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EpicQuest
-:- Panama Baseball Outreach
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 This one is going deep! Back, Back, Back….and 268 feet over the left field fence for a two run, home run by Reuben from Vermont, USA!
Friday greeted our team with clear skies and beautiful breeze, a relief from the normal hot and humid conditions. Team EQ was scheduled to lead instructional clinics all morning, but plans change as they usually do here in Panama. Instead we started the day with the first of two games with a instructional clinic between games. Team EQ showed great sportsmanship on and off the field, while creating relationships with the Panamanian students. We returned to the YWAM Panama center for dinner, worship and a teaching from Sam Mishkin to conclude a fulfilling and exhausting day.
(Dave Nettles, EpicQuest Director has drawn on his vast knowledge of baseball commentary to contribute the following game reports.)
Friday 7-28-06
Game 1
W 3-2 Team EQ O1OOO1O
Curundu 1OOOO2X 7 INNINGS
Team EQ came out a winner in it’s opening game. Reuben was the starting pitcher with Graham working as middle relief and picking up the win. Geoff came in to pick up the save. In the bottom of the sixth Reuben hit a two run shot over the left field fence to give Team EQ the 4-3 lead. Graham had the other RBI in the first inning.
Game 2
L 13-4 LasCumbro 2O236
Team EQ OOOO4 5 INNINGS
Team EQ was against another all star team from 3 different Sr. Little League districts. Geoff pitched three plus strong innings against a powerful line up. Graham and Jesse finished the game out. Team EQ had opportunities to score in most of the early innings, but couldn’t get the key hit to get the runs home. Team EQ never quit and had a fun filled bottom of the fifth to make the score a bit more respectable. It proved to be a good game for a team that had already played a tight game earlier in the day and had to lead a clinic between games. After the game two EQ team members ,Ricky and Geoff, shared their testimony with the crowd. Graham closed with a prayer of salvation for about 18 members of the crowd.
Saturday 7-29-06
Team EQ traveled to a different stadium Saturday to meet new friends and play some new teams. Leading off the day from the microphone was Reuben, Jonathon and Jeremiah “Shades”. Each told stories of how they had come to have a relationship with Jesus as their Savior and Friend to an expectant crowd. Team EQ went on to play two strong games of baseball and develop new relationships with the local teams. The day drew to a close back at the YWAM Panama center with dinner, worship and a teaching from Andy Miller on Faith.
(Game reports by Dave Nettles)
Game 3
W 7-1 Pedregol OOOOO1
Team EQ OO34OX
 Reuben started with two strong innings followed by Ricky throwing 1 2/3 innings. Team EQ hit the ball hard just into the gloves of the defense. In the third hard hit balls by much of the team finally found areas of the field without a defense. Stephen, Jonathon, and Geoff all scored with Graham getting two RBI’s on a clutch two out hit. In the fourth Stephen recorded an RBI and Geoff knocked 2 in with a two out double to right center. Again with two out J.D. had an infield single that drove the speedy Geoff in all the way from second for a 7-0 lead after 4. Jeremiah got the save by pitching the last two innings.
Game 4
W 5-3 Panama 2OO1OOO
Team EQ OO2OO3
Team EQ started game 4 rough with two errors in the first, allowing two runs to score. In the third Reuben scored from first on a Stephen double. Then Stephen tied the game when Jonathon got a single. Jonathon pitched four strong innings, but another error allowed one more run to cross the plate in the fourth. Team EQ missed a couple of scoring opportunities throughout the game. A big play came in the top of the sixth when Jesse threw home on a grounder where Geoffrey was waiting to put the tag on the would-be score. Ricky pitched 1 2/3 innings with Reuben striking out the batter with bases loaded. In the bottom of the sixth Graham singled, stole second, and scored on Geoffrey’s sharp single down the left field line. J.D. promptly singled home Geoffrey, and then advanced to second on a sacrifice by Kyle. J.D. stole third and scored on Jesse’s in field hit. Another big sixth for Team EQ resulted in another victory and a save for Reuben.
Sunday 7-30-06
Team EQ greeted Sunday with much anticipation as the final games of the tournament would be played for the first through third place trophies. After the Games At the closing ceremonies Cory, Trevor, and Jessie told their personal testimonies. Stephan closed by clearly sharing how to start a personal relationship with Jesus. The majority of the crowd raised their hands to join him in a prayer of invitation and salvation. To celebrate a wonderful day and J.D.’s birthday team EQ was treated to milkshakes at al local mall before returning to the YWAM Panama center for dinner and bed.
