Hope, Heart, and Hands: A Week with Cornerstone University Volleyball in Honduras
On our vision trips, my desire is that everything we do will connect to the hope, heart, and hands of Jesus through sports. Some weeks are hard to summarize because so much happens, and this past week with the Cornerstone University Volleyball team in Honduras was definitely one of those weeks.
It was full of travel, service, worship, volleyball, laughter, hard work, powerful stories, and moments where it was clear God was doing something deeper than what could ever be captured in a photo or social media post.
I had the privilege of being with this team all week, and I can honestly say they inspired me. I watched them step into each day with humility, joy, flexibility, and a willingness to serve. They did not just show up to play volleyball or complete projects. They showed up ready to listen, learn, encourage, and love people well.
They brought hope by showing up with the love of Christ. Whether they were visiting homes, hearing stories from students and ministry leaders, praying with partners, or sharing testimonies with young athletes, they carried the hope of the Gospel in a way that was humble, joyful, and real.
They showed heart by being present. One of the most encouraging parts of the week was watching this team fully engage each day. They listened carefully to the stories of our friends and ministry partners. They were moved by the faith and resilience of the children, families, and leaders they met. They entered spaces that were new, challenging, and sometimes uncomfortable, but they did it with compassion and openness.
All week, we wrestled together with the tensions of life and faith. We saw beauty and brokenness. We saw joy and hardship. We saw deep faith in difficult circumstances. We were reminded that following Jesus does not mean avoiding tension, but learning to meet Him in the middle of it. We talked about what it means to hold gratitude and grief, courage and uncertainty, service and humility, faith and action. And more than anything, we saw those tensions lived out in the people we met.
They also used their hands to serve. From painting and concrete work in El Jícaro, to helping with projects connected to the homes and ministries of our partners, this team worked hard. They encouraged Inspirata through practical service and came alongside local leaders who are already doing meaningful, faithful work in their communities. The team did not come to take over. They came to join in, be present, support, serve, and be served.
The volleyball part of the trip was powerful as well. Through camps, clinics, a friendly game, and time with local clubs and students at the International School of Tegucigalpa, sports became a bridge for relationships. Volleyball opened the door for encouragement, laughter, connection, and deeper conversations. Many of the Cornerstone players shared their stories, both publicly and in smaller groups, and those moments planted seeds we believe will continue to grow long after the team returns home.
I am also especially grateful for Mimi Crook, a longtime partner of Friendship Sports International, who helped lead this trip in such a meaningful way. Mimi poured into the team all week. She loved them, challenged them, encouraged them, and shared her own story in a powerful way. Her heart for Honduras, her deep relationships, and her willingness to serve made a tremendous impact. She also helped connect us to so many ministries and people, opening doors for the team to experience the work God is doing through faithful leaders across the country.
This week would not have happened without Mimi and all the other incredible partners. We were blessed to serve and be served by the International School Tegucigalpa, The Humuya Inn, Jericho Ministries, His Eyes Ministries, and Inspirata. Each partner played a meaningful role in making this vision trip possible. They welcomed us, fed us, hosted us, encouraged us, challenged us, taught us and gave us opportunities to join in the work God is already doing. Simply put, we saw and experienced Jesus in so many ways.
What stood out most was not just the talent of this team, though they are clearly gifted athletes. What stood out was their posture. They were flexible, joyful, hard-working, present, and willing to serve wherever needed. They embraced busy days, leaned into challenges, and stayed present with God and with one another. They represented Friendship Sports and Cornerstone University with excellence, and even more importantly, they represented Jesus with humility and love.
This week also reminded me why Friendship Sports International exists. Sports can create opportunities that might not otherwise happen. A volleyball court can become a place of ministry and worship. A shared game can become the beginning of a friendship. A simple ball can help break down language barriers, cultural barriers, and socioeconomic barriers. A testimony can become a seed of faith. A service project can become a visible picture of the love of Christ.
I am deeply grateful for the Cornerstone University Volleyball team and the way they embodied the mission of FSI this week. They served with their hands, loved with their hearts, and carried the hope of Jesus into every space they entered.
The impact of this trip will not end with the final day in Honduras. It will continue in the lives of the people they served, the partners they encouraged, the young athletes they inspired, and in the hearts of the team members who allowed God to work in them and through them. My prayer is that they return home inspired, challenged, and a little closer to Jesus.
What an amazing week. What an amazing team. I am inspired! And what a beautiful picture of the hope, heart, and hands of Jesus through sports.
