Catching you Up

It has been way too long since I have written a new post on this blog, I know. I promise I have a slew of good reasons for dragging my feet but I wouldn't want to bore you with all the excuses. Suffice it to say that I have been busy but my laziness and unwillingness to leave my new daughters side is probably the truer culprits. I am sorry for not keeping you up to date. Hopefully this post will serve in Catching you Up!!

In football news:

The Costa Rican National Team traveled to El Salvador for the first ever Central American Bowl and came away with a second place finish, losing to Panama 54-13. Next year the Central American Bowl is scheduled to be held here in Costa Rica and the winner will receive an invite to the World Cup in Switzerland!!

The Saints are now two games into their preseason schedule with a record of 1-1. We have 3 preseason games left on the schedule against 2013 last place Dragons, second place Bulldogs, first place Toros. After these games, which end December 7th we will be on vacation for December and back to work in January getting ready for the regular season to start January 25th!! This years Saints team has a realistic goal of a championship. With a lot of hard work and a bit of luck we will see our goal completed!!! We are also now raising money to buy some new uniforms and equipment. We have already bought some new jerseys for the new players we added this year, but we are still would like to buy some new pants and equipment (helmets, shoulder pads, and screws and clips to fix helmets) as well. If you have the means and can help us monetarily please click on the donate button in the right hand column!! All funds come directly to TDTD Ministries and will be used to further equip the Santo Domingo Saints!!

I continue to work with FEFA (the national football federation of Costa Rica) trying to help reorganise this governing body. There will be a board meeting this Wednesday to make some decisions that will effect the future of FEFA and football in Costa Rica. God willing, we will make the right decisions to allow positive growth in the sport of football in Costa Rica!!

Ministry is also starting to gain some traction. The Bible study I started will hopefully soon expand from just one person to 4. I have also been cultivating a relationship with Score International and will be helping them organise a mission trip here to Costa Rica.

Along with all of this work we now have a 7 week old daughter, Isabella!

Presenting Isabella Sofia Butz Guzmán

It has been incredibly awesome getting accustomed to my new role as father!! What a blessing it has been, and will continue to be!!

Hopefully with this post I will get back into the habit of updating this blog every month. If you would like to be more informed on the state of the ministry and football please subscribe to TDTD Weekly by clicking on the "subscribe to our newsletter" in the right hand column!!

I LOVE MY JOB!!!!

I was at practice the other night with the National Selection Team (Costa Rican National Team) and I was struck with this overwhelming joy!! Seeing the offences vast improvement over the last few weeks, coupled with the success of a playbook that I created (granted there isn't much "new" about it), in a sport that I absolutely love, with guys that are growing as players and men...THIS IS MY HEAVEN!!!

Here is a quick run down on all the things going on here with TDTD Ministries...

I am the offensive coordinator for the National Selection Team, that will be going to El Salvador to play in the Central American Football Tournament September 10th thru 15th (three games in 5 days OUCH!). I was/am in charge of creating, teaching, and perfecting a playbook that is up to 53 plays (but will balloon up to 3x that when we make cuts) We practice 2 nights a week and are working hard. Player cuts will be passed out in another 2 weeks so we are on the cusp of naming the 2013 Costa Rican National team!!

I am also the offensive coordinator for the Saints (one of 8 teams in Costa Rica's 1st division of american football). We have just recently started our preparation for the two season we will be a part of this year and next. The Saints will be a part of a private league, along with 3 other teams from the 1st division, competing for $1000 first prize and $500 second prize payouts. Hopefully, the money that we win will go towards paying the players inscription fees for the 1st division season that starts January 2014!! For this team I am also creating a new playbook! Trying my best to highlight the talent on this team and giving the Saints the best chance possible to become champions!!!

I am also a part of the group of owners and coaches working with FEFA (federacion de futbol americano), the governing body of all things football here in Costa Rica. We are striving to reorganise how 1st division operates in Costa Rica and trying our best to create an environment conducive to growth of the sport while establishing our formal relationship with FEFA. Johan (the Saints head coach) and I represent one of the 8 teams and are one vote and voice in this process. My goal here is to help the sport grow while keeping the best interest of the players in mind (in meetings full of owners and head coaches this can be hard to do).

