France Trip Report

We're back!

Wednesday evening I finally returned home after our 10 day Lancer basketball cross-cultural missions trip. 

It was the fastest long trip I can remember being on. Each day felt long - filled with travel, activities, and new things that stretched our comfort zones. But it seems a little surreal to be back already. Just a few days ago I was standing at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

I'll be adding a bunch more photos at the end but I thought I'd share the "mantras" of our trip. These were phrases that got repeated ad nauseum that will stick in our heads for awhile I'm sure. Each of these originated by our host missionary, Dave Hobert, but added to the fun and craziness of our travels.

"We'll figure it out"

When you're on a cross-cultural trip, you have to adapt and be ready for whatever comes up. We certainly had our share of opportunities to be flexible. Time-consciousness is different in France for instance.  In the end though, even the unexpected hiccups turned out well and things did work out. For instance, we had got tickets to a lower-level pro soccer match in the Burgundy area. Half of us ended up at a high school rugby match at first because of an error in directions. But we got to the right field and ended up in the owner's box facility and given a bunch of free food. They even took us out on the field at halftime.

"We gotta go!"

French culture isn't as time-conscious as we are, but that doesn't mean being on time doesn't matter. One factor that made some parts of the trip a little more hectic was the fact that we didn't stay in the same hotel for more than one night. Thus we were going here and there every night after traveling here and there for our clinics, games, or sight-seeing events. We were split up between 4 vehicles too and while the fans and crowds would often like to get autographs and talk after our games but in many circumstances, there was a cut off. And so, "we gotta go" became a rallying cry...only to see our host or some of the players caught in the 'people traffic' and choosing the relational connection over time concerns.

"We gotta stay together"

As described above, travel was always a challenge. And Hobie (Dave Hobert) would often stress the need to stick together on the roads. It didn't always work out that way. Between his driving and some of our others' inexperience driving stick-shift vans - 'we gotta stay together' became a satirical pun fairly quickly. No one got lost though and we made our appointments fairly easily. But there were some interesting moments for sure. 

There were a ton of other more personal stories and observations I'm taking away. And I may share them in the future. 

This team is a special group of guys though. They are special on the court, 31-4 last year/#2 in NAIA. And they have a unique chemistry off the court too. All glory to God for what he did in our hearts and how he used us to plant seeds for Christ.

What Goes Around...

Twenty-three years ago, I took a life-transforming trip to Europe, Germany and France specifically. 

I was fresh off my freshman year of college and a few months removed from our basketball season ending unceremoniously. We had started off fine, 9-9 at Christmas as I remember. We were a young team with a ton of physical talent and ability but were missing experience and internal strength. We then proceeded to lose 13 straight conference games in the gauntlet that was the MCC (now Crossroads League). We lost in every conceivable way. 

Up 4 with a minute left on the road vs. a top 3 team? Check.

Lose multiple leads to less talented teams at home? Check

Have players quit mid-game? Check

Get beat by the (other) worst team in the league? Check

And I was nowhere near the varsity rotation. I was a lowly JV player gaining valuable playing experience on another terrible team. Our JV team went like 0-16 with the closest contest being like 12 points.

Once the season ended, it was clear it was going to be a pivotal off-season for the program. And Coach Kessler had set up a missions trip to Europe for us to put on clinics, play games, and make connections for the missionaries and churches in those countries. 

With players quitting like rats jumping off the ship (who could blame them?), Coach was left with 3 varsity guys and me. He made some other contacts and found a few other people to join us. A track runner from LeTourneau and a middle-aged guy from Columbus, Ohio.

Despite, and because of, all of that background, we had a tremendous trip. Speaking for myself, I will always remember the trip because I got to participate in a trip where I could use my own love for the game to share my love for Jesus. As American basketball players, we had an automatic platform to share our faith and that was such a neat thing to experience.

Twenty-three years later, I am going back. 

One of my side-gigs is being chaplain for the current Grace Lancer basketball team. The program is in a much better place and should be a top 5 team next year in the-now-one-division NAIA (it was two back in my day).  Scott Moore, Coach K's successor whose older brother went to Europe with me, has continued the tradition of taking the team on an overseas trip.

Sunday we leave for France to do much of the same type of ministry. Clinics, games, connecting with churches - all are on the menu. This time, the whole team is coming. And this time, I get to go as a coach, driver, chaperone, and chaplain intent on pouring into these young men so that they can have a similarly transformative experience.

Prayers are appreciated, it's going to be a crazy trip without a doubt.