A wall of incoming projectiles was keeping us pinned down. We were 40 strong when the battle first raged, but after just mere moments, only seven of us remained. I knew that we were being flanked on both sides. But with the sun in my eyes and the strong wooded area from which they were approaching our position, I could not get a clear shot.
Suddenly a halo of rounds exploded close by my head. To my left I could see no less than ten of my enemies charging my position. “They’re coming in at the 10 a clock!” I shouted. But no one was there to help me.
I squeezed the trigger on the person in the front and pumped no less than 3 rounds into him. “One down, nine to go,” I thought to myself. As I tried to fire again, I heard the sound of large thumps on the wall next to me. My position had been discovered by enemy snipers.
“I need help here! I am being over-run.” I screamed. “We have problems of our own. You are going to have to try and hold that position by yourself.” A comrade shouted back.
Once more I exposed myself to the ever increasing fire that was raining down upon me. I saw a lone, enemy soldier charging me with his gun blazing. Boom, boom, boom, boom, my gun sounded as I fired four shots point blank into him, but he wouldn’t go down! Again I fired more and more rounds his way. “I’m hit, I’m hit!” he yelled.
Even as the last sounds of his voice had faded away, a round exploded on my helmet. “I have been hit!” I thought to myself. Just then the whistle sounded and I knew that our fort had been captured. Game over.
The events described here are not from some far away battle in Vietnam or Iraq. Epic battles just like this one rage hundreds-of-times each week right here in Houston.
“Can we play one more game of Paintball dad!?” My 12-year old son Gabriel asked with great excitement in his voice. “Sure son. I’ve having as much fun as you are,” I responded.
Paintball is growing to be a very popular game for both men and women among every age group. Paintball within the Christian community is growing at even a faster pace as Pastors, youth leaders, and Sunday school teachers find it to be both exhilarating and inspirational within their congregations.
Shawn Rowbotham, 39, and Partner of #1 Paintball, (281) 257-3300, www.1pb.com, gets over 100 church groups a year to play at their three fields, 31233 Quinn Road in Tomball, 15550 Grant Road in Cypress, and 25714 Aldine Westfield in Spring.
“Many Pastors are finding Paintball to be both recreational and bonding for their staff. Many area Christian schools play here several times a year as well. Once they’ve played, they are hooked.” Rowbotham said.
To me, being hooked is an understatement.
