Dear friends and family,
The past three days (June 14th-16th) were some amazing times! The majority of the team arrived Sunday night in Xenia, Ohio, spent an hour getting to know each other as well as meeting with some of the fellow AIA teams who were also in training as well. As a team we instantly clicked! We are all very outgoing, funny, lively, and athletic people who above all, have an amazing love for the Lord which was the biggest common factor. We also, from the first car ride as a team, found that we are a team full of amazing dancers/singers so whenever we traveled via car, we always had a blast getting our groove on!
Throughout those first three days we learned about the 3 out of the 5 principles. The principles were: 1#, playing for an audience of one; God exposes our idols changing our allegiance from 'substitutes' to Him. 2#, Inside Game; our identity in Christ frees us to compete with a 'grace motivation'. 3#, Holy Sweat; maturity is a process a growing in grace requiring the spiritual discipline. After going over the principles we, as a team with other teams in training too, went out to the field to participate in these things called 'labs' which were practical means of practicing the principles in games such as Angle Ball and Ultimate Frisbee. Throughout these games we were constantly being tested by the coaches to test our ability to rely on God throughout our time playing. It at times was very frustrating playing these games, it was an amazing opportunity to practice the principles while actually competing which is what we will need to do as we play teams in Russia.
Even though the entire team came from all different schools, styles, positions, and abilities of volleyball and we had some difficulties meshing, we were constantly reminding each other that not only are we playing for an audience of one (Jesus) but playing volleyball is only a small part of our trip to Russia. After two days of practices we definitely grew a lot as players and a team both physically and spiritually.
I knew this was going to be a tough going through this training week, learning about how to share the gospel with strangers, getting to know the team, meshing as volleyball players, and above all growing closer to God. But one thing, as a team, we decided we were going to do, was remember that whatever happens on this trip, it will be God and God alone that is the ultimate provider and that we need to trust Him with everything. From that point on, even though we had the occasional ups and downs, we knew there was someone else in control over everything we are not which is so comforting.
I am so excited to see, especially based on that past two days, what God has planned for my future as a Christian, volleyball player, and teammate to these men but even though I have no clue the situations I will be put in, I have faith in my Father in Heaven who is control.
~Christian