. Organized driving rules and regulations that everyone follows, being able to flush your toilet paper, clean water out of the tap, free refills at restaurants, Sportscenter in English, that sort of thing. But the things that stick with me are more nebulous. Coming from living a simple life to staying in a hotel, and the difference in social interaction, this is when I see the changes in myself. How it is becoming more important to me to actually talk and listen to people about their lives and worries. (you might already do that...I never did. I know, I'm a terrible Christian) The overwhelming feeling of how GOOD we have it as Americans, and how all of us take it for granted, and expect things to continually improve. Just some observations that I made while I was there last. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the states. I ate a lot. Caught up with friends and family, and tried my best to stay warm while doing both.
With the EDCM board meeting in November as well we were able to spend a good amount of time focusing our mission and plans for the future. This board meeting was by far the best/most productive board meeting I have ever been apart of. Now the search for land to build a camp/retreat center starts in earnest. I have been given parameters on what we are looking for more exactly. So I am now investigating our options so that we can start planning more specifically for this project. Exciting stuff!!!!!!!!!!
It's always strange to go back to the states. I know I have only been here in the DR for about 3 months now, but it didn't take me long to feel like this is home. Of course some of what is strange about going back to the states is the physical differences. Organized driving rules and regulations that everyone follows, being able to flush your toilet paper, clean water out of the tap, free refills at restaurants, Sportscenter in English, that sort of thing. But the things that stick with me are more nebulous. Coming from living a simple life to staying in a hotel, and the difference in social interaction, this is when I see the changes in myself. How it is becoming more important to me to actually talk and listen to people about their lives and worries. (you might already do that...I never did. I know, I'm a terrible Christian) The overwhelming feeling of how GOOD we have it as Americans, and how all of us take it for granted, and expect things to continually improve. Just some observations that I made while I was there last. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the states. I ate a lot. Caught up with friends and family, and tried my best to stay warm while doing both.
With the EDCM board meeting in November as well we were able to spend a good amount of time focusing our mission and plans for the future. This board meeting was by far the best/most productive board meeting I have ever been apart of. Now the search for land to build a camp/retreat center starts in earnest. I have been given parameters on what we are looking for more exactly. So I am now investigating our options so that we can start planning more specifically for this project. Exciting stuff!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Estoy Pepis!!!
My 8 day trip to Costa Rica somehow felt like it lasted about a month. Jone and I are really happy and looking forward to where God might be leading us!! Thanks for all the prayers and comments, but if you feel so inclined please keep praying. Now that we are back in our respective countries things may very well get more difficult. Pray that God continues to lead us both!!!
Spread Thin...
...like not enough butter on too much toast. This is how I feel. It is a weird thing living in a different country. While I love it, the actually living and working here, it is going to be difficult at times as well. I wasn't prepared for this emotion/sense of being.
I was ready for the adventure of it. To be asked to help people move stuff on a whim (since I got my truck). To drive with basically no rules, except what your gut and testicular fortitude will allow. Ready for the "cops" to stop me every time I pass a check point because of my better than the norm truck and white face. I was willing for the challenge of learning a different variety of Spanish. To learn different sayings and words and accents. I was ready to be alone. To have loads of quite time between jobs and work teams. To even be board some of the time. I was prepared for all of this. Most of it I like!!!
I wasn't prepared for this feeling of being torn between cultures, countries, families and friends. This is why I feel spread thin. My heart wants to be completely here. In the DR. Living. Loving. Working. Sharing. Enjoying life. In reality my heart is all over the western hemisphere.
My body is here in the DR. As I said before, I love it here!! This is where I am supposed to be. I KNOW THAT!! Deep in my bones I know it!! But my heart has gotten lost in Costa Rica....
Somewhere along the way I have grown a Costa Rican appendage in my soul. It is unmistakable. It has a face (one with a beautiful smile), a heart of great men that I have coached and played football with, a family of people that have called me there own only after just meeting me, and some great new friends that care and pray for me and the people/person I love.
