Basketball Shrinking and Expanding!

As we contemplate what is next in sports ministry, many ideas come in waves and at other times I flounder without ideas. One thought that has come multiple times is that we should be reaching out to the younger children, around 9 and up. By the time youth reach Jr. High, they are not interested in learning a different sport, and basketball is not very popular.
With that in mind, and a prayer, I decided to visit a school that we had visited in the past but had little interest shown by the leaders. Part of my motivation to get moving on this was that we have 4 volunteers coming soon, and we would love to take advantage of the extra help.
The principal was new. He invited me in to chat, unlike last time where we just talked through the fence. He was very interested as I talked about the club we had started in the secondary school, and what I would like to do in the future.
I was invited to pass by the Grade 4-6 classrooms to share the idea for a workshop and the regular practices that we have. I recognized several students that I already had been coaching, which was encouraging and neat. The students were very loud and excited even before I came in as there are so few days til Christmas. When the principal introduced me and talked about basketball, the majority of the students were very animated and interested, asking lots of questions. One classroom had a boy who kept asking about soccer, and I could tell that he would only come if we had a ball with hexagon panels on it and kicked it.
But as I left, there were many smiles, and my heart was light with joy as I anticipated the upcoming event. Pray with me as we prepare for Jan. 3-5th and as many youth as the Lord thinks we can handle!

Church Visits

We have the privelege of visiting churches to share our burden and excitement for missions. God has placed this in our hearts and we choose to fan the flames. So we have sought to share in churches in an effort to raise prayer and financial support, as well as awareness about TEAM and the need for missions in Mexico. 

This last Sunday we were in Nampa, in a small church that was half the normal size due to a Bible Camp retreat that day. We were blessed by the response of the people, pastor and long time friend of the family. I spoke about discipleship and discipline - may post that separately for those interested in this topic. This is what I feel God is leading me to become involved in when on missions. The great commission commands us to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that He has taught us. This is what my command is, and I can hardly wait to get to Mexico to start the next steps.

But at this time we are waiting patiently (well, trying to) for we know that God's timing is perfect, and we are not ready yet. 

Thank-you to Nampa for the encouraging response and helping us to get to Mexico! Thank-you to each person who has helped us get a ?% closer to being able to leave. Thank-you to those who are praying us to Mexico, it is such a blessing to be upheld by your prayers.