First Colony Hits a Home Run at Impact!

What better way to kick off the Summer than going to a baseball game! First Colony is #1 in our eyes as Impact was blesses with hundreds of tickets to see the Astros take on the CArdinals at the end of May. The night before, the 'Stros ended a near-record losing streak by gaining a victory against St. Louis. Impact fans got to ride the wave of excitement as Houston produced a strong and exciting 8-3 win over the visiting team. NOt only was it a blessing to watch the home team stomp the opposition, but to have a section full of Christian families bringing their friends and family and reveling in the excitement of a great national past time was like eating a fresh slice of warm apple pie topped with a huge scoop of Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream.

Ok, I have to say that it was just extra special for me. I got to see so many Impact kids and Hispanic families come out and really enjoy their time. Thank you God and thank you First Colony. But even more special, I got to bring my son to his first ball game. It was just wonderful pointing things out, explaining things, and seeing him get excited about the things he was discovering and noticing. The game became alive. Well, on that particular day, I was also blessed to have my brother and sister-in-law, another couple from Brazil, and two
Hispanic youth. This was their very first baseball game as well. As soon as we stepped into Minute Maid Park, Claudio remarked how it was just like being in a movie. Imagine your first experience like this: the immense park, tons of people moving smoothly along on escalators, the billboard entertainment and statistics, the hot dogs and chili fries and fresh roasted peanuts, the wave, the sound effects, the "TAke Me Out to the Ball Game," the wonderment of the 7th inning stretch, and of course, the players and the beauty of the game! Watching all of these people discover and fall in love with something new made the experience that much more satisfying for me.

Imagine, also, what it was like, and could be for others, the first time that God really opens our eyes to His love and the great blessings that await us in a new life in Christ. The newness is incredible, but the great thing about this walk with God is that as we keep participating in His work, we appreciate more and more what He is doing. What was once an exciting new thing, only continues to be better and better. Lord, take me out to the "ball game."

Again, many thanks to First Colony for buying an entire section of the park and permitting a great opportunity for many people. Sure, its just a ball game, but you never know how a simple moment can make an large Impact on someone's life.