GOD'S AWESOMENESS!

On Monday I had the wonderful opportunity to share with the girls in the night session. I was praying about what I wanted to do in my time with them, whether or not to share a testimony or a current preview of my life, or share the Word with them. I took a look at what has been going on in my life and decided to be real with them and share about the importance of not comparing ourselves to others and operating in our individual strengths. Lately I have been struggling with this, and God has really been showing me some amazing things in my time with Him, so I wanted to share openly with the girls on the importance of their uniqueness and individuality. I had some things prepared, but God really was speaking to me during the training session and gave me some excellent ideas of how to explain things to the girls.

(I will share briefly what the talk looked like with them): "My name is Niccole Grimaldi and I am from the United States. I'm Italian and in Italy, when we want to say a girl is really pretty we say, Ciao Bella! (and wink) :)(The girls loved this and absolutely ate it up). Today I want to talk to you about comparisons. Have you ever looked at one of your friends and wished you could be like them or look like them or have what they have? How does it make you feel when you realize that it's impossible to be just like them? For me it makes me feel really inadequate and depressed. I feel like I have no peace when I try to be like someone else and not be myself. The goal is to focus on our individual strengths. We are all unique and special in our own way. Look at your fingers and to notice your fingerprint. Did you know that you are the only person in the entire world with that fingerprint? Even if we tried to cut up our finger and shape it like someone else's print, it would be impossible, just like it is impossible for anyone to be like you, and you to be like anyone. I picture God looking down from heaven and chuckling sometimes watching us compare ourselves to others and Him thinking, what are you doing!? I made you so special and with so many amazing qualities and strengths and you're trying to be like someone else? How foolish! (I shared with them the verse in Psalms about us being fearfully and wonderfully made and how God knew us before we were formed). We are each unique and special and one of a kind. God placed strengths on the inside of us that are for His glory and His pleasure and we need to discover what those things are and do them to the best of our ability. Just as you are unique and special and one of a kind, my best friend, Jesus, is one of a kind. And because you were made in His image, you too are one of a kind. I love Jesus so much and there is no one like Him in the entire world, just like there is no one like you." Then I played the song, Shout to the Lord on my guitar and sang with the girls. One of the exciting things was that a lot of the girls knew the song in Spanish so they were able to sing it along with us in Spanish. It was really a special and Holy moment and just absolutely incredible. God is really moving in this place!

On Monday we went to a little village that we had visited the day before that is in the rural area of Catacamas, Honduras. The people in this village are very poor, and don't have much at all. Predisan is working with the people (a man and wife who are pastors take care of the people in the village) about the importance of health and sanitation. Usually what happens is people will go relieve themselves wherever they want, and the problem is that it goes down into the ground and poisons the water for drinking. The water here is not safe to drink for them, so Predisan is teaching them how to build toilet facilities and maintain water that is healthy for them to drink. The man and wife have a home on the land along with their children and the others in the village and they are starting to build these toilets. They are teaching the people to relieve themselves in the toilet instead of just wherever they want. This is really huge for these people and instilling in them proper sanitation. The people in the village were so precious and we saw a small dirt soccer field in the middle of the homes that was on very uneven ground, with goals made out of sticks they had shaved. The girls don't play soccer there, and our hearts really went out to these precious people and we wanted to visit them again.

Yesterday evening we got to do the most amazing thing since we've been here. We went back to that little village with 22 uniforms, shoes, socks and headbands. The people had no idea what we were going to do when we got there, but when we pulled up there were several people just gathered around the church waiting for us to arrive. We had all the girls go inside the church and we made 3 teams of girls and gave them as many uniforms, shoes and socks that we had. Although no everyone got a uniform, we were able to give all of them something. The great thing is that this community of people will be able to share what they have with one another. Seeing their faces light up as we handed them uniforms and shoes--like I said, most don't even have shoes to wear, and they walk on hard ground with rocks and everything else barefoot. It was such a special moment and just absolutely incredible. We went out to that little dirt field and separated them into 3 teams and joined the girls and played soccer for the first time with these girls. THEY LOVED IT!!! Oh my gosh, if I could just explain the awesomeness of this experience! It was by far the most amazing thing we've had the opportunity to do. They were so excited and had so much fun. All the men and the families made a special day out of it and lined the field cheering for their favorite team and their sisters and daughters. It was amazing. We had so much fun with them and it honestly just brought so much joy to our hearts to see their enthusiasm and their excitement.

