Andrew is on a team! He was able to "try out" for a division II team, Millennium, on Wednesday. He was given the okay to play with them and they had their first game last night (Saturday). They lost...it was pretty rough. Andrew wasn't able to play because his license to play from the federation didn't come through. Every foreigner needs to have one to play. Andrew will be able to make a huge difference on the team. We'll keep you posted!
Anna and I, along with Dragan (a local), have been teaching English. We've been meeting every Thursday from 8:00-10:00 pm and giving lessons for two classes. The beginner's class meets at 8 and the advanced class meets at 9. This Thursday was our second class. It's been going pretty well. I actually have a little bit of fun doing it! Anna and I have our hands full creating lesson plans for both classes...quite the learning experience. There are about 15 students per class; a decent amount of which are females! Anna and I are hopeful for opportunities to hang out with some of them outside of class. Be praying!
In the midst of uncertainty and doubt the Lord is challenging my faith. When things don't go as I think they should it's so easy for me to be tempted to question, "God, are you sure you know what you're doing?" I must have faith to believe that God does a better job of being God that Halee does. That God's plans really are better than mine. Something that I'm learning is that the Lord is mainly unpredictable if not entirely. I am learning to love that.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Update on Andrew!
Andrew's hamstring is healing quite well. It's been over three weeks since his injury. This injury has given him ample time to rest his foot as well. On Thursday, an acupuncture specialist was asked to come check out some of the guys on the ABA division I team. Andrew was one of few willing to let the doctor look at him. The acupuncturist had his daughter with him to translate; but, as we're getting accustomed to, much was lost in translation. He told the doctor about his hamstring tear, but the doctor started poking at his knee with some chopstick-like instruments. The doctor somehow figured out, based on his knee, that Andrew is left-handed. He then took a look at his left hip, which Andrew has historically had issues with. Evidently, the doc still thinks he has issues. However, after some more poking and prodding, the doc was confident he had fixed any problem. He never looked at his hamstring. : )
Since receiving news that the ABA II team is no longer, Andrew has decided to try out for a different division II team here in Strumica called Millennium. Tryouts will probably be early this week.
Keep praying!
Since receiving news that the ABA II team is no longer, Andrew has decided to try out for a different division II team here in Strumica called Millennium. Tryouts will probably be early this week.
Keep praying!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, September 27, 2010
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
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
Saturday, September 18, 2010
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.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
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
Much love
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