Week 1 - Vacation Bible School in the Bronx, NYC
Week 2 - News Release Basketball Camp in Lorrach, GER
Week 3 - Black Forest Academy (southwestern Germany)
Week 4 - Nice, FR, Southern Europe
Week 5 - Southern Europe, Tokyo
Week 6 - Tokyo, Hong Kong
Week 7 - Los Angeles
Chapter 2.1
Either type this into Google maps or go find a world map for just a second. On the map, go to southwestern Germany and you will find a "tri-country" area where Germany, France, and Switzerland all come together around the Rhine River. If you can zoom in even more you can see Frieburg and Lörrach, and if you zoom in even more you will see a small village by the name of Holzen. Put your finger on that village. Take a deep breath. Exhale.
I never in a thousand years would have guessed that this random village would have a home in it with parents and three children that I would call my near and dear family. And yet today (Tuesday) as we parted ways and I headed down the road a few miles to my next spot, that is indeed the case. How very very cool.
News Release Basketball was founded in 1972 by a group of men with a heart for Europe. Co-opping with church groups and/or local YMCAs (CVJMs) or clubs, NRB provides camp staff workers in the form of fully set up basketball teams. Camp staff workers by day, semi-pro opponent athletes by night, these young men and women are often current college students or recent grads who want to avoid hanging up their sneakers for a while longer. Consisting of 10-12 players, teams attend training camp in the States for 3-4 days before hopping across the pond to match up with the local groups.
In 2013 and 2014, I participated as a member of NRB on a coaches' tour to Croatia and France, and a players' tour to Germany. This time around, I came alongside the NRB women's team and met up with them for a week of camp at Lörrach which hosted about 125 kids ranging in age from 8-18 years old. The CVJM in the city has put on this camp for 20+ years along with NRB and they do a phenomenal job of combining outreach, Biblical teaching, skills training, and game time for the youth daily.
Each morning started out with the staff meeting that included prayer and a few praise and worship songs while kids trickled in for the start of camp. By 9am praise and worship time was in full swing with all of the camp involved in fun songs, mostly in English but sometimes in German. After singing, elementary age kids would be sent out to their gym while the older kids would listen to the youth pastor give a short message and illustration based on a Biblical passage. This past week, Matt, a super cool break dancing redeemed rebel party hard now married with three kids youth pastor, talked about the prodigal son and his return to the arms of his father. The Americans would all sit in the back so that translators could fill us in on the message--what an incredible talent and gift to be able to do that so quickly!!
After the message, we broke up into small groups of 5-8 kids, split boys and girls, and usually two Americans and a translator helper. All three times I have been with the 13-18 year old girls and wowowowow do they ever challenge and amaze me! This year was extra special as a girl that I have been with both past trips now was able to join the group as my translator--a very proud of my kid moment :).
After small group, we prayed it out and went into stations for about an hour. I had rebounding and passing. There was also shooting, ballhandling, defense, and PAIN STATION. The last station being the most intense as the NRB players would get the kids into a full blown sweat in 12 minutes of torture--all athletically related :). Each station would always get a break for 12 minutes which was actually a Q&A session in the back room with the staff on break. After stations, we played a big camp game then settled in for a testimony by a NRB player (translated). Group prayer, lunch, then mix up the groups into teams and we played 5 on 5 in 10 minute game chunks. Finish by closing the day with a few Camper of the Day awards, a group prayer, and off they went, camp ending at 4pm.
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If you know someone who would be interested in NRB, male or female over age 18, have them check out their website at www.nrbasketball.org for next summer's opportunities. The organization is all about loving people, within and through the team. From city center ministry to full language and cultural integration via host family pairings, athletes get to experience Europe in a unique and wonderful way, while also growing a network and community through News Release that will last a lifetime. Each athlete raises funds for their full needs, around $3000 to cover travel and lodging expenses. The trip includes typically two weeks in Europe, with an occasional option to extend. If you would be interested in donating to News Release, they are always looking for partners in support through prayer and financial gifts as led. In faith, athletes are often allowed to travel even though they have not yet received full funding. Last minute gifts are truly an answer to prayer and can be made at Donate to News Release Basketball
One of my best friends in the whole world I met my first year coaching with NRB in Croatia, some of my best adventures have come through opportunities provided by NRB, and some of my closest family, language barrier and all, have come through the sharing environment of News Release.
The Lörrach Camp will always have a special place in my heart...and the giggles of my Zámbó family as we shared life together this past week will be bottled up to treasure for a lifetime.
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"Thank you again for such a wonderful week! Until next time, love always, Miriam". Milian, my 8 year little buddy sounded out the words and had not a clue what they meant. His mom translated the meaning from English to German and Milian looked up at me, looked at the board, looked at his mom and with grave solemnity replied in German, "We must leave that up there until she comes back." When I heard the translation from his mom,my response was to speak in the universal language of...tickling :). Ooooooohhhhh dear Lord you give sweet and precious gifts.
In Him,
M
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