Today's recap from the ETBU Women's Soccer TAME trip to New Zealand is provided by Freshman Caroline Wilemon, Senior Rose Comstive, and Head Coach Kristin Cox.
 

"God has truly been working in and through this team and today He put it overwhelmingly on display, especially for me. We started out with a team devotional, sharing how God has been working in us during this trip and how we have grown in our faith. I can't describe how incredible it was to hear the girls speak about this. I've only known them for a week, but I can say without a doubt that this is not the same team that began this project and some of my teammates will never be the same because of it. Both Cadence and Sarah shared how they accepted Christ yesterday during church, and it was so special to be able to pray over them as they begin this new, difficult, but joyful step in their walk with the Lord.
 

After morning debrief we then took a ferry to the FanZone in downtown Auckland. I initially thought we were just shopping but Coach surprised us (and I'm so glad she did), telling us to walk some of the streets and talk and pray over people that we met. To be honest this completely terrified me, but many of my teammates and I felt that this was our opportunity to fulfill God's calling to us to go out and minister to the people of New Zealand. Rose and I awkwardly walked around for a bit, attempting some conversations but not able to get past small talk. Then, as we were heading back, we met a dad and his adorable 6 month old son, Niwa, and struck up a conversation with him. I felt this was the opportunity God was opening for us, and we asked if we could pray for him in any way. He was surprised, but at the same time curious and excited, asking what were the sort of things we could pray for. I suggested praying over his son and his future, so I took Rose and Niwa's hands and prayed for the little guy. The father was much more appreciative than I expected, telling his son how lucky he was. It was such a wonderful feeling to take the door that God had opened and to see how our words through Christ could move those around us in ways we could have never achieved on our own. I have never done anything like this in my life, and I just thank the Lord for how much I have grown and that He gave me and all of us the boldness to speak and pray over complete strangers, spreading His love and gospel," Wilemon said.
 

"Later on, we went back to Pap High School, and our team scrimmaged a U14 boys team. While on the sideline, I met a girl from the high school, Sopheara, and we got into a discussion about our faith. She is a Christian as well, and I just find it so encouraging and amazing to talk about the hope and joy that we both share. We are from different sides of the world and live in different communities and cultures, but Christ unites us in His grace. I pray that God would continue to work through this team, that we would be able to build up and encourage each other and those we meet during these next six days and on into the coming school year," Wilemon added.
 

"After praying throughout the streets, we entered the World Cup FanZone and a few of us went straight to the unity pitch, a small turf field open for playing soccer. We juggled and took some shots before a volunteer worker approached us and told us he was there to help us with anything we needed. As we got to talking with him, we learned that he was from Argentina, working on his PhD, and was a Christian but didn't have much community around him. After we talked for a while, (and took a pic with him) my teammate Caroline nudged me, clearly reminding me that it was my turn to ask to pray for someone. I've never ever done something like this before, but I didn't ignore her or God, took a deep breath, and asked him. He was surprised but seemed so grateful, and asked that I pray about his upcoming move and that God just put him on the right path. So I did. I am so proud of how far I've come this trip, but more than anything I'm so happy to see God working in and through my life and all the girls around me. I am so thankful for the girls that not only push me out of my comfort zone like Caroline did, but also the girls I stand next to in the each morning at 6:30 AM for the 4th day in a row, while we brush our teeth. I'm grateful for the powerful work of God, but also for the friendships and bonds that are being made on this team during our everyday life. Today was a testimony of what this trip was designed for, and I'm excited to see where the next six days hold for this group," Comstive stated.
 

Coach Cox added, "It was really cool for me to end the evening with a scrimmage against the u14 boys team because it gave me an opportunity to talk more with the coaches at Papatoetoe High School, who set up and hosted the scrimmage for us. Coach Jason is who I talked with the most and he was telling me how he loved that we could be planting seeds while there this week and how he longs to share his Christian faith with the girls team and students. He asked me several questions about coaching and how to coach, and every 10 minutes 'what are your thoughts on the play so far.' It was encouraging to see their passion to learn more and to be able to coach better. I also learned a lot about football (soccer) in New Zealand, how it is just more of a social sport versus a regulated competition even though there are leagues, but also how they don't really have pick-up soccer around the town because the limited lighted fields are booked full with rugby, league, and field hockey practices. After the game I asked the coach if it was okay to share a quick testimony with the team, but he encouraged us to take a less direct route to sharing why we were here because all but one player on the other team was Hindu or Muslim. When I found that out I was even more excited that God created this matchup. What an awesome opportunity we had to minister to some young boys through soccer on a muddy pitch. After the game we shared our faith and why we were here in a respectful way and asked them to join us in prayer. The coach told me that was probably the first time some of them had ever heard a casual conversation with a relational God. Please join us in continual prayer for the seeds being planted."