Tiger Athletic Missions Experience Blog

Day 3 Blog
Michael Garvie
Senior (Toronto, Canada)
Saturday, January 5, 2019

After a long but rewarding day on the outdoor trails of where different homeless communities have settled, we woke up rested with a perspective shift of just how blessed we truly are. From the blessing of being able to travel to do God's work and the opportunity to provide resources to people in need of the basic daily necessities, which included things we commonly take for granted.  These necessities included things such as running water, bathrooms, food, shelter, clothes and basic medical attention. 
 
Today we traveled to Trvana, an hour bus trip north, where we would play our first game of the trip against a local junior team, the Gladiators. After dropping our equipment off at the rink, we boarded the Gladiator team bus with a few of their players to visit a private homeless shelter on the edge of town. 
 
This shelter was called a "safe house," where approximately 18 residents lived within the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rumanovič, who have opened their home up to become a private community shelter for elderly people in need.  
 
We then got the privilege to split into groups with a few residents and connect with them on a more personal level to hear their stories, and the instrumental role God has played in their lives. One takeaway I had was from one of the older residents responses to our question, "Who is Jesus to you?"  He responded with a big smile, while communicating through the translator and said, "He is very important to me and my faith is everything to me because without it I would not have any of this and would not be here." This came from a man without any money, a job, and some challenging health issues. The contrast provided from witnessing how genuinely rich, these amazing people were in their faith, was truly encouraging, uplifting, and humbling. 
 
After lunch, we had the opportunity to take a walking tour of the city and visit two historically significant churches in the city, including The University Church that was dedicated to St. John the Baptist and constructed in 1640 and St. Nicolas Church that was built in 1380. To not only see these unique houses of God, but to have a tour guide, who did a great job explaining the historical and biblical significance of the designs of each of the churches (inside and out), was very insightful. 
 
We then traveled back to the rink to prepare for our first game of the trip against the Gladiators.  While we did not win the game, it was a true blessing as most of us have never experienced playing a European team and it was definitely a learning experience. 
 
After the game we were able to fellowship and eat dinner with the team and we provided each one of the players with a Bible.  It was still definitely a blessing to be able to share in this once in a lifetime opportunity. 
 
Following the game, we took warm blankets to another homeless shelter in the city and had the chance to interact and share with a few people staying before heading back to Bratislava for some much needed rest. 
 
Overall, just three days in, this has already been the trip of a lifetime and we have been given such a unique platform to serve those in need, while also having the privilege to play a game we all love. Being able to not just share the word of God, but to act as a vessel for His endless love and care to be seen through all that we are getting to do in this historical country it truly amazing. 
 
This experience has also given us a new perspective on what it truly means to take care of those in need, as written in Isaiah:
 
"Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
Isaiah 58:7
 
Please continue to pray for what God is doing through us on this trip, and for the hearts of those we come into contact with to be forever changed.