The God of Miracles

Hi Everyone,

My name is Jordan Peters. I am an 18 year old freshmen on the Liberty women’s basketball team majoring in nursing. I’m going to share a little bit about myself, but more importantly, I’m going to use this blog to rejoice with you and to share the abundant riches, the grace, and the benevolence of my God.

Mark 5:19 says, “No, go home to your own people, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been. So the man started off to visit the ten towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus has done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he had told him.” The premise of this story is that one day this man is demon possessed and the next day he is healed by the grace of God and proclaiming the good news with passion and fire. He didn’t want to return to the people who had seen him struggle and who saw him call out in agony; instead, he wanted to move on and go with Jesus. But the Lord said no; Jesus trusted this man with his story, with his grace, and with his miracle. Jesus proclaimed his will over this man’s life; he told him his race is not over. Your race is not over; no matter what shame you think covers you or what pain swallows your heart, Jesus is at work in you.

But my God wasn’t just a God of miracles in biblical times. He is a God of miracles right now and forever he will always be a God of miracles. My God has claimed me from illness; an illness that couldn’t be diagnosed or treated, an illness that gripped my life with power, an illness that gave me no power over my own body. He claimed it for His purpose. The second that I laid it at His feet and fought in prayer He took it away from me; that night He healed me and I woke up for the first time in a year and a half without pain. But He said your race isn’t over and He led me to Nicaragua where I got to share the magnificent work of the Lord. He left people in full astonishment and used me to lace their hearts and minds with his glory and power.

Then, by the grace of God, the door for me to play basketball at my dream school was open but a short time before I started training at Liberty I was sexually assaulted. Now I was crippled with fear in a new environment with a new level of mental and physical stress. I was too scared to go to sleep and too nervous to walk into a room without analyzing all my surroundings. My heart and my mind were never at rest and it was taking a terrible toll on my body and my mental state. I was truly at war with the evil in my life and Satan’s choice of venue for spiritual warfare is the mind. But my God, the God Most High, the God who sees, and the “God of comfort” claimed my mind and my thoughts for His purpose and His glory alone.

Since then the Lord has only built my passion to be an overseas missionary, He has taught me how to serve first, and how to proclaim His glory through my faults. Coach Green is helping me to continually run my race for the Lord and by God’s will is providing me with a platform for something so much greater than myself. Jesus led me to Liberty and He so intentionally placed me on the women’s basketball team so that the Lord can use me however He sees fit. This team and my coaching staff are amazing people. I am in awe of the things He allows me to see in them, their purpose, their spiritual gifts, the magnificence of the paths they have already taken. God blesses me every day with the opportunity to be a part of this team. I am so happy I was able to share some of my journey with you and how the Lord has worked in my life. The Lord claims you, all of you, and your race isn’t over.

Go Flames!

-Jordan Peters #3

Mya McMillian: Future Forensic Accountant

Hey guys, today I’m going to be talking about my transition from high school to college and my major. It was a difficult transition because everything is drastically different from high school to college.

Academically, everyone has a different schedule and you are basically on your own. No one is down your throat about attending class or turning in work, so self-discipline comes into play. My whole life I have never lived without at least one family member, until now. The dorms remind me of apartments and they are treated like apartments. We have to keep them clean and organized to meet Liberty standards.

Basketball has been very different as well. Usually an incoming college athlete comes from being the big-time player in high school, and they have to adjust. Everyone is good in college, so the competition increases and your performance level must increase to match or surpass the competition. One major concept I have found important is time management. It’s hard to do well in classes with practices and other events, but with time management I have found it possible.

My undergraduate degree will help me get the job I want. I am majoring in Accounting and minoring in Forensics. After college my plans are to move back to Texas and go to graduate school where I will get a masters degree in Accounting, as well as a Law degree, and then take the Bar Exam. With these tools I am going to become a forensic accountant. Forensic accountants use accounting, auditing, and investigative skills to conduct an examination into a company’s financial statements. They are often used in fraud cases. I have always shown interest in forensics and I am extremely good with numbers. This career combines my desire with my skills. Thankfully forensic accountants get paid well and there is a growing need of forensic accountants.

Overall I am enjoying my college experience and I can’t wait to make more memories here at Liberty University!

From Ethiopia to Sweden to the USA

Hello Everyone,

My name is Melat Sissay and I’m a freshman from Sweden, but I was born in Ethiopia. I moved to Sweden with my big sister when I was 7 years old. Moving from Ethiopia to Sweden was one of the biggest changes I’ve ever experienced. Everything was new. The language, the culture, the food, the people...everything...

