UTC Review

My  beautiful friends and family. I am sorry once again it has taken so long for me to update you. There has been a lot going on so this is going to be a bit of a long one... but hopefully worthwhile. Back at the end of April we ran UTC (Ultimate Training Camp.... or as we like to call it in Canada “National Training Camp”) with 16 University students from the University of Pretoria and the University of Johannesburg. With three of the HPC girls and one player from TUKS (UP) representing Pretoria. UTC is always challenging no matter what side of the field you are on and this was no exception.

Classroom Time- If they look half asleep then I wasn't teaching... 

One of my highlights was teaching the Hurtin’ for Certain message. We live in a society that expects and needs everything to go right all the time. But here in South Africa people face so many challenges and struggles. In this principle we talk about how sometimes we do (and all of us will) face trials and difficulties that we bring upon ourselves and others that we do not. The ones that we do not are the ones that make no sense without God having an ultimate plan. These trials are used to develop Christ like character in us. When we look at these trials we think of the refiner’s fire. When silver is made, the refiner heats up the rock and the impurities rise to the top. He clears away the dross, and stays right beside the entire process. He knows the refinement is finished when he can clearly see his face reflected in the cooled metal. In the same way we will be finished going through refinement when look like Christ in our hearts, thoughts and deeds.

Piggyback rides around the rugby pitch

The other main thing we learn is that only God can take any situation no matter how bad it looks or feels and use it for our good and for His glory. As we learn this we follow Joseph’s story going through being sold, being put in jail, interpreting dreams and finally being placed in the position of honour as the second most powerful man in Egypt and saving the National of Israel. In that time, God had a plan, and it was a very different plan from the one Joseph would have had on own. Here in SA there are a lot of churches that try to preach that through following Christ you will be wealthy and prosperous... but God didn’t promise an easy life, but He did promise a life lived to our fullest.

Playing with Rachel for a short while during the SPECIAL

As the time progressed and we moved closer to the SPECIAL we got to get to know the students better especially as the small group leaders met with them one on one. At the time of the SPECIAL draft we really saw God’s hand and leading as we chose captains and then as they chose their teams. Team 1’s captain is a kind hearted guy. He chose one of our strong athletes and two girls that would likely have been chosen last as they are not really athletes. Then early in the special the captain was injured and the two girls were almost too sore to move. So for many of the games it was just one girl against the other team.

But it was amazing to see how God gave her so much strength and ability. And after it was all over on reflection it was exactly the challenge she needed. And now she is at the Banyana (Senior National Team) Camp as they prepare for the Olympics. She doesn’t feel physically quite ready but she knows that she can push so far beyond what she feels.

Boitumelo (TUKS)

On another team the captain felt called to choose an all-girl team. It was incredible to see how that team in particular banded together. They pushed each other, encouraged each other and built each other up in spiritual truths. We saw the athletes push beyond their normal and saw many of them come to know more about what God thinks of them and to place their trust in the Father that wants to carry them forever.

Kaylin (HPC) during the Special

One other highlight was having Kaylin pray during the final meal. She told me after Plett that the biggest change for her was that she now felt she could really pray to God. Not just pray a scripted prayer. Her prayer that meal was just so genuine and real. It was a blessing to know that God used me for a small part of her journey.

Regina (HPC)

Sdu (Now AIA staff) on Golgatha

My greatest challenge was just being reminded of how much pride I have. Pride in my experiences and knowledge and in the way that I took correction personally. This proved to give me even more challenges in the tour that came right after. But for now I felt God was really revealing this as a spot where I needed refinement and that is what I got.