Cedarville Magazine, Fall 2014

Volleyball Team Serves Athletes and Children in Panama Before it began the 2014 campaign for a third G-MACChampionship title, the Lady Yellow Jackets volleyball team was on a different kind of mission. Nine players and two coaches hosted clinics, competed in matches, and interacted with the people of Panama from August 6–13. They went in cooperation with SCORE International, an organization that specializes in sending athletic teams on missions trips. The team was also able to work with SCORE missionaries David and Marianella Bueno. The team visited two villages frequented by the Buenos. “We playedmud soccer with the children and encouraged the families living in the villages,” said Assistant Coach Torey DeLozier. “The second village showed us many of their cultural traditions. Before leaving the villages, one of our girls shared her testimony.” The Yellow Jackets played five matches against three different teams. “After each match, we shared our testimonies with the players and talked to them more personally,” DeLozier said. “We exchanged emails so these conversations could continue. It was great to see relationships built so quickly that may lead to other opportunities to share more about the Gospel.” One match led to an informal get together and mini-clinic at a school. “The other team’s coach invited us to his school after we played,” DeLozier explained. “Most of the children were gathered in the courtyard area to interact with us. We ran a few volleyball drills, but ended up just interacting with them and enjoying their energy and enthusiasm. Hopefully, that door will stay open for the missionaries so that they can take future groups there to continue the ministry in that school.” DeLozier added, “Before we left on the trip, we discussed how love and laughter were able to communicate with others despite the barrier of different languages. That was huge for us, especially when we worked with the children and played against the teams who did not know much English.” Middle hitter Tori Thompson ’16 said she was nervous about sharing her testimony. “Everything that we did and said represented God,” she said. “We were able to share our testimonies after we played and bonded with the other teams through a translator and email. That was a blessing for me because I did not think it was possible to have that good of a relationship and be that kind of a testimony to people that didn’t speak the same language.” Rightside hitter Hannah Wagner ’15 was struck by the diverse opportunities to share about Christ. “There are so many different places that need God,” she said. “We shared His love on the volleyball court, at a school of Chinese students, with very native tribes who washed their clothes in the rivers and lived in huts, and on the plane trip home. I just saw a great need, and I was able to fill that need and get the ball rolling for other people and groups that go to Panama to minister.” The Lord opened a great witnessing opportunity for Head Coach Doug Walters on the flight back. “It was a deep, hourlong conversation with one of the flight attendants,” he said. “I hope it has heavenly results down the road.” God spoke to setter Maddie Ledbetter ’15 through the simplicity of Panamanian life. “There were people who didn’t have cell phones or TVs, who just lived very simple lives and yet were so content,” she observed. “That was a testament to how all we really need is Christ in life.” The Yellow Jackets volleyball team competed against the Technological University of Panama (pictured here with the Cedarville team), the Panama national team, and the University of Panama. Yellow Jacket volleyballers (L-R) Rachel Krikke ‘17, Hannah Wagner ‘15, and Abby Shelton ‘17 made new friends on the Panama trip. 28 | Cedarville Magazine