Growing up in Ethiopia was a bit difficult, but I would never trade that part of my life for anything else. I believe that I am who I am today because of everything that I’ve been through and I’m so grateful and thankful for God's amazing work. The fact that God brought me all the way from Ethiopia to Sweden and from Sweden to the United States to allow me to play the sport that I love and get a free education is something that reminds me on how much God loves and cares about me.

One of the uncountable blessings that God has given me that I’m forever grateful for is my big sister. I’m so blessed to have such an amazing sister that has the strength to deal with my petty self. She is my role model and I would do anything for her. The funny part is the fact we literally argue every day about small things and hate on each other. She is always running on my nerves and she seems to think I get on hers as well, which is not true. I don’t think I’m running on her nerves; I’m just walking on them sometimes! I still love her to pieces and I’m willing to do anything to make her happy and proud.

With that being said I hope you guys enjoyed reading my blog - even if this was more of an appreciation post about my sister and not so much about me!

Go Flames!

-Melat Sissay #5

Game Nights

Hello,

I am redshirt sophomore Emily Lytle and I'm from Memphis, Tennessee. If you know me you know that I have a big family and that we all played or play basketball. But, what you do not know is that I love game nights with my friends - games like Farkle, Uno, Phase 10, Spades, board games, charades, etc. One of my favorite memories from game night is when two other Liberty basketball girls, my game night teammate Jessica Pham (our graduate assistant) and I played Phase 10 and Kemps for hours. It was a night of fun, laughter, and lots of competitiveness. We are still waiting to finish our rounds to determine the reigning champion, but until then the winners will stay anonymous!

Another thing I love is having Spade Night back at home in Memphis with my family. My dad and I are always partners playing against my mom and another sibling. Both of my parents are very competitive (hence where I get my competitiveness from), so they are always super into the game, while I just laugh with a heart that is full of thanks and love. It gets interesting and it is so much fun; I love every minute of it because there is so much interaction and bonding instead of just staring at a screen for hours. It beats going out to the movies every single time.

These are memories that I will cherish forever. With that being said, I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving and truly reflect on the things that you are thankful for. Whether it is food, family, friends or your pets. But above all else be thankful that we have a God that thinks we are to die for -  literally! He loves you and His arms are always open for you to run into them no matter how far you think you are from Him. Happy Thanksgiving! Thankful to be a part of the LU family!

Go Flames!

-Emily Lytle #23

Kia Ora

Kia Ora (hello) my name is Amy,

I was originally born in England and then moved to New Zealand when I was 5 years old. I am extremely lucky to call both places home. I feel so honoured to have the opportunity to experience living in another country and to explore the culture.

Growing up in New Zealand gave me one of the best childhoods I could have ever wished for. Having a brother meant that there was a lot of competitiveness in the household. Among ourselves, I think we almost covered all bases of sports, from field hockey to road cycling to tennis. I think I tended to lean towards the sports he played because I wanted to be better them him (in the best way possible). New Zealand is a place of opportunity and there is no better place to play Saturday morning sports. This was one of my favourite childhood memories.

A place in New Zealand where my family and I spent a lot of our holidays is called Taupo. It is a town that is formed around a giant lake that was created by a volcanic eruption. I have been to this city countless times with family. It has the beautiful Huka falls and the Maori rock carvings which show the traditional culture of New Zealand. Although both of these things are breathtaking, my favourite activity to do in Taupo is a thing called Huka Prawn. You sit on verandas in the sun with family and friends, waiting to hook a prawn in a pond. It is surprisingly very satisfying.

Being raised in New Zealand has made me the competitive and laid back person I am today, and I am so grateful to say I’m from a country that has such a reputable name.

Go Flames!

Amy West #33

Israel Blog Day 11: Reflecting on an Incredible Trip

Hey Everyone,

Today's blog is going to cover my unbelievable trip to Israel. Never in a million years did I even have a thought of coming to Israel, but after I chose to play for Liberty University, the opportunity arose. I was excited, but once we arrived in Israel and started touring these amazing sites, it exceeded my expectations. I still can't believe I visited places Jesus, as well as other important people in the Bible, most likely visited. This entire trip has been a memory I will never forget.

