July 1, 2011

Thank you Debbie!

Dear Prayer Team - More praises, more thanksgivings and more prayers needed.

Thank you guys and gals for your faithful prayers.  God works in mysterious ways, but it is apparent that He is working.

Earl

Earl, I talked to David twice today. Once this morning when he called to tell me he had just been to the hospital. Then again this afternoon. He was at camp this morning and during a drill there was miscommunication and it resulted in his finger being cut open. He went to a doctors office near by and they told him he needed to go to the clinic. The clinic is where Svjetlana works and when they saw his finger, they said he needed surgery, so she made some calls and they sent him to the hospital. He said he was in the operating room with gown & booties on just for them to clean his finger and sew it up. They were going to make him put on a hat as well, but since he had his baseball cap on they said that was OK. He ended up with seven stiches and will go back on Saturday for them to check it and re-bandage. He said it is wrapped up so much it looks like he had major hand surgery. Then on Tuesday he will go get the stiches out. Praise God that it was nothing to serious and also for the wonderful medical centers we have here in the US. You just don't realize how lucky we are until you have a medical experience in a foreign country. Also pray that the finger heals and he doesn't get any infections. David said camp went great! They had a good turn out, about 25. Everyone had a wonderful time and he had a chance to talk and share the gospel at camp. There were a couple guys there from Zadar and a couple from Zagreb. They asked if our team might be interested in having camps in their towns as well. Zagreb is the Capital of Croaita and Zadar is on the coast. David's pitching finger was the one that got cut, so he can't throw batting practice. He said this was a perfect opportunity for some of the Storks to step up and learn what they need to do! Pray for these future opportuities and if it is God's will, that the coaches needed will be provided. Also pray that the Storks will really take note of what it takes to run a camp and learn, so they can do more on their own when our team is not there to help them. While camp was going on, the ladies worked on the carnival stuff. They sorted and organized everything and got it all ready for the carnival. David said that was a tremendous help to him and took a huge load off him. They came up to camp towards the end and brought watermelon for everyone. Everyone loved that, especially all the kids. Tonight David was going to take those that wanted to go to a local concert that was going on in the open market square. Pray they have a good time and that God will use them as they mingle with the locals. Also pray for the Texas Carnival on Sunday. Pray that it is a success and that it would draw many unchurched people with open hearts and minds. Marde has been able to spend some time with Ann. She is a woman Marde met last year on the street in Sisak and struck up a conversation with her. They have become friends and kept in touch and through this friendship Marde has had the opportunity to minister to her. Pray for this friendship to strengthen. David said Heidi finished painting the Stork logo on the locker room. He said it looks awesome! Praise Heidi for the talented artist that she is and that her painting would create new opportunities for her to share. Rusty has come up with lots of ideas, so pray that his meetings and talks are beneficial to the Croaitans in Sisak and Zagreb and that during these talks he will have opportunities to minister as well. Also pray that his business teachings will help some of these struggling business owners increase their business and productivity to possibly create opportunities for more jobs in Sisak. Everyone else has been working hard and the team has been loving them till they ask "Why?" In Christ, David thru Debbie