The Promise: 8th Annual Church Paintball Event

Today is finally the day of our 8th Annual Church Paintball a Event!

God, you promised that I'll be able to play with no holds barred.  I will trust in your promise and your provision.  Forget the last couple days of dizziness or weakness; today, it's going to be amazingly awesome because you made this event possible!

Father God of all Heaven and Earth, into your hands I release this event into your care.



"Start in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Go.  Go.  Go. Go. GO!"

My heart pounds with the thump echoing in my ears.  Adrenaline courses through my veins. My eyes shine bright in anticipation and my feet bounce against the ground.  I love being on the paintball field; just being here makes me feel alive!

Holding myself still, I assess my side of the field.  Lord, where do you want me to go? There's 40 people here.  What if there's somebody who really needs or wants help... God, don't let anyone fall through the cracks today.  Guide me to serve so that your Spirit will shine and your presence be undeniably present!

Crouching nearby, I see one of our youth girls.  Gun in hand, she huddles behind a wall, unmoving.

Sliding forward, I gently I touch her shoulder and lean towards her left ear.  "Are you okay?  Is this scary?"

She slowly nods her head yes.

"No one is shooting here right now.  There's no paint hitting this wall or the ground around you.  Come, let's take a look to see if there's anyone you can shoot."

I peek around the wall, I encourage the girl to join me in scanning our surroundings.  No one in sight.  Good.  Coaxing her forward, we move to the next wall.  Ah, perfect!  No paint is flying in this direction.  Yes, opponents are visible.  Easy targets.  *drool*

"Can you see those guys in the middle?"

Cautiously, the girl peeks out.  Quickly, she pulls back and nods her head.  Guiding my hand along her gun, I position the gun against her shoulder and adjust the angle of the barrel.  "Okay, all you have to do is lean your body out, keep your gun pointed in this direction and pull the trigger."

"Game over.  Time's up!"

God, give this girl the strength and courage to step beyond her fears to enjoy the fun that paintball can be.  Give her and the rest of these kids (and adults) the support each needs to step forward, the ability to get past the painful hits, the courage to step back onto the battlefield, and the strength to stay positive in the face of loosing.  Lord, I ask for you to bless this group with fun, laughter and integrity regardless of winning, loosing, painful hits, or even unfair calls.  I ask that you show everyone this day what it is like to have you present.



We've only finished the first round of games, but already sweat trickles down my chest.  My gun, still unused, sags heavily in my hands.  Today's going to be hot!  Already, two people need band aids for cuts; one from a paintball, another from falling into the castle's moat.  Another guy limps off the field from a hard hit on his thigh. Around me, I hear stories of people getting shot in the groin and one on the neck.  Ouch!  

God, is this really okay?  There's a lot of minor injuries first thing in the morning!  Will anyone still want to play after this?  I know I prayed for openings to serve and for people to be loved on; but even for a paintball event, what kind of calamities are you going to allow for the rest of this day?

I'm scared, a little anxious.  But isn't this what I prayed for?  I asked God to be in complete control.  

As I shuffle my feet in resignation, a movement on my left catches my eye.  Turning my head, I see a bunch of guys crowding around a girl on the bench and two staff members present.  Oh shoot.  Is this girl part of our group?  One of the guys hovering around her is from my church youth group.  Heart sinking, I toss my gun on a nearby table and rush over.

Eyes glazed.  Minimal response.  Slowed speech.  Body drooping forward.  Not good.  I focus on the conversations around me:

"Yeah, I had to carry her."
                                                                   "Probably got too hot."
                                    "How are you feeling?"
                                                                                              "For a little bit, she was out."

                       Concern                         Helplessness
                                      Desperation                                                   Hesitation
                                                                                    Inexperience

Oh Lord, already?

I get the closest guy to lay the girl on the ground.  I send another for wet towels and hear footsteps running off.  Without turning away, I lift the girl's head and hand her a nearby Gatorade.  "Take a couple of sips every minute, no gulping."

Drat.  It's hard to drink laying down.  Too late to lift her upright.  Laying down is safer in case she blacks out.  

Taking a nearby sweatshirt, I stuff it under the girl's head for a pillow. Someone hands me two wet towels.  Perfect.  I quickly place one on her neck and hand her the other towel.  "Use this to wipe your face."  

Looking down, the girl appears more alert.  "Here, drink another couple of sips.  Cooling your body more would be good.  If your willing, squeeze the wet towel and soak your shirt across the abdomen.  It's hot enough your clothes will dry fast."

Oh Lord, did this really have to happen so early in the day?  Give me the wisdom to provide appropriate care for fluid dehydration.  Give me the eyes to assess this girl's body and plan for the next step.  Help me to manage today's event to completely eradicate the chance of anybody else getting dehydrated!

Father God, I know I asked for no major injuries, but this is cutting it pretty darn close!  In this type of heat, it's really hard to recover.  It sucks, but this girl may not be able to participate in today's paintball event.  Should I pull her out?  Return her money?  God, please give me your wisdom!  I want her to be able to play today.  I want her to be stable and safely play paintball with her friends!  I want her day to be filled with laughter, fun experiences, and for her to enjoy the deep sense of community only you can create.  I want her healthy so that her friends can also wholeheartedly enjoy the blessings of playing with and against each other.

