Play ball!!

Little League baseball is days away from firing back up here in Poznan and there is excitement in the air! We've called our first practice for this Saturday...at 10:00am if you'd like to try to make it.

We had a coaches meeting yesterday and we're thrilled about a new addition to our 2-man coaching staff. A good friend, and fellow missionary, is going to be jumping in and giving Jack and I a hand as we venture to try some new things out this year.

This year we are going to work toward establishing separate teams based on age and, possibly, gender. Last year was a hodge-podge team of all age groups, as well as with both boys and girls. Since pretty much everyone was starting from the same point (spare those with an American connection) the one-team-fits-all approach worked fabulously. But since we'd like to continue building on last year's progress it feels appropriate to multiply (you know we never say "split" when working in churches or ministries...bad word).

I know many of you get excited thinking of this ministry and a very large number of you have been personally involved by sending things over to us. We're well stocked to begin the season and even have a number of uniforms (at least uniform pieces) to hand out Saturday which will undoubtedly put big smiles on many kids' faces! We thank you all so much for what you've done to help us.

You can be praying with us that the ministry side of our efforts will also continue to develop this year. We have some more Polish Christian parents who are interested in getting involved which is absolutely crucial to this becoming a ministry and not just a game. Here are some prayer motives you might consider:

• Polish Christian parents' involvement...(1) in order to help us with coaching needs and, more importantly (2) that they would be inviting and reaching out to their lost friends' families
• Our ability to juggle the balance between sport and ministry. It's easy for us coaches to go and...well, coach. It takes much more intentionality to ensure that we're taking the time we need to connect on a personal, spiritual level with the folks that come.
• Our spiritual direction with the kids. We're considering ways we can be building into the kiddos during our practice. I think it would be a great approach to employ something like the Bible studies breaks from Upwards Basketball (I think they call them fast breaks or something like that).
• As always please pray that hearts...those of the kids AND their parents...will be opened to the love of Christ...to the Truth that we hope to be sharing.

I'll share more on all of this as things progress. Wish you all could come spend opening day with us at the ballpark...err, at the park!