Well, I have decided that each month seems to carry on the trend of being busy each in their own respective way, so I will skip the whole “busy month” silliness, and just jump right into what has been happening here in my ministry over the past month.
As many of you were aware from my last newsletter in October, I was gearing up to head down to South Africa and Mozambique for a Men’s Playing Tour. And I will now take this moment to confirm that all that gearing up did eventually amount to my actual departure on the 12th of October, where I headed down to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Heading down there, there were challenges that I faced. The weeks leading up to my departure, I had been struggling with a groin injury, not to mention that the Tuesday prior to leaving, I also landed on one of my shoulders at a training session. So leaving for the tour, I was somewhat preoccupied with these uncertainties that were dwelling in the back of my mind. For me, injuries have been a huge part of my testimony and God has used them ultimately for the glory His Name, and so I most likely should have been fully confident of knowing that He had my best interest at hand. However, I doubted, and was considering what role I could play on the sidelines, and thinking about the even greater disappointment I would have watching from the sidelines. Yet I was brought back to the verse I left with prior to coming to Spain; “Faithful is He who calls you, and He will also bring it to pass.” (1 Thess. 5:24) God is good. God is faithful, and He doesn’t leave you hanging. I played in 9 of 9 matches, and had a few bumps and bruises while I was there, but I played, and God was faithful, for He will always be faithful.
So aside from the personal challenge that I faced, once arriving in South Africa, we stayed for a few days there and had a couple of warm-up matches against Leeuwkop Hope Academy (an Ambassador in Sport run academy in the local prison center, with a focus of ministering to and discipling young men.) where we had much opportunity to share and build relationship with the guys there.
After our time in South Africa, we headed to Maputo, Mozambique, where the poverty was heartbreaking. In a country that is still very much recovering from it’s war filled history, we were able to play a number of matches, run multiple clinics for kids as well as coaches, and even run a sports ministry seminar for leaders in Mozambique, and ultimately share the Gospel of Christ with many there. During our time in Mozambique, we played on some of the most challenging fields I have played on in my life. But the one that sticks with me the most, was a full size sand field softer than a beach, covered in glass and various dangerous obstacles. While it was the worst field I have played on in my life, what broke my heart was the load of kids that ran out after our match, barefoot, with smiles from cheek to cheek as they chased around their deflated leather ball. We have been given so much…
God has placed tremendous vision in the hearts of those in Mozambique. The young man there, who is hoping to raise up an Ambassadors office, has an incredible dream for his country, as well as the churches of Mozambique. Where most see destruction and devastation, they see hope, they see opportunities for God to change their nation.
During our time in Mozambique as a team, we experienced many adventures and stretching moments, and through the duration of our stay, Jesus met us time and time again “in the least of these.” It was amazing how little was required to make a kid laugh, or to put a smile on a strangers face. Throughout the time, we were so incredibly privileged to be a small part, of the incredible work that God is doing in Mozambique.
So from this time, what I take, and what I leave with you, is the fact that God isn’t just moving in the nations, but more importantly in the hearts of those in the nations. Whether we are in Mozambiquan or Canadian, lets allow God to continue to move our nations, beginning in our hearts.
Much Love,
Matt Hama
matt_hama9@hotmail.com
http://matthama.blogspot.c