"Here, make sure you sit in the shade.  Still feeling okay!  Dizzy?  Nauseas?  Discomfort? I'm honestly not sure if you can participate in the rest of paintball today.  Keep drinking sips of fluid; if you like Gatorade, switch between that and water.  I leave the decision up to you whether you choose to play or not.  But you've gotta be very careful; if this happens again, it'll be worse the second time around."

God help!



"Kristy, can I get a band aid?"

Turning around, I see that the next game, or maybe even the third game, has already ended.  "Sure.  Show me the cut."

My eyes pop open.  The outer skin is completely torn off!  I've never seen this happen in paintball before... At least not from a paintball!  A full circular wound is visible completely torn down to the reticular layer, a criss-cross mesh of yellow-white fibers.  Great.  What in the world is happening out there?!?

"Is this a paintball shot?"

"Yeah."

Oh my goodness, today is so out of my control.  Yup God, all yours.  What happens today I know you allowed it, so in whatever you allow, please protect these children!  

Arghhhhh... I wanna pull my hair out!  Today is dangerous beyond what my words can express!  This is not normal paintball!



Father God, as always, you are beyond amazing!  I asked for 40 players; you ended up providing 41.  I asked for your help in gathering over half the needed payments and electronic waivers on the morning of the event before 9am; you completed this process in 30-minutes by 8:55am when my personal best still took 60-minutes.  I asked for no major injuries; there were none... But there were PLENTY of minor injuries.  I asked for opportunities to serve and share in how playing paintball with integrity, prayer, and a good attitude is our way of bringing God into our passions, our hobbies; Lord, you answered this request too.  I asked that the girl who got dehydrated would fully recover to play paintball with her friends; she did.  But not only that, God, you gave her the energy and ability to play so well that she surrendered players and became the key in winning games.  I asked for protection of our youngest players and promised to keep them out of the advanced games while my neighbor went to pick up the pizza; Lord, you protected them even as they participated in the advanced games (I had no idea they came in on the field and joined the other side).  *deep bow of apology to the parents*

I still shudder when I think of all the potential injuries, dehydration issues, hurt feelings... But Lord, you took care of it all!  No twisted ankles.  No complaints of headaches past the single occurrence of dehydration which spurred me on to constantly bug everyone to drink water. Lord, you even provided extra water so that there was no need to portion fluids throughout the entire day.  

Father God, I thank you for the laughter of everyone present.  I thank you for the strength you gave me so that I could completely participate in today's event!  I thank you for providing just the right people at all the right times to help run this event smoothly.  I thank you for two friendly referees.  I thank you for providing treasured friends to share their time and energy to selflessly teach and protect the new players.  I thank you for even providing people who we've never even met before to guard our bags so nothing got stolen.  I thank you that in the chaotic return of equipment, everything was completely returned.  I thank you that even though we played really late, the late arrival of the pizza allowed everyone to eat fresh pizza instead of old cold pizza.

Lord, you are all-powerful indeed!  This entire day is a blessing.  Thank you for the chance to see you so clearly present, so clearly in control, and so clearly purposeful!  Thank you for allowing me to participate in your story and walk beside you in this journey of sharing your glory. Thank you for loving me enough to answer all my demands, my requests, my wishes all so that I can shout that my God is a living God, real in my life, and visible by your provisions.  

I am humbled by your goodness.  I am awed by your power.  I am freed by your love.  I am comforted by your unbroken promises.

Father God, in you, I lay my life.  In the name of Jesus, give me the strength to serve and ground my identity in you.  With the Holy Spirit, may I shine brightly as a small reflection of you on this earth.

Oh yeah, and one more thing.  God, can you continue to give me strength?  Tomorrow is a practice with our other paintball team, Crimson Rage.  I would like to participate... just a little bit.  Please?  I really want to participate at least in the second half.  I know I'm crazy.  Today alone with the heat, full gear, carrying my heavy gun, and playing paintball would wipe out any unseasoned, physically untrained person.  For the past 6-weeks, I've been mostly stuck in bed with a couple days where you blessed me with the strength to bed out of bed for half a day.  Today is my first day out of bed for so many hours, I should be completely drained.  In fact, logically I know I should rest tomorrow.  Forget logic.  Lord, will you please bless me with the energy to play more paintball?  If you will it, I believe anything is possible!

*huge grin*  Well, God, if you're going to teach me to pray boldly, I'm going to do it!

In Jesus' name I boldly ask my Father in Heaven for another day of playing paintball... one in which I can fully enjoy myself without physically crashing or being too sore to move. Amen.

Video clip of us playing paintball also found at https://youtu.be/Hd1G450Dr90

(un)CERTAINTY

Monday, June 22, 2015

My feet drag as I walk into the doctor's office.  Plopping into a chair, I wait with Noel supportively by my side.  

I'm scared.  Today's another chemo day.  

Last chemo sent me to the hospital for two days with fever, a high resting heart rate and an even higher moving heart rate up to the 150s.  I don't want to deal with the chemo again!  Can I just stop?

I know God will guide the doctors in regards to my treatment.  I know God is all-powerful and if he wanted me to get chemo, I can physically crash the entire week and still be strong enough to participate in the Summer Church Paintball Event this Saturday?  Or God can let me have chemo and get no symptoms at all.  Even better, how about no chemo?  God can do anything.  But for me, will I have to go through another week of misery?