During all of these other responsibilities I am also a Christian trying to live the way God wants me to. Trying to love others as God has loved me. Sharing life lessons when I can and when it will have the most impact in someone else's life. Teaching men how to be dedicated, work hard, be a good friend/teammate, be responsible for oneself and your actions, push through pain and hardship, celebrate in a responsible manner, and enjoy sport and life! While my role and influence in football is steadily growing in this country, this part ("ministry") is vastly slower, but steadily moving. Every role I have here in Costa Rica is permeated by this part of my life. This is why I LOVE MY JOB!!! Every day I get to show my love for people through my love for football, and Christ!

New month, More Football!!!

There is good and bad news to share. Let's get the bad news out of the way first. The Saints under 19 team is on hold. We were not able to start this season due to the good news I am about to share.

The Saints coaching staff was selected to help coach the Costa Rican National Team!!!! We have been hard at work (with the help of three other coaches from the other teams in the adult league) getting this new team ready to play in the Central American Tournament in El Salvador September 10-15th (dates if not correct are at least close). I have been put in charge of the offensive line again as that is my expertise. And things are coming along well. With this team we had one game already against the New England All-Stars (a traveling team of ex US college players) on the 18th of May. Costa Rica lost that contest 36-6 (for pictures go to https://www.facebook.com/TDTDMinistries). My excuses on that one are that we had 4-6 practices to put in new offensive and defensive schemes and for the team to learn them. The situation was less than ideal. We are now working toward a game against Mexico on June 15th, then a game against a college team from the states (yet to be announced) in August, and of course the tourney as our main goal in September. One more awesome note...if we do well in El Salvador we can qualify for the "World Cup" in 2015!!

On the personal side of life: Jone continues to grow as our daughter Isabella is kicking and moving like crazy. We are now about 24 weeks pregnant and heading into the final trimester!!

Jone at 5 months!

We are slowly getting ready for Isabella's arrival. We bought her first piece of furniture (a changing table) and we have been given a crib and a few articles of clothing and toys. Next up will be painting and a rocking chair and we will be closer to ready!!

There is a lot going on and a lot coming up. If you need/want to keep closer tabs on us, subscribe to TDTD Weekly on the right. Also if you have a few extra bucks to help the ministry buy football equipment, for players that don't have any or are using unsafe equipment, click the PayPal donate button on the right! Be sure to check out the prayer request page as well!!

Football season is over...coming up, more football!!!

Super Bowl V took place this past Saturday in the Costa Rican football league. The Toros emerged victorious over the Bulldogs. And the Saints ended the season in 3rd place with a loss to the Bulldogs the week before. Thus ends another football season here in Costa Rica. What now...

Now we are going to start an under 19 year old team called the Saints!!!

For the past couple years there has been a push to start another football league here in Costa Rica. A high school age league!! Where young men can learn the game and enjoy competition between other young men. This will help improve the quality and skill level of the adult league and help the younger men have a safer environment to learn the game (without men twice there size crashing down on them). Some of the coaches of the Saints (adult team) and I have decided to start an under 19 team this year. In the coming weeks we will be meeting with a number of the high schools in the Santo Domingo de Heredia area and then holding our first practices/tryouts the end of May. In the meantime there is a lot that needs to be done.

We need help! While we are working hard looking for sponsors, creating an offence and defence, creating play books, organising practice time and securing the field to practice, and so on there is only so much we can do. One of the biggest obstacles is equipment. Right now we have about 10 sets of equipment to share amongst this team. Thats 10 helmets, 10 shoulder pads, and various sets of thigh and knee pads, all of which heavily used. This is the equipment we have to share amongst 11 offensive, and eleven defensive starters. You can imagine how hard it is to practice when you can't put 22 people on the field to scrimmage and simulate a game. So...

