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Sudden growth and the Shepherd's voice

It's been close three years since we were first introduced to the opportunity to work in Kosovo...since that time it's been pretty cool to see how the idea to introduce baseball and share Jesus has grown from a simple 4 day camp to a much larger vision to make an impact in this nation.

We have planned and prayed for this initiative, but I am so wonderfully struck by the way God just makes things happen that are beyond our expectation. For example...this past weekend we took a group of players to Camp Bondsteel to play on a real field. In my mind, this was simply going to be a chance for some beginning players to get a taste for how fun baseball can be. I figured that if the young folks that joined us enjoyed themselves, then it would be a success.

Boy...did I underestimate the impact of this weekend. In the last couple days, Global Baseball and the Kosovo Baseball Initiative has received national and international coverage of our work to introduce baseball to Kosovo. I have received messages from interested Kosovars (including young people here AND from Kosovars in America) asking how they can get involved.

While planning is important, this weekend was a reminder that no amount of planning can surpass the provision of a faithful and omnipotent Creator. Really, the past 6 months have been a challenge. Getting established in a new culture...especially one that is so different that what we have been raised in, is NOT easy. But at each step of the way, we can see God providing a way. He has asked for obedience and faith.

In a lot of ways, the potential growth of this work that might come out this past weekend is overwhelming. So much of what's happening causes my head to scream "slow down" and wait for the right time. But maybe this is the time where growth of this ministry begins.

In my personal devotion time (an area that I REALLY struggle to stay faithful...but I'm trying), I've been reading the Gospel of John. I was struck today with Jesus' explanation of how HE is the good shepherd.

Even though it is "simple", we still struggle within the simplicity of it all.  We still need to strengthen our faith with more committed study of His word. We need to listen to our shepherd's voice. We still need to obediently focus on learning Albanian...so we can testify about the shepherd to our neighbor in their native tongue.

November is a month were we are reminded to remember the reasons we are thankful. So we do that. Without a doubt, our God provides and leads like the shepherd that He is.

Our prayer is that our neighbors in Kosovo and our friends around the world will hear AND recognize the voice of the shepherd.

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