I'm tired.  Part of me is breaking inside.  How much more?

Father God, I don't know what you have planned for me.  I'm clueless as to which direction you're guiding my care.  Lord, I know that in you, anything is possible.  Please give me peace as I follow your will.  Give me comfort as I choose to serve you.  Give me a heart to accept the doctor's judgement as I know their decisions are under your will.  Give me the heart not to argue, not to push my will, but allow you to be in complete control.

In Jesus' name I pray, amen. 

The doctor comes in.  She sits down.  I know what she's going to say; there's a certain look.  Is that pity I see?

"Kristy, you will get chemo today.  To counter the alcohol allergy, we'll give you Benedryl and a steroid called Dexamethasone.  Any questions?"

Inside, my heart drops.  I feel myself starting to crumble.  What can I say?  I told God that I'll let him lead the doctor's decision.

But really God?  

Again?  

No break?

*deep sigh*  

My limbs have no strength.  Here I go, another round.  God, you call it.  You promised me I can play with the kids at the Summer Paintball Event.  I don't know how, but I know that in you, anything is possible. I will trust in your faithfulness.  I dread my future, but to walk with you is better than me walking my own path.  I commit to submitting to your will... But God, you know I'm really hating this chemo right?

Noel and I sit for two hours, waiting for my scheduled chemotherapy session.  I flop in my chair; my small black backpack supports my head, my legs drape over the opposing armrest.  At least this is comfy!  The sun beats down, I'm starting to sweat.  Okay, maybe a little too warm here.

Just as I prepare to move, a nurse calls out my name: "Kristy Cheng Esporo?"

"Here."  I wave my hand to get her attention.

"Are you waiting for your port to be de-accessed?  You know that your chemotherapy was canceled right?"

What?!?  "My port wasn't accessed this morning, we were just waiting for the chemo."

Three minutes later, my phone rings.  The PA (physician's assistant) is on the phone.  "Hi Kristy?  You know that your chemo is canceled right?  Your morning's blood test shows that your ANC (absolute neutrophil count) is 0.5, too low for us to give you any chemotherapy treatments.  Go home today and take the Neulasta injection to raise your white blood cell levels and we will see you in two weeks for chemotherapy."

Hanging up, I give Noel a huge smile and a thumbs-up.  My heart leaps for joy.  Sweet, no chemo today!  

Thank you, God!  You totally waited to the absolute last moment before notifying me of the cancelation of my treatment.  Not waiting would've been nice, but I'm totally fine with this outcome!

Friday, June 26, 2015

Father God, even without chemo, this week, my strength is up and down.  There were times I felt stronger.  There were also many times my bones hurt, I can feel my heart pounding, my head gets dizzy, eyes loose focus, a sharp sensation shoots from my shoulders to my hips where my muscles almost collapse in pain.  Father, I don't know what's going on with my body, but give me the energy, strength, focus, and spirit to serve those around me with a positive and loving attitude; no holds barred.  

May we as a paintball group be a blessing to all we interact with. Give us the heart to unconditionally serve, teach, love on each other.  I ask that your Spirit shine so bright all will know of your presence.  Bless the communication between all players, especially the captains and lieutenants, even the staff we come into contact with.  Guide the pacing.  Protect the children.  Keep us hydrated. Give us the wisdom to teach, the spirit to love, words to encourage, fellowship, joy, laughter, hope, and growth together as a community.

In Jesus' name, I continue to pray big for this event and expect to see you come through in amazing, wonderful, and totally unexpected ways!  

Now let's PLAY!  <3

Noel and Kristy at Stanford right after getting notified NO chemo!!!

Noel and Kevin preparing pods to paint:

Kristy & Paintball: Leap of Faith

June 14, 2015

Wide stance, squatting low, I readjust the gun in my hands. Shifting the weight of my paintball tank, I settle it into an area just below my right shoulder.  Torso twisted, my gun touches the starting net while my gaze fixates on my goal.  Lower, I push my body weight ever closer towards the ground.  Silent count: one, two, three, go!  I throw my body forward.  My gun twists to the opponents side.  My left foot pounds the ground.  Right foot flies forward shoving me forward.  I'm falling.  Oh shoot I'm falling face first as my right foot catches the ground.  I have to protect my brand new paintball gun!  Instinctively, I flex my right elbow angling the barrel of my gun away from the ground.  Ahhhhh, gotta straighten my knees!  I'm not wearing any padding, if my knees touch the ground first, it's gonna hurt!  Quickly, I duck my head downwards to lower my upper body, stretch out my arms, and allow myself to skid along the ground: forearms first, chest, abdomen, then legs.  So embarrassing!
Picking myself off the ground, I can only think of two positive comments: one, I turned tripping into a successful dive, and two, I protected my gun from getting scratched.  Success!  *sheepish grin* 

Brushing the dirt off my chest, I stand up.  Legs planted a little wider than normal, I balance myself upright as my legs shake from lack of strength.  Drat, I'm so weak!  Guess that means no running for today.  Stumbling a little, I shuffle to the nearest inflatable bunker and position myself to shoot.

*click*

"Good, stand there like that."

Gun up, angle the hopper behind the bunker.  Tuck my elbows tight by my sides.  Plant my feet and twist my them in (smaller target). Squat low, lower.  Focus.  Looking down the side of my gun I search for my opponents.  Any enemies?  Stay sharp.  Keep my body hidden as much as possible.  Be ready to switch from the right side to my left.  Be ready to shoot someone and be shot at. 

