Zagreb, Croatia: Cultural Experience

We began this morning with breakfast at 9 followed by practice for the setters and outsides from 10-12. I went due to the fact that I am doing both setting and playing libero; soooo excited! I would like to announce my hitting debut! It was so awesome!

So this afternoon, we headed to Zagreb, Croatia for some more sight seeing as a couple of matches. We walked around the main square and just hung out for a bit. We all were a bit hungry and found that there were no places that took Euros nor credit cards! They only took Kuna, the currency there. It was so crazy! Who doesn't take credit cards????

After our adventure, we headed to the gym where I am pleased to tell you that I encountered God. Corey, one of the men in charge, had told us prior to leaving that some of us may not get to play, and I fell in to that group. Instead, I say and put in my headphones, listening to my favorite Celebration Worship songs and reading the book of John! I can't even begin to tell you how amazing this fast is and how I am being drawn closer to God. I love it! Also, there was one girl, Morgan, who turned to me and asked, "what book are you reading?" I lifted my book which reads, 'Holy Bible' on the side and she looked back down, scuffled through her bag, and headed up the bleachers toward me with a book in her hand. She had brought up her favorite Christian book that she has been reading and we began discussing some struggles we have had lately...I love how God works. I could have been on the court playing, but instead, God had me sitting on the sidelines for a reason. After a few minutes, another girl sat by us and we all continued talking and sharing a few testimonies.

Tonight when we returned to the hotel, I felt like I wanted to go down to the lobby. So Mary, my roommate and I headed down to see who was still awake. I ended up chatting with the man working the desk, Gordon; he has been working the past few nights. We talked for about 20 minutes and he showed me picture of his twin children, Emma and Phillip. They were so adorable! He is convinced that I should play handball and he showed me his brother, who was on Croatia's National Team!!! Now he is in Belgium. Ridiculous.

Well, tomorrow is my last day here and the tentative schedule is as follows:

9-9:30: Breakfast

9:30: Meeting

10-12noon: Practice

1pm: Lunch

3:30: Depart

4: Wine Tasting

6:Watch Game

I plan on skipping the wine tasting and going to the professional game. I am wanting to just relax and spend some more time exploring and with God. Maybe Jesus and I will have a date. I love that I can just ask Him and He always is available.

Hope all of you are doing well back in the States. Feel free to comment or write me on FB. I love hearing from you.

Love,

Ashley Anne August #13

Slovenia, Night on the Town

Yesterday was our day off for the tour. We spent most of the day in Bled, Slovenia. My new friend, Catelyn, and I walked around the entire lake, which was about 5km around. In the middle of the lake there was an island with a Church upon it. Tim, the head man on our tour, informed some of the girls that is was an option to swim out to the island! Catelyn and I were both dead set on doing this, however apparently they feel that 38 degree water isn't warm enough so they only allow people to do this in summer :(

Upon our walk, we chatted and I found out that she has already played professionally for two years over here in Europe! We drank this hot wine, forgot the name and I couldn't even spell if I did remember. haha. We then stopped at a place that made the famous desert of Kremna Rezina. It's this custard creamy desert that is buttery and delicious! Google it if you get a sec.

I can't tell you all how honored and humbled I feel to be over here. I can't even put into words how it feels to have your dream so close, but so far away. Getting a contract is near impossible for liberos over here, but I am doing my best to trust God that if it is His plan for me to be over here, then it will be. I have never experienced anything like this.

As some of you know, today begins the fast at Celebration. I prayed and asked God to guide me through it. I am so grateful to God for everything He has blessed me with. "It's so much better living in His world. He has given me something I want everyone, everyone to see. I'm learning to be the light." NewWorldSong.

Take your time today to thank God for something you have never thought of thanking Him for.

Thank you God for blessing me with all ten fingers. The things that they have been through and done for me are endless. Thank you for creating such a perfect tool for me to help spread Your love through a hug or a high five. Through a loving letter or a note just to say hello. Please guide me to use the hands You have given me for good, always good, to gorify You, to praise Your name, and to spread Your love. Help me not to be afraid of anything but You.

I love you all and I can't wait to see you all again. I pray that you have an amazing day and remember that God has us right where he wants us.