One of my favorite moments of the trip was getting baptized in the Jordan River. Few people are given this opportunity and I am a part of the few. It was also amazing for Coach Green to be the one to baptize me. My second favorite memory was walking through the underground tunnel (mentioned in an earlier blog post), although there were moments in which the ceiling was less than five feet high. It was amazing and eye-opening to see the extent in which people had to go through to get water. My third favorite memory was seeing the Garden Tomb. This could be the tomb Jesus was in for three days before He rose from the dead. After we took communion there we worshiped with another group. We sang our hearts out and didn't want to leave. During this moment I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. That feeling gave me chills and I could do nothing but smile.

The time difference from Virginia and Israel is vast. It took longer than most for my body to adjust, but that is a small price to pay for this unreal trip. With the help of our wonderful tour guide, Ron, and our pro driver, David, the trip was perfect. It's one thing to hear the Bible, but to see it come to life was life-changing. If you ever have the option to tour Israel take it in a heartbeat and I promise you won't regret it. You will leave a different person, as I did!

-Mya McMillian #20

Israel Blog Day 10: Appreciating the Cultural Differences

Hi Everyone,

We’re getting close to the end of this fascinating and unique trip in Israel. We’re currently in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is more modernly developed and entertaining compared to all the cities we have visited. We had a chance to take a walk along the public beach yesterday; it may not be the cleanest, but it had character. It was fun to people watch and experience. There is a chill vibe to the streets; they have many charming and artistic middle eastern looking restaurants. The port area was another great spot to take a stroll by the sea, and a wonderful place to sit, eat, relax, and hang out with friends, but we had to be careful to avoid all the bicycles. They are everywhere!

I remember couple years ago there was a picture went viral on the Internet saying, “make hummus not walls”. Now it makes sense to me. It is their local food. They are obsessed with hummus, and so am I. I don’t know why the hummus is so much better in Israel, but so far it is one of the best dishes I’ve ever tried in couple of years.

As we observed, Israel has a diverse society when it comes to religious background which shapes and affects the life style. Cultural differences became apparent from the way they communicate to the way they dress. To me, that’s what made this trip very special. Despite the fact that we were parched outside, I really enjoyed walking around the streets of Israel and learning about their culture.

This trip was one for the books. I also want to thank our tour guide Ron for going above and beyond to make these days memorable for us! We sure will miss him!

-Melis Ucar #13

Israel Blog Day 9: Visualizing the Bible

Hi Everyone,

This trip to Israel has been highly anticipated since I knew it existed. Growing up a Christian, I always had trouble visualizing stories in the Old Testament because I always found the movies people make about them to be boring. Then I got in my head that all these places were pretty much the same and I didn't care to think about any story's setting.

Once the plane landed and we drove to our first hotel, it started to hit me. Jesus walked here. This is His chosen land with His chosen people. As the trip went on, I began to understand the significance of each spot and tie together what happened in what location. I had a day early in the trip when I told myself, "Alright, this has been my favorite day", but then I thought the same thing about the next day and the next day, etc.

However, a major highlight was looking at the Mount of Olives. To know that Jesus is coming back there at any moment is mind blowing. To the left is a photo of the Mount of Olives.

Another major highlight of the trip was the day that we visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb. Both sites claim to be the tomb in which Jesus was buried. The experience of comparing and contrasting the places first hand and interacting with the people who have traveled near and far to see it was remarkable. To see that the Garden Tomb, which fits the Bible's description of the tomb, was far emptier than the church was interesting.

We also did communion and worshiped with a few other Liberty students. Once we joined them in worship, seeing all the random people who were also visiting the tomb come and join us was beautiful. It made me think of how the Gospel should unite us and not divide us. However, living in a world full of sinners where the devil is alive and well, it will happen.

Here's a photo to the left of an olive tree wood cup that we did communion with sitting in front of the Garden Tomb.

-Ria Gulley #2

Israel Blog Day 8: HE ROSE!!

Hi Everyone,

What do you do when words don’t actually say much? How do you accurately communicate the deep emotions you feel when walking in the places that Jesus once was? Maybe there is actually not a word in the English vocabulary to express all the things we have done so far in Israel. I am going to try my best to paint a picture with my words about the amazing experiences we have had as a team.

Today, we started off at the Pools of Bethesda, which is where Jesus told a lame man to get up and walk. From there we visited a few famous and ancient churches within Jerusalem and actually walked down the Via Dolorosa. The Via Dolorosa is the very path that the Son of Man walked within the city, carrying a cross to the place where He breathed His last breath. When our tour guide told us that this was the exact road from over 2,000 years ago I wanted to slide off my Nikes and walk barefoot to get the full experience but when I looked down and saw the dirt and scum on the road I kept my shoes on. With or without wearing shoes, I was overwhelmed with the gravity of the cross.