*click*

Okay, if you didn't catch it by now, a teammate is taking photos of me posing on the paintball field in my brand new Crimson Rage team jersey with my very first brand new paintball gun.  Yay!  Today is my first day over this past one month that I'm back at the Santa Clara Paintball field.  Actually, it's the first day in a month I'm doing anything active!  Forget the fact I'm not really playing paintball.  Forget the fact that there are no real opponents and the field is empty of people.  I'm enjoying the air, the sounds, my environment, even the feels of preparing to shoot someone. *wide grin*  Bloodthirsty ain't I?

Unofficial photo shoot complete, we leave the field.  I feel satisfaction with killing imaginary opponents, getting the opportunity to start breaking in my new gun, learning my current physical status.  I have many areas to to address: physical strength, speed, balance, positioning, techniques, accuracy.... the list is never-ending.  Well, more like there are always areas to improve in.  I'll always be assessing and tuning my physical capabilities, my attitude, my technique, increasing my knowledge, and the most important bit is I'm having so much fun!

Laying in bed, home again after another forced hospital admission, I stare at the calendar. Today is June 18th; I just got home yesterday.  How come my time at the paintball field, only 4 days ago, feels like a whole different part of my life?

I received two more units of blood on June 15th and started the newest chemotherapy (Eribulin) which left me with erratic fevers, headaches, weakness, sore throat and a very high heart rate. No one is sure what the cause is.  Not likely the blood transfusion. Maybe the chemo?  The alcohol in the chemo that I'm allergic to? Combo?  *shrug*  All I can say for sure is that my current resting heart rate is 100-110s.  Simple activities such as standing up or picking up socks from the ground jump my heart rate into the 140-150 range.  *shudder*  

I've worked as a physical therapist in the cardiopulmonary department; I know I'm pushing close to the limits of being safe if I increase my activity levels.  With my current heart rate, what paintball?  I'm more likely to jump out of bed, get dizzy, and put my head down to minimize blacking out or completely loosing my balance.  *deep sigh*

On the other hand, as I was praying last week, I felt and still feel God confirming that I will be able to completely participate in the upcoming church paintball event on June 27th.  With me living in one hospital after another every week this month, where does my unfounded confidence come from?  All I can say is that God's given me assurance in my heart and peace in my mind that he will intervene no matter how bad things are now.  Beyond my faith in God, I have nothing else to base the conviction I have in my full participation on the coming paintball event.

But not just my confidence in making it to the paintball event; the planning, group organizing, logistics... If I don't make it to the field, execution of the event will be more difficult, but not impossible.  I believe in delegation, communication, and training the next generation to take over.  A huge thanks to Kevin Wang and Joshua Wang for making this event possible as Noel and I lean on the both of you!  

Talk about jumping off a cliff; I expect and need God to step in. My body as it is now lays weak and motionless in bed.  Under my own power, I'm not able to walk a block much less run, crawl, shoot, and carry equipment.  By God's power and his promise, I will be living proof that for the one day God's provided, I will be fully functioning.  Doesn't matter if I crash afterwards, I know that in the name of Jesus Christ, this is a blessing my Father in Heaven will bless me with.

If you have time, come see for yourself what God can do!  I dare you and I dare myself to see God in action!  *wide grin* 

Flipping to the other side of my head, I keep telling myself "this paintball event is God's event!  He will provide who comes."  Then I get scared.  Sure there is some interest in the event, a couple people have requested information... but the reality is that besides the team captains and lieutenants, we have absolutely no one officially sign up 7 days before this paintball event.  

I gnaw on my lips with worry.  What if no one comes?  What if no one signs up?  We promised Santa Clara Paintball that there will be 40 people.  Right now, we have 7 advanced players ready to serve and no one to serve.  *stress*  

I'm scared. But this is God's event.  But I'm still scared.  God promised I can be there at this event so he's gotta provide people to serve right?  But what if he doesn't?  What if I heard God wrong and everything is all foolishness in my head?  Where did my brash confidence disappear to?  Inside, I'm completely defeated; I feel crushed.

Father God, you, who are all-powerful... will you hear my plea? Even after seeing you in action and boasting of your great works, something as small as numbers stump me.  I freeze in fear I hear you wrong.  I shudder at shouting of your greatness, not knowing how you choose to provide, but then cringe at my timidity in asking you to provide players to play and serve each other at our annual church paintball event.  Lord, you have continued to provide both the advanced players as well as the beginner players of all levels for 8 years... so why do I start doubting you now?

Forgive me, Lord, for my lack of faith.  You said, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20 NIV)

Lord, I want that faith as tiny as a mustard seed!  Give me the boldness to trust in your goodness.  Give me courage to pray publicly for great things.  Give me the confidence that you love me so much that you will step in regardless of my selfish requests and provide better than I can ever dream of.  Help me ask for big things so that I can see you provide even bigger!

Father God, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit; I want to show the world that you are real, that even in this day and age, you work miracles.

