When your ministry is working with TCKs, you need to know what makes them tick. With the case of a few of our students (new to Guatemala) that would be football. They come from a very small town of 1,900 (now less 19 to us) in Iowa. Some of you may even have heard their story - but many I'm sure have not - so I will try to retell it.
As with most of Iowa, football reigns. This very small town had the same football coach for 30 some years - and boasts 4 current NFL players. No small feat for any town. A year ago a tornado hit, wiping out the High School, the football field, 200 houses and more. This high school coach, Ed Thomas, soon stepped out as a leader to help bring the town back together. It turns out he not only was a great coach, but a strong Christian man as well. In fact, the motto held was "Faith, Family, Football." May I add that he was a coach at a public high school - probably the only one in the USA with that motto.
Two of our new students here at CAG were members of the Falcons football team, one of whom is missing his senior year there. We can't even imagine how difficult it must be for him to move to a country where that type of football just doesn't exist. On top of all the adjustments they, and the two families making a total of 19, have had to make recently - they are mourning as well. See, this past June Coach Thomas was shot and killed in the weight room with students present. (For the whole story you can look it up in the New York Times online - it's really moving, especially when you know how close these kids were to the situation, which I don't feel open to share.)
Tonight was the season opener for Falcons football, and it was televised on ESPN. We were blessed enough to be able to go to this family's house and watch the game, and half hour memorial special, with them (thanks to a satellite dish.) We are so thankful that ESPN televised it, it was a gift from God to these kids. It was so neat, and sad, to watch their expressions as they recognized people, and cried over what they were missing. All in all it was a great night, and Abigail had more fun with their younger kids (who weren't watching the game) than she has had since we moved here.
To continue the blessing, the Falcons won (against their long time rival) 30-14! WooHoo!
And seriously, if you have time, read the story...
1 comment:
(A deep breath...) I just love reading about God's work... Ken & Joy you have an amazing opertunity, to minister to these kiddos, it's moving to read about how they are ministering to you as well. God will continue to bless you!
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