Love,

Ashley Anne August #13

Little Late Day 1

8:45 am: Breakfast at the Hotel
We began our day heading to the little cafe inside our hotel. They had a really diverse spread of Italian cuisine: croissants, prosciutto, ham, different cheese, questionable scrambled eggs, and NUTELLA! It was definitely different from an egg McMuffin form McDonald's, but it seemed that everyone had no trouble finding something they enjoyed.

10ish am: Depart for Practice #1
We all piled into the bus for practice and were on our way to our first practice. When we arrived, it was clear that we weren't in the states anymore. We walked back towards a building that appeared to be a worn down, dome-like, shack. But to our surprise, upon walking in there were two BEAUTIFUL volleyball courts. We split into groups, hitters and setters on one court and the liberos (including myself) on the other. We, meaning the liberos, were instructed by Italian coaches, in Italian (aka they spoke Italian)! It was an amazingly unique experience having to communicate with a coach that we couldn't really communicate with, but it was very cool to see that the few english words he knew and a few physical motions, we knew what he wanted us to do. Well, for the most part.

12:30 pm: Lunch!
The restaurant we went to was a cute, dainty place. We entered in and they ushered us to the back in our own little room as if they knew we would be too loud :) They brought us quite an array of food including a delicious form of hamburger helper (it didn't compare, but I'm just trying to be descriptive), also a rib of pork and a small salad. The best part was the tiramisu!!! It was a little individual ramekin of happiness!

7:00 pm: Depart for Games!
The group I was in headed to play an italian team. When we arrived at the gym there was a girls youth basketball game taking place and it was a cute reminiscent moment of the days when I personally used to play basketball oh back in the day. The score was 4-1. It was so cute.
We headed to the locker room to get ready for our game. With white jerseys with red lettering, we took the court. We had a good looking warmup and did our best to make sure our communication was at its finest due to us never playing together.
Each lineup we had was awesome! It was really cool getting to test our skills of working together. The Italians had some heavy hitters and solid ball control, and as one teammate would describe it, "they were scrappy lil' suckers" (Sarah Roberts).
Out of the five game match, we won two. Our coaches were very helpful and gave informative feedback. They kept us calm and gave everyone an opportunity to play.

Day one was great! We are looking forward to what tomorrow has in store. Sleep tight Italy. Ciao!

Pictures!

Tiramisu!
The view from our hotel
The view from our hotel
Lost Baggage Counter

Amsterdam airport window

Amsterdam Airport

Map on Personal Television of how far we had gone

Dinner

Inspiring words...thanks Charles

Made It!

So I was waiting on standby for the flight to Bologna from Amsterdam and I saw a really tall girl and noticed she had a Baylor Volleyball sweatshirt on and it was a great feeling.

Needless to say, I made it on the flight and we met up with one of the coaches at the airport. We proceeded to the gym for our first practice, but there was one more hiccup before we left...my bag didn't show up. Oops. I went to baggage claim and they said they would bring it to the hotel.

On the positive side, all of the girls are amazing! They have been lending me clothes, shampoo, toothpaste, and whatever I need until my luggage arrives. They just met me today I was lended a sports bra and everything! Feeling God's love being shared is awesome.

Anyways, hope all is well in the States. Tomorrow we have a two hour practice at 10am and then 3 matches in the evening. Praying for the best.

Love,

Ashley Anne August #13

Flight Trouble

So, you guys are NOT going to believe this.

On board my plane from Jacksonville heading to Atlanta, I was just chillin in my seat, stoked that my dreams are only a plane ride away! But, we all know that God has a sense of humor and needs to test our faith.

First, the AC wouldn't work. They were waiting for the mechanic thus causing the first delay for the day. Meanwhile, a man decided that he needed his bag from the overhead compartment and again, as we all know, "contents may shift while in the air" so we need to be careful when we open them for our bags. Who knew that the luggage would shift when the plane didn't even move! This poor man's bag fell right on his head! I'm not sure of all the details, but apparently there was a PT on board who said he wasn't okay to fly. As a precaution, the flight attendant had to call an EMT to come on board and make sure that the man would be alright to fly. Forty five minutes later, the EMT came on board and cleared the man to fly. Yay! Finally, we were on the runway and getting ready to take off...are you hearing God chuckle yet? Well, our second engine wouldn't start after three attempts, thus we had to head back to the gate.