In Jesus' name, I ask these things for next Saturday's June 27th Church Paintball Event:

• Bring 40 players to this paintball event
• A referee who is kind, hard-working, meshes well with our group, approachable, and willing to work with us to smoothly run the event
• Protect all participants from moderate to severe injury as well as dehydration
• Have everyone in good health and able to play to their heart's content
• Provide enough food, water, snacks
• Give everyone the heart to help one-another, a positive attitude, joy in playing both with and against each other
• Properly working equipment: nothing broken, jammed or irreparable on the field
• Nothing gets lost, stolen, or misplaced
• Stress-free collection and organization of money, people, transportation, anything else
• For all participants to have fun and the day be filled with laughter
• Main request: your sovereign presence throughout the planing, execution and closure of this event

Lord, help me to release the control of this paintball event, all the details, my health into your all-powerful hands.  Regardless if I get another round of chemotherapy this coming Monday, I trust that my medical care and physical body reactions are all in your hands.

As I trust my life in your care, help me to trust you with events out of my control.  Give me, Noel, Kevin Wang and Joshua Wang wisdom, courage, tenacity, strength, boldness, kindness, gentleness, peace, joy, and hope as we learn to seek you first in this paintball event and first in our lives.

Lord, I thank you that you are greater than everything.  I ask that you again step in and show your provision so that this paintball event can be a "success" in all senses of the word.

In Jesus' name I pray, amen. 

June 5th video update regarding my chemo: 

http://youtu.be/HiCvMmx3NAY

Kristy shooting imaginary opponents on the paintball field (June 14, 2015):

https://youtu.be/Pb2aIpgm4q8

Living with Cancer

Tumor (Kristy’s definition): unwanted mass of useless living tissue; a glorified weed located in the body; a source of fear, pain and acknowledged mortality.

I know my CT scan was positive for tumors 4 months ago.  A large part of me is hoping that the tumors in my body would shrink.  Another part of me hopes that the tumors would disappear and never return! 

Striding down my hospital hallway, I flip through freshly printed papers.  These are the new results of my most recent CT scan with contrast.  Chest, still clear.  Good.  Abdomen… ahhh, here I go again.  Am I ready?  I don’t feel ready.  Shaking inside, I see that not only do I have more tumors, but the ones seen 4 months ago are all twice as large as before.  Wait, these tumors are almost half the size of my fist already?  More tumors than before?  Great, my third abdominal surgery was just a year and a half ago and the chemotherapy after that physically wiped me out… I do NOT want to deal with all this cancer stuff anymore!

*deep sigh* 

I’m just starting to get stronger.  I’m finally back rockclimbing and attacking the 5.10-5.11 climbs.  I no longer tremble with fatigue and physically crash so hard I cannot move the next day.  I’m getting better again! 

Do I have to lose my strength?  Do I really have to face becoming physically useless?  I don’t mind losing my hair for the third time, but will I have to give up working?  Give up paintballing?  Give up rockclimbing?  Give up driving?

My chest hurts.  My hands shake.  My vision blurs.  Once again, do I have to place my dreams on hold?  This time around, will I even get back on my feet again?  How many chemotherapy trials are enough?  How many surgeries before I choose to stop?

Father God, tears drip from my eyes as I face the potential difficulties ahead.  The last round of surgery and chemotherapy was extremely rough… it took me over a year to recover and I’m still not where I used to be.  Lord, what’s it going to be this time around?

God, I acknowledge that you are in complete control of my life, my future, my abilities… I know that even through the toughest of times, I get blessed by seeing you perform impossible miracles.  I know that when I am weakest, I notice most your strength, your love for me, your provisions, your amazing power.  Father, even as I get to see you more clearly, I’m still scared.  I hate losing control of my life.  I hate being bedridden.  I hate not being able to actively work and play.

Lord God, you know that I love the challenge of playing unique sports.  In rockclimbing, I get to enjoy the thrill of almost falling, savor the adrenaline of pushing through almost impossible spots, wallow in the sense of accomplishing a difficult goal.  With gentle balance on one outcropping to a light touch on another, I get to fly through the air, occasionally grasping handholds I’m too short to reach.  Success and failure intertwined.  Trial and error.  A twist here, backstep there… I swing my body up and over large round boulders.  Smooth transitions, dynamic leaps.  I can feel my body stretching and muscles sliding as time slows down.  Lord, the impossible becomes possible if I only try hard enough, push hard enough, let go of my fears.  Focus.  Determination.   Tender palms and achy forearms, but I know that I’m alive!  New bruises form.  Excitement.  Tension.  Pure stubborness.  I’m going to make it up or fall trying.  This is what I feel when I climb, knowing that you are besides me every step of the way.

Lord, I don’t want to lose this part of myself!

Then, Father,  there’s paintball.  I’m finally able to get back on the field, still slow, but at least I can play!  I enjoy the thrill of dodging paintballs, protecting my teammates, hunting down my opponents.  Even while breathing hard, I know that I should be able to do even more.  If I can remove the mental limitations, anything is possible!  Shouting out positions, dashing from one bunker to the next, keep my head low and gun up… as I play, satisfaction and disappointment intertwine as one game blends into another.  Lord God, because of you, I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as failure, but there’s always the opportunity to try again.  Again and again, I want to hone my body, my reflexes, my abilities.  I want to continue challenging and being challenged to grow.  I want to feel the rush of a job well done. 

