I have sat down a million times to write out this update on our trip to Sweden. Each time I can’t come up with the words that feel adequate to tell you how it went or what was accomplished.
The only thing I can think to encompass the whole of it is the answer to a prayer that I penned in a letter to myself before we left: “Give us stories to tell of God’s goodness.”
The entire trip was story after story after story of God’s goodness to us and those around us.
But to be honest, after Gabby (one of my soccer players at UNLV) agreed to go, I had second thoughts about the trip. Less than ideal communication and the amount of prep that was expected weighed heavy on my plate as I was already overwhelmed trying to get Vegas to a place it needed to be.
However, the Lord kept telling me to keep going.
As the time approached– life got even more & more hectic & demanding. I had staff that needed me, a husband that needed me, a city that needed to be kept afloat— but the Lord reminded me that taking care of all of that wasn’t my job. It’s His.
Putting everything in His hands– I boarded my flight to KC & our National Support Center.
Let me tell you– when God answers your prayers he shows off.
First, it was so abundantly clear that these 4 were supposed to be in Sweden. Not even as a group, though that is true, but individually. There are way too many examples to name so I’ll name one.
Gabby as a high level female soccer player got to minister to soccer players at 3 camps as the only female player/coach through our partners at Sport for Life. Her experience, even in this, amplified God’s call in her life & she allowed God to prune spiritual branches that will forever allow her to flourish even greater for his kingdom.
The most clear evidence of God’s goodness came when the other shepherd, or FCA leader, in our group experienced a heart attack during our first camp in the north (see below).
We were winding up being at this amazing place when Rick started to feel chest pain and went into full heart attack. It was the most surreal feeling I have ever had. I will never forget the image of the kids (interns 🙂 ) surrounding him in prayer and just believing that God would take care of him.
From man’s prospective the odds and the treatment looked bad. Maybe open heart surgery, maybe not even making it to the hospital, BUT GOD’S GOODNESS.
Not only did Rick make it to the hospital, in the nick of time according to the doctors, it was an easy fix since the attack was caused by a blood clot. He had a stint put in and rejoined our group 5 DAYS LATER and flew back with the students at the end of the trip.
I just want to pause and reflect on that. I want to reflect on a God who has purpose for our lives. A God who sees us and sees our needs. A God who can do immeasurably more than we ask or think. Even if nothing else happened on our trip THAT is what will be the take away. You can read Gabby’s real time response to the right.
After that we visited Stockholm to try and recover a bit from the ordeal, once we knew Rick was going to be okay.
We toured the city on bikes, learned the history, and ate amazing food. It was a time to see the only part of Sweden most people will ever see and remind ourselves why we came to this country to begin with — to share God’s love through sport.
After Stockholm we headed back to home base in Eskilstuna where we helped Sport for Life run a soccer outreach in town. 90 athletes came to play and heard about the gospel. It was amazing to see the diversity of the town and how the love of soccer can unite all of us. Then we got ready to head to one of the biggest Christian conferences in Sweden– Nyhem.
While it was weird continuing on doing ministry without Rick, it was amazing to transition to something that is part of the history of a lot of Swedes. Nyhem is over 100 years old, and a lot of Christian families started their faith roots coming to the conference.
During the day there is competition and THAT is where we served. We played volleyball, soccer, floorball (feel free to look it up), and other sports with the people at the conference. Sometimes there were over 1000 on the field to play.
We found out very quickly how athletic the Swedish people are at our first camp, so it was fun to continue on and fuel that competitive tendency. On top of that the sessions were amazing and our interns got to learn more about leadership and lean into the gifts that God has given each one of us.
Most of the volunteers with Sport for Life were 20 somethings or college students, so the interns also got to do life with others on fire and on mission for God like they were. I honestly believe living life in community at Nyhem was something that made it so amazing.
Gabby, Reese, and Wellinton also got to go help with a Sport for Life soccer camp in the nearby town and were able to walk some of the kids through the Four– FCA’s way of sharing the gospel.
As I headed home, the interns finished their time at golf camp and a day or two of R & R in Stockholm.
I could go on an on, and tell story after story — but I’ll finish the way I started: I don’t have words to adequately describe what was done in each of our hearts and lives, but what I do know is that God is good and he is FOR us.
If you want to know more, or are interested in being on this journey God has set me on to be on staff with FCA please reach out or click HERE.
“Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
Psalm 145:6-7
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.”
Lauren Roback 