After leaving the dump yesterday, we made our way back from Chinendega to get ready for our clinic and game. The guys were both emotionally and spiritually drained. THey were also a little tired because sleep is not something we find in abundance on a mission trip to Nicaragua.
On this morning trip, we definitely made a few memories. Our bat boy threw up his breakfast all over Holt's shoes. Two good things about that, Holt was asleep and it did not stink. Two real blessings if you are going to have that experience. A couple of fellas had to pull over on the side of the road to go to the bathroom. This is widely practiced in Nicaragua by both foreign and domestic visitors. We also had a few that deposited more significant items on the side of the road. Events like this add color, adventure and sometimes fertilizer to a foreign mission trip.
We finally made it back just in time for our clinic. Everyone was pretty hungry and tired so Coach V, James Tunnerll and Adrian agreed to go take care of the clinic so the guys could eat and rest.
Everyone had the opportunity to stay back and take a nap. The coaches were going to take care of it. However, after the guys ate lunch, they decided as a team that they wanted to come to the clinic anyway. They jumped on the bus and came on out to the field. Dustin Gibson got left so he jumped on a bike with one of our interpreters cause he did not want to miss out on the action. I was really proud of these guys for making that choice.
After the clinic, we wanted to reward them for their amazingly hard and faithful work. Franky and I snuck off to the local Pizza parlor and bought 22 good old fashioned American Pizza.
All week long, the food has been good but it has been Nicaraguan food. We all needed a little taste of home and they were all really pumped to see that grub walk in the door. FYI, if you are traveling with a big group of baseball players in Nicaragua and they are really hungry, show up with a bunch of pizzas and they will really like you.
After scarfing down the pizza, we were off to play some baseball.
Nicaragua is an amazing place to play baseball.
Our games are making quite a splash in this community. I can't remember if I mentioned this earlier. On the day that we went to the hospital to pray for the kids, we prayed for a little boy who had pneumonia. His mother sat there holding him while wearing a baseball bracelet that she had received at one of our games.
Last night, we played our second game. We played a Leon All-star game which comprised of players of all ages from this community. We started out in the hole as the Nicaraguans took a 3-2 lead in the first inning.
Kyle Vail was pitching. It really does take a while to get used to playing a baseball game here. The crowd presses in around you. If you sit in the dugout, it is impossible to see the game because the crowd gathers all the way downy the baseline. We have to constantly ask kids, adults, mothers with babies to move back. Last night, there was a young mother holding her 1 year old son right next to me. She was literally 8 feet from the first base bag. Every time a runner got to first and the pitcher tried to pick off the runner, she would simply turn and try to shield her baby in case the first baseman missed the ball or there was a wild throw. Last night a six year old boy was hit in the leg with a line drive foul ball. In spite of these dangers, as soon as someone moves from their spot, it quickly fills in with someone else.
I tried to take a picture last night of the right field baseline. People were so interested in the game, they were actually sitting on the field of play just so they could see the action. It's just an amazing thing to seel.
Last night our band was back. My son Eric (our bat boy) has learned to play the guitar. They actually allowed him to play with them last night. He felt pretty big time busting out Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi with the Nicaraguan band. What is crazy about this band and this sound system, they never stop playing music and commenting on the baseball game. It is just hilarious.
After we completed the game with a victory of 19-4 (We started hitting again), we gathered the crowd together to share the gospel. Luke Sandoval kicked things off sharing our Ambassador story which led into his testimony. He shared with the crowd about losing his dad and how God used that to bring Him closer to the Lord. It was a powerful moment because many of these people understand loss. Luke did such an incredible job.
After Luke shared, Adrian shared his testimony and shared the gospel with all of the people gathered on that field. Over 1000 people gathered together and it was just an amazing sight to see and encounter to experience.
People really do need Jesus and they really will listen if we live right and speak up. Let's choose to do that more often.
God moved last night on a baseball field. People heard the message of salvation. People prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. Our guys heard that. They saw that take place. It was tremendous.
Many of you reading this blog sacrificed to support the Ambassadors this summer. I assure you tonight that your gift was not wasted. You made an eternal investment that will last into eternity.
Now that I am caught up to yesterday's experiences, I will need to wrap it up and get to our game for this evening. We are playing a local university team and are really looking forward to the game.
Tonight, Chris Kuykendall is going to share his story and I am going share the gospel.
We fed some more kids today and got to do a little shopping this afternoon You all need to get ready because I saw some of your presents. Your gonna love your Nicaraguan market items. Don't worry if they don't fit or work right, you can always put them in your next garage sale.
I will try and post something in the morning. Tomorrow we are going to head to the beach for a little R&R and then we will play our final game in Nicaragua. ON Sunday, we will head back home.
We are all grateful for Nicaragua but Dorothy really said it best, "There really is no place like home".
We are all missing our families and are grateful for your support and prayers as we walked through this door the Lord opened in our lives.
God Bless and Hasta Mañana
Posted on
Fri, July 29, 2011
by Chris Wall