On every vision trip, FSI's  ultimate hope is that you will connect to the mission behind the trip: showing God’s love and extending His hope, hands and heart through giving back to the community and, of course, through sports. Looking back at the week and everything that happened, it feels like an absolute blur of amazing moments and madness. I wish I could say that you could simply follow along on our social media channels, and while our social media team did an amazing job, it would be impossible to capture all the delicate and intimate moments that occurred on the trip. The way God moved throughout the week was something that could only be experienced.

I knew my team would be great, but I could never have told you just how perfectly suited they were for this trip. I got to see guys connect with each other on a deeper level through shared experiences. I got to see the guys connect with the incredible students. And I witnessed the growth of every single person on the trip. I could see the Lord moving in the hearts of our people, and that showed itself through service, joy, effort, love, and laughter.

One of the most impactful messages that was emphasized throughout the trip was the idea of tension. We knew there would be tension, largely due to the wealth gap, but we weren’t prepared for the tension between pure joy and hardship. There were all sorts of circumstances we experienced, and we saw extreme faith in both the highest and lowest places in the country. We found beauty in the unconventional and got to see how faith is more than simply a belief; it is survival for many. We got to serve a lovely family through our effort and labor. We spent a lot of time digging a trench and starting the process of building a concrete wall. It was difficult work, but knowing that we were not working for a paycheck or for ourselves, but for something much greater, was the ultimate encouragement. We got to do what we did for a cause that was larger than ourselves—a cause that reflected Jesus’ service and love, which He first demonstrated for us in the Bible.

And, of course, we got to play the sport we all love: soccer. Coming into this trip, we were unsure whether we would be able to play any games, but I am more than pleased to say that we actually got to play quite a few. From high-level high school teams to semi-pro teams, and even a stellar high school girls’ team, we got to experience all different levels of Honduran soccer. While we had an absolute blast playing the games, our guys could all agree that the best soccer moments came when we got to serve the kids through clinics. A few different times, we got to hang out with the kids, provide instruction, and build relationships with them. Getting the privilege of interacting with these kids was a huge blessing. No one could have told us that the kids would have just as big an impact on us as we had on them.

This entire week was made possible through some exceptional people: Mimi Crook and Matt Wallace. Matt has been leading these trips for a while now, and while he wasn’t able to be there with us in person, he was able to organize everything we needed to stay safe and have a meaningful experience. And Mimi, was the lifeblood of the trip, I cannot say enough about how amazing she was this week. From wrangling and keeping 17 young, chaotic guys safe and together in a foreign country to making sure we were all properly fed—and even going on an ice cream run when we tried and failed to get ice cream on our own—nothing we did would have been possible without Mimi’s support and assistance. We are so thankful for her. We are also in awe of her organization, Inspirata, which has continued to support Hondurans for years by putting kids through school and helping where others may not.

I got to see how much each individual on this team had to give, and I was astonished by the depth of their hearts. I could have already told you they were great soccer players and great people, but seeing how much they were willing to serve was beautiful. We got to listen to guys give testimonies that were unique and heartfelt. I also gave my testimony and never could have imagined how much my heart would open up to these kids. But it wasn’t just me; through the many testimonies that were shared, I could see God moving through these young men and using them to impact others who are walking a similar path.

Matt talked to us as a team before we left about Friendship Sports International and the value it brings, and now we can attest to that firsthand. It takes a special organization to do what Friendship Sports International has done through our trip, and we are extremely grateful.
I want to close by thanking everyone who made this possible. First, Matt Wallace for organizing the trip. Mimi Crook for making sure we not only survived but had an amazing experience. The Humuya Inn for hosting us, feeding us, and keeping us safe all week. Inspirata for supporting the mission we took on while we were there. And I want to thank all the other individuals and organizations who helped us in our goal of being God’s servants this week.
I
 am so grateful for the blessing it was to be on this trip, and I know that even though our trip is over, what we cultivated on this trip will live on in us and in the people we impacted in Honduras. I pray that each guy on this trip will not let this experience fall out of sight but will continue to carry a small part of it with them throughout their lives going forward.

AJ Dykstra - Captain - CU Men's Soccer