After the playing session with them, I had the opportunity to preach to the whole crowd that was out there. There was probably at least 70-100 people there last night. During the day I had been preparing what I wanted to speak about and was just praying for God to help me know what to say to them. I had asked Kyle, the missionary who works with Predisan, what they really needed most. He said that they really needed to hear about their uniqueness, especially since the stigma here is that women work in the home and raise the kids and nothing much outside of that. I decided to do a message on dreaming big. As I prepared my notes, I just didn't feel satisfied with what I had prepared. I had a feeling that when I got there God was going to have me scrap the whole thing and just go for it. Well, the bus had taken off to bring some of the other people into town, and my guitar, and my notes were on the bus when it came time for me to preach. :) I had been praying and praying in the Spirit about what to say and just decided to go for it from my heart, trusting God to give me the words He wanted me to say. I ended up doing a message similar to the one I had spoken the previous night, but I added in a little bit on dreams and dreaming big and how God put dreams in our hearts that only we can do. I remember looking at one of the girls holding a baby and asked if it was hers--it was. I said, "Did you know that only YOU can be her mom?" She smiled and it was a really special moment. I asked the men if they had ever dreamed to be able to provide for their families--they all raised their hands that they did. It was amazing to see them really listening and responding. I used the fingerprint analogy again, but God gave me a really neat thing to say to them with the whole, one of a kind thing...I told them if they ever started feeling down on themselves to point their index finger, look at their fingerprint and remind themselves that they are ONE of a kind. It was just neat how God dropped that in my heart right on the spot. I told the girls how beautiful and special they were and how amazing it was to get to share our passion with them and spend time with them, just loving on them. Then God put another thing on my heart right on the spot and I began to talk to them about how God had a huge dream to bring humanity back to Himself so that He could be ONE with them again. I told them about how He sent Jesus to die for us so that we could spend eternity with Him and have grace and love. I then gave a salvation call and at least 20 people responded--including my teammate that came on the trip with us that wasn't saved! :) GOD YOU ARE SOOOO AMAZING!!!!!! We prayed the sinner's prayer and I then told them that they now were my sisters by blood and they all loved that. We sang Shout to the Lord again in English and Spanish and just had a time of worship. It was so annointed...some people were crying and were really touched.

Joey (our leader from FCA) then followed up after me and challenged the men to step up as men and honor their women and lead their families. He really challenged them and encouraged them to be the men that God created them to be. He told them that FCA would be back to bring uniforms and items back for the men and boys in the village, but that they would be challenged them to step up in their walk with God. It was just an incredible moment and God was so glorified! God is just doing amazing things here and I'm so excited to be a part of what He is doing in Honduras!

Please pray for me as I go talk to my teammate about her decision for Christ. I'm not 100% sure if this was an actual commitment or not from her, so please pray for wisdom and the right timing for me to talk to her, and for God to really give me the right words to say. I am going to do it sometime before the trip is over, so please really be holding that up in your prayers!

The Drill

We have been going and going and going all day for the last few days since the inaugural day of the women's soccer league. We are running at least 3 training sessions per day for all of the girls who want to come out and practice their soccer skills. Each day we focus on a particular aspect of the game and we repeat the same training session all throughout the day for all the different sessions. The sun is very hot in Honduras so we're definitely getting some color and having to drink tons of water! It has been so awesome though! The girls are so hungry to learn about soccer and play the game. Their passion for the sport is just amazing, especially since they've grown up with it their whole lives and have never had the opportunity to actually play on a team before. The training sessions are drawing large crowds, and for the first time, people are actually paying attention to these girls. Although the United States has had way more opportunities for women to play, the girls here have so much more knowledge about the game than we do because it has been a huge part of their culture for so long. It is exciting to work with the girls and encourage them in their femininity within the sport, letting them know that it is a women's sport just as much as it is a man's sport, and they are equal on the playing field. It has also been great to teach the coaches some more techniques and drills to work with the girls on their skills, speed, etc.

We brought lots of cleats and uniforms, in addition to headbands and socks for the girls. The cleats we brought are on loan to them since we need some each session for the girls to have. The plan is to give them all away at the end to whomever is in the most need of them. When we separate the teams to play against each other, we have been using headbands of different colors to signify the teams. It is fun because the girls get to keep the headband at the end of each session, so they always have something to take away with them.

