Ready to Go

The team has done a great job working on their soccer skills over the past few days to prepare for what will surely be some very competitive soccer matches in Uruguay. The drills and scrimmages may not have been as demanding as their upcoming preseason training will be, but at least they are starting to “get their touch back” and trying to get back into some kind of “soccer shape”. While they have been spending hours on the field each day, they have also been spending a lot of time working on ministry projects and opportunities (testimonies, sermons, special music, Bible lessons, etc).

We have been working specifically on children’s ministry projects. One of the Sundays, while we are in Uruguay , is “Dia del Niño”, that is, “Kid’s Day”. This is a national holiday that is very big in South American countries. The missionaries have encouraged us to bring lots of candy for the children. We have also prepared a puppet skit and some object lesson “magic tricks” that teach some great spiritual truths. Some of the gospel magic tricks that we will be doing for the children include the following:

Zach Haese – changing bag that teaches how our sin (represented by a black silk handkerchief) is cleansed by Jesus’ blood (represented by a red silk handkerchief). When both are put into the changing bag they “disappear” and only a white handkerchief comes out of the bag (representing a clean heart and righteous standing before a holy God for those who have trusted Jesus Christ as personal Savior).

Grant Chai – a special container that teaches how good things can come out of the fiery trials of our lives if we just trust God through them and obey His word.

Micah Herron – a rope trick that teaches that, though we are all different on the outside, we are all equal in God’s sight because of our sin. No amount of good works can help you gain favor with a holy God. Our sin debt was paid for by Jesus Christ.

Paul Reece – a special container that “never runs out” of water. Paul shares the Bible story of a widow, who, during a severe famine with only enough oil remaining to make one last meal for herself and her son, trusts God to provide, as she makes a meal for the man of God, Elijah.

Josh Netz – a rope trick where he cuts the rope in half and then restores it to its full length. This object lesson teaches us that our sin separates us from a holy God, but through a relationship with Jesus Christ we can be restored to fellowship with Him.

Paul Johns, Jason Lorch, Ben Cummins, and Timothy Legg are involved with a puppet skit entitled “Boletos”. The word boletos in Spanish means “tickets”. Pablo thinks he can use a ticket to get to heaven, but Maria helps him to understand that no bus ticket, taxi ticket or even plane ticket could possibly help him get there. Only the work of Jesus Christ on the cross is sufficient to “pay his fare” to heaven.

Caleb Salsman has been very busy interpreting for the team as they practice their testimonies and share their “gospel magic”. Caleb grew up on the mission field in Chile, speaks Spanish fluently, and accompanies our special music with his guitar. Andy Gibbons also grew up on the mission field in South America (Argentina) and will also help us with translating and interpreting. He also plays the guitar for us.

The team is prepared to sing two songs in Spanish and one in English. When we sing our English song , The Power of the Cross, we will share the Spanish words with the audience. This song has a powerful message and fits nicely with our theme verses of Galatians 2:20 and Galatians 6:14.

After 3 full days of preparations, we left campus this morning, August 5, at around 9:00 am. We stopped at the Golden Corral restaurant in Green Bay for one last good meal before spending most of the next two days in airports, on airplanes, and busses.

After a quick flight (30 minutes) from Green Bay to Chicago, we had an almost 3 hour lay-over at O’Hare International airport before leaving for Miami. In Miami we waited about 1 hour before taking the overnight flight to Montivideo (the capital city of Uruguay), leaving at 11:15 pm.

After arriving in Uruguay at 9:00 am Friday morning, August 6, we will claim our luggage and load up for a 5-hour bus ride to Paysandu. The rest of Friday evening and all of Saturday morning will be to get some much needed rest from the trip and our three days of preparation. We had some late nights working on magic tricks and puppet skits.

Saturday afternoon we have a small field “friendly match” with the youth group from Central Bible Church in Paysandu. Check out our itinerary (listed in an earlier post below) for more details about our schedule while we are in Uruguay.

Return to this blog for daily updates from all of the players and from both Coach Scotts. Please remember to pray for us. We are excited about what God is going to do in us and through us. Pray that the gospel will be clearly presented and there will be some who respond to it. Also, pray for safety in traveling and for good health and strength while we adjust to the Uruguayan culture.