Game 5 Semi-Finals
W 13-3 Carro Viento 3
Team EQ 13
Team EQ started slowly getting behind 2-0 after the first. In the second, Team EQ had it’s biggest inning while in Panama, scoring 9 runs on five hits and four walks. Geoff had three RBI’s in the inning. The starting, and winning pitcher was Reuben who completed the 5 inning game, shortened by the mercy rule. The final score of 13-3 sent Team EQ to the championship.
Game 6 Championship
L 5-3 Team EQ 3 0010200
LasCumbro 5 221000x
 Team EQ found itself down early to the only team they had lost to. After leaving 11 players on base through the first six innings Team EQ went quietly to the top of the 7th. Geoff, Graham, and Reuben combined to pitch well and keep Team EQ close. A good time was had by all and some really good baseball was played. After the championship game Team EQ was able to leave baseball equipment for several teams. Championship final score was Las Cumbro 5, Team EQ 3, and everyone who was there were the winners for the experience.
| Posted By: Creagon Muldoon on 7/31/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s) |
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All students and staff arrived safely at the YWAM Panama center with their luggage Wednesday evening. A brief overview of how to live in Panama was given by base director Richard Tracy.
 Students awoke early for breakfast on Thursday and traveled a half hour to the baseball stadium where they are leading instructional baseball clinics. The team was greeted this morning by nearly one hundred and fifty youth ready to learn from the American team. Simple instruction and drills are being lead by students in stations focusing on hitting, fielding and other basics. Most of the Panamanian students have baseball experience and are eager for instruction.
Pending weather, Thursday afternoon is scheduled to be our team’s first game vs. a local team from the neighborhood.
Please pray that God will cancel the normal afternoon showers and allow us to play baseball. More importantly pray that God will give many opportunities for the students to share about their relationship with Christ and that the students will seize these chances wile making friends.
Internet access is limited and slow, but I will try to get more posts as soon as possible.
| Posted By: Creagon Muldoon on 7/27/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 1 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s) |
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Teen Leadership Training Arrival Time
Teen Leadership Training students who plan on arriving for the TLT training must be at the Pine Castle United Methodist Church Oasis building between noon and 4 p.m. on Thursday.
The address for the Pine Castle facilities is:
5933 Randolph Ave.
Orlando, FL 32809
For a map to Pine Castle U.M.C., please click here.
The Oasis building is across the street from the Pine Castle Christian Academy.
Arrival Times for All Participants in EpicQuest
Baltic – Sunday June, 18th between noon and 3 p.m.
Panama – Sunday July 16th
Panama Baseball – Sunday July 23rd
The address for the Pine Castle facilities is:
5933 Randolph Ave.
Orlando, FL 32809
For a map to Pine Castle U.M.C., please click here.
The Oasis building is across the street from the Pine Castle Christian Academy. | Posted By: Tony Kim on 6/14/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s) |
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 The summer outreach season officially began
Monday at Youth With A Mission Orlando as the staff for the base’s three
summer outreaches arrived at the base to begin training and preparations for
three EpicQuest ministries as well as 14 Mission Adventures
outreaches.
The 14 EpicQuest staff began a one-and-a-half week training session which
will prepare the staff with the spiritual, physical and mental knowledge crucial
for an effective and smooth outreach.
EpicQuest Director Dave Nettles reiterated the focus of the outreaches
not as a performance for the people of Latvia and Sweden,
but as an act of worship to God. It is as they experience sharing their faith
with others through performing arts and witnessing that they develop a deeper
relationship with God, he said.
 “The energy – the synergism – between the kids
and how fast it’s going… it’s amazing to see the growth and how fast they are
growing,” Nettles said. “I find it incredibly rewarding.”
Many of the staff repeated the same message as they stated that their
main hopes for the outreach was to see the faiths of the participants to grow,
as well as their own.
Alexa Attila, 20, from Benton
Harbor, Mich., was a
former EpicQuest participant who has transitioned into a staff position for this
year’s outreach.
“I’ve grown up loving it,” said Attila, of the EpicQuest program. “It’s
really changed my life and my walk with the Lord.
“One of the biggest things I’d like to do (this summer) is inspire the
kids and their relationships with the Lord and learn from them. The Lord really
challenged me to learn from the youth.”
 Others, like Cynda Muldoon, 54, of Benton Harbor, Mich., for whom this outreach is their first
staffing experience, hope to become encouraged by the participants to openly
share her faith as they will during the outreach.
“I’ve always had a passion for children,” Muldoon said. “I’m anxious to
see these kids (share their faith) and learn from them.