God, I know that it’s only through you, that I’ve made it this far, that because of you in my life, I can confidently jump forward into the unknown… knowing that if I stray too far or push too hard, you’re there to catch me.  Father, it’s because of the security I have in you that I can so fully live my life.  Lord, because of your amazing love, I can take joy in the struggles that come my way.  Father God, thank you for giving me peace.  Thank you for guiding me in medical decisions.  Thank you, Lord God, that I am never alone.  You are my strength, my joy, my purpose.  Without you, Lord, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

Lord God, thank you for letting me see your provisions.  Thank you for this period of time where I got strong enough to climb rocks and play paintball again.  Thank you for the opportunity to work with tools on fun projects and acquire many beautiful orchids!  Lord, in you, I have peace knowing that this path I walk has a purpose, that my life is not useless.  Thank you that I can continue to serve you by serving those around me.  May my walk with you bring you glory and honor.  May my attitude in good times and bad speak clearly of my relationship with you.   May your presence shine in my life and my lifestyle so clearly none can deny that you exist.

Lord, for as long as you allow it, I will continue to go all out… to work, to play, to enjoy this life to the fullest extent that you have blessed me with. 

Give me patience to wait on your timing.  Give me peace to face the challenges ahead.  Give me hope that in you, all is well.  Give me joy in your presence.  Give me strength to forge ahead.

Lord, may I never stop serving you until one day you call me to rest.  Until then, give me the heart to use all the talents and gifts you give me so that I can complete the tasks you call me to.  Lord, in this life, I choose you first.  Give me the strength to live for you first above all my own hopes and dreams.  Help me acknowledge that in walking with you, I lose out on nothing.

In Jesus’ name I give God my past, my  present, my future, amen.

​At the 2015 March CEPL tournament #1... Noel being weird.

Dreaming of Paintball

Rumble.  Squeak.  The garage door opening.  They’re back! 

Rolling out of bed, I creep to the top of the stairs.  Peering down over the banister, I don’t see anyone.  Pause.  Anyone coming in?  Listening.  Nope.  Inching down the stairs, I pad over to the kitchen.  Hearing voices through the door, I take a peek.  Ah, they’re standing outside!  Slipping on my shoes, I step out to join them.

Car trunk is open with paintball guns neatly lined-up inside.  Piles of dirty paintball laundry stuffed in bags and tossed to the side.  Busy stacking the pod packs and face masks out to rinse, I watch the guys stumble back and forth to organize the equipment.  Slowly bending down, some of the guys sit on the ground with deep sighs of relief.  *smirk*  They each must have played hard.  Today, Noel took some of the young men to play advanced paintball.  Some of these young men have played with us for a couple of years… This time, they’re helping us clean the equipment they used.  LOL… did I mention… there’s a LOT of stuff to clean?  *wide grin*

Squatting down, I join in the fun.  Stories fly back and forth of shooting and being shot at, paintballs that bounce and don’t break, dodging, attacking, bunkering (getting shot at close range), running drills, shooting one-on-one… *drool*

Energy. 

Excitement. 

Adrenaline. 

The smell of broken paint permeates the air.  Dirt and paint are smeared on clothing.  Feet shuffle.  Voices rumble. 

A part of me is so envious.  I want to go out and play.  I want to hunt others down and to be hunted on the paintball field.  I want to polish my techniques: stay tucked-in tight, run fast, slide, attack, dodge.  I want to feel the breeze through gaps in my gear, work my muscles to the point of collapse, experience the heart-pounding adrenaline, eyes darting for targets, mind whirling for a better attack angle.  I miss paintball.  It’s times like this, when all the dirty gear is spread out, that I remember what my body used to be able to do.  I remember how far I’ve fallen.  I acknowledge how much more climbing I still need to do.

Someday… 

Someday I will return to the paintball field.  I will run my body hard with no concern of consequences.  I will shoot and be shot at.  I will once again crawl, slide, hide, stand and run.   I will hear my heart thumping in my ears.  I will have my muscles burn with fatigue.  I will once again put my gear on dry and peel them off soaking with sweat.  My blood will flow fast and hard.  New bruises and welts will appear.  Blood will drip from scrapes and cuts. 

Awesome.

I love playing paintball: the challenge, the teamwork, the communication.  Protecting and being protected.  A combination of patience and aggressiveness.  Paintball is more than just shooting your opponents.  Attitude matters.  Heart.  Hope.  Integrity.  Battling between a fine line of winning and losing where sometimes a slip or a random shot can make all the difference.  Luck.  Strength.  Wisdom.  Skill.  Experience.

For now, I can only assist.  I’m too tired to even make it out to the field to cheer people on, but just for now… just for this short period of time, I want to be here, right in the midst of sweaty gear, paint-smeared guns, tired players and bask in the stories of defeat and of success.

Father God, times like these I wish I was well again.  My fingers are itching to play paintball.  I crave carrying my gun and dodging paint.  As I look at my gear, my heart pounds in anticipation.  When I actually lift my equipment, not even fully geared in pads or carrying a load of paint, not even 5 minutes and my body is quivering in complaint.  After verbally assisting with the clean-up outside, I’m feeling so tired I sit at the dinner table.  Still more tired, I half-lay on the couch.  Not good enough.  *deep sigh*  Giving up, I crawl upstairs to lie in bed.

Lord, when will I recover?  When can I play paintball again?  Even just a little bit.  Father God, Lord of Heaven and Earth… give me the strength to return to work full-time and the endurance to play like I once used to.

