ANTIGUA, Guatemala – "I have failed you as a coach if you do not leave Cornerstone with a deep confidence in the Lord and a deep confidence in doing hard things." This is a phrase that Head Coach Jessica Yonkers says regularly to the women's basketball program as she enters her fifth season back at CU. From August 8-15, 18 members of the women's basketball program had the opportunity to pursue their confidence with the Lord and in doing hard things through a unique vision trip experience to Antigua, Guatemala as part of the Golden Eagle's partnership with Friendship Sports International (FSI). 
 
It did not take long for the team's eyes to be opened, as on day one of the trip the team had the opportunity to travel to a village outside Antigua where they played with kids, served a meal to those kids and their moms, and go on a hike with them. The hike sent the team traveling up a mountain on a narrow path, as the Guatemalan mom's led CU to their flower garden. Not only was the hike challenging, but the team witnessed some incredible things on that short journey. From a woman and her kids carrying large sections of tree branches on their head up that same mountain, to the children running up the mountain with ease barefoot, to the mothers cutting a bouquet of flowers for each member of the team with pride for the hard work they had accomplished. 
 
The first day's experiences of hard things set up the team for the next three day's where they traveled to El Sitio, Guatemala, a small rural village deep in the mountains of greater Antigua. El Sitio serves as the primary location for the Hands of Grace ministry that CU had the opportunity to serve with. The team spent three days split into groups where they took turns building an outdoor kitchen/bathroom for a family in the village, making and packaging meals for the families at the feeding center, and participating in the kid's ministry. 
 
Eyes grew wider for the Golden Eagle women's basketball team during this time. Sophomore guard Olivia Kubik stated, "The love of Jesus was so evidently shown through the kids and moms we were able to be with in those three days. It was so crazy to me because a lot of these people have nothing, yet they have everything in Jesus. They have so much pride, joy, and love in everything they do, and I was able to see the love of Christ so clearly. The last day we were with the moms and kids, some of us were able to share with them the impact they had on us, and they did the same. That moment was a glimpse of Heaven for me. Even though we did not speak the same language, we were all connected as brothers and sisters in Christ. It reminded me of Revelation 7:9, 'After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could remember, from every nation, from all tribes, and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.'
 
After each day in El Sitio, the team returned to camp where they had time for reflection and devotion. The power of the Holy Spirit was a theme throughout that discussion as junior guard Maddison Fulks commented, "We were sent to Guatemala to spread the love of Jesus to those who need it most; but in reality, they showed the love of Jesus to us. I have never felt the Holy Spirit as much as I did in Guatemala. Jesus changed my perspective, and He just made me more grateful for everything I have."
 
Not only did the team have the opportunity to see the love of Christ through all the mom's and children at the feeding center, but they had the opportunity to see it through a building project as well. Every member spent at least one day working with a duo of Guatemalan builders who are part of the Hands of Grace Ministry. The project took a lot of hard work as the team had to bring the supplies down a steep hill to the house that sat on the side of a mountain. During that time, many athletes got to experience what the day-to-day life looked like for the people of El Sitio. Junior forward Mackenzie Stien stated, "the most impactful thing for me on the trip was seeing the homes and what a day-to-day life looks like there. As Americans, it is so easy to think we know how hard it is for them to live. But when you are under a tin roof, and inside mud walls, your perspective really does change." The team was able to complete the outdoor kitchen and bathroom space, providing the 69-year-old Grandmother who owned the home her first ever bathroom, and first opportunity to cook on a stove in her life as she cares for three of her grandchildren that lost their mother recently.
 
The team became a tight knit community through all of these experiences, said senior guard Kennedy Helderop. "Some of us were worried about the language barrier, but we all came out of that shell and we got to see teammates using small phrases to get to know children's names, what they wanted to play, or simply their favorite color." She added, "I have never seen God in the way I saw Him on this trip. I have been absolutely speechless and I have seen Jesus in the eyes of the women and children there, but also the eyes of Doug (missionary), Maya (Missionary), my coaches, and Assistant Athletic Director, Jesse Campbell."
 
As the trip came to an end over the weekend, the team had the opportunity to simply enjoy time together in the beautiful area of Antigua. From bartering at the market, to hiking and roasting marshmallows on top of a volcano, to eating McDonalds in a third-world country, and so much more, the team was able to bond over their deep confidence in the Lord and the hard things they accomplished on the week. 
 
Head Coach Jessica Yonkers summarized the trip by stating, "There are times the veil between Heaven and earth gets thin and we got to experience those moments in El Sitio. When we prayed with the women of El Sitio to end our time serving in the village, we made a circle around them and began praying in English. While we were praying, the women began praying in Spanish at the same time. We experienced Psalm 141:2 and felt our prayers and the prayers of the women of El Sitio being lifted to Heaven like incense." 
 
Cornerstone women's basketball now looks to take these moments back with them and cherish them with their fellow teammates as they near the beginning of practice during the fall semester. CU athletics strives to develop an intentional and transformational athletic community where students are equipped as Christ followers. Providing one international trip experience for every student athlete during their four years at Cornerstone is one of the ways CU strives to support this purpose. 
 
Women's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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