“I feel like our role is like a grandparent role in this family and that
thrills me.”
Even as the past EpicQuest participants were remembered for their
synergy, YWAM Orlando staff member Dave Matthews, 25, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, saw more opportunities for
the youth to grow in their spirituality.
 “I got to meet a whole bunch of youth that got me
really excited about what we were doing and kind of envious about what they were
doing as youths,” Matthews said of last years Arctic tour.
“Last year I
kind of saw the opportunity to see more youth to realize what they could be and
grow more in that. We had an opportunity last year with the Teen Leadership
Training to lead more and I’d like to see that grow more. All it takes is one
person to speak to another through the power of their testimony and the power of
the Holy Spirit. They have the power to change people’s
lives.”
Matthews particularly remembered the earnestness of 16 year-old Kristen
Berg as she witnessed to the people of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.
 “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this girl is just crazy
for that,’” referring to her forthright faith.
The staff – in addition to praising the participants – also commenced
leadership training exercises and reviewed footage of previous EpicQuest
outreaches to discern how to prepare for this year.
Staff training will continue until the 14th of June, which is
when some of the older, experienced participants for the three EpicQuest
outreaches will arrive in Orlando for Teen Leadership Training, which
prepares those students in leadership roles during their outreaches. | Posted By: Creagon Muldoon on 6/12/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s) |
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The EpicQuest staff visited the Oasis building, where the participants of all three EpicQuest outreaches will be sleeping, worshipping and training during their stay in Orlando, Fla.
The Oasis building is the youth building for Pine Castle United Methodist Church, located 4 miles away from the YWAM Orlando base. The building was offered for the 2006 EpicQuest outreaches by Pastor Ozvaldo “Ozy” Alvarado, the associate generational pastor of the church.
“Oasis – the building itself – is a safe place in a safe community,” Pastor Ozy said. “It’s a convenient place for missions training.”
The Oasis building is an optimal place to hold a portion of the Baltic Tour boot camp, according to EpicQuest director Dave Nettles. The facility has many resources available to the participants, including multiple showers, a kitchen, a sound system and projectors.
“I just really love missions and love seeing youth on mission,” Pastor Ozy said. “I really believe youth can make a difference in the world today, so I’m all about helping any agency and missions organization.” | Posted By: Creagon Muldoon on 6/12/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s) |
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A staple at the Youth with a Mission Orlando office, EpicQuest director Dave Nettles, 44, is no stranger to the mission field.
 Nettles started to seriously consider a career in the mission field after a church member back at his hometown of Louisville, KT, gave him a book by YWAM founder Loren Cunningham, “Is That Really You, God?”
“I’d always thought that it would be a fascinating thing to do, to be on the front lines of evangelism and sharing the gospel with people,” he said. “(The book) gave me insight and realization that, ‘Hey, I can do this’ and that God was really calling me to do it.”
Before he became involved with YWAM in 1992 Nettles worked in Louisville, KT, as a youth pastor. After joining with YWAM, Nettles and his family moved to the former Soviet-country of Belarus to establish a new base there. Now, the Belarus YWAM base is the largest King’s Kids office in Europe.
Dave recalled the most poignant moments during his time in Belarus.
“(I remember) seeing God work in the lives of the kids (in Belarus) and – more importantly I believe – in the lives of the adults in the churches that we started to work with and seeing them catch a vision of working with young people,” he said.
Nettles joined the Orlando base on October of 2002, where he has led three King’s Kids EpicQuest trips. The last two trips – the Arctic Tours – led Nettles back to the Europe to the countries of Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia.
 This year, however, Nettles will not be going on the EpicQuest Baltic trip to Latvia and Sweden.
“I’m not going on the Baltic Tour, which is the first one here in Florida that I haven’t been on, so it’s fun to be able to release that and watch that go,” he said.
The director instead will be working with various YWAM Orlando summer outreaches in different roles. Starting Monday, June 5th, staff for the EpicQuest outreaches to the Baltic and Panama will start their training to prepare for the arrival of the participants and the ministry times, where Nettles will be one of the main teachers.
One of the summer outreaches with which Nettles will be involved is the new EpicQuest Panama baseball outreach, which will focus on bringing together participants with a love for God and sport with others who long to possess both of those passions.
“The growth of the youth ministries department and the youth ministries programs that have gone on – I’m excited to be a part of that,” he said.
| Posted By: Creagon Muldoon on 6/12/2006 - 0 Comment(s) - 0 Flickr - 0 Picture(s) - 0 Audio(s) - 0 Video - 0 Other File(s) |
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