Thank you for helping my body heal and letting me slowly get stronger.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity and the wisdom to rest.  Thank you that my most recent CT scan is clear of any abnormal growth.  Yay!!!  I won't have to see the cancer doctor for another 4 months!  Thank you, Lord God, that in you, I always have hope, purpose and goals to look forward to.  Thank you for creating me with a personality that doesn’t easily give up.  Thank you for my stubbornness, my strength in you and the courage you’ve given me to live this life. 

In Jesus’ name I give God all the glory, in good times and bad, amen.

See you all next week!  *hugs*

K

 

Aftermath clean-up of paintball equipment with Benson hanging out... this is what our dinner table looks like:

 

 

Wanting to do what I shouldn't

"You want to do what?"

"Ummmmmm... Paintball.  After I get that port (little box for easy intravenous access) placed under the skin in my chest... Can I play paintball?  You know, the sport where you carry guns and shoot each other with little balls of paint?  It's really really fun!"

*blink blink*

"I haven't played paintball since my surgery.  Even though I'm a lot weaker now, I wanted to play at least once before chemotherapy!"

"You can play if the port won't get hit, it'll hurt."

"Uhhhhh, if pain was the only issue, I wouldn't be asking and I wouldn't play paintball.  I have a very high pain tolerance.  So... regardless of pain, can I play paintball?"  *hopeful look*

"Well.... You can play paintball only if you guarantee that the port doesn't get hit.  It's placed just under your skin so if you're not careful, the skin will tear."

"Oh.  *super deep sigh* no matter how much padding I wear, there's no guarantee I can avoid a hit.  Maybe, just maybe... if I ask to have the port placed lower on my chest... then I can bend forward and protect the area! Yeah!  Maybe that will work?" 

In response to my comment, I get a look filled with incredulity, incomprehension and doubt.

"Okay, okay.  Maybe not... no paintball.  Don't worry... this time, I'll be good."

I'm I that weird?  Are my words are incomprehensible?  *downcast demeanor*  Being told I can't do something... well... now I wanna play paintball even more!  *deep sigh* My pride's not worth screwing up the minor procedure required to place the port in...  I'm irritated!  Rwar!  I hate being told I can't do something!

Father God, thank you that in my week of weakness, you strengthened my body for a day to hang out with friends... many whom I haven't seen in years!  Thank you for giving me the strength and health to be outside again.  I love feeling the sunshine, gentle breeze, laughter with friends.  Thank you, Lord, for giving me an opportunity to smile, a time of hope.

In Jesus' name, I ask for you, Lord God, to bring peace and joy to my friends and family as you have to me.

Friends from childhood and college years!  =)

Me and my precious friend, Suzanne!  Love ya lots!

Noel and I feeding a ram at Tilden Little Animal Farm.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paintball Day

Saturday, July 27, 2013


Excitement
                                                   Anticipation
                       Anxiety

Jittery and bright-eyed, I jump out of bed. Today's finally the long-awaited paintball day!

Chill breeze
                                   Gray skies
                   Quiet...
                                                     Calm before the coming storm

What will today be like? It’ll be awesome because I believe that God provided this day to be exactly what it is!  Whatever comes about… today will be a day of blessings!

At the paintball field, set up starts: friends come early to help, Noel deals with the overall set-up and I assign groups. Last-minute waiver forms wave in my face. Money flashes by. Furiously scribbling notations and new updates… more friends come. Numbers flying, last-minute changes... Ahhhhhhhhhh. I give up! I don't have time to recalculate... I can't delay or we will start playing too late. Let’s pay up and get started!

Front desk:

16 rentals with 500 paintballs, 7 rentals with 1000 rounds of paint, 7 self-equipped... 3 of these are team admits.... Oops, make that 2 _more_ rentals with 500 rounds of paint. Oh, you don't have a gun? I lost count. There’s one person with no equipment, can I get another rental and I’ll count people later and let you know if we owe a rental fee.

Okay… how many want/need chest protectors? No, not everyone gets chest protectors, only girls and people who are really afraid of getting hurt. 14?  Do 14 of you _really_ need chest protectors?  Never mind.  Okay, can we get 14 chest protectors… here, can you hand these out? Oh yeah, a pod pack for each rental please… oh, you only have 14? Okay, we’ll take those 14 pod packs. Uhhhhhh, we're missing a bag of paint? *dripping sweat* Guess there was an uncounted for rental. I’ll pay for one more rental package with 500 paintballs please!

That’s all for rentals and equipment right? Okay, let’s get ready to play!  Santa Clara Paintball will provide orientation to safety, additional introduction by Noel and I regarding equipment usage, prayer, group picture (because I know I’ll forget later!), hand out bags of paint, meet and greet teammates, get to know your team coaches... let's go play!

Father in Heaven, thank you thank you THANK YOU so much for a fun-filled day of paintball: running, yelling, shooting, tension, excitement, teamwork, communication, learning, teaching, adrenaline, pain, full-out physical activity, sharpened senses, fear, bruises, joyfully bright smiles… so much life! Thank you, Father God, for the ability to grow together with friends, to meet new people… to experience your thousand-and-one blessings in unexpected ways.

Father, even as I got really antsy and irritable with the constant last-minute changes… Lord, you gave me peace and calmness of heart and the humility to apologize for my high-strung demands for waivers and money ASAP. *wide grin* Lord, even in the midst of all this event planning and execution, thank you for the peace of knowing that this is your event, under your protection and provision… and because of that, I’m able to be at peace when I acknowledge your power and your authority… to lean on you and not myself.

