Kama Tucker
Barton College
| Q: What has been your greatest softball related struggle? A: Motivating others to not play for themselves, and resisting the temptation myself. In other words, not relying on softball and any recognition from playing to fulfill me, but instead relying on the One who created me and gave me the talent I have. Kama’s thoughts on her CEI experience: My first foreign mission trip with CEI will never be forgotten because God gave me a greater burden for the lost and prepared me for another mission He had planned for me when I returned to the States… |  |
Before the trip God made it clear that going on the 1998 CEI Venezuela Team was His will for me. He had placed a burden for foreign missions on my heart within the two years prior to my trip and I was anxiously awaiting the opportunity to travel abroad and tell people why there was hope in our hopeless world and how God had rescued me and given me new life. Needless to say, I had no idea how He was going to provide the money, opportunity, etc. But, He made it clear He was preparing a way. And He showed me that CEI was a Spirit-filled ministry that had a committed heart to teach, train and equip women softball players to use the gift/skill God had granted them to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
God wanted me to use softball as a platform to help others see why He was the only thing that really mattered in life. I still stand in awe as He provided everything to make the trip possible for me. Before I even left the country, I knew God had great things in store. Never before had I had to trust God with so much money and details. The one simple truth that God taught me over and over throughout my trip with CEI was learning to trust Him with everything.
You see, whether it was trusting God for the money for the trip, the uniforms to come in, our transportation in Venezuela, our meals, the weather, or having the heart to try to love as He would…God taught me I had to trust Him with the little things in order to have peace with the big things. We faced struggles before we left and while overseas, but He shaped us and molded us. He was faithful and He was always working out His perfect plan, even when we were clueless to the how's, why's, where's, and what's. My trip was incredible as God taught and transformed every one on the team and so many of the people in Venezuela. How blessed are we to watch and experience the maker of the Universe at work! | 
| Upon returning to the States, God placed another mission project in my path. God wanted me to remain in California (North Carolina is my home state) and serve my father and grandma. Upon two months after my return, my father passed away. It has been an extremely trying time for me. As I am still in California serving my grandma, I am rejoicing in my suffering (Romans 5:3-4) as I miss my dad and am learning an entirely new way to be patient and cheerful in all circumstances. But, I know God not only did His will in Venezuela, but He used that trip to prepare me for what I am facing now. It brings me an intense amount of joy to learn more and more how great the God who I serve is, and how nothing happens by chance as He has a purpose for everything (Romans 8:28-29). I need to continue to trust Him and lean on His understanding (Proverbs 3:5-7). I look forward to the future like never before because I am confident that God is in control of all and is always working in our lives in ways we can't see or imagine! |
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In Christ Alone,
Kama Tucker
Kama’s Story:
I grew up in southern California and soon grew to love the game of softball. I went to church a few times, but most Sundays composed of travelball and double header softball games . Softball meant everything to me and my dream was to play in college. I was certain that if I received a scholarship to play softball, I would have everything I wanted, make my family proud, and be ultimately very happy with myself...
It was during my freshman year of high school that I had to move to North Carolina. I could not play fastpitch softball anymore because they did not have it in our region at that time. I became very bitter, angry, and discouraged. I was mad at my family for moving me there, and taking me away from this dream that was sure to make me happy. With few friends, little confidence (I relied on softball to give me my feelings of self-worth), and not much hope...
My freshman year I came to know Jesus Christ as My Personal Lord and Savior. I met people that had more than great "skills" on the field. I did not know "what" it was that made these students different, but I knew I wanted "what" they had. I heard their personal experiences of how they came to know Jesus as their Lord. I knew that this was missing in my life. I knew God wanted me to have a personal relationship with Him. I had always thought if I was a good person and believed in God, it was enough. But, the Bible made it clear no matter how good I thought I was, we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), that Jesus is the only way (John 14:7), His gift of eternal life could not be earned by anything I had or ever would do because it was a gift (Ephesians 2:8,9). Without Jesus my sin leads to eternal death (Romans 6:23). I knew that we all would die, but I wanted God's gift to me to live forever and have abundant life (John 10:10). I was tired of being disappointed by people, unexpected dreams, and false promises. Ever since the day in which God showed me He was the one thing and One Being that would never leave me or go back on His Word... my life has been different (2 Corinthians 5:17).
He has and continues to make me the woman He created me to be (Philippians 1:6). I have and always will have struggles, problems, and hard times. Life will never be perfect, with or without God. But, never will I be alone, without purpose, and without dreams...for God has a special purpose for me and HE plans to walk beside me every step of the way . Nothing is more important to me than my relationship with My Lord and Creator, and no matter what may face me in this life-I have Hope in Jesus Christ. By the way, He did put softball back in my life, a scholarship in my lap, and a new reason to play...for everything I do,I pray I do as a testimony to Him, for Him, and because of Him (Colossians 3:23, Philippians 4:13). May you discover the joy only Jesus brings! GOD ROCKS!! JOHN 3:16-17