I have also been carrying with me my family. My parents, who lovingly ask pointed questions to help me understand my heart. My brother and sister in-law, who plays the Jiminy Cricket to my Pinocchio, and who is carrying the next generation of Butz (a girl, called it). My sister and future brother in-law who is the calm part of me that I wish I could settle into, and my alter ego. My Aunts, Uncles, and cousins whom I miss and love and am slowly and sadly realizing will probably never be closer to me than they are right now.
All of this has me at a loss. Somehow God has used and will continue to use this, thinning, wasted, struggling man. And somehow I need to find a way to put all these things that are spreading me thin into one big GOD sized, help me please, pot (sorry for the overused Christian expression, that makes me feel awkward even to say). Staying in this thinning state can't be healthy, right?! God help me serve you! Here! In the DR!!
I was ready for the adventure of it. To be asked to help people move stuff on a whim (since I got my truck). To drive with basically no rules, except what your gut and testicular fortitude will allow. Ready for the "cops" to stop me every time I pass a check point because of my better than the norm truck and white face. I was willing for the challenge of learning a different variety of Spanish. To learn different sayings and words and accents. I was ready to be alone. To have loads of quite time between jobs and work teams. To even be board some of the time. I was prepared for all of this. Most of it I like!!!
I wasn't prepared for this feeling of being torn between cultures, countries, families and friends. This is why I feel spread thin. My heart wants to be completely here. In the DR. Living. Loving. Working. Sharing. Enjoying life. In reality my heart is all over the western hemisphere.
My body is here in the DR. As I said before, I love it here!! This is where I am supposed to be. I KNOW THAT!! Deep in my bones I know it!! But my heart has gotten lost in Costa Rica....
Somewhere along the way I have grown a Costa Rican appendage in my soul. It is unmistakable. It has a face (one with a beautiful smile), a heart of great men that I have coached and played football with, a family of people that have called me there own only after just meeting me, and some great new friends that care and pray for me and the people/person I love.
I have also been carrying with me my family. My parents, who lovingly ask pointed questions to help me understand my heart. My brother and sister in-law, who plays the Jiminy Cricket to my Pinocchio, and who is carrying the next generation of Butz (a girl, called it). My sister and future brother in-law who is the calm part of me that I wish I could settle into, and my alter ego. My Aunts, Uncles, and cousins whom I miss and love and am slowly and sadly realizing will probably never be closer to me than they are right now.
All of this has me at a loss. Somehow God has used and will continue to use this, thinning, wasted, struggling man. And somehow I need to find a way to put all these things that are spreading me thin into one big GOD sized, help me please, pot (sorry for the overused Christian expression, that makes me feel awkward even to say). Staying in this thinning state can't be healthy, right?! God help me serve you! Here! In the DR!!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Pictures!!!!
Alright!!!! So I am all settled in (it doesn't take long when all you bring is two suitcases and some golf clubs)!! This little apartment is perfect. I LOVE IT!!! Not to mention the huge blessing the couple renting it to me have been!!! They furnished the entire place!! I'm speechless!! Thanks so much Mark and Greer!!! Without further ado....the pictures!!!!!!!
 |
| My Truck - 2001 Ford Ranger with a tricky ignition but runs great! |
 |
| The entrance to the little "compound" where my apartment is! |
 |
| My building - my apartment is down the stairs on the left. |
 |
| Down these stairs to be exact. |
 |
| Looking in my front door! |
 |
| To the right as you walk in the front door. |
 |
| My bedroom in the back! And Ryan and Erin (coworkers) let me use their ceiling fan!!! |
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Quick Update!!
I got the apartment!!!!! Couldn't have asked for a better situation! I move in on Saturday! Thanks to all who have been praying. God is so great!!!
WHAT A GREAT MONTH!!!!!!!!!!
I really cannot overstate how amazing this month has been!! It has been filled with blessings! Some of which have the potential to change my life!!
First, and probably least of all, I bought a truck!!! As you may know this is something that I have been praying about and asking all of you to pray about as well. God has heard and answered those prayers with a great blessing. While we were looking for trucks and finding out how much I was going to have to spend, it became obvious that I did not have enough money to buy a reliable truck. Of course I would be able to buy something, but it was going to have to be older and much less reliable than I would like. And then we stumbled upon the perfect situation. We met a guy that needed money quickly to pay off a debt, and he had a truck he was willing to sell to pay off this debt. He was asking much less than he could have received had he had the time to wait for the right buyer. In the end I bought a 2001 Ford Ranger for the price of trucks that were 3-4 years older and in much worse condition!!! Thank you Lord for looking out for little ole me, and thank you all for praying!!
