Summer 2026 - Blog 2

Summer Blog 2

Summer MiLO Begins As The Journey With God Continues

Our Wonderful and Dear Friend at HiS House, Janko!

Well, I figured it was about time you heard from me since I arrived in Croatia a week ago today. HiS House would not be HiS House without Janko and his smiling face and loving heart. My travels started Sunday, July 14, and arrived in Croatia on Monday afternoon. The entire journey takes between 14-16 hours, depending on layovers, and a seven hour time change, I arrived in Croatia. Lordan and Martina were gracious enough to come and pick me up and after a stop off for ice cream (sladoled), which is a must, made it HiS House for my 5 week stay in our ministry home away from home.

Visit to our favorite Ice Cream Parlor, Tropico!

HiS House Welcome Porch

Grapevines bring nature right up next to you

Being here a week already feels like I’ve been here three. A lot of activities and teaching possibilities happened this past week that were not in the plans, but that is the reason we write our plans in pencil and hand them over to God who has the eraser.

Teaching class for summer school program

The students are very attentive.

I have enjoyed this opportunity over the years and I guess I should just expect it now that it has happened several times with only a day or two warning. I absolutely love it and the opportunity to meet new people and share the game of baseball is always a treat for me. This year we even had a couple of students come up after the presentation expressing an interest in joining us for camp.

The kids love getting on the field and trying out what they have learned.

The teachers are always so appreciative of me taking the time and the kids really do seem interested in talking to a Texan. Not sure of their interest in baseball but talking English is a treat for them. This year I came prepared with some gifts and was able to give the classes bandanas that they loved.

Class Picture with their gifts of bandanas on their heads or hiding their smiles.

While I am here in Croatia several of our team members will remain back home in Texas and continue the service at HiS Place and the upkeep and maintenance that is required for a working farm. We are still praying for the complete funding of the God Garage so that we can be even better stewards of what we have been blessed to collect. Just before heading overseas we had a small inventory party at our house.

Pulling tags and stickers off of new items that are donated.

When we are blessed by receiving new items that other organizations choose to donate to us we have to be sure to pull all price tags and decals off those items so that we are not charged extra duty customs when shipping them to other countries. If those items happen to go in a shipment without those items taken off we risk paying a healthy customs price because it looks like we are trying to resale the items once we get them in the country. It is an extremely time consuming job, but necessary to do, so that we can share these wonderful blessings with others, with no additional cost to those receiving them. We have had Barcelona Sporting Goods, Target and Baseballism, New Balance, Nike, Under Armor give us inventory that was no longer needed and gave us the blessing of receiving to share around the world.

Received over 400 boxes of brand-new inventory from Baseballism that gives us the opportunity to share with those around the world.

To wrap this first blog from overseas I want to share a beautiful day that I had on Sunday. After going to a wonderful worship service and hearing a deep and detailed message from 1 Timothy 6, on what it means to serve God and the responsibility we have to do that, I was invited to go to Lordan’s mom and dad’s place for lunch. For those that do not know, Lordan and his precious bride Martina, are our in-country disciplers and leaders. They have been with us for over 15 years and we couldn’t do what we do without them. They recently visited us in the states and it gave us a wonderful opportunity to spend time outside a MiLO. Sunday was the same experience and the time with them was precious and will not be forgotten, along with the tremendous food and desert that was served. I got a chance to take a picture of Lordan and his father and it was so wonderful to see their relationship first hand.

Church service at Moscenica Baptist Church

Lordan and his father. Both great musicians from different generations.

Thanks to each of you for your love, support and prayers. Please keep them coming, as I have another busy week of teaching class and preparing for the MiLO team members arriving starting this weekend. Blessings and have a wonderful God filled day!

HE DID IT! David