CARRIE CHAVEZ -
IRON PRAYER LEADER; 05 IRONMAN WISCONSIN COMPETITOR:
What a phenomenal
experience and an answer to prayer. I want to journal this so others can see
God's work in this ministry. My name is Carrie Chavez and I was at Ironman
Coeur d'Alene in June to watch my husband race and spent time with Robin and
Troy Soares. They asked me to speak at Iron Prayer there and I was so nervous.
I don't do public speaking. I put my faith in God and did it. Afterward
they asked if I would LEAD Iron Prayer in Wisconsin as I was racing there.
YIKES! Again this is not my thing. I thought about it a while and said yes. I
felt I could do it with God guiding me. Soon I received an e-mail from another
athlete who was racing who said he was asked to lead it and I felt so
relieved. The plan was I would speak and give my testimony only. Yeah!
Off the hook. I got into town in Madison and realized that by
accident, we had miscommunicated and the event had not yet been set up. The
other athlete and I spoke and together began problem solving. I called Robin
and Troy back in California and together over the phone they helped us set
things in motion. Robin and Troy said some things that would stick with me all
week, like "I know with God's help this will all work out". I felt God was
truly teaching me a valuable lesson. I was learning patience and to trust him.
What surprised me was that I was able to remain calm and not panic as I
usually do. God was surely holding my hand. This was race week, How could I be
calm? The making of arrangements began. I called The Hilton and
reserved a conference room. Robin and Troy made a flyer and I downloaded it
from the Hotel and the hotel made me copies. I did my best to get the flyers
out to hotels. I could not advertise at the venue as I was not a sponsor. I
would meet people out training and tell them about it. One day before
the event Robin called and said she had contacted a friend in Boston who
worked for Campus Crusade for Christ and they put her in contact with Scott
Mottice from Athletes in Action at Univ. Of Wisconsin. He called me and
said he would try to find us music and bring some local students. 30 minutes
before the event, Scott called to say he was on his way and to keep an eye out
for 2 singers and a guitar player from Campus Crusade at Univ. of Wisconsin.
WOW! I kept thinking God is so good. In walks these 3 sweet college seniors
with faces so bright and they say we heard there was a need and we came.
Holy Cow! The service/prayer time was amazing. We had 22 people there, 6
athletes competing in Ironman, there families and the people from the Univ.
At the end we broke into pairs and got to know each other and found out what
that other person needed prayer for on race day. I can only speak for myself,
but my prayer was answered and that was to stay focused on God all day and
give back as much as I could. My new friend Dave wanted prayer for his
chronic problems with leg cramps. The conditions were brutal, and all day I
kept praying for him. God can do anything. The next day I see Dave and he had
a great day, no cramps. The new friends from Univ. of Wisconsin were out there
on race day cheering for us, it was awesome. I just wanted to let people
know about my great experience and that all things are possible through
Christ. With Love, Carrie Chavez
SCOTT MOTTICE
-CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST @UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT MADISON: Madison
IronPrayer
The Iron Prayer time in Madison saw 7 triathletes and their families and
friends come together for a time to focus on the Lord Fri afternoon before the
Sunday race. As Athletes in Action staff at the University of Wisconsin
Madison, we were excited to welcome these athletes to Madison. After some
worship provided by students involved in Campus Crusade for Christ at UW,
Carrie Chavez shared her personal story of how God lead her to open her hand
to His work in her life, including a baby named Madison, and to give Him her
triathlete career. It was an encouraging and powerful story of her trust in
God and His faithfulness to her. Brian Priddin also challenged the group in
the area of serving as Christ served. We also spent time in prayer for each
of the triathletes. If you will be in Madison next year, please join us!
Looking forward to working with you this coming year on this!
In His grip,
Scott Mottice
