UNAM BOKKIES FOR LIFE

I originally wrote this journal on the 7th of December 2024

Today, I woke up with a heavy spirit, I could hardly wake up. I hear strange wailings that seem to aid my inability to awake. It's a cat behind my room. I have nothing against cats, but those cries felt dark and demonic, so I went over and chased it away. I came back and knelt next to my bed to pray, but I slowly dose off, as the cat starts wailing again. I feel the same heaviness trying to come back, so I woke up, chased it away, and decided that I’m going to do my prayer walk.

The prayer walk can be hard sometimes, especially when you have just woken up or when you’re tired, but it's very helpful because it leaves no room for you to dose off. It keeps you praying until the route is complete. Plus, I have every reason to book in since I’ll be going to reach some precious people at the UNAM soccer stadium today. The clever girls are playing, and if you know me, you know I’m a UNAM Bokkies for life. Ivie gave her life to Jesus at our soul winner varsity bible study, and she’ll be playing today. I think she’ll be a great player among other noble and courtly things one day.

As I’m walking and praying, the heaviness gradually leaves, and by the time I’m done, there's peace and joy in my heart, so overwhelming that I just can't keep it to myself. 45 minutes earlier, I could hardly talk to anyone, but here I am now sending a mass message of encouragement to at least 90 people on my contact list. That alone is just a testament to the power of prayer.

Today, my church outreach is on my home turf just here in the location, 20 souls prayed to receive Jesus, but my heart is not really satisfied. For the past week, my heart has been aching, longing to reach the football community, especially the UNAM Bokkies. Not where you’d anticipate, but that’s where God wants me. God has a deep love for these people, I’m just privileged that He lets me feel a piece of it; I am convinced if he lets me feel the whole thing I will die of a broken heart.

It's 14:00, and I’m on the pavilion of a football pitch. The air is heavy as the game kicks off. Anticipation is building up, and everyone is excited. I won’t lie, I love the atmosphere, and I really enjoy live football but one thing I must not forget is the reason why I’m here. I have been praying for God to touch our beloved country, and he ironically decides he is sending me as an answer to my prayers. I must tell these people of the love of God. The price has already been paid in the spiritual realm, the agonizing prayers offered unto God in the valley of the shadow of death nights before. The deciding moment is finally here, but I’m afraid. The whole game has passed by, and still, I haven’t made my intentions known. The second game ends, and still, I haven’t reached a single person. I have the keys, but I won't open. My gun is loaded, but I won’t shoot. It’s a sad scene.

That’s it! I am going home. In defeat. I feel like a failure. I was intimidated by the personalities of these people, I feared they wouldn't listen. Maybe I’m not supposed to be here to start with. and to make it worse, I don’t even have taxi money to go home. It's going to be a very long walk, and when I thought of walking 18 km for nothing, I paused in my tracks. "I can't walk such a grievous distance without telling anyone about Jesus." And so I turn back, and I tell God that whoever I still find at the stadium will hear the beautiful message of redemption.

Strangely, there was still a great number of people when I got to the stadium. I found the 11 Arrows girls outside the stadium, getting ready to depart. The first girl I approached looked broken and angry, so I tried to reach out to her, but she shamefully dismissed me, and I heard giggles all around me. In that moment, I felt like God set me up for disaster, but as I walked away, her teammate called me up and asked me to talk to her. With fear and trembling, I start to speak up, and a few other girls walk up and gather around to hear. When I was done speaking to them, I prayed for them and left. I spoke to another 5 high school kids who came to watch the match, and after that, I was happy and ready to go home.

But then I realized that I haven’t spoken with those who are dearest to my heart, the UNAM Bokkies. I turned back and hoped to still find some of them there, and fate didn't let them leave. I found some of them by the stairs going up the pavilion. I told them how I am a big fan, but I’ve been a bit shy that’s why I haven’t made that known earlier. I started telling them about Jesus, how he loves them so much, and how we are all broken and empty without him. Hillary had tears in her eyes and asked to record the message I was sharing so she could share it with the others. We ended up praying together, and I challenged them to give their lives to God. I won’t lie, that was beautiful and my heart was satisfied and now I was ready to go home.

Now there’s a bounce in my step and a song in my heart as I go, 

“I’m a UNAM Bokkies for life, God knows I’m a UNAM Bokkies for life”(singing). It dawns on me that I don’t have money on me and that I have to walk some 20 km back home. But at this point, I counted it all worth it. I’m not treading this distance in vain. I didn’t tell them I didn’t have taxi money so that they don’t think I came for their money and, in turn, hinder the gospel. As I exited the university, a black Bokkies 7-seater came up from behind, and they noticed me and asked to take me home. Just at the right time, I didn't think twice. In no time, I was seated in that microvan, silently thanking God.

For my UNAM Bokkies that got to the end of this. God's not a Bokkies fan like me, but he sure does love you. His heart breaks when you are far from him. He's dearly wanting you home, and he already paved the way. Jesus is the way, and whoever enters through him will find their way into his warm embrace.