Because of the truck purchase, and other future plans, I have had to wait a bit longer to rent an apartment and move out on my own. The way renting works here you have to pay 3 months rent as a deposit. With the truck purchase I simply didn't have enough money to be able to do that and furnish the apartment and pay bills. Recently I started looking around for potential apartments just to get an idea of how much I will be paying. It was then that I found out that some American friends here were renting a house that had a one bedroom apartment they were not using. I am meeting with them tonight to talk about the potential of me moving in!!! God could be working out another potential problem, please pray that this would be a good fit for us all!!
Finally, some even better news!!! I met a girl!!! Actually I met her back in Costa Rica, while I was at language school and failed to really talk to her, but recently we have grown very close. Communicating via skype, we have formed a very close friendship!! She is a very beautiful and amazing woman that I will hopefully be able to visit in October. I share this for a couple of reasons. First, I can't hold it in!! If I don't share this joy inside me, it's gonna burst out of me (kinda like it's doing now)!! Secondly, I try to invite you all into my life and ministry as much as I can. So please pray for me and Jonesi as we begin to figure out where God is leading us both.
Until next time,
God Bless!!!
First, and probably least of all, I bought a truck!!! As you may know this is something that I have been praying about and asking all of you to pray about as well. God has heard and answered those prayers with a great blessing. While we were looking for trucks and finding out how much I was going to have to spend, it became obvious that I did not have enough money to buy a reliable truck. Of course I would be able to buy something, but it was going to have to be older and much less reliable than I would like. And then we stumbled upon the perfect situation. We met a guy that needed money quickly to pay off a debt, and he had a truck he was willing to sell to pay off this debt. He was asking much less than he could have received had he had the time to wait for the right buyer. In the end I bought a 2001 Ford Ranger for the price of trucks that were 3-4 years older and in much worse condition!!! Thank you Lord for looking out for little ole me, and thank you all for praying!!
Because of the truck purchase, and other future plans, I have had to wait a bit longer to rent an apartment and move out on my own. The way renting works here you have to pay 3 months rent as a deposit. With the truck purchase I simply didn't have enough money to be able to do that and furnish the apartment and pay bills. Recently I started looking around for potential apartments just to get an idea of how much I will be paying. It was then that I found out that some American friends here were renting a house that had a one bedroom apartment they were not using. I am meeting with them tonight to talk about the potential of me moving in!!! God could be working out another potential problem, please pray that this would be a good fit for us all!!
Finally, some even better news!!! I met a girl!!! Actually I met her back in Costa Rica, while I was at language school and failed to really talk to her, but recently we have grown very close. Communicating via skype, we have formed a very close friendship!! She is a very beautiful and amazing woman that I will hopefully be able to visit in October. I share this for a couple of reasons. First, I can't hold it in!! If I don't share this joy inside me, it's gonna burst out of me (kinda like it's doing now)!! Secondly, I try to invite you all into my life and ministry as much as I can. So please pray for me and Jonesi as we begin to figure out where God is leading us both.
Until next time,
God Bless!!!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Moving, Spanish, and Hurricanes! OH MY!!!!
Doesn't have the same ring to it as lions, tigers, and bears, but it sure felt that scary at times. What a couple of weeks!!! I have felt challenged and blessed, alone and broken, in great company and excited, loved and bored....it has been an emotionally busy couple of weeks. Tomorrow marks two weeks in this beautiful country. And I feel like I have nothing to show for it....but I probably do.
Moving was the easy part. I have spent most of the last 2 years living out of my suitcase, so packing everything back up and heading down here wasn't that big of a thing physically. But I wasn't quite prepared for the emotional transition. I was crazy excited to get here and start working....or something. When I got here the Yorks (the senior missionaries here) were heading out on vacation, and the last of the short term mission teams from the states had just left. Meaning it was much needed down time for the other missionaries...and just plane boredom for me. Oh well!
