Coming Home a Champion

Well after spending about a month and a half in the middle of the country my journey has finally come to an end. I have to say that the time that I was able to spend in the Midwest was truly one of the greatest experiences that I have ever been through. Not only the fact that I was able to be a part of a championship team but just the people that I was able to meet, the places I was able to see, and the amount of baseball that I was able to play. When I first got there I second guessed my quick decision in going out there on such short notice. To tell you the truth I really didn't know what to expect when I got there. For some reason when the opportunity struck I didn't really have the time to think about going or not I just got up and left. The first week went by and I wasn't really playing at all and I wasn't bonding with the guys very quickly. I thought about just packing up and heading home after a few days but I prayed about it and God said stick it out so that is exactly what I did. So as I sat through a couple games patiently waiting for my opportunity to play I decided that I would make the best of it and would play hard every out of every inning. I did exactly that and I was able to be a part of the team that one the whole league. It was indeed one of the funnest championships that I have ever been apart of. The 10 hour bus rides where well worth it all when we were able to dog pile on one another after the last out was made. Well anyways, the people I met out there were just amazing all around. Every single one of my teammates seemed to be a comedian and even when times where rough they were still able to put a smile on my face even if they weren't trying to. I am not 100% sure but it seemed that most of the kids didn't really grow up the way I was raised but we still seemed to get along. I prayed before and while I was there that I would be able to somehow share Jesus with those around me. I thought that there would be many opportunities for me to be able to share since I was going to be there for so long. Well it didn't really turn out that way. I became frustrated at times because I wasn't really able to talk about God to anyone because I couldn't meet any Christians. Then God put this host family in my life that were just straight out awesome people. I met them because they were my host families friends and we went out to dinner with them after the game. I talked with them quite a while and hung out with them from time to time. At times they made me feel more at home and it made me not really miss home at all. I really appreciated all that they did for me. Not to mention the fact that they were awesome Christians and loved Jesus as much as I did. It was great to see that they were using their hosting as a ministry to young student athletes. Well since I didn't come up with any opportunities to talk about God to others, I decided to just walk around having a positive attitude and just shine his light and just see what happens. I didn't really expect anything to happen but God had other plans. While saying goodbye to some of the guys the last night we were there hanging out after the championship, one of the guys sat down and talked with me for about 30 minuets on what an impact I had on him through God. I realized that I didn't really do much at all but somehow God rubbed off on him. It was truly an answer to prayer and I couldn't believe what just happened at the time. Coming home a champion is one thing, but coming home having impact someone in a Godly way is much more important. I know that God put me there for a reason and now I now exactly why. It wasn't to play baseball it was to put thoughts and lights in peoples head that God is out there and God truly has an effect on those who follow Him. Well there ya have it. My trip was one that I will remember for the rest of my life and I can't wait to go back and play in the Midwest once again.