HiS PRINT Update July 4

Well since I’m at the airport I’m delayed mode once again, I thought I would make use of my time as best I could and jot down a few highlights of the past few days! I’m actually excited to read about the other ministries we have going on besides the baseball and football camps, including the children’s library, food pantry and dance camp. It has been real neat to involve the local girls from dance camp in our food pantry shopping and able to show them more of what we do and serve alongside us! 

The baseball camps have gone well and we have many new players participating. We are praying that some of them will remain after we leave and will rejoin the Storks. Because of all the effort that has gone into preparing The NEST for the upcoming 15U tournament, our local Coach Antonio's time has been split between camps and field work. Although the field work is important and needs to get done, I emphasized that learning more about the game by being involved with camp was more vital and important for the coaches. That was the situation on Monday and Tuesday and was very frustrating, so I had a discussion with the manager of the Storks.  Wednesday the camp atmosphere was totally different, with Coach Antonio engaging more with the younger Storks. It was an absolute ball! Would you please pray for continued unity, proper communication and common focus between us and our Croatian team members! We are so blessed to be a part of this international union! We couldn't do it without them and you!

We were blessed beyond measure on Tuesday when our local icecream man, nicknamed "MouseMan" (son of "RatMan") brought his kids to baseball camp. As he was talking with me I introduced MouseMan to Taki Eggleston, one of our team members who is an Albanian from Kosovo. MouseMan is also an Albanian from Kosovo.  When  MouseMan finally realized that Taki was not from the states and is actually from Albania, it was like two lost brothers finding one another! They hugged, spoke their native language and it was like the rest of us disappeared! It was so cool to witness!  They spent the next half hour sitting and talking with one another as God removed huge rocks from MouseMan’s heart.  I can’t wait to see what God does with this new relationship! I have known MouseMan for over 20 years and have shared with him Christ’s love. I’ll keep you posted on how God shows up! 

The football coaches have moved from Croatia to Slovenia and have camp in Ljubljana on Wednesday and Thursday.  Here are a few pictures, and there is a full report from Coach Norman below!

Have a wonderful God filled day and know that we appreciate all the prayers.

HE DID IT! 

David

Football (Coach Mike Norman):

Hello from Ljubljana, Slovenia!

The football coaching staff arrived in Sisak on Thursday, June 28th and Friday, June 29th. We enjoyed fellowship and lunch with David, Janko and the other team members and then headed off to Split on Friday the 29th for the first leg of our journey into three countries, hosting four football camps in a 2 week span. Our team is made up of Mark Reeve, a retired Texas high school and college coach (who has also coached in Norway and Iceland), Brandon Hoybach, Director of Football Operations for HiS PRINT, Jamar Mitchell, former Baylor football player, and myself, Mike Norman, current Assistant Head Football Coach at CE King High School in Houston.

We battled rainy weather as we traveled to Split, but it did not dampen our spirits as we arrived ready to love on, serve and coach the Sea Wolves and Cannons from Osijek. We had the privilege to meet and watch the junior teams from Dubrovnik, Bjelovar, Osijek and Split compete in a flag football tournament hosted by the Sea Wolves. All of these teams are making strides in growing their programs thanks to equipment and clinics provided by HiS PRINT!

We had 25-30 campers join us over the three days, many old friends who have been to the camp for many years now and several new faces that are always a joy to meet and get to know over the three days. Camp was tremendous as always and the players are always so attentive to our sharing of football knowledge as well as our testimonies and prayers! Coach Mark did a tremendous job coaching the offense and sharing so much of his knowledge of football as well as his love for the Lord. It is Coach Mark’s first visit to Croatia and he was very pleased to see the eagerness and dedication of these young men to grow the game of football in Croatia. What an awesome platform to share the love of Christ with these young men!

We were able to see David on Sunday as he brought Jeff Sutherland from FCA down to see the football camp and also see the proposed sight for the possibilities of a Sports Academy in Split. David was able to share with our campers and pray for our activities of the day!

We stayed in Omis, which is a small town on the outskirts of Split with Mladen, one of the new Sea Wolves. His family was so gracious to us and fed us a marvelous breakfast as we headed out on Tuesday morning for Ljubljana! What a blessing to get to share with them about football and HiS PRINT!

We have arrived safely in Ljubljana this afternoon and are staying with our dear friends Viki and Devin Lee and we will begin camp number 2 tomorrow, on July 4th! Stay tuned...