Something that has been a big struggle on this journey is not being involved in baseball. Not just baseball but the whole idea of competing with all your teammates trying to win a game. You are around these guys all the time. Practicing all the time. Working out together. How about going through grueling practices, which consist of conditioning at the end of the day depending on how you played. When you experience these things together then most teammates will be there for each other, picking each other up, not leaving a teammate behind. This can create a team that feels like a family. You have suffered together but you also get to experience joy together.
Now that I am at a church it is hard to feel that connection with everyone here because there are many times when I feel out of place. Yes, we all love the Lord, but to me it feels like playing on a soccer team when I have been playing baseball all of my life. It just isn’t natural for me. Sometimes I feel like the player who isn’t very good. The great thing about this sport is that you don’t have to be good. Even though I am not the best player I would say that I have potential to be a good player after many many tough grueling days of practicing. The goal for this team is to win souls by bringing people to Jesus! This game is much more important than a game of baseball or any other game. When I say game, I am using it as an illustration.
That’s how I am hoping this experience is going to turn out. I want to put so much effort and work into this game so that when I leave here I will look back and see a different player. God is already teaching me so many things about my faith. I came out here because I wanted to serve God with all my heart. He has been showing me many ways that I can give more of my life to him. This isn’t easy at all! Especially considering that I am out of my comfort zone most of the time. Although it’s all worth it because I know God is making me stronger so that I can do my job faithfully.
This picture is a good illustration of how I feel sometimes.
