. . . someone at Thursday night’s Region Championship game had a sign that read something like that. Four Winds played in that championship game and WON, earning them a trip to the State Boys Basketball Tournament next week in Fargo!
Regional basketball tournaments took place on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in Devils Lake. Four Winds and Warwick were both playing, so, like last week, I made a point to get to their games. I’ve been amazed this past week at how being at these games has played such a huge role in building relationships with the people. One of the Four Winds players was a camper at FaHoCha when he was young and it’s been so fun to reconnect with him the past couple of months at his basketball games! Dave, his camp counselor from FaHoCha and my dear friend, was even able to make it to a couple of the games this past week . . . that was a sweet reunion. My heart overflowed with joy and thanks as I watched the two of them sitting in the bleachers, talking before the big game and then celebrating the victory after the game. There aren’t really words to describe how special it was to witness that reunion . . . just another plan of the Lord that blows me away and leaves me speechless. And not only have we had the amazing opportunity to reconnect with this young man, but I’ve also enjoyed getting to know this young man’s mother these past couple of weeks, sitting together at games and cheering together for her boy. We were visiting after Tuesday’s game and she shared some of her concerns with me, then asked me to be praying (what an honor!). Praise the Lord for this growing relationship! And please pray with me for this dear lady and the concerns that are weighing on her heart . . . ask the Lord to heal, protect, and give His peace.
Also, like at Districts last week, I had several kids with me most evenings. After the championship game on Thursday night, one of the boys from the Tokio Youth Group needed a ride home . . . he plays on the Warwick team and hasn’t been to Youth since before Christmas, so I was especially glad to see him and catch up some. We had “tournament talk” on the way to his house and I had a chance to tell him some about my upcoming trip to Venezuela. He had seen an article about it in the local paper and was asking questions. Several other people at the games told me that they had seen that same article and were curious, asking me what the trip was about . . . please pray that the Lord will cause this spark of interest to grow and develop!
Thanks so much for your prayers and interest in what the Lord is doing here! I’m going to do my best to get to Fargo next week to cheer again for (and with) my Four Winds friends at the State Tournament, trusting the Lord to continue to develop the relationships that He has already so perfectly designed and put into place. Thank Him with me!
Me and CJ before the Region Championship game (he told me to wear the net)!
CJ and Dave after the big game on Thursday!
