Lesson learned

I decided to go to the grocery store. Andrew so generously loaned me the bike we recently got for him to ride. If you are already thinking, "This sounds just a little bit risky," hold on to your pants. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

After hitting up Tinex (one of the local grocery stores) and purchasing laundry detergent, olive oil, bread, and salt; safely stowing the detergent and oil in my bag/purse, I headed to a produce market located in the bottom floor of Global Shopping Center (mall). Strange, I know...yet so great! 3 grapefruits, 4 apples, 2 tomatoes, 2 red peppers, and 15 eggs later I was satisfied with my purchases and ready to head home. I safely tucked the eggs in my bag along with some of my Tinex purchases, juggling produce with the bread and salt on either end of the handle bar...and we're mainly unsteadily off! (Mom, you can go ahead and stop reading now) I pulled out into the street lined with parked cars to my right and one lane of moving traffic on my left. Suddenly I see a car backing up about 30 feet away. What was a somewhat gentle attempt at slowing the bike ended up throwing myself over the handlebars and my grapefruit, apples, and cellphone onto the street. Did I mention it was raining? I hurriedly round up my phone and produce before any oncoming traffic could get the best of them. Meanwhile, a very kind Macedonian fellow saw the great distress I was in and came to my rescue, helping me get the bike to the sidewalk. I will never know what he was saying to me. I don't think he was scolding me, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had some words of advice. I wanted to explain to him what happened, but I couldn't. All I could say was "fala" (thanks). Now that I think about it, I probably should have said "blagodoram," which is the more formal version of thank you. But at the time I was just ready to get out of there. I'm pretty sure he won't hold it against me. He helped me get going again, generously giving me a new bag for my produce, and I slowly and carefully rode the rest of the way home...on the sidewalk.

I rode away relatively unscathed and chin-up slightly. My purchases on the other hand didn't fair so well. 2 apples majorly bruised, salt container busted (guess I'll be buying salt again), and 5 of my 15 eggs broken...in my bag...fantastic!

I think within any situation, good or bad, there is a lesson to be learned. So, I've decided I won't be going grocery shopping (at least not to the same extent) on a bike again. (Thanks Andrew, but no thanks) I've also decided that whoever thought it would be a good idea to put breaks on the front tire of a bike has never ridden one before. One more thing, I need to get serious about learning Macedonian.

Sophia, Basketball, Fellowship, Uncertainty.

Zdravo friends! That is hello in Macedonian.

I am letting my better half take a break from the blogging, so bear with me as I try to hold things together in Halee's absence.We have been in Sophia, Bulgaria for this weekend. We left Friday from Macedonia, played that evening in Sophia. We stayed at a church that Larry is connected with here in Bulgaria. Larry is a great man of God. He and his wife Courtney have been living in Sophia. John Jakus, the coach, has worked closely with Larry for a few years now on this vision for the Balkans region. One of the big goals is a goal that Athletes In Action has (John Jakus and Larry Sharrett are both AIA), is to have a follower of Jesus on every team, in every country, on every level. Larry is working in Bulgaria and John is now working in Macedonia (neighboring countries). Saturday night we had another game. It was by far the best game that Aba Strumica (we) has played thus far. The team is almost complete, just missing one player. Sunday was a free day together. We went to a church that is connected with Calvary Chapel. At the service we were able to witness a wedding! This took place at the end of the service. It lasted for only 15 to 20 minutes. The rest of the day we went to a mall. It was an impressive mall, by the States standards. Today, Monday the 27th, we have another game against a very good 1st division team in Bulgaria. After the game we will head back to Strumica.

The Uncertainty part of the title is regarding, once again, my situation with the 2nd division team. There may not be a 2nd division team because there might not be room in the division to add one more team. Aba II would be an expansion team. So, as has been a trend for Halee and I in our engagement and short time being married, there is uncertainty. But we trust in the One and know that following Jesus isn't always certain and rarely goes how we planned it to in our heads. For me Jesus' Spirit is teaching me to be patient. With my foot injury I kept playing and wouldn't give it enough rest for it to properly heal. So, the Lord in his wisdom is forcing me to rest! For serious though, my hamstring is getting better every day, praise the Lord saints!
That's all for now. Thank you for all your love, support, and prayer!

Oh yeah and happy 31st birthday on the 26th brother Seth, you old man.

One more thing happy 28th birthday on the 28th (YAY for golden birthdays!) tomorrow for brother Jesse.

Much love and Godspeed friends!