Two hours later, we are still sitting there waiting for the mechanic to fly in. Meanwhile, I was trying to determine how I was going to get out of Jacksonville! My tryout, ya know, the thing I have been training my entire life for! haha. I decided to call Delta and was on the phone with a woman named Marley. SHE, my friends, was AMAZING. She did everything she could to find a route that worked to get me to Bologna. Whether I went from Jax to New York to Paris to Bologna or Jax to Atlanta to Minnesota to Amsterdam to Bologna. This woman was determined to help me. However, I decided to just try to stick it out. I got off the plane to charge my phone and stretch a bit.

I then met a young man, Ramsey. He was heading to Washington, D.C.. In the middle of all this chaos, I was just trying to trust in God and know that if this really wasn't in my plan then I would HAVE to accept it, and just say "Yes Lord". (Sub30 fans should know what I'm talking about :) While speaking on the phone with Terri, I kinda lost it a little. I just couldn't hold back the tears while sitting in what felt like the middle of the airport. Watching my tears hit the floor, I knew that I just had to do my best to stay calm and trust God. Well, let me tell you something, he definitely provided. Ramsey I'm sure noticed my pain and seriously was like an angel. Without even telling me, he began looking up every other possible route I could take to get to Bologna. By the time I was off the phone he already had my plan of action ready. He came with me to the front desk and after about an hour of conversation with the agent, Karem (I believe), I was booked on the next flight to Atlanta.

By that time I had already missed my connection to Amsterdam, but I had to just keep telling myself to trust. After arriving in Atlanta, Ramsey and I headed to the ticket counter. While waiting in line, we met an awesome man. The three of us discussed politics and how we can fix our country. It was awesome. An hour and a half later, we reached the front of the line and the gentlemen forced me to go first; knowing that there was another flight to Amsterdam in an hour.

The woman at the counter (all by herself) was the sweetest lady. She called and begged and pleaded with the person on the other line until she got me on the flight. It was truly amazing having all these people help me in on of my most desperate times of need. I turned around to look at Ramsey and told him that she got me a seat and he looked almost more excited than I was, even though he had missed the flight for himself.

I ran and hustled my way to gate E26. On the tram ride there I spoke with Terri and Charles who reassured that God had a plan for me and that I needed not to worry and just keep moving forward. I arrived at the gate, was issued a ticket and boarded the plane.

Upon my arrival in Amsterdam, I had to go through customs, (yes they stamped my passport!) and speak with a man who was also going above and beyond to help me on my way. He never gave me his name, but he has a 9 year old son who he has taken to Disney World a few times! He has put me on standby to the first flight to Bologna, Italy! When I say on stand-by, he has me and thee first person to receive a seat if anyone is not there. Praise God!

I am writing this from the Netherlands airport in Amsterdam. I can't tell you how much of an adventure this has been. Scary and trying at times, but shoot, I'm in Europe so at least I'm over here! I can't thank those people enough for helping me. Especially: Ramsey, Terri, Terri's friend (who prayed and heard that God planned for me to have a divine meeting), Charles, and all of the amazing ticket agents.

I know that I will be in Bologna tonight. God has a plan and he is not going to just leave me half way through it. Thank you all again for your support. I hope you are enjoying this blog. I miss you all.

Love:

Ashley Anne August #13

Day Before Lift Off...

Hey All!

So an idea for a blog for this amazing opportunity was made to me by my favorite Planet Beach Manager, Brittany. Thus, I created a blog. Thanks Britt!

I can't even express to you all how excited I am for this trip to take place. My flight departs tomorrow at 1:50pm EST and I will make a stop in Atlanta, Georgia, then Amsterdam, and then finally Bologna, Italy.

I am currently sitting at Starbucks preparing for the trip, especially mentally. I want to take this opportunity to let you know how giving one of my coach's is: Christina Diaz. I had requested to possibly get some gym time this week so that I would be both physically and mentally prepared for this trip. Just as I thought it wasn't going to happen, she sent me a text last night and it read, "8am tomorrow". Of course, you all know me, I jumped at the opportunity to play volleyball! Not only did she get me some gym time, but she came at 8am today just to help me! I am so truly grateful for her time and great tips this morning.

Anyways, I hope you all will enjoy this and I will do my best to keep you updated on how the trip is going. I really do appreciate every single one of you for your support and more importantly prayers. I truly hope to spread God's love while being over there even for the short period of time :)

Thank you again.

Love: Ashley Anne August #13

Mark 2:14 As he walked along he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.