Imagine standing across from the place where it is believed that Jesus, my Savior, was crucified for the sins of the world. Imagine walking through a very tranquil and calm garden where people from all over the world have come to visit. Imagine the butterflies in your belly as the story of Jesus’ final moments before the resurrection were described. Honestly, I actually did not want to walk into the tomb. I felt my palms begin to sweat, which happens whenever I am nervous, and the weight of what was actually accomplished on Calvary washed over me like a flood of refreshing water. I sat down on the stone walkway to reread the account in Matthew of Jesus’ final days before I walked into the place where it is believed my Savior lay.

This is the point when the English language won’t shed light on the gravity of this experience. But as I stared at the ground, which is empty, and walked out the door, which had no stone in front of it, and then looked up and saw the beauty of this garden my heart worshipped. Guys, Jesus did not stay dead. HE ROSE! After that we all came back together, we sat down and shared communion. As a body of liberated sons and daughters of the King, we came together and sang praise to the Lord. We sang songs like, “Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow.” Hallelujah. It was Jesus. It will always be Jesus and it will never stop being Jesus. HE ROSE!!

-Tatyana Crowder #4

Israel Blog Day 7: Navigating Underground Tunnels

Hello Everyone!

This trip to Israel has been amazing, prosperous, and so fulfilling. We have really exerted ourselves culturally to try new foods, physically by hiking mountains and walking through deserts, and spiritually by growing in our relationship with God while on this journey. With that being said, Melat and I are going to share the crazy adventure we went on today in the City of David.

The City of David is an Israeli settlement that is also known as the Jerusalem of ancient times.
Pictured left (top) you can see the overview of the biblical Jerusalem before you enter underground (below) which houses the Gihon Spring, the major water source for Jerusalem for over a 1,000 years. Located underground is a 2,000-year-old water tunnel that has very narrow walls, 5-6 inches of water in its pathway, and a sloping ceiling that is both high and low in different locations.

Navigating throughout this tunnel was both an adventure and a challenge. For starters, height served as an advantage for some and a disadvantage for others. In terms of basketball, if you were a guard the water in the tunnel most likely went past your knees up to your quads while us taller people were safe right around the shin/knee area. Unfortunately, if you were a post player it was very likely that you would not only bang your head a couple times on the low ceiling areas, but we had to walk through the tunnel like the Hunchback of Notre Dame in order to fit (pictured below). With about 12 inches of space between the walls, this is not something we recommend for individuals that are claustrophobic. Towards the latter part of the journey, everyone decided to turn off our flashlights and trudge through the tunnel in complete darkness.

After reading about this wild experience, you probably think our team is a little crazy. Truthfully, I would not have wanted to complete this journey with any other team on this earth. In the short amount of time we have been in Israel, we have grown physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally as a team. This trip is the beginning of what will be an exciting season of Liberty Women’s Basketball.

Thanks for reading our blog post!

-KK Barbour #30 & Melat Sissay #5

Israel Blog Day 6: Happy Birthday Brooke!

Hi Everyone,

August 6th, also known as the best day of year! Well according to me, Brooke. Today is my 21st birthday!! The fact that I woke up in the middle of Jerusalem is absolutely mind blowing. What an honor it is to be in the same area that Jesus himself was. My day started off great with all of my teammates, coaches, and others singing happy birthday to me as I walked onto the bus. After a day I did not think could get much better thanks to my amazing team, family, and friends, I received a call to come down to the lobby because there was a present waiting for me. The Westovers gave me a beautiful ring and necklace!! How thoughtful and amazing that sweet couple is. We are so thankful for them! I could not have dreamed of being over here in Israel for this day, but I sure am thankful for the experience. Now Amy is going to tell you a little more about what we did in between the singing on the bus and the evening present. We had an amazing day touring all around!

Today we ventured to Yad Vashem which is the largest holocaust museum in the world! It was both chilling and breathtaking. Back in my high school days, I had three years of history class that prepared me for this moment. To walk into a place that held over 2,500 genuine artifacts and documents of people who both survived and perished in the holocaust - no words could describe what a privilege it was to pay my respects. One of the most surreal moments for me was seeing the striped pajamas behind glass that I had seen so many times in photos and articles that I had studied. It sent automatic chills down my whole body. So as you can tell we both had an unforgettable day that will stay with us forever!