That down time gave me the chance to concentrate on my Spanish. WOW!! Spanish here is a gooood bit different than the Spanish I learned in CR. This is going to take awhile to get used to. In just about every conversation there is a new word to learn that I just don't know (my vocab is weak at best), and on top of that there are words here in the DR that a way different than the CR counterparts. Add to that the crazy accent here that is sometimes hardly intelligible or the mumbling teens that I work with and it is a struggle just to understand, let alone be understood. That is going to be a looong road!!!
Oh yeah and there was a hurricane!! Good ole Irene stopped by for a quick visit. While we didn't get anywhere near what the north part of the island got (or the U.S. for that matter) we did get a lot of rain and wind. Waves that were crashing up onto the roads in Santo Domingo, and from what I read in the paper 3 deaths due to flooding. It has been a crazy couple of weeks!!!!!
Moving was the easy part. I have spent most of the last 2 years living out of my suitcase, so packing everything back up and heading down here wasn't that big of a thing physically. But I wasn't quite prepared for the emotional transition. I was crazy excited to get here and start working....or something. When I got here the Yorks (the senior missionaries here) were heading out on vacation, and the last of the short term mission teams from the states had just left. Meaning it was much needed down time for the other missionaries...and just plane boredom for me. Oh well!
That down time gave me the chance to concentrate on my Spanish. WOW!! Spanish here is a gooood bit different than the Spanish I learned in CR. This is going to take awhile to get used to. In just about every conversation there is a new word to learn that I just don't know (my vocab is weak at best), and on top of that there are words here in the DR that a way different than the CR counterparts. Add to that the crazy accent here that is sometimes hardly intelligible or the mumbling teens that I work with and it is a struggle just to understand, let alone be understood. That is going to be a looong road!!!
Oh yeah and there was a hurricane!! Good ole Irene stopped by for a quick visit. While we didn't get anywhere near what the north part of the island got (or the U.S. for that matter) we did get a lot of rain and wind. Waves that were crashing up onto the roads in Santo Domingo, and from what I read in the paper 3 deaths due to flooding. It has been a crazy couple of weeks!!!!!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
I'm Tired
Yes I'm tired. Even though I don't arrive in the DR until Friday the 19th, I'm tired. I'm tired of a lot of things, moving, living in other peoples homes, not being in the DR. But mostly I'm tired of the reaction I get when I say I'm a missionary! "Really!! I just don't understand how you get there (to that profession). That's just great God bless you brother." Or just the cluelessness for what to say to me the "Missionary"!!
Why should we as a group be viewed so differently? Are we not all Christians here at church? And why must this job choice be viewed as uber holy? I certainly don't feel holy. Wholly unprepared, maybe.
Here is how I would rather be seen, as a RADICAL. Radical, takes on a slightly more sinister connotation, I like that. Radical means there is something just not right in my head. Maybe I have a screw or two loose, and that is why I want to make less money to do something more difficult. At the same time my Radicalness let's you know I'm serious. The Radical way I have decided to live leaves no doubt in your mind that I believe in Christ, believe that when he told us to go and help the less fortunate He meant it, and we should follow. Being Radical tells you that I'm not going to be normal...you may not get along with me once I let you know who I really am, which in the long run leaves me in that same awkward place....I'm the missionary!!
And very soon I will be living and working in a radically different way than most of you, and LOVING EVERY MOMENT OF IT!!!!
Why should we as a group be viewed so differently? Are we not all Christians here at church? And why must this job choice be viewed as uber holy? I certainly don't feel holy. Wholly unprepared, maybe.
Here is how I would rather be seen, as a RADICAL. Radical, takes on a slightly more sinister connotation, I like that. Radical means there is something just not right in my head. Maybe I have a screw or two loose, and that is why I want to make less money to do something more difficult. At the same time my Radicalness let's you know I'm serious. The Radical way I have decided to live leaves no doubt in your mind that I believe in Christ, believe that when he told us to go and help the less fortunate He meant it, and we should follow. Being Radical tells you that I'm not going to be normal...you may not get along with me once I let you know who I really am, which in the long run leaves me in that same awkward place....I'm the missionary!!
And very soon I will be living and working in a radically different way than most of you, and LOVING EVERY MOMENT OF IT!!!!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Arizona!!!
