Football...I mean, Futbol.

Saturday, March 28, 2015



"Barca or Real?"

That was one of the first questions we were asked when we moved to Guatemala. Of course, like many of you, our reaction was "What?"

Barcelona or Real Madrid...two European soccer teams that the country of Guatemala is obsessed over. You can't live in Guatemala and not have anything to do with soccer, so we picked our side and are now fans of a team we once knew nothing about.

The point is, Guatemalans love soccer. And I mean LOVE.
Being from the south, specifically the panhandle of Florida, I know what it means to be passionate about football. Growing up, I was a football coach's daughter. My Friday nights were spent in a stadium cheering on my high school football team and my Saturday's were (and still are) spent watching college football.

While I still very much love American football, now most of my days are spent around the other kind of futbol.

As Mitch and Esaú were strategizing a way to reach the men in the communities we work in, something dawned on them; Guatemalans love soccer. They love to talk about it and watch it, but mostly they love to play it!

From that simple, yet obvious conclusion, we decided to start a soccer tournament between the 4 villages we're involved in. After only 2 weeks of planning, our soccer tournament commenced!

Every Saturday until May 9th we have over 90 men showing up to play soccer. Before the games begin, Mitch and/or Esaú have been sharing the Word of God with them.

This has been one of the coolest things we've done so far. We have been blown away about how excited these communities have been about this tournament. Because of this, we've been able to eat meals with several men and their families. Many of them are starting to bring up spiritual conversations as well.





As we continue to play this game that is so loved by the Guatemalans, join us in praying for the rest of our tournament. We hope to see more than just a good game of futbol...we hope to see men and families come to know the Lord.

Sobremesa

Friday, March 6, 2015

sobremesa

  (n.) The time spent around the table after lunch or dinner, talking to the people you shared the meal with; a time to digest and savor both food and friendship 

photo from here

Whether we knew the exact term or not, we've all experienced sobremesa. It's that nostalgic feeling of Christmas dinner around the table, hours spent catching up with old friends out to eat or in our case, sharing a meal with new friends.

The beginning of this year, we began to rethink our ministry strategy. We shifted our focus onto something we're all familiar with-food.

Every ministry day we bring food to family in the village and we eat with them.

The idea of doing life together around a table is so attractive. Who doesn't love food and good conversation? While we may not always have a literal table between us when we eat with these families, the practice of bringing in food and eating with one another has deepened our relationships with many of them and has given us a way to share the Gospel to an entire family. For once, ministry seems so simple.

Sit. Talk. Eat.

I can imagine Jesus doing the same when He ate with the tax collectors, fed the masses, and broke bread with his disciples.

Sometimes life and ministry can feel so rushed. But sitting down to eat with one another takes intentionality, from the preparing of the meal to the hospitality given and received.
Even though most of the villagers are receiving us into their homes, we have learned that we too must show them hospitality as we serve them and share the Gospel.

"Hospitality is rarely convenient. We must be willing to interrupt the lives of others and be interrupted in our own lives to truly experience hospitality as Jesus practiced." (Excerpt from She Reads Truth)




Through this ministry, we have become aware of so many personal needs these people have. And it has given us a way to personally pray over these families and their communities. Jesus was the greatest example of how life can be done with intentionality. I pray that we follow His example and our ministry will show people just how great our God is!

Perhaps more of life needs to be done around a table. More intentionality, more hospitality and more Sobremesa.

Buen Provecho!
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