Before the session begins, we have a lady speak about the importance of the girls taking care of their bodies so we've been really stressing the importance of stretching and drinking a lot of water--most people here don't drink very much water at all, which is shocking as it is sooooo hot here! After the session we have a man who is a psychologist that works with the Predisan organization come speak to the girls about self-esteem and the way they value themselves as women. We have a pastor with us on the trip too and he gets a chance to do a short devotional with the girls, and then one of us girls goes up and tells our testimony to the girls and/or give a small preach...it has been awesome to see the girls really focus in when one of us is up there speaking.

The girls are all so full of life and excited for the chance and the opportunity to play soccer for the first time in a league. This is really the start of something new and exciting for Catacamas, Honduras. The night sessions are especially fun since the people seem to make a holiday out of the training session, bringing their families and playing Honduran music. It really has been a great few days. We have a couple sessions today with the girls and then tomorrow is our last day to train them before we leave. In the next blog I will talk more specifically about what my role(s) have been on the trip! :)

Inaugural Day

We got to Honduras safely after a short plane ride and a long, bumpy and windy bus ride. Today was a very hot day as the sun is very intense in Honduras...I am looking forward to my sun tan! The team is doing great and I am having an awesome time with the girls getting to know them and spend time with them in addition to playing with them and sharing interest in the Lord.

Today was a full day. We got to go to the inaugural ceremonies for the girl's soccer league that they began here in Honduras since we were coming to help them. It was neat to talk to most of the girls and see history in the making for the town of Catacamas. Usually these girls aren't the ones getting the attention since soccer is more of a man's sport in this country...this is now changing! :) It was great to see the excitement on their faces and the dedication to playing the game.

After the opening ceremonies, we got to visit a substance abuse clinic and hear all about what the organization we are working with, Predisan, is doing to help these people in partnership with the clinic. As we were standing in the middle of the facility, we began to juggle the soccer ball. Immediately the boys ran to their rooms to grab their cleats and begin warming up as we were having a meeting...hahaha! We ended up playing a 7v7 match against them and we tied 1-1. It was a really fun time actually getting to play them and play with one another for the first time since we've been here.

Later in the day we got to visit a family who pastor the local church in a rural area on the outskirts of town that is more poor than where we are staying. The people were so precious and we got to see their families, their homes, their gardens and their lives. One of the ways Predisan is working with these families is by helping them build toilet facilities. Since Malaria is an epidemic in Honduras and the water is unsanitary to drink, Pedisan is helping to make the environment healthier for these people. They have a drinking facility that now provides for 30 people. Additionally, they are building toilets and encouraging sanitation by making it a point to remind people to use the bathroom facilities now instead of just going wherever they want...this will help the sanitation of the water, and the food for the families. We got to go see all the places they are building and it is really neat to see what they are doing and how much it is helping them. After the tour, we went to their church and had a beautiful time of Honduran worship followed by a Word that our pastor on the trip prepared to preach. It was such a nice time with the people...they have such beautiful hearts.

After the home visit, we headed off to the stadium facility to catch the end of a division 2 men's professional team, right before our game. We played some of the girls that we will be training during the week on the field. We ended up beating them 6-0 and had a really fun time with one another. The girls we played also had a great time...this is the first time that they are actually getting the attention in the sport of soccer, so it was huge that it drew a crowd for them, especially since the girl's league is just now starting. Although I didn't play as well as I would have liked to, I was proud of myself for reminding myself that it's okay...I just needed to cut myself a little slack and realize that I haven't played for 2 years and of course I'm going to be a little bit rusty. After the game I was a little bummed, but I gave myself 2 options: 1.) sulk and be miserable and beat myself up and not have any fun with my teammates, or 2.) drop it and move on and don't let it rob my joy and my time with my teammates. I am pleased to announce, I chose option #2! :) yay!!!

Because I chose the higher road, I ended up having a great time with my teammates at dinner when we went out to eat and there were 5 of us that had amazing conversations about Jesus, the Bible, life, Free Chapel church, Christine Caine, Lisa Bevere, and the list goes on...it is so amazing to just be doing life with these girls and learning about their lives, their families, and where they are in their walk with Jesus. It was also a great time of subtle ministry as one of the girls I was sitting with is not saved yet. Join with me to believe for her salvation and that God so reveals Himself to her that it is absolutely undeniable!

Tomorrow is a full day of training the girls...I'm off to bed now...

Prayer Requests:
1.) That Jesus' name would be made famous in Honduras
2.) Health and safety of everyone on the trip
3.) Doors to be open to minister within the team, and outside the team
4.) My feet (been causing me a lot of pain) and my nose (smashed it in the car door)
5.) For me to choose joy and not be so hard on myself
6.) For all of us to have FUN!!!!