Arizona has quickly become one of my most favorite places to be. More specifically Prescott, AZ! As I was thinking about how much I love being here the other day it got me thinking about why I like it so much. I have no family here, my main focus in ministry is in a different country, and there is no greenery, just about everything is a shade of brown. But I quickly pin pointed the main reason for my love of Prescott.....COMMUNITY!!
I am blessed with a community of like minded people here in Prescott. People that are actively helping me get to where God wants me to be. People that have taken the time to share their lives, homes, families, passions, cigars, and beers with me. People that I genuinely care about and care about me in return. People that are passionate about the same areas of ministry that I am passionate about (camp ministry/missions). People that I can be completely myself around without explanation or reservation. On top of that we all go to the same church!
And this church is one of the best churches I have ever been a part of. Prescott Christian Church, in my experience, is a church full of people that know they don't have things figured out. Know that they are not perfect, and are usually open to hearing what the preacher has to say. And this preacher doesn't hold back. He is one of the best teachers and expounders of the Word I have ever heard. I really enjoy going to church every week, and that in and of itself is something I'm not sure I have ever said before.
I am very glad that God brought me to this place. I am not looking forward to leaving in a week to continue my fundraising elsewhere.
Back to support raising.
I'm back in the states, living in Prescott, AZ which is quickly becoming my favorite place to be in the states (I would still much rather be in the DR or CR). I'm in the middle of my final support raising push before I move to the DR for good, and I need help! I am at 48% of my support raising goal right now, and am not allowed to move until I reach 100%. If you or anyone you know may be interested in helping me by sending some monthly financial support please send me a message and I will set you up with the information needed to start. Thanks!!!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Leaving Costa Rica
As always, for me, leaving is a bit bitter sweet. I am looking forward to moving on with my plans to be in the Dominican Republic and sad to leave what I am apart of in CR. My time in CR was productive. I feel like I have a better grasp on the Spanish language and was able to be of some help to the Rhynnos as well. Here are a few pics of me and the people that I am leaving behind, or that left with me.
Some of the guys from the Rhynnos. ( Hudson, Daniel, Mario, and Marcus)
Javier!! Me and "Canas" became good friends while I was in CR. He organized this farewell party and the gifts!
These are my class mates (Mark, Nathan, Matt, and Gerry) They will all be heading to different countries as missionaries
Byron, Offensive lineman and friend!
Johan, the head coach of the Rhynnos and good friend!
Johan and Omar. Omar is one of the defensive captains
I was presented with this plaque on my last night in CR
Maybe you can tell from some of these pics why I say it is a bit bitter sweet. I spent serious time and effort teaching these guys what I could about football and being men of Christ. In the process I gained many friends and I will miss them greatly!!
Maybe you can tell from some of these pics why I say it is a bit bitter sweet. I spent serious time and effort teaching these guys what I could about football and being men of Christ. In the process I gained many friends and I will miss them greatly!!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Rhynos get thier first win!!!!
Just wanted to add some pictures of our team and the win over the Dragons, our first! And share some more good news!!
The team saying a prayer before the game!
Enjoying the win!!!
Saying a prayer after the game!!!
Also this past week there was a group from Score International, which is a sports ministry from the states, that was here. They brought some college football players coaches and three NFL players. They spent a night with each one of the 6 teams here in CR and helped with a practices. After the practices one of the NFL players shared his testimony and the gospel with the teams. On our team there were a number of guys that responded to the alter call by raising their hands and saying a prayer. Pray that we can continue mentoring these guys as they continue on the road, growing as Christian men!!
Also this past week there was a group from Score International, which is a sports ministry from the states, that was here. They brought some college football players coaches and three NFL players. They spent a night with each one of the 6 teams here in CR and helped with a practices. After the practices one of the NFL players shared his testimony and the gospel with the teams. On our team there were a number of guys that responded to the alter call by raising their hands and saying a prayer. Pray that we can continue mentoring these guys as they continue on the road, growing as Christian men!!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Rhynos are now 0-2
Yeah you heard right. While we won the battle to be able to play, we are still an upstart team playing against teams that have existed for 3 or more years. It has been difficult, but a ton of fun!!