Lord, you provided us with personal equipment from Santa Clara Paintball staff as our own equipment broke down. You gave us wonderful coaches and lieutenants who actively invested in teaching beginners how to play and handle equipment, friends who came to watch assisted in driving people to our home for lunch... you provided time to take pictures, time to rest, plenty of water, snacks and food... so much and more!  Lord God, your abundance of blessings is again beyond any expectations… anything I could even have dreamed of on my part. Father, thank you for again showing me your power and your strength when I am weak… thank you for providing when I can’t… thank you for turning a crazy event into a manageable one… thank you for covering all aspects I didn’t plan for!

Thank you, Father God, for this opportunity to play paintball with a lot of friends right before my surgery!

Lord... I don't know what else to say except "thank you" over and over and over again!  Your love and your provisions and your attention to details is amazing!

So... In Jesus’ name I praise my Father in Heaven, amen.

All the daring peeps who were able to make it out to play paintball today!

These are the captains and lieutenants who made this event possible (I'm in here too!)  =P  Thanks everyone!!!  Totally couldn't do this type of event without all of you present!  *big hugs*

Being Uncertain...

Friday, February 15, 2013

YAY!!!  Noel and I are hosting a paintball event tomorrow!

“Hey, you wanna come paintballing with us?”

I’m not sure how many people I've asked… one after the other, I get replies of “sorry, not my thing” or “I don’t wanna get hurt.”  *nod nod*  Totally understandable.  Paintball as an activity/sport where you run around shooting others and getting shot in return… ummmm, bruising is expected.  *wide grin*  Paintball definitely isn’t everyone’s notion of a great weekend activity… although, for Noel and I, we love playing paintball!  *smirk* 

Key issues with tomorrow’s paintball event that gnaw at me:

*We need 20 people for a private field and referee (Noel and I cannot participate in the general open field for beginners while using our own equipment).    =O

*If we have 15-19 people attending, we can each pay an additional $5 to get our own field and private referee.  More games!  *drool*  But I don't want to spend more money.

*If we don’t get a private field (even with Noel and I renting the paintball guns), our group will get lost amongst a large group of strangers, no teamwork, no ability to teach our friends in a structured environment, and these large groups turn around to the next game very VERY slowly.  *deep sigh*

Father God, I'm very anxious!  Lord, I’ve got this tangle of emotions, knotted, hard, sour, churning and twisting inside me.  No matter how I pray, I don’t feel calm.  I don’t feel at peace.  I don’t feel good.  *sniffle*  Instead, I feel like a failure… that this paintball event is so difficult to set-up.  God, I want to honor you with this paintball event.  I want people to see that Christians can have fun and enjoy your blessings in a very different format.  I want your presence visible tomorrow at the paintball field.  I want people to know that something’s different and that difference is you.  I want people to come as they are… to not have to spend more money than we already stated the rental/admit fees are… I want to honor the people who said they’d come participate in paintball with us with a private field, a personal referee so that Noel and I can join in and play too!  I want a format in which Noel and I can teach, have fun, run around and enjoy ourselves with our friends.  I want, I want, I want….  

*pause*  

 Lord God… what do you want for us?

God, give Noel and I the heart to follow yours.  May you turn our hearts to match what you care for.  People are more important to you than money or control or convenience.  God, give Noel and I the wisdom in how we play, in our attitudes, in our heart to serve, in the snacks and water we bring… that it may be enough.  God in Heaven… In this paintball event, match my heart and Noel’s heart to yours so that what you treasure, we will too.  Through this, Lord, I ask that you give us peace… that everything big and small… we leave into your loving hands.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

God really is an awesome God!  The paintball event is beyond anything I could’ve wished for… I’m still in awe! 

Beautiful day, everyone there by 8:45 am, private field, personal referee, choice of fields and more games than I’ve played in one day in years!  =D  There’s so much that God provides… I don’t even know how to get my sense of joy, excitement and emotions across through words.  All I can say is that today is a day of many wonderful experiences, opportunities in getting to know people and a bird with red on its wings even ate out of my hand while flying in the air!  *Laughter*

Here are some pictures to show what I don't know how to express/say:

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Sitting in the sun, I open a book given by friends for Christmas titled “The ALL IN Life: Raw, Real & Unreligious” by Marc Owings and David Terry.  This book quoted a Dr. Henry Blackaby: “There is a curious notion and idea in the Church today that ‘God will not call me to do something that I cannot do.’…  It is my experience, and testimony of Scripture, that if I believe God has called me to do something that I believe I can do, it probably wasn’t God speaking at all.  It was me speaking to me.”

So true!  If I could do all the crazy activity planning and execution of events by myself, I wouldn’t need God!  *smirk* I hate being stretched and uncomfortable, but I love seeing God clearly at work!

Lord in Heaven, thank you for giving me more than I can handle alone.  Thank you for always providing for my true needs and my true wants buried underneath what I think I need and what I think I want.  Thank you Lord, that I’m nowhere near perfect!  Thank you, Father, that in my weakness, my fear, my personal inabilities… that you, Lord, step in… so that I can clearly see you (and not me) in action.

In Jesus' name, amen.