Embracing the Tension,
Mateo
Matt Wallace
Executive Director FSI
It was full of travel, service, worship, volleyball, laughter, hard work, powerful stories, and moments where it was clear God was doing something deeper than what could ever be captured in a photo or social media post.
I had the privilege of being with this team all week, and I can honestly say they inspired me. I watched them step into each day with humility, joy, flexibility, and a willingness to serve. They did not just show up to play volleyball or complete projects. They showed up ready to listen, learn, encourage, and love people well.
They brought hope by showing up with the love of Christ. Whether they were visiting homes, hearing stories from students and ministry leaders, praying with partners, or sharing testimonies with young athletes, they carried the hope of the Gospel in a way that was humble, joyful, and real.
They showed heart by being present. One of the most encouraging parts of the week was watching this team fully engage each day. They listened carefully to the stories of our friends and ministry partners. They were moved by the faith and resilience of the children, families, and leaders they met. They entered spaces that were new, challenging, and sometimes uncomfortable, but they did it with compassion and openness.
All week, we wrestled together with the tensions of life and faith. We saw beauty and brokenness. We saw joy and hardship. We saw deep faith in difficult circumstances. We were reminded that following Jesus does not mean avoiding tension, but learning to meet Him in the middle of it. We talked about what it means to hold gratitude and grief, courage and uncertainty, service and humility, faith and action. And more than anything, we saw those tensions lived out in the people we met.
They also used their hands to serve. From painting and concrete work in El Jícaro, to helping with projects connected to the homes and ministries of our partners, this team worked hard. They encouraged Inspirata through practical service and came alongside local leaders who are already doing meaningful, faithful work in their communities. The team did not come to take over. They came to join in, be present, support, serve, and be served.
The volleyball part of the trip was powerful as well. Through camps, clinics, a friendly game, and time with local clubs and students at the International School of Tegucigalpa, sports became a bridge for relationships. Volleyball opened the door for encouragement, laughter, connection, and deeper conversations. Many of the Cornerstone players shared their stories, both publicly and in smaller groups, and those moments planted seeds we believe will continue to grow long after the team returns home.
I am also especially grateful for Mimi Crook, a longtime partner of Friendship Sports International, who helped lead this trip in such a meaningful way. Mimi poured into the team all week. She loved them, challenged them, encouraged them, and shared her own story in a powerful way. Her heart for Honduras, her deep relationships, and her willingness to serve made a tremendous impact. She also helped connect us to so many ministries and people, opening doors for the team to experience the work God is doing through faithful leaders across the country.
This week would not have happened without Mimi and all the other incredible partners. We were blessed to serve and be served by the International School Tegucigalpa, The Humuya Inn, Jericho Ministries, His Eyes Ministries, and Inspirata. Each partner played a meaningful role in making this vision trip possible. They welcomed us, fed us, hosted us, encouraged us, challenged us, taught us and gave us opportunities to join in the work God is already doing. Simply put, we saw and experienced Jesus in so many ways.
What stood out most was not just the talent of this team, though they are clearly gifted athletes. What stood out was their posture. They were flexible, joyful, hard-working, present, and willing to serve wherever needed. They embraced busy days, leaned into challenges, and stayed present with God and with one another. They represented Friendship Sports and Cornerstone University with excellence, and even more importantly, they represented Jesus with humility and love.
This week also reminded me why Friendship Sports International exists. Sports can create opportunities that might not otherwise happen. A volleyball court can become a place of ministry and worship. A shared game can become the beginning of a friendship. A simple ball can help break down language barriers, cultural barriers, and socioeconomic barriers. A testimony can become a seed of faith. A service project can become a visible picture of the love of Christ.
I am deeply grateful for the Cornerstone University Volleyball team and the way they embodied the mission of FSI this week. They served with their hands, loved with their hearts, and carried the hope of Jesus into every space they entered.
The impact of this trip will not end with the final day in Honduras. It will continue in the lives of the people they served, the partners they encouraged, the young athletes they inspired, and in the hearts of the team members who allowed God to work in them and through them. My prayer is that they return home inspired, challenged, and a little closer to Jesus.
What an amazing week. What an amazing team. I am inspired! And what a beautiful picture of the hope, heart, and hands of Jesus through sports.
Embracing the Tension,
Mateo
Matt Wallace
Executive Director FSI
You can still help this team out, they need approximately $5000 to reach their final goal
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