On another note I would like to ask for some prayer. There is a guy on our team named Omar. Omar is a Nicaraguan, who just found out his mother has cancer. Please keep him in your prayers as he tries to deal with all that this means. He comes from a poor family and is not sure if she will be able to receive the proper treatment. On top of that he isn't able to go home and visit her, because he is here in Costa Rica illegally and will not be able to return if he leaves. It is a tough situation made more difficult by the circumstances.
Also pray for our quarterback Jeff who has recently decided that he wants to know more about Jesus Christ. He is meeting with Steve once a week for that purpose. Pray that God continues to lead his heart.
On another note I would like to ask for some prayer. There is a guy on our team named Omar. Omar is a Nicaraguan, who just found out his mother has cancer. Please keep him in your prayers as he tries to deal with all that this means. He comes from a poor family and is not sure if she will be able to receive the proper treatment. On top of that he isn't able to go home and visit her, because he is here in Costa Rica illegally and will not be able to return if he leaves. It is a tough situation made more difficult by the circumstances.
Also pray for our quarterback Jeff who has recently decided that he wants to know more about Jesus Christ. He is meeting with Steve once a week for that purpose. Pray that God continues to lead his heart.
FOOTBALL!!!!
Other than studying Spanish, football is the thing that occupies my mind everyday. Football is something that I have always loved. A sport that encompassed who I am, or wanted to be. Encouraged to be aggressive, to take control of situations and opponents, and even to be a bit violent. When I finally decided that my days of playing football were over in college I thought I was giving it up for good, never to return. But God has a way of bringing the things you love back around to you. Being involved in football again in Costa Rica is one of those incredible blessings!!
But it has been a long process to get to where the team is now. When I was here last year studying, I helped some other students at my language school coach a small group of about 25 players (Jaguars). The Jaguars ran into some issues with the ability to come up with the funds to play in the league that year and ended up just practicing and playing a few exhibition games. The following year (2011) the Jaguars joined forces with another team, and recruited some new players, and created the Scorpions. This team was put together by Johan (a Costa Rican that played with the Jaguars), Steve (american missionary to CR), and two owners of the team name and business end of the Scorpions. When I got here in January Johan and Steve had already greased the wheels to get me involved as an offensive coach and possibly a player. Soon after I arrived though the coaching staff and I started running into problems with the owners. It came to our attention that the owners where trying to black ball some specific players by signing them to 3 year contracts and then kicking them off of the team, effectively keeping them from playing with the Scorpions or any other team for 3 years. On top of that we found out that the owners where charging the players 15,000 colones (about $30) to play when the federation was only charging 12,500 colones (about $25) per player. When we questioned the owners about these issues they explained to us (in a not so polite manner) that they could do what they wanted, it was their team, they didn't need to explain anything to us. To make things easier the coaches and players got together and decided to try to create a new team without the owners just a few weeks before the season was about to start. Honestly, it was the only decision to make for the good of the players.
As a team we started rallying together to get everything put together in time to play our first game. We had to fill out all the paper work again under our new name, we had to get a new name and get this team name set up as a legitimate business, buy jerseys, and all of this in about 2 weeks. On Monday before our first game (Saturday) the owners went on the radio to air out their dirty laundry. They were on national radio telling everyone that would listen how they got "screwed over" by the league and how we (the coaches) had planned to steal all of their players. Basically slandering everyone that was involved with lies. It was an ugly situation that the league didn't know how to handle. The league took the easy way out and decided to reinstate the Scorpions and honor the player contracts that they held and disregard all the work that we had done to play without them. So now all the players had a choice, play for people that none of us trusted or liked, or stay with their coaches and not play for the entire season. The players held a meeting and voted unanimously to stand next to their coaches and therefore give up their right to play. Finally on Friday the day before our first game the league decided that they were wrong to reward bitter owners and allowed us to play as the Rhynos!! They even postponed the season 2 weeks so that we could get everything in order!!
God was so good during this situation. Our team has never been as close as we are now. The relationships between players and coaches are the best I've seen on any team I have ever been on. Our ability to share the gospel through how we handled this situation has started conversations with players. And God is allowing us to do something we all love! Play Football!!!
