Bringing Floorball to Villages

Last Wednesday (10/6), floorball (a type of floor hockey) entered the villages of Assumani and Sanjala (instead of Namacula). These activities gave the Mozambican coaches opportunities to organize trainings and “fun” tournaments with children in the villages. As we played in the sunny and dusty fields in both Assumani and Sanjala, Jesus brought much joy into the lives of the children and the adults that were watching them.

Last Thursday (10/7), several tournaments were held all day in the city’s sports arena to host 100’s of kids from around 8 years old to teenagers. The top winners received special prizes, including sports’ shirts or shorts, and everyone who participated received nice prizes. In preparation of the event, Celio and some of the coaches made 4 more goals out of PVC tubing. We used fishing net to cover the goals. We only needed a little bit, but had to purchase the shortest length available - 100 meters long (~300 ft.) and 4 meters (~12 ft.) high. Of course, we had plenty of fishing net left over!

On Saturday (10/9), we had a wonderful time in Namacula introducing children to floorball, and singing and dancing (in the dirt again) to African songs of various languages. I asked Victo to come along with the Swiss Team and Mozambican coaches so he could help run the sound system. Some of the ladies on the Swiss team led the crowd in a silly song in English about a banana. The children enjoyed it so much that the ladies did it again. Then, we attempted to play the Jesus film, but couldn’t get it to run properly. So, we played a powerful film about a muslim man who converted to Christianity because Jesus revealed Himself to him through dreams. Victo preached after the film and many people, including children, gave their lives to Christ. Then we called for the sick, and many people came to the front to receive prayer. In the beginning, some of my Mozambican coaches were kind of timid, but they slowly got courage and began to pray for people. It was very dark outside and I had forgotten to bring the floodlight which runs off the generator. So, I turned the lights on from my truck, and pointed them toward the platform to make “spotlights”. Praise God who does all things well!

On Friday, the Swiss team returned back to Switzerland. Pray that Jesus would help the coaches to continue floorball in Namacula and other areas of the city. Also pray that Jesus would give me wisdom, plans, and greater vision to disciple the coaches and young men and women players now that the floorball camp is over. Sports is a “language” that transcends many boundaries, and our floorball teams are open to everyone. We pray that Jesus would use floorball to declare the good news of Jesus Christ to youth and develop the lives of young people in Lichinga and beyond.

The Director of Floorball4All in Switzerland and Tyren

Team with T-shirts they won in the tournament

Team playing during Tournament

Seeing and playing floorball for the first time in Assumane Village

In the joy of Christ,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes

Jesus! Lets Play Floorball!!!

For months I knew that the team of 12 Christian Swiss floorball trainers were coming and what they were going to do. But, after one week, I’m still in awe at the workings of God that are unfolding before my eyes. His creative strategies are too beautiful to capture with words, and only daily experiences can partially suffice. The coaches are receiving advanced trainings in floorball, being showered with love and teaching from the word of God, and in the midst, the Lord is establishing a group of handpicked coaches who will advance the kingdom of God in local villages and districts outside of Lichinga through floorball. We all know that after the Swiss team leaves, there will still be a lot of work to do to continue to prepare and support the coaches. Celio, the head coach, and myself trust the Lord to strengthen us and continue to be faithful with what He started, and with what only He can fulfill.

This week on Wednesday we'll be having "fun" floorball trainings in the villages of Namacula and Sanjala; on Thursday there we'll be a tournament in the city for youth, followed by an outreach in Namacula village on Saturday.

Below are several pictures to give you a glimpse of some things that have been happening.

Swiss and Mozambicans working together to make a goal

Teaching the Parable of the Lost Sheep

A team was started for girls

Our floorball camp was aired on national radio and TV (Celio being interviewed by the radio station)

Handing out diplomas for completing the Floorball Camp (2nd from the right: Director of Sports for the Province of Niassa, Mozambique. He is also in the first photo on top)

Please continue to pray for God's prescence to be upon the Floorball activities and that we will all encounter Him in life changing ways.

Love,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes