So its week three for me here in Honduras, God has really been working like crazy in my life here. I am really starting to see that I do not have the ability to do it all on my own. There have been some very trying times that without the intervention of God and the Holy Spirit, I feel it would have been difficult to to remain faithful and joyful. That being said when serving and walking in prayer and in the Spirit it always out weighs the trying times, and it seems that the lasting effect of real God given joy will always keep you lifted to a place only the God of love could bring you to. I do have a prayer request, that is if you have not committed to a form of support, would you pray about it and allow God to reveal what He would have you do. This life cannot be done with out the support of the saints, and if God wills it this is the life that I would desire to serve Him with. The link for financial support is http://www.ignitemissions.org/#!contact/c175r this will take you directly to the support link follow directions and add my name Coy Houston Davis in the memo line, thank you for your support.
Last week we traveled to the pacific coast to a village called El Triunfo. We took a team of men and young men there to play baseball. Three states were represented in these men Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. They are a ministry based around the game of baseball, they operate under the banner of Full Count Ministry. These men are serious about there baseball, and range from coaches to high school players, but regardless they are all very serious and very good at what they do. They have been solely involved in Nicaragua the last five years, and this was there first experience in Honduras. This specific village was very different in one way than all the other villages, and that is the focal point and largest thing in the village was not a soccer stadium, but a baseball stadium. This village was the Honduran nerve of the countries baseball program, they had eight adult teams and even more youth teams. That being said these guys were used to going and teaching the technical side and the rules of the game to the guys, but as we arrived after the six hour bus ride, we unpacked the bus got everything set up at base camp then drove straight to the field for them to play there first game. 2o'clock in the heat of the day in one of the hottest places I have ever been in my life, it was easily 90 degrees with 100% humidity. Although on arrival something that really stood out to me was that the Honduran men were already there warming up and stretching, this was odd to me cause the culture is so lax, and keeping on a set time and schedule is not the common, so needless to say these guys were here to play. As our men fell behind early I believe they were taken back by the organization and knowledge that the Hondurans played with. The first day was a tough fought battle, but as the clouds rolled in and the heat broke our guys caught their second wind and rallied for the win. Not sure how many of them would have admitted it, but by the looks of their wore out bodies it appeared that they had just played one of the hardest games of their life. Although they came to play the game, it was simply just the door opener for the real purpose that these men were here for. The real reason they were here was on display at every moment they were here, and it was a few fronts and it was very encouraging to play witness to.
First thing they did was show up being men of Christ, these guys would wake up praying and as a team spend an hour in a devotion to God. When they come to the field there first warm up is to circle up and pray as a team. Now a glimpse as to what was on the other side of the baseball diamond, Sam and I had traveled there couple of weeks before to scout and setup the games to make sure they were still on board with the games. We arrived as the guys were finishing up a game and best way to describe the environment was a keg party haha, all the guys were walking around with their own little personal pint of super special party drink. So needless to say I doubt there was not much of a spiritual influence around this field. That being said everyday after the game the men showed respect and would come into the mound and circle up and be lead in prayer. As the days progressed the conversations after the games got longer, and the by the end of it the Americans were switching jerseys with the Hondurans. In the last game Full Count men were the mixed uniform team and the Hondurans were all sporting the navy blue and white of the Full Count team. It was a pretty awesome site to see. On the last day the team threw a party for the guys and invited them back to the camp for a church service, I would say almost everyone showed up that had been at the games, and I would have to think that they knew what they were coming to. As pastor Jhony Miller lead the men through what it meant to model Christ and lead their lives as men, their wives as men, their children as men, and ultimately that the village was to be ran and maintained by them as men. As he preached I could understand what he was saying for the most part, and I found myself weeping over this group of men. One man in specific really stood out to me in the back where I was seated. I realized he was slummed over his chair and breathing hard, I looked at the tile floor in front of this man and realized he was crying. The Spirit lead me to just set with this man and put my arm around him and pray for his heart. When the time came this man was one of the first to stand to commit his life to Christ. I would like to think next year when Full Count returns this village would be turned upside down by the Spirit of Christ brought about by these men of faith.
Baseball was not the only thing that this team did. They also split into two groups and went into two separate elementary schools, getting a chance to do baseball clinics with over 16,000 kids ranging from k-5. The response from these schools was amazing, everyday more of them would come to the games bringing their families saying hey your the gringos that came to our school today. The guys were great with the kids its really hard not to fall in love with the little ones they are so sweet and Innocent only craving love and attention. Most of the older guys had kids around the same age so it was like a little relief for them mission their own children. The schools being so responsive was awesome to see the teachers were all very responsive and at the end of the week they sent us off with a very special display of love. I believe that the men of Full Count see their potential to change this village for Christ through the young ones in these schools I pray for both sides to continue to strive to maintain a relationship and build a life long friendship and partnership.
This was a very special and eyeopening thing for me to witness. Seeing God working through something as common as baseball was pretty awesome. I really pray that God would continue in the lives of all the men of Full Count Ministries. I made some new brothers in Christ this past week and was able to love on some guys that needed to be loved on all in all great week, great team, even greater God we serve. Off to the next one please continue to follow and support the mission of my life.
All support is appreciated as this life's work cannot be done with out God and his support through His people. Prayer support and financial support are always in need. If you are able to support financially please visit http://www.ignitemissions.org/#!contact/c175r this will take you directly to the support link. Simply follow the provided directions and add Coy Houston Davis in the memo line. Thank you for your support emotionally, spiritually, prayerfully, and financially.