But it has been a long process to get to where the team is now. When I was here last year studying, I helped some other students at my language school coach a small group of about 25 players (Jaguars). The Jaguars ran into some issues with the ability to come up with the funds to play in the league that year and ended up just practicing and playing a few exhibition games. The following year (2011) the Jaguars joined forces with another team, and recruited some new players, and created the Scorpions. This team was put together by Johan (a Costa Rican that played with the Jaguars), Steve (american missionary to CR), and two owners of the team name and business end of the Scorpions. When I got here in January Johan and Steve had already greased the wheels to get me involved as an offensive coach and possibly a player. Soon after I arrived though the coaching staff and I started running into problems with the owners. It came to our attention that the owners where trying to black ball some specific players by signing them to 3 year contracts and then kicking them off of the team, effectively keeping them from playing with the Scorpions or any other team for 3 years. On top of that we found out that the owners where charging the players 15,000 colones (about $30) to play when the federation was only charging 12,500 colones (about $25) per player. When we questioned the owners about these issues they explained to us (in a not so polite manner) that they could do what they wanted, it was their team, they didn't need to explain anything to us. To make things easier the coaches and players got together and decided to try to create a new team without the owners just a few weeks before the season was about to start. Honestly, it was the only decision to make for the good of the players.
As a team we started rallying together to get everything put together in time to play our first game. We had to fill out all the paper work again under our new name, we had to get a new name and get this team name set up as a legitimate business, buy jerseys, and all of this in about 2 weeks. On Monday before our first game (Saturday) the owners went on the radio to air out their dirty laundry. They were on national radio telling everyone that would listen how they got "screwed over" by the league and how we (the coaches) had planned to steal all of their players. Basically slandering everyone that was involved with lies. It was an ugly situation that the league didn't know how to handle. The league took the easy way out and decided to reinstate the Scorpions and honor the player contracts that they held and disregard all the work that we had done to play without them. So now all the players had a choice, play for people that none of us trusted or liked, or stay with their coaches and not play for the entire season. The players held a meeting and voted unanimously to stand next to their coaches and therefore give up their right to play. Finally on Friday the day before our first game the league decided that they were wrong to reward bitter owners and allowed us to play as the Rhynos!! They even postponed the season 2 weeks so that we could get everything in order!!
God was so good during this situation. Our team has never been as close as we are now. The relationships between players and coaches are the best I've seen on any team I have ever been on. Our ability to share the gospel through how we handled this situation has started conversations with players. And God is allowing us to do something we all love! Play Football!!!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
A Day in the Life
Now that I've finally found a pretty normal routine I thought I would share it. It's probably won't be that good of a read, but it will help me in the future when I have to explain something.
While I'm living here in Costa Rica I'm living with a Costa Rican family. This is what the Spanish Language Institute recommends for language learning, and why I chose to do it. I live with Cecilia and Willy a couple in their 60's that have 5 kids that are all over 23 and out of the house. These two have been a huge blessing to me thus far. I rarely eat a meal alone. They are always there eating with me or just spending the time to stop what they are doing to sit and talk with me. This has helped my Spanish tremendously. My weakest point is understanding what I hear, they have been a huge help in that area. I pay $350 a month to live with them and in return I get a room, three meals a day, and Cecilia does my laundry as well. Like I said, a huge blessing!!
The Spanish Language Institute is where I spend 5 hours every day studying Spanish. From 7:30 to 12:30 every weekday I am in this school. The day is split up into two classes, Conversation, and Grammar. Each class is two hours a piece with an hour break in the middle of the two. My conversation class is made up of five guys including myself. There is a different subject every week and the teacher leads discussion over these topics. Ever week we each have presentations to give about the given topic which last anywhere from 15 min to an hour depending on the assignment. The grammar class is pretty self explanatory, we learn all the rules and conjugations that help us not sound like 2 year olds when we talk. Like every good education system when you leave class the learning doesn't stop. Everyday we leave with an assignment or two to complete on our own. Our conversation homework is always a bit more interesting than whatever exercise we have to complete for grammar. With conversation class our homework is usually to research a given topic or to go out into the community and have a conversation with someone about a given topic. Fun, fun, fun, right (just a bit sarcastic)!