Dralee

A time to rest

The Division I team was suppose to have another "friendly" game on Thursday. However, some protesting grape farmers blocked the roads so the other team couldn't make it to Strumica. You never know what you're going to hear! Instead, the team had an inner-squad scrimmage. Andrew was able to play nearly 2 quarters before a drive to the hoop and a powerful explosion off his left leg caused him to partially tear one of his hamstring muscles. Due to the pain and light-headedness he was experiencing, Andrew removed himself from the game. We were both in total disbelief that this even happened. He is really quite flexible. Perhaps the plantar fasciitis (also on his left leg) caused him to overcompensate and weakened those hamstring muscles? He was planning on resting for 10-11 days after the scrimmage to help his foot heal, and I guess he'll stick with that plan and rest his hamstring as well. Please be praying for Andrew; that God would be glorified through all of this and that Andrew would heal quickly.

Birthday to remember

Heart news

We just received news today that Todd Hendley, the 6'7" inside-out forward who has been in Greece getting tests done on his heart, has been told that he will not be able to play basketball again. It has to do with an electrical condition of his heart. He is coming back to Strumica this evening. We ask that you pray hard for Todd and the Lord to heal his heart, so he can have another testimony of the Lord's goodness in his life. He will be traveling back to the states to get a second opinion and more tests done on his heart. Pray for Todd!

Much love

Starting the grind

Andrew and I are nearing the end of out third week in Strumica. The newness of things is beginning to wear off a little. I am beginning to miss the comfort of being known that comes from close friends and family. Today and the last have been one of those days for me where it seems like I'm almost constantly on the verge of tears. However, the Lord filled my heart with encouragement as well as a challenge. God brought to my mind the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi which says:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me show love;
where there is injury, pardon:
where there is doubt, faith ;
where there is despair, hope
where there is darkness, light
where there is sadness, joy
O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

It's a challenge to put others' needs before my own; to focus on others instead of staring at my naval. A challenge to die to myself; to put on the attitude of Christ.

Continue praying for us. Andrew's foot is improving, Praise the Lord! Pray that we would be bold and confident as we share the gift of God with those around us.

First practice - health issues

Andrew had his first practice with ABA II team today. He said it went pretty well; did lots of shooting drills and a little running. Andrew will have to play really well for the team to be successful. His heel is still causing plenty of pain. After a little research he has come to a somewhat confident conclusion that the pain is caused by plantar fasciitis. He's doing plenty of ice therapy to help. Any healing ideas from you are welcome!
Tomorrow the div. I team has their first "friendly game." One of the American players, Todd, has possible health issues and has been advised by the doctors here not to play for the next few days. The concern is with his heart; his resting heart rate is between 80 and 90 beats per minute. They did an electrocardiogram test on him today among other things to determine the source of the problem. No definitive news yet. Andrew will be suiting up on the team in his stead.
Continue lifting all of us up in your prayers. Pray for healing!

Our first 10 days

We have been here in Strumica just about a week and a half but it feels like so much longer. The pace of life is quite slow here, which has its ups and downs. It's great because it seems like we've gotten so much accomplished. However, the days feel long and in my mind I'm ready to hit the hay when it's only 8:30.

The Div. I team had their first practice on Thursday, August 26. Andrew had been practicing with the team up until this Wednesday when we found out that there will be a Div. II team! The Lord has answered favorably to our prayer! They're calling the team "ABA II" and will begin practice on Monday, September 6. There is a good chance another American will be coming over to play on ABA II as well. Andrew is having some foot/heal pain however, please pray for healing!

The trip to Turkey ended up not happening. As it turns out, they may or may not have been able to meet with Jerry Colangelo or do some of the other networking they had hoped to. With a ten hour drive one way and only 24 hours in Turkey, they decided it wouldn't be wise to use their resources on a chance encounter. Needless to say, Andrew was pretty disappointed. Fortunately, we found out about the ABA II team the same day, which probably lightened the blow.

I have been spending around 4 hours per day working with Anna (23; wife of David, a Div. I player) at creating an Athletes in Action Macedonia website. It's creatively and organizationally challenging, but I'm really enjoying it. We hope to have it up and running very soon! We will be working together to keep the site updated and will have game highlights and statistics available on the website when the time comes.

I also learned that I will be coaching the girls 5th to 8th grade basketball team. Practices haven't started yet, but I've already begun jotting down practice ideas and gleaning knowledge from the basketball aficionados surrounding me. You're welcome and encouraged to advise me as well!

We've taken two lessons in Makadonski (Macedonian) so far. Learning the alphabet is difficult as is spitting out some of their letter combinations like "Zdravo," which means "Hello." We're catching on though, and I think people appreciate the effort.