A Life Worth Following

Yesterday is almost indescribable.  I am going to try to write about it but truthfully, you have to see the video to really believe it.  Cody Dyvig, one of our new players who came to Nicaragua with us at the last minute looked at me yesterday and said ¨This is a life changing experience¨. He nailed it with that statement.  James Tunnell said to me, Ät first I thought this was the coolest things that I have ever experienced and then when I saw that sound system, I knew this was the coolest thing I have ever experienced.¨

The day began with most of us feeling pretty rested.  We gathered at Oscar´s house which is the place where most of us are staying.  We had a quick team meeting and then we headed for downtown Leon for the meeting with the Mayor of the city.  All of the guys were wearing their yellow jerseys and decked out in their full uniforms.  When we rolled out of the vans, it was definitely an attention getter in the town square.

We were all invited into the mayors main conference room.  The coaches were seated at the table in the front of the room and the entire team was seated in the chairs.  Shortly after we arrived, members of the press and other city officials began to arrive.  The mayor came in and greeted us formally.  He began to share through an interpretor how grateful he was that we came to his city.  He mentioned how safe his city was and how he wanted us to feel at home during our stay in Leon.  The then shared his vision for bringing youth sports to the country of Nicaragua.  He began to explain that he is not only the mayor of Leon, he is also the commissioner of baseball for the entire country.  He has a 15 year old son who plays baseball and just returned from Guatemala with the national Nicaraguan baseball team.  They traveled through Central America representing Nicaragua on the baseball field.  While in Nicaragua, his son had the opportunity to pitch at a night game.  Though his son has played baseball for years, the game he played in Guatemala was the first time in his life he played at night.  This reality ignited a passion for this mayor and this summer, they put lights up at Campo de Victoria in Leon.  The field that we played on last night is the only baseball field in the country with lights and he was formally inviting us to play their teams on this field. 

After his speech, we had the opportunity to present him a Justin Sullivan (15) Ambassadors Jersey.  As this jersey was presented, we had the opportunity to share the entire story of the Ambassadors which led directly into the gospel presentation to the mayor and his city officials.  He was so moved by our story.  He told us that we would be playing his son´s team on Thursday and when we walked on the field, his boy would be wearing our jersey out of respect for our story.  

As we were leaving the mayors office, we told our team that we all needed to embrace this moment.  God has blessed us so much by giving us immediate favor with the people of influence in the country of Nicaragua.  The only way to explain this is the hand of God.  I continue to be amazed at how the Lord uses the game of baseball as a platform to communicate the love of Christ.  This was an absolutely amazing experience but just wait, it gets better.

After lunch, we took the time to reflect on this time with the mayor as a team.  We had a great meeting together before lunch.  After lunch we had a little down time before the clinic.  It was needed.

Whe we pulled up to our baseball clinic, we had about 250 kids and adults waiting for us to arrive.  We survived the language barrier and got everyone divided up and at their stations.  We were about 10 minutes into the clinic and a Nicaraguan man came up to me.  I addressed him in Spanish and he replied to me in perfect English.  Pedro said to me, ¨Who are you guys?¨ I began to tell them the story of our baseball team and while I was talking, I was surrounded by 9 guys from Waco Texas.  A few days ago, this youth group from Waco decided to start promoting a baseball clinic at the same field for the same number of days that we were going to be there.  They too put thier clinic on the radio but they had no idea that we were coming.  The only problem with this group was that none of the kids in the group ever played baseball and had no idea what to teach.  They were really nervous about leading a baseball clinic but they were going to trust that the Lord would help them.  All I can say is that God answered their prayers by sending the Ambassadors.  The words that I am writing at this moment really do not communicate the ¨God moment¨ this was for both of us.  The relief on this groups face was obvious and the nine of these guys said, ¨We could not have handled this many kids.¨ I was sure to thank them for their help in promoting our week long baseball clinic.  

As we wrapped up the clinic, it was incredible and afterwards, Murph, Brandon Culp and Trent Daniels shared the gospel and we couldn´t count the number of people, ¨Kids and adults¨who prayed to receive Christ.  It was more than 50.  But wait, it just keeps getting better.  I told you that you have to see the video to believe it.    ¨

After the clinic, we had about 45 minutes to get our stuff for the baseball game.  We came back to Oscars house and gathered our things.  While we were waiting on the vans, we were able to take some time to discuss the game and reflect on the experiences at the clinics.  I don´t think we recorded those conversations but all I can say is ¨Wow¨.  I wish you all could have been there.  But wait, it still gets better.

We loaded up on the vans and headed back towards the baseball field.  We passed the field and drove about a half of a mile into the city.  When we got out of the vans, we experienced something that was jaw dropping.  Standing in the street was a 150 piece band waiting for us.  We were told to go to the back of the band by the 40 piece drum line and walk behind them.  As we got into position, the band escorted us through the streets of the city while they played a very long song.  All the traffic was stopped and the Ambassadors were given a NYC style (minus the ticker tape) parade.  It was un-like anything we had ever seen or experienced.  Truly, it was like the NY Yankees had just come to Leon. 

As we were walking to the field, I said to several players, ¨Man, we better play good tonight.¨ As we came to the field, already there were over 1000 people there.  The band helped to draw another 1500 or so. 

I wish I could describe this experience to you but there are just no words to describe it.  You just have to see the video.  Try to imagine this scene of the team walking behind this band with people lining the streets.  Try to get that picture in your mind. All I can say about this is that what ever picture came to your mind, it was better than that.  I hope you can take a look at that video.

After the ¨pomp and circumstance¨(not sure about the spelling of pomp and circumstance¨) we began the baseball game.  The scene of this baseball game was incredible.  People were just everywhere.  So many people were trying to get where they could see, that there were actually specatators sitting in the outfield, inside the playing area.  The atmosphere of this baseball game was unforgettable and the experience was priceless.  You have to see the video. 

As the game got underway, Tyler King started pitching and even though during warm up, he hit Juliann Sullivan in the leg with is 90mph slider, (She is OK by the way).  He gained his control and greatly impressed the city of Leon by throwing a no hitter for 5 innings. 

After the 4th inning, we paused the game and pulled everyone together.  One thing that I forgot to mention was Band number 2.  Not only did we have a marching band escorting us to the field, but at the field, there was a Nicaraguan Christian Rock band set up right next to our dug out.  You have to see the video of their sound system.  These guys came to rock the house.  Once they worked out the power issues, they started playing. Now, in the U.S. music is played during the intermissions of baseball games.  In Nicaragua, they bust out the tunes during the entire game.  You just have to see the video.  By the way, you also have to hear the video.  It was the Jambassadors on steroids.

As we pulled everyone together during the break, I had the chance to share our story with the crowd.  After I shared, Garrett Brown shared his testimony and Cole Cleavland presented the gospel.  After Cole prayed, hundreds of people responded.  We concluded the service time with the pastor of the church we are working with wrapping up the service time.  You have to see this video.

We finished the baseball game and the Ambassadors won 15-2.  We played with magic baseballs because every time we hit a foul or a home run, the balls disappeared.  We donated over 2 dozen baseballs to the crowd but we were happy to do it. 

Yesterday was amazing and I now I have to stop talking because it is time to go.  These words that I have written today, really don´t do justice to it.  You have to see the video to believe it.