Then comes the thing that I love most about living here. Football!!! And no I don't mean football/soccer! I mean American, smash mouth, hard nosed, blood, sweat, and pain, shoulder pads and helmets FOOTBALL!!! I have the pleasure to coach the offense of a Costa Rican football team called the RHYNOS! There is actually a 6 team league here made up of guys from 18 to 40 years old. They all pay to play, and I get to coach and teach these guys 3 nights a week. There are about 50 guys on our team and two missionaries and a Costa Rican (Johan) coaching. What a great ministry opportunity! OHH SOO MUCH FUN! (more to come later)...
While I'm living here in Costa Rica I'm living with a Costa Rican family. This is what the Spanish Language Institute recommends for language learning, and why I chose to do it. I live with Cecilia and Willy a couple in their 60's that have 5 kids that are all over 23 and out of the house. These two have been a huge blessing to me thus far. I rarely eat a meal alone. They are always there eating with me or just spending the time to stop what they are doing to sit and talk with me. This has helped my Spanish tremendously. My weakest point is understanding what I hear, they have been a huge help in that area. I pay $350 a month to live with them and in return I get a room, three meals a day, and Cecilia does my laundry as well. Like I said, a huge blessing!!
The Spanish Language Institute is where I spend 5 hours every day studying Spanish. From 7:30 to 12:30 every weekday I am in this school. The day is split up into two classes, Conversation, and Grammar. Each class is two hours a piece with an hour break in the middle of the two. My conversation class is made up of five guys including myself. There is a different subject every week and the teacher leads discussion over these topics. Ever week we each have presentations to give about the given topic which last anywhere from 15 min to an hour depending on the assignment. The grammar class is pretty self explanatory, we learn all the rules and conjugations that help us not sound like 2 year olds when we talk. Like every good education system when you leave class the learning doesn't stop. Everyday we leave with an assignment or two to complete on our own. Our conversation homework is always a bit more interesting than whatever exercise we have to complete for grammar. With conversation class our homework is usually to research a given topic or to go out into the community and have a conversation with someone about a given topic. Fun, fun, fun, right (just a bit sarcastic)!
Then comes the thing that I love most about living here. Football!!! And no I don't mean football/soccer! I mean American, smash mouth, hard nosed, blood, sweat, and pain, shoulder pads and helmets FOOTBALL!!! I have the pleasure to coach the offense of a Costa Rican football team called the RHYNOS! There is actually a 6 team league here made up of guys from 18 to 40 years old. They all pay to play, and I get to coach and teach these guys 3 nights a week. There are about 50 guys on our team and two missionaries and a Costa Rican (Johan) coaching. What a great ministry opportunity! OHH SOO MUCH FUN! (more to come later)...
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Costa Rica!!!!!
Wow, it is good to be back outside of the U.S.!!! That feeling hit me immediately when I walked out of the airport. Where there were hundreds of people trying to sell me a taxi ride or hotel stay or whatever else, and it would seem to most like total chaos. For some reason that kind of atmosphere is what my soul craves. There is literally something God had to have put in me to make me feel at home in the Spanish speaking cultures. I just love it here!!!
So here I am back in the culture that I love trying to get back into the swing of a life that I left about 8 months ago. It may sound odd but it is a bit harder the second time around. Most of the friends that I had then are gone now. I am living with a different family, so there is a new set of routines, food, rules to figure out. There is somehow more expected of my Spanish speaking abilities, even though I have spent a large portion of the past 8 months not practicing (oops). The Costa Rican friends that I have who used to speak broken English to me now speak rapid Spanish. For now it is definitely harder the second time around. But I am thoroughly looking forward to the day I read this post and realize that I was being petty.
So here I am back in the culture that I love trying to get back into the swing of a life that I left about 8 months ago. It may sound odd but it is a bit harder the second time around. Most of the friends that I had then are gone now. I am living with a different family, so there is a new set of routines, food, rules to figure out. There is somehow more expected of my Spanish speaking abilities, even though I have spent a large portion of the past 8 months not practicing (oops). The Costa Rican friends that I have who used to speak broken English to me now speak rapid Spanish. For now it is definitely harder the second time around. But I am thoroughly looking forward to the day I read this post and realize that I was being petty.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)