Women's Basketball On A Mission In Haiti
Five members of the Asbury Women's Basketball team along with head coach Bart Flener were on mission this summer in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The team left Louisville May 19 and landed in Port-au-Prince eager to do ministry alongside other volunteers with Mission Support International.
From left Ashlea Hollon, Ellen Gray, Coach Bart Flener, Brooke Jense, Hayley Spivey, and Courtney Albin.
Ministering together with Coach Flener were Courtney Albin, Ellen Gray, Ashley Hollon, Brooke Jensen, and Hayley Spivey. There was a real spirit of cooperation among this diverse group of volunteers from Tennessee and Central Kentucky. The team members had busy days beginning at 6:15 AM with devotions and culminating with debriefing sessions each night around 10:30 PM. Their ministry included participating in medical clinics, playing with children at several orphanages, a Vacation Bible School, and nightly crusades where they worshipped along with the Haitians. The Haitian people really know how to celebrate and worship.
Coach Flener had the opportunity to preach at one of the nightly crusades. "It was a tremendous honor to share the plan of Salvation to a large group of people while working with a translator," said Coach Flener. All the players found working in the orphanages very humbling. The orphanages were filled with children with AIDS and physically challenged children.
"It was amazing to hold these forgotten children and show them the love of Jesus Christ," said Ellen Gray. "It made us search ourselves and search Scripture to understand more and more how God is sovereign and that He has a plan for every life in this world. If His plan was for me to hold an AIDS baby and understand compassion then God accomplished that in me on this project," said sophomore Courtney Albin.
Ashley Hollon said, "God is Amazing. He has opened my eyes to so many things. So many things I take for granted in this world. This has been a wonderful experience and I hope to continue on in mission ministry."
