Allison Rehner sharing at the clinic in Boca

Allison Rehner sharing at the clinic in Boca.

AU Vball in Puerto Rico Day 4/5

Day 4/5

Hey Folks,

The last day and a half have been full and exciting. Each day has started with a 7:30 breakfast and seen us on the go until we come in at between 9 and 10 pm. Monday and Tuesday we gave a clinic to kids from the Moca area from 9-12 noon. The first day there were around 13 kids, the second and third day 50+, ! The girls have shown great leadership and adaptability in helping to run the clinic, give their testimonies, chat with the girls and interact with the players. Many of the players in the clinics and others that we are playing in matches have excellent English skills so it has been great to be able to relate directly to them. They are hungry for direction and great role models and our girls have been able to give them some of both. Each day we also have had a second clinic in the late afternoon with girls from a volleyball club in the city of Mayaquez. The skill level has been very high but the opportunity to share a passion for volleyball and Christ has been rewarding. The last few days Courtney, Sarah and I have had a chance to share what God has been doing in our lives. The outpouring of love in both directions after these talks has been exciting to see. Yesterday I shared Phillipians 4:13 with them in my talk and was able to hand out wrist bands that had AU Volleyball and that verse printed on them. An additional opportunity came our way when a local news crew came by the gym to video the girls helping the girls and to interview Catherine and me about what we were doing in Puerto Rico. It was a great opportunity to again share the Gospel with a wider audience, an unexpected gift. Finally, we were able to share a pizza dinner with our opponents last night on the gym floor and get a chance to talk with them. Relationships were being built with every moment we spent together. On another note we have played some tough opponents since we have been here, with some success (2-1 so far) and have enjoyed integrating the freshmen in to the lineup.

More to come soon.

Coach Rader 

AU Eagles Vball Day 3 on PR

Day 3

Hey Folks….

What a first night of sharing we have had! God has already opened the hearts on our team and brought us closer through our life stories. Chad opened the evening by guiding the girls through the first chapter of the book Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman. The discussion centered around Idleman’s question: are you a fan or a follower of Christ? Some great comments by the girls about their understanding of this question led the group to the beginning of a sharing time that involved our life stories. Our plan is to have four people share each night over the course of the week. If tonight is any indication this is going to be an amazing exercise. The tears flowed freely as people poured out their hearts. Admittedly, I didn’t help by starting the process and falling to pieces as I thought about my daughter, Brittney, headed to Afghanistan to teach at the International School of Kabul in the coming year. From that point on the evening was filled with tears, laughter, fears, joy and most of all God’s redemptive grace. Someone said at the end of the evening, “this is only the end of the Day 1 of sharing!” We look forward to what God has in store for us in the days and nights ahead. Tomorrow……two clinics and an evening match.

The morning clinic went well. We had 12 players but expect more tomorrow as word spreads in the community. Catherine and Allison served as able interpreters and Allison was able to share her testimony halfway through the session. We are off this afternoon to run another clinic for older players and play a match this evening against a U20 developmental team for their professional league here. We are excited to have the opportunity to share with both those groups what God has been doing in our lives. More to come.

Coach

First Days on PR

Hey Folks,

We had a smooth trip down to Puerto Rico, circling for 30 minutes before landing but coming in safe and sound. Chad Mayes, our missionary guide here met us with two rental vans (felt like an AU road trip) and we headed off for the far northwestern corner of PR called Aquadilla. The trip took close to 3 hours but gave us a full view of the island. Our home is a set of apartments above a bakery owned by one of Chad's close PR friends. It is a dormitory style living with multiple bunk beds stacked in a room but it is very comfortable. The view from our place overlooks the ocean (about 5 miles away)....it is beautiful. Day 2 has seen us have a practice in the morning, withstand a rainstorm in the afternoon and attend a women's volleyball match in the evening. We will attend church on Sunday with Chad and his family, have a chance to share our life stories with each other and then start the clinics, worksite and games on Monday. We are looking forward to all that God has for us here in PR. Continue to pray for us!

Notable quotes/events:

Question: How do you string a net up between two poles when you don't have a crank that works...
Answer: Get Alyssa Downs to problem solve (see picture)

Coach Stowe did such a good job with the security of our apartment that he locked 8 of the girls in who were in the back room! Thank goodness for texting!

Ready to go!

Hey Folks,

We are almost ready to go! I am excited about what the Lord is going to do in the next 10 days with the team. I will use this space to share some of our experiences. I will also invite several of the girls to write a post.
Keep us in your prayers as we travel, minister, learn, work and play.

Coach Rader

Follow the Eagles as they head to Puerto Rico!

Friends and Family,

The Asbury University women's volleyball team is heading to Puerto Rico and we have the perfect place for you to follow along. Stay tuned to this blog while the team is there to get updates (as often as possible).

The team is asking for prayers as they travel and perform clinics with the people they meet while in Puerto Rico. Pray their hearts and the hearts of the people they will come into contact are open and willing to experience the love of Jesus Christ.

Stay tuned!