We are looking for used equipment!! Anything that you might have in the house lying around from when you played in high school we can use. If you have any contacts in high school, college, or pro level coaching, we could use their old outdated equipment that rules and regulation in the NCAA and so on won't allow them to use. Anything you have we can use!! If you can help in this way contact me at TDTDMinistries@gmail.com for more details.

If you don't have any old equipment or contacts to share click the PayPal donate button to the right! All money donated to TDTD ministries through PayPal will go directly to the needs of the Saints team! We need all the help we can get financially. On top of equipment we need uniforms, jerseys, practice equipment (dummys, pads, etc) money for field rental and lights, etc. All donations big and small will help!

Moving again...hopefully for the last time!!!

March is more than halfway gone!! We have been living in Costa Rica for a little more than 3 months now! And now we are finally in our new home!! Putting down roots and preparing our home for Butzito (the unofficial name for our coming child)!!!

Here are a few pics of our new home!!

View from the street!!

Our casita!!

Number 18 Residencial Casa Blanca!

We are still waiting on a sofa and a few chairs we ordered to finish the living room!

But we finished our office/library!!

Our bedroom!!

 We have our appliances

A few keepsakes and wedding gifts that we were able to hold on to during our travels!!

The next project will be Butzito's (or Butzita's) room!!!

 Along with all the craziness in our personal lives we have both been working hard as well. Jone's job at The Spanish Language Institute has been going well. She teaches a grammar class, tutors and is working on some new teaching material with a few of the other professors everyday. And I am keeping busy with the 3-3 Santa Domingo Saints football team. With practices, games, federation meetings, and one on one meetings with guys involved in the football league my time is pretty full as well. We are really blessed to be here serving God in Costa Rica!!!

If you want to learn more and/or be more involved in our lives and ministry here in Costa Rica sign up for TDTD Ministries weekly newsletter via the link to the right!! This ministry is also looking to start an under 19 year old football team in May. If you would like to help us buy equipment, jerseys, rent fields to practice, and pay for player inscriptions click on the donate button to the right!!

3000 HITS!!!!

Thank you so much for all you love, prayers, and support!!! This blog has received over 3000 visits since I started it a couple years ago!!!! Thanks again and stay tuned for some more stories from my life as our football program, ministry, and my family continue to grow!!!

On the right hand side of the page there are opportunities to give a donation to the ministry to help us buy football equipment for the under 19 year old team we are going to launch in May!! Also join the mailing list for TDTD Ministries weekly newsletter (button to the right)!!!

Much Love!!
Andrew Butz

Pregnancy, football and residency..

Thats been my life for the past month. Worrying about the pregnancy, and hoping and praying everything turns out all right, coaching football, and trying to become a resident of Costa Rica!

The pregnancy has been a great source of joy and stress for us both. Early in the pregnancy we went through some potential problems and were scared that something was wrong or could easily go wrong with the pregnancy. After an ultrasound we found out that there was a small lesion in the amniotic sac that was causing some bleeding. Of course this cut was a concern and needed to heal quickly or it could easily become worse when our baby started to grow. After almost two weeks of bed rest for Jone and 2 ultrasounds we have been cleared to live a normal life again!!! Everything appears to be healthy with our child and its mother, and we are eagerly awaiting our child!!

The Offensive Lineman: (from left) Manuel, Santiago, Pablo, Javier (Jamon), Kelvin (Samoa), Javier (Cañas), Jose (Puma)

Praying as a team before the game!!

Football has been moving along just fine!! It is a huge blessing to be involved in the sport I love once again, and be able to coach with some of the same coaches and players as before! It has been a blast to see the progress of the players and be able to help them get to the next level as players and team. After two games we are 1-1 heading into a game this weekend against the second place Bulldogs of Santa Anna. If we are able to execute the game plan as a team, we have a great chance at a win. This win will move us up to a tie with the Bulldogs for second place!!

