My very first straight A semester, strategic timing, a whisper, and google. That was what God had put together in His perfect timing to jumpstart my salvation, and the road that lead me to SportQuest.
I was a transfer student attending Biola University on an academic and cheerleading scholarship. I was blown away with the evident love of Jesus all over campus. I grew up believing in God and knowing of Him, but I had no idea what was about to transition within me, how I was about to build a relationship with Jesus Christ, and how He would change my dreams. I've always wanted to help people, and suddenly I had a heart for missions - I didn't realize at the time that it would be inner city missions. I had a fire for Jesus, our relationship was growing, and he gave me the heart of a leader. This quiet, shy, laid back girl that shocked everyone she met not only about her being a cheerleader, but about her being a really good all around cheerleader, wanted to lead Bible studies - I've been the cheer captain in high school and in college. I've coached cheerleading and gymnastics. Cheerleading and performing with my team was my thing. What I've never done, was speak up during Bible studies. If I spoke up in my Biblical classes, know that I had a million and one fluttering butterflies in my stomach, and I can guarantee that my voice was quiet and shaky - not something you'd expect from a cheerleader; but God likes to use the weak and rise them up. He took my passion for cheerleading. He took my passion for helping people. He took my passion for Himself, and rose me up from the ashes.
Biola University has two major conferences a year: Torrey Conference, and Missions Conference. Missions Conference is the largest student run conference, where missionaries from all over the world come to Biola. Classes are cancelled mid-week to the end of the week, so that students can attend these amazing seminars highlighting hundreds of missions. This was when I first read the name SportQuest. One SportQuest lead seminar packed with dozens of athletes in a small classroom later, and I knew their purpose and their mission, in playing with a purpose to Glorify God.
Wanting to do something, and actually taking action is a huge leap of faith. Once I embraced my heart for missions, I felt like a kid in a candy store during conference, and SportQuest was that King Sized Reese's Peanut Butter Cup that I was just dying to sink my teeth into. I wanted travel the world saving people. God had other plans. The only SportQuest mission trip that worked for me chronologically that summer of 2012, and yes I just had to go that summer, was Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Now, I wasn't thrilled about Baton Rouge, Louisiana, it was definitely not the United Kingdom, but it was my first missions trip, and I was excited. I could start small, I thought. Then, then I could travel the world saving people. God had other plans.
I fell in love in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Inaugurate trip for Baton Rouge happened four years ago. I can't remember all of the specifics to this love story, but I promise it will have it's happily ever after.
The summer of 2012 was not only my first mission trip, but my first time as a SportQuest athlete. I had no idea that I was going on the first Baton Rouge project until after the fact! The first year, well it was rough. There were a lot of bumps in the road, but it was that first year falling in love. I was signed up as a soccer athlete, I've kicked a soccer ball a few times, and I've always been athletic. The thing was, I'm a cheerleader, that is where my passion was, but they weren't offering a cheerleading sports camp on the Baton Rouge project like they were in the UK. That's okay, I told myself, mission trips are all about sacrifice - or so I'd imagine. I just wanted to help wherever it was needed, I am an athlete - put me in coach! Well, God certainly put me in the game when day two of camp rolled around and I found myself coaching cheerleading to four girls. The next day the number of the group that I had coached grew into the double digits, and by the end of camp the number of girls that I had, had exceeded all of the other sports camps we hosted! It looks like Cheerleading camp was a go! Biola taught me how to use cheerleading as a form of worship - and SportQuest gave me the opportunity to teach and apply what I had learned. Cheerleading isn't just about jumping up and down and screaming go team go. It is about unity. It is about respecting yourself and your body. It is about respecting your team. It is about knowing your worth.
Before our sports camp had started, our team took training and classes in leadership and in working together. I shouldn't say classes, because we really bonded. We interacted with incredible speakers from the community. We took an athletic's behind the scenes tour of LSU. We did this outrageous ropes course, with rock climbing and zip lining - if you watch Pitch Perfect 2, The Bellas do a similar if not the same course that we did! It was too fun to be labeled training, but during those moments we learned to work together. We learned the importance of communication, and therefore put our knowledge to practice. We learned how to lead, and how to follow. We learned about each other. We learned how to face our fears. We learned how to humble ourselves. We learned about Baton Rouge's culture, and people, and history. As a team, we had our bumps and scratches, but we learned how to buffer them out.
The day before the Baton Rouge project had started, the community had lost one of its members - a thriving young man who had intended on helping us emerge into the culture, had been shot. What a way to start a trip encouraging light and goodness - this community was heartbroken, and in the worst way. During my time in Baton Rouge, I have never seen or experienced so much racism and segregation, this was 2012 after all. There was attitude. There were verbal fights. There were fist fights. A life was taken on the first day, and a gun had been pulled on the last day. Do not despair. There was goodness. Hope. Love. I fell in love in Baton Rouge, with the people of Baton Rouge, and with the children, the city, the history, and the culture. Yes, there were fights, but we were able to practice forgiveness and grace. There was attitude, but we practiced unconditional love. We put our hearts on the line, and the community of Baton Rouge gave us a chance. The kids came back every single day, so I come back every single year; leaving each year with a Louisiana shaped hole in my heart.
I will never forget one of the children crying to me, sobbing, thinking that we wouldn't come back next year (because of the gun that had been pulled on that last night, ending the night unceremoniously early), "you're not coming back next year, right? We scared you off." I remember that - four years later. I can hear it, the reason I decided to come back to the Baton Rouge project in 2013, 2014, and now this year in 2015. I made a promise to those kids, those little children that hold pieces of my heart, and I couldn't bare it if I had broken that promise. Sweet baby, my love is unconditional, it is through Jesus - "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." 1 John 4:16. The Holy Spirit lives and dwells in me, His love is unconditional, and I will not give up on you, because He never gave up on me. And I'll tell you a not so secret secret, He has not given up on you either, He never will.
In 2013, I brought my boyfriend along with me. In 2014, SportQuest Baton Rouge was the bookend of our honeymoon trip, and in 2015 we continue the project together, happily married, and striving to make a difference. As Sean and I grew individually, and as one in marriage, the SportQuest Baton Rouge project and community has grown. 2012 and a handful of SportQuest athletes had begun a movement, claiming Baton Rouge for Christ! This year we have over 20 athletes on our team, not including the volunteers. The light that shines on this city is unmistakable, and the change and growth in the Baton Rouge community has left my heart overflowing - This is how I know that this love story will have it's happily ever after. I am so thankful to be in just a small part of this change and growth a couple of weeks a year, God has blessed me immensely with Baton Rouge!
As a follow up:
In my years with SportQuest Baton Rouge, I have put aside my desire to lead bible study, forgetting about it, and focusing on other things, if I'm going to be completely honest with you. But God, He never forgot. In His perfect timing, He had waited for me to be ready. Last year Danielle asked me to co-lead Bible study with one of our other leaders, Thomas - and it was a dream come true. I was putting my passion for Jesus, and knowledge (now having completed my credits for a Biblical Studies Minor from Biola) to the test! If you're wondering how I did...I'm co-leading Bible study again this year, and mentoring one of my best friends and SportQuest sister to do the same!
I'm all in, God.
"…the righteous gives and does not hold back." Proverbs 21:26
Thank you for making me righteous through your blood!
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| Biola University Cheerleading 2012 |
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| SportQuest Baton Rouge 2012 Team |
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