The Kingdom of God Revealed through Floorball



The beauty of Lake Nissa in Metangula, Mozambique

  I drove 100 km (62 miles) outside of Lichinga to Metangula, a town that is situated on Lake Niassa. The main floorball coaches and Claude, the young man from Switzerland who has been training them and discipling them, were meeting at the lake to celebrate Claude’s last few weeks with them. They slept in tents on the beach within a lodge’s property. I slept in my car on the same beach close by them. There was a guard nearby, but when I asked him how well he had slept, he said he slept well through the night. I thought that would be the case, so I slept in my car :)


These young Mozambican youth are special treasures. Many are called into something much greater than what they ever expected - Floorball, a vehicle through which Jesus Christ wants to reveal His glory into the sports arena; Floorball, a dream that God has given to Mozambique with little Lichinga being the only place in all of Mozambique that has this sport. When one government official, who travels all over Mozambique, requested a special meeting to see them practice, he saw them praying together before practicing. He remarked on how different these youth were, and how their faith in God was a good thing in sports.


Hanging out before Dinner

As I spent time with them on the beach, my heart silently ached and was in prayer for these young men. I wondered if they were really prepared to walk with God in His dream for Floorball. I pray for them because I know the glory of God only remains in low and broken vessels, and because I long for them all to have a relationship with God that is fully dependent upon intimate experiences that only Jesus can bring to lives abandoned in His presence.
 

We had fun burying coaches

The Lord taught me so much more while sitting on the beach and playing with these young men. I would have chosen certain things to happen on that day at the beach. But, the Lord is a great teacher and He opened my heart to what He prepared in the midst of my longing for my friends to experience more of Him. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (and only in the Holy Spirit). We experienced the kingdom all day long. One of the coaches took it upon Himself to cook for all the rest. He did it without complaining. That’s peace. We had more than enough spaghetti, and these young men could have eaten all of it. Instead, we saved a bunch and shared it with some very hungry children that were staring at us, but not asking for anything. Those children were so happy. The peace and joy of God was operating in our midst. One of the coaches joined me as we talked to them about Jesus. After eating, the children washed out the basin and returned it and also filled it with water from the lake (this was to wash our plates in). At another time, there were a few other children who wanted to hang around the coaches. They wouldn’t leave. This was a God moment. So, Felix, one of the coaches, translated for me as I explained to them about the salvation of Jesus Christ. Two of the three little boys gave their lives to Jesus with joy on their faces. The third boy prayed with us also, but since his main language was Makua, and not Portuguese or Nanja, I’m not sure how well he understood. Righteousness came in this moment as we experienced His kingdom yet again. 

Please join me, join us all, in believing God and asking Christ Jesus to consume all of these young men’s hearts, and for the glory of God to fill Floorball like never before. During the time at the lake, I learned that in His own way, the Lord is fulfilling His purposes in this Floorball team.  If we trust God and if we live utterly dependent upon Him alone, His dream for Floorball will become a reality. Your kingdom come and will be done, oh Lord!

Love,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes