ETBU Volleyball TAME Trip
Eastern Europe Area
Blog #1
The ETBU Tiger Volleyball left Texas on Saturday afternoon, for Eastern Europe, where they will spend the week as a part of the Tiger Athletic Mission Experience (TAME).  After a 10-hour flight to Frankfurt, the group of 16, consisting of student-athletes, coaches, and administrators, arrived in Eastern Europe, just after lunch on Sunday afternoon.  
After clearing customs and passport control, the team enjoyed an authentic  lunch before arriving at their hostel in Nis, where they will spend the majority of the week.
 
On Monday, the team began the day with a devotional and orientation at the Connect Center, which is the home base for our hosts in Nis.  They use the Connect Center to offer English classes throughout the week and church on Sunday mornings.  In the afternoon, the Tigers participated in a joint practice with a local Serbian club volleyball team, Stampedo, which had players ranging from the ages of 10-16.  
 
After practice, ETBU traveled across town to host a volleyball skills clinic at two different community centers in Nis.  The ETBU student-athletes did an amazing job interacting and teaching the children at the practice and the skills clinic, despite the language barrier.
 
"It was amazing to get to practice with the Serbians and see the way they played tougher.  The language barrier made things a little difficult, but were were able to communicate with them enough to make a connection.  Working with the younger kids was a lot of fun because they were really excited to have us there with them.  I cannot wait to see how God moves through us the rest of the week," Freshmen Meredith Augsburger from Burleson, Texas.  
 
Please keep the team in your prayers this week, as they are continually stretched and learning to adapt to a foreign culture.  Also pray for the people of Serbia who we will come into contact this week and that the team will be able to use the sport of volleyball and their God-given talents and abilities to share their faith with the Serbians.
 
Ryan Erwin
Vice President for Athletics
East Texas Baptist University