Nov
25
Never in America…
Filed Under AIA Track & Field Ministry
Today has been an interesting day. We had a meeting in Hasselt with a woman who works with another sports ministry called SportQuest. It was really good to hear about what they do and see ways that we could partner together.
Then the randomness of the day came. There has been a basketball player I had been trying to contact for months. A colleague of mine in the Czech Republic told me I needed to connect with him because he has been on an AIA tour in the past and is living here in Leuven. Not once did he respond to any of my emails. So we decided to take a chance and go to the gym and see if we could find out when they practice. We walked in and asked the lady at the desk when the team’s next game was. She simply replied, “Why don’t you ask them?” Apparently they were in the gym and we were able to just waltz right in and talk with them. Another lady walked us down to the gym and called this player over to come and talk with us. You would never get that access to athletes in America! But we met with him and it was great! Of course he apologized for not responding to my emails and I granted him grace since his wife just had a baby. But he was excited to connect and is open to becoming involved however. I’m looking forward to see what God does with that connection.
I also found out that another player went to Xavier! I will be attending the game tomorrow night and I’m looking forward to it. I love watching live games when I actually know some of the players.
We have yet another meeting tonight. We’re having dinner with a cyclist at my favorite restaurant – de Appel. Then my two colleagues Jonathan and Jan will head back up to the Netherlands tomorrow morning. I’ll have a few days here in Leuven and will head up to the Netherlands on Tuesday morning. I think Jonathan has a full schedule planned for me up there.
I am excited for the opportunities I am seeing here, working with churches and different sports ministries and different people.
I am still struggling with jet lag. I’m stuck somewhere between Ohio time and Belgian time. I’ll get adjusted just in time to head back to the States and then I’ll have to readjust back!