ICSB basketball tournament

In February, our kids' school, the International Christian School of Budapest, hosted its annual high school basketball tournament.   Cities represented by teams at this tournament included Budapest, Salzburg (Austria), Kiev (Ukraine) and Bucharest (Romania).   For two days solid there was wall-to-wall basketball at the gym at school.  Right before the awards ceremony, I was asked to give a five minute devotional.  I spoke on how high school athletics lead me to faith in Christ.  A gym full of European coaches, athletes and parents heard me speak.

Even though our girls' team did not win the tournament championship, Savannah played some fantastic basketball and was named to the all-tournament team.   Here is a highlight video that her proud daddy put together.

Thank you for sharing our joy and enthusiasm...

Coming Alongside Other Missionaries

EB and I spent a week recently in Spain at a Cru conference for our STINTers (Short Term INTernational service of one year or two).   All of our Cru STINT missionaries from Africa, Europe and parts of the Middle East attended this conference.  EB and I went to help by providing coaching and encouragement to our STINTers. 

In 2005 I met Craig when he was a student at Florida State when I spoke at their fall retreat.  I remember having lunch with Craig and he was considering becoming a Christian.  He made that decision that weekend and now 6 years later is serving Christ in a country that is hostile to the gospel.  

EB spent a lot of her time encouraging single women and young mothers on the mission field.    Having raised our kids in a foreign country, she was asked many questions.   One young mother, having moved with her husband and kids from Texas to Prague, cried, "I just wish my kids had a yard to play in."  Pictured here is Angela Davis.  She and her husband Jim are doing very well serving the Lord in Italy. 

It was nice to spend a few days in the warm sun, blue sky and ocean breezes, away from Budapest's cold, grey winter.   As we came alongside our missionaries we also were encouraged.  We heard their first hand stories of what God is doing from London to Johannesburg to Central Asia.    Thank you for serving us so we in turn can serve some of our co-laborers in God's harvest fields.