Croatia Mission 2014 July 2: Prayers Answered and Ministry Touching Lives

Thanks Folks, your prayers for Coach Daniel were appreaciated and felt! He was releaased from the hospital and is resting at home. He was diagnosed with to much stress! Thank you everyone for your prayers and concern for him and his wife Marina. They apprectiate you very much.

The library program this year has grown larger than the years before and each day the numbers increase. On Monday the numbers were 40 at the downtown library and 16 at the library in the suburb and Tuesday we had 50 downtown and over 20. Having the opportunity to share and love on these children is a real blessing and then to be prepared to share His love when we do the craft activity has given us the avenue to develop relationships and trust. Although there is a communication barrier with some of them, they feel Christ's love through our team and cling to the love and care they are being shown. God is creating more and more opportunities for the ministry to touch lives, that we are overwhelmed with joy and emotion in being a part of it. In the public places we have to remain careful in how we proclaim the gospel, but in the private times of discussion and sharing we can create conversations that gear toward faith and a relationship with Christ. Our two presenters have done an incredible job, Heidi and Rachel and the craft activities have been a complete success!

Going back to the SOS Orphanage for a third year on Tuesday was an incredible experience for those who have been in the past as well as for those who were visiting for the first time. The children arrived at the activity center slowly and steadily and at final count we had 38 of the children there. They ranged from the ages of 5 to 13 and participated in a varity of crafts and activites. We did a bracelet activity around a table while others went outside to play sports. To watch the activity was a blessing and to witness the interaction between our team and these children was a blessing and will be a memory I will not forget. The children clinged to the instruction and care each of our team members provided while making the bracelets and the fun and laughter while playing soccer and football is still ringing in my ears. And when Rachel, our famous ministry dance teacher, got out of the van there were about 7 girls waiting with there dance clothes on to learn a new dance from her. That number soon grew to 12 young ladies following her around and just wanting to be with her. Many of us made connections individually to one or two of those precious souls and their smiles and personalities will remain with us forever! You will have to ask Jake Baker about his new daughter he wished he could adopt. She played football, wiffle ball and stayed by his side the entire two hours we were there. The friendship that developed during that two hours between the two was heart warming and expressed through her wave to him from the street as our cars left the facility!

Three more team members arrived on Tuesday and now we have 23 of our 28 present. Allison and Brandon Hoybach and their son Blake are here and and it is a blessing to have them. We threw them right into the fire with asking Blake to lead the craft activity at the library program. From the reports he did an incredible job! While the group was busy at the library, Rock Beal was busy at home making several of our carnival booths, one being a flush tank. Hard to explain but incredible to witness its design and development! Pictures will explain it better than my words and they will come once the projects are complete. The man is a genius when it comes to innovative ideas! The rest of us went to the field to have practice with the cadets and Storks. The cadets were there in full force and we had a terrific practice and could see them improve right in front of our eyes! Lastly, Rachel conducted the first day of her dance camp last night and had 20 people come to participate. They are learning a dance to perform at that carnival. She was so excited to have this opportunity and she is a natural leader and coach.

We start baseball camp today and are looking forward to working with the children in baseball for the next 4 days. Keep all these activities in your prayers, as well as team unity. Watching this team knit together is a blessing and the flexibility being shown is another example of God being first in our hearts and giving Him the reigns to lead us where He wishes! We have the final 4 of the team arriving in the next two days and we will be at full force heading into the weekend and the Texas Carnival!!

Thanks for your support and appreciate each of you thinking and praying for us! Have a wonderful God filled day and remember Jesus loves you and so do I!

David