Follow ETBU Softball in Costa Rica
Friday, December 16, 2016
Janae Shirley
Head Coach
East Texas Baptist University
Today ended up being the perfect end to our week of work here in Costa Rica. We started the day the same way we have every other day here at the base with a 6:30 am breakfast and followed that by another amazing class with Dr. Bryant. It was so neat to watch the girls throughout the week randomly sitting in different places on the base as the spent time writing in their journal for the class. You could see something changing in them throughout the week as they learned so much. You could see they were starting recognize and see God in everything that they were doing here at the base and at the different places they served.
Once class was finished we gathered with the YWAM staff here to pitch in with their clean-up day. It was amazing to see how all of the people here at the base are one big family and they find joy in everything that they do. You can see the love of Christ in everything that they do and how they do it and it was contagious. They were all so humble and willing to share and spend time talking with the girls. I had an opportunity to talk with several of the staffers here and I was just in awe of their faithfulness and trust in the Lord. We each split up and shared in the joy of being together and helping to clean the base which they have made into a home for so many.
After enjoying a meal that several of the girls helped prepare with a few some of the YWAM staffers, we loaded back on the bus and headed into town to look around the market and head to the game. We spent some time walking, but I think it was something the girls enjoyed doing. They continued to take in the beauty of Costa Rica and the culture here.
Our second game ended much like our first, with victory on our side, but the victory did not just come on a scoreboard it came in the form of us gathering in the center of the field and having the chance to listen to Kaitlyn Hollingshead give her testimony to the Costa Rican national team through the translation of one of their team members, Maria. Kaitlyn shared with them the her growth in Christ she experienced during her time at ETBU and shared how softball was something that allowed her to honor God  and grow closer to Him. She encouraged their team and their coaches to continue to find joy and share the love of Christ through softball. There was even a point where Kaitlyn started to get emotional and Maria reached around her and patted her on the back. Our guide here at YWAM, Jesus, earlier in the day shared with me how much we can use sports to share the love of Christ. He shared that when you share something like softball or a sport with others it provides opportunities to engage with people that you normally would not and that in turn allows you an opportunity to share that love with others. Kaitlyn and Maria proved that was true.
Once we returned to base after the game we had one last chance as a group to share some of the things that stood out to us from the trip. It was so awesome to hear girl after girl share the different things that they took from the trip and the this amazing opportunity. It seemed like most of them thought that they were coming here to touch people's lives, but in turn those people ended up touching their lives more than they could ever imagine. From the children at Los Cuadrados and the staffers who give their time to protect and love on those kids, to the many different stories and families that they encountered during the Bible distribution, to Melba and her 47 amazing children and her trust in the Lord, and even Maria and her team. They all impacted each girl differently and they will all be forever changed by this experience. I can't begin express how thankful I am for the opportunity to share this time with my team here in Costa Rica, I know each us are forever changed because of it. I am so proud of these young women and the attitude they have had and their willingness to give selflessly the entire trip. They have truly represented our school and our program well and I have no doubt that this spring you will see something special take place at Taylor Field.
