A First

 

I'm sure that during our progress to Nigeria and definitely once we get there that I will be experiencing a lot of things for the first time. Today, if you like, was the first first: I went to a football match!  I'll now give those who know me a minute to get up off the floor.

Admittedly, spending a Saturday afternoon in the middle of a Scottish winter sitting outside (or even inside) watching football would not usually be first on my list of priorities (although James does it each time the team is playing at home) but we were invited as a family by Roy MacGregor, the Ross County Chairman, to meet him there this afternoon.  I'd got in touch with him as one of James' first questions about going to Africa was about the football there.  Afternoons watching Ross County play are one of the things he'll miss most when we leave.  Roy arranged for us to have lunch in the executive lounge, James to tour the dressing rooms and all of us to watch the match as well as being able to fill him in on our plans for Nigeria. As Mission Africa does a lot of outreach work through sport with streetkids Roy's offer of some strips for us to take out was much appreciated.  It's good to know that soon the Nigerians will realise that there is an alternative to Manchester United.

I was impressed by the vision and ethos expressed by the chairman.  Ross County is "more than just a football club"; the work it does encouraging young people and being involved in a positive way in the community throughout the week is just as important as winning games.  It's not a "Christian organisation" as such but with many of the senior figures within it followers of Christ it has great potential to be a force for good in society.  Mission is not just about leaving home and country to live for Jesus overseas, it's about doing God's work wherever he's put you.

My first football match was a time of meeting new people, feeling my feet turn into blocks of ice and experiencing the powerful atmosphere of the crowd.  I think the bravest person on the field is the referee.  Whatever you think of his decisions, it's a courageous man who can withstand the palpable waves of hatred which resonate throughout the ground when a player has to be sent off but this ugliness is countered by the amazingly uplifting emotion of a goal from the home team.  If only people were as passionate for Christ as they are for their football team.