Couldn’t figure out how to add the video straight on here,so Youtube will have to suffice. Thank you so much for your time,ya’ll are awesome!

Hola everybody! Hope all is well! I mean you are reading this so I’m guessing life can’t be all bad HA. It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten on my blog spot but I’m back now trying to give ya’ll an update on my tiny life.

Maaaan let me tell ya’ll it’s been an interesting ride so far. I just finished my first season as a professional soccer player which makes me feel pretty alright. Thank God Antigua G.F.C. saw something in me to give me a shot at this, so there I was trying to prove myself worthy of playing at this level. My debut came on February 3^rd, a day I’ve dreamt about since I was a child. Things went well in my first year, not great, but it went well. Played in 4 games and started two of them. Saw myself on TV,and it doesn’t feel good when a sports analyst critiques you haha so I’m going to think twice before criticizing LeBron during the finals. Overall I learned things I needed to learn and gained good experience that will do me some good while I’m here on earth.

When I first got to Guatemala I had an unbreakable mentality. I had put all my trust and faith in the Lord knowing He was going to do amazing things. With that type of confidence there was really nothing that could break me. I showed up to an Antigua G.F.C. training session after being told they were expecting me for a trial. I showed up…the coach wasn’t even told about it. Being a good guy he said he would let me practice for the day but he also stated that there would be no room for me on his squad. Got on the field and I’m pretty sure what he saw made him change his mind real quick; he invited me back the next day. From the moment I arrived at the club everything seemed to be clicking. At every training session I was looking good, real good. Never felt tired, my skill with the ball seemed to be better than ever, my weaknesses were no longer struggles for me, and my overall game was at a level I have never seen myself perform at before. I started getting a little “high on myself.” Started planning out my future in my head as if I was the one in control, I’m an idiot.

The coach that decided to give me a chance left the team after 5 games. The new coach came in and let’s just say it went downhill from there. That week before he was hired I thought my career was going to start off strong, I was thinking my skill and abilities were all on point and ready to take off into the places where I was planning to go in my career. First day of practice with the new coach…benched. My psyche was all screwed and my confidence was crushed after that. All of a sudden my hopes and visions were trampled. Simple tasks on the field that I was doing so well a week earlier were all of a sudden only a memory, because my ability went from good to AWFUL.  As the season continued I kept struggling and wasn’t doing well. The feeling of hopelessness began to overshadow everything in my life. I finished off the season with doubt over my future, and if I even wanted to do this anymore.

The off-season is about to end and teams are commencing on their pre-season plans, new signings start arriving at clubs. So now what? I’m going back to what I know I must do, rely and completely surrender my career and life to the Lord, as I did when this whole thing started. My downfall in the season was when I began to rely and focus on my own abilities and started putting hope in ME and not in Christ. My identity wasn’t in Jesus anymore; it was in Rudy and my achievements and downfalls and that’s when everything started feeling so hopeless. Neither soccer or success or anything else in this world can fill my life with satisfaction like Christ can, and I forgot that. When your hope and identity is in Jesus, you look at life differently. I began my career a few months ago acknowledging and recognizing, daily, that this was not my platform but God’s platform. It all was His and that made me feel no pressure. I was enjoying what I was doing because I KNEW it was all being managed by the Lord. When I allowed the beauty of God’s sovereignty to sink in to my soul, I was enjoying the ride and allowed the results to be handled by God.

So now a few doors have been opening and opportunities seem to get more serious. It’s amazing how so recently I felt so hopeless and now I’m excited for my future; admiring how God can work in my life. I’m pushing myself harder than ever and putting in exhausting hours in the gym and on the field; all while enjoying the ride. I’m giving all control to Him and regardless of what happens, I still have Jesus; so I’m good. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

Stay blessed everyone!

Love ya’ll!

Rudy

This is my first of many posts I hope to write while my stay here in Guatemala. Just completed my first week here and I must say it has been a little hectic to say the least. For those who don’t know I am here pursuing my dream of playing pro soccer. A couple of months ago I received great news that I would be looked at by club Comunicaciones, a pro club and current champions of the Guatemalan National pro League. So I’m here thanks to my awesome parents and their sacrifice and hard work. I must also add that I honestly have the best family in the world! Since I’ve been here they’ve helped me with everything, can’t even express my gratitude and love I have for all of them.

My first training session was last Wednesday, I was expecting to train with the major division team (1st team) but showed up and without warning, got placed to practice with the reserves. I wasn’t disappointed, I figured I would have to work my way up the ranks,but it wasn’t that easy. It’s been 4 training sessions and I’ve barely even gotten a chance to truly practice and show these coaches my abilities. Most training sessions I’m on the sidelines waiting my turn to get called to hop in to the practice drills; it’s to the point where I just decided to run laps around the stadium track waiting for the coaches to call my name. When I do step out on the field I show promise, I know I could do better but I only get like 10 minutes to show em what I can do, and from they’ve told me I’ve done fairly well. 

Last Friday the coaches called me into their dressing room because they wanted to speak with me. It was just as I figured, when you’re not in the club’s system it’s difficult to be given a chance. These coaches were more concerned with their reserve squad which is currently in the 3rd division of the pro ranks here and are fighting to ascend and move up into the 2nd division which they can do by winning the 3rd div.championship this season. I understood their point, why worry about some American “gringo” when they have their own players who’ve grown up in their club’s system since the age of 14 to worry about; that’s who they’re going to recommend, and they made that clear to me. They found it difficult to give me playing time so they admitted it wasn’t a fair try-out. They were impressed with the little time I was given to show them what I got so they recommended me to a pro team in the 2nd division, Antigua G.F.C. which is ran by the same owners of Comunicaciones. Also with the help of my family and their efforts, a few connections have been made.

This is where things get real. Not gona lie, my moral was low; so I did what I knew I HAD to do. I put this whole thing in God’s hands; trust, faith, hope, EVERYTHING. He has been opening doors to a few opportunities. There are about 4 teams that could possibly take a look at me very soon (one tryout being this week). I’m telling ya’ll I’m chasing this thing with all I have. I’ve heard those stories of people who made it, but for the most part all of em came with obstacles, failures, and a bunch of no’s before that one yes that made that dream a reality: I’m praying that my story looks a little similar to that. But don’t get things mixed up, God receives the glory for all this. It’s incredible the peace and comfort I get knowing that my identity isn’t found in these failures or any success that may come my way. My identity is found in Christ and what He did for me on the cross; He saved my life, and through that He’s changing it. Regardless of the outcome of this whole trip, let me tell ya’ll that God is amazing. Like my dude Steve Rose told me, “Just let go and live man. Life is short and this isn’t home. Duty is ours, results are Gods.”

Take care errybody! 

God bless…Love ya’ll 

Rudy