Residency has been a headache from the start. From the outside looking in the process seems to be a muddle of rules that no one seems to know completely. Or maybe every office that I have to go to, to fill out a form or turn in a form is operating according to their own set of rules. Every time I think that I'm making headway someone tells me I have to do things in a different order. The latest issue (when we were sure all our ducks were in a row) was our marriage certificate. The photocopy of my passport wasn't notarised so they couldn't process our certificate. They apparently emailed someone to alert us of the issue but the email address they used was not correct so no one knew there was an issue until we ordered a copy and went to pick it up. Without the certificate I couldn't file my residency paperwork. Without that paperwork filed my visa was going to expire. So, I had to leave the country to renew my visa with about 3 days notice. Very long story short I was able to take advantage of a loop hole in the system and just go down to the Panama border walk across the border and get an exit and entry stamp (at the same window) then walk back across the street and reenter Costa Rica with a new 90 day visa. Oh the joys of living in another country!!!

New Year - New ministry, job, country, living space, life!

There has been a lot of change this month and it has been fun to be apart of all these new beginnings. As you can imagine it has been pretty stressful too. Moving never is easy, and moving internationally on a tight budget is even less so. But God proved faithful to us yet again and we have a story to prove it.


Once we made the decision to move from the DR back to CR we started making arrangements to sell and/or pack all of our life. At first we thought about paying an international mover so that we could bring everything. This plan was of course ideal because it meant we could bring all of our furniture and appliances to move back into Jone's house (all of her stuff we sold before we moved to the DR), we could easily pack all of our books, keepsakes, and weeding gifts (that weigh a ton), and we could even bring my truck. But that wasn't meant to be. The price was too steep and would have left us close to broke upon arrival. That wouldn't have been a good situation.

Our next thought was to sell as much as we could and then try to pack the rest and pay for the extra baggage on our flight to Costa Rica. This plan seemed like it would be easy enough. It turned out that, with a new pastor and family heading to the DR from Costa Rica, that we were able to help out EDCM and the moving family by selling most of our furniture and appliances to them. The furniture that we couldn't sell to the mission we were able to sell for cheap or otherwise bless Dominican friends with gifts before we left. Even my truck turned into a huge blessing for Nahum and the youth ministry in Higuey as Jone and I decided that we should give it to Nahum as all the money to buy it came from gifts in the first place (thank you for that by the way).

So, scheduled to leave on a Thursday we were planning and packing to bring 6 suitcases (it is still incredible to me that our whole life fit into 6 suitcases). The Saturday before we left we were talking to some friends of ours in the DR, that were going to Costa Rica for Christmas. They had some extra room in their Baggage allowance and agreed to bring two suitcases for us. Then they lamented the difficulties of moving during the Christmas season because of all the baggage restrictions. Surprised by the news, we found out that Copa Airlines has stricter baggage rules during the Christmas season and do not allow more than one bag a person.

Which means we had to scramble to find a way to move our 4 bags. We called Copa to beg, to no avail. Then called Copa cargo to ship our bags, but it was too close to our departure date to make it work. We tried to upgrade to first class which would give us two more "free" bags, but there was no first class on our flights. We were stuck. The only solutions we could come up with were; make a round trip flight to come back to the DR and get our remaining luggage, or bring all of our bags to the airport and cry and beg to let us on the plane, and hope for a sympathetic attendant.

We decided to try plan B (cry and beg) and if that didn't work we would make the round trip. So we get to the airport and are waiting in line, with our mountain of luggage, and realise that we are the only ones with more than one bag a person. We stick out worse than any sore thumb ever. When it is finally our turn at the counter, and I make four trips back and forth to the counter while the whole world stares at me, the attendant at the counter is acting like everything is normal (good sign). He takes our passports. We wait nervously. He asked for our bags. We wait nervously as he weighs the first one. And he says "It's over weight."(bad sign) We both immediately start arguing, because while we might be trying to bend the rules, that isn't one of the rules we are bending. The attendant rudely assures us that we are sorely mistaken and then asks for the second bag. Confused I oblige. Then he asks for the third bag. Even more confused I oblige. He weighs all of our luggage and then types away at his little computer then says that we owe $300 dollars less than if we were paying the excess baggage fees. I quietly hand over the exact amount in cash (that I "happened" to have in my pocket without planning it) and we get on the plane to move to our new home!

God is good!!!