-Brooke Basinger #11 and Amy West #33

Israel Blog Day 5: Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, and the Western Wall

Hi Everyone,

Today in Israel, we started off the trip at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem even though there were not that many olive trees there. There we read the Bible and were told the story of when Jesus went up to the Mount of Olives then to the Garden of Gethsemane. After the Mount of Olives, we then walked down the road that Jesus took during Palm Sunday to the Garden of Gethsemane. This was my favorite part of the day because we got to go in a sit by the olive trees. While there I just mediated and prayed in awe of being where Jesus was 2,000 years ago. 

Then we went to the Upper Room where Jesus and his twelve disciples ate the last supper before Jesus’ crucifixion. We ate lunch at an Armenian restaurant in the Armenian quarter nearby. The food was pretty good, but my favorite thing about the meal was a side type coleslaw they served. From there we went and walked around the Jewish, Christian, and Arabic quarters. We even got to shop in the markets, but I did not buy anything there. 

After shopping at the markets, we went to the Western Wall. This place was really interesting because people come from all over to pray at the wall and write prayers to stick in the little cracks and holes of the wall. Like most holy places in Israel your shoulders and knees have to be covered, but what was different at this place was that the men and women were separated. There were lots of different people praying and it was intriguing to see all the different ways some of the women prayed. I was confused why some women walked backwards away from the wall until I was told they considered it disrespectful to turn your back on the wall. 

After we got done at the wall we were taken to a nice shop where the owner gave us 40% off on everything in the store and I was glad I waited to buy something later rather than at the markets! Overall it was an amazing day in Jerusalem. 

-Ashtyn Baker #12


Hi Everyone,

Today was a very surreal day for me. We started on the Mount of Olives which is the mount that Jesus had to have come down to get to Jerusalem from Bethany. The path we took down the hill was the same path that Jesus probably would have taken on what we call Palm Sunday. In Luke 21:37, it actually mentions that during this week before His crucifixion Jesus came to the Mount of Olives often at night with the disciples. The Garden of Gethsemane is located at the bottom of the Mount of Olives, so after we stopped there and spoke of what happened the night of Jesus' arrest, we split up and spent some time in the garden. Many of us sat near or under olive trees and just reflected on what Jesus had done for us.

I sat there and thought about what it must have been like for Jesus, to be under so much stress and yet He was still perfect. I know when I'm stressed I start to lash out and just get sick to my stomach but Jesus wasn't like this. He is always loving, always kind, not an ounce of darkness in Him. This just blew my mind as He knew what would be happening to Him in the next hours. Unlike us, Jesus was not wrapped up in Himself and His wants, but rather He was wrapped in God's will and His love for us. Although I already knew this, when sitting where Jesus was, it became so much more intimate. There is not a single part of me, not even the best part, that deserved what Jesus did, and yet He went through complete agony for me, a sinner. Sitting there, I was completely overwhelmed by Christ's love and grace.

-Bridgette Rettstatt #34

Israel Blog Day 4: How to Ride a Camel

Hi Everyone, it's Hump Dayyy!

Have you ever ridden a camel? No? I didn’t think so. I’m going to give you a few pointers on the do’s and don’ts of camel riding with a few pictures and videos to help.

One of the first things that the “camel masters” told us was not to hug the camel by the neck, because of course our first instinct as tourists is to go up and hug the camel, right? Actually, to my surprise it that happened a lot more often than I thought it would. You wouldn’t believe how many people wanted a photo hugging the sitting camel!

When you first walk up, the camel is sitting and with a straddling motion you hop on up. Then comes the fun part, as the camel gets up its back legs will straighten out first. As they straighten, by nature your body weight will shift forward as if you were going to roll off. Here my teammate Tatyana shows exactly what you should not do when the camel is rising.

Rather than leaning backwards to counteract the movement of the camel, instead she lets her body go with gravity. Thankfully though, Molly was there to catch her before she went flying.

The ride itself is very similar to that of a horseback ride in that it is not smooth but very bumpy. I’m not sure how fast camels are able to go, but our ride was very slow and that was probably for the best.

Now, just as the camel getting up was difficult, so is the descent. This video of Kierra and KK gracefully dismounting the camel showcases the perfect example of what to do. Enjoy!

-Keyen Green #21

Israel Blog Day 3: Floating in the Dead Sea

Today was an amazing day (as are all the days we will be here)! I feel like my team and I are learning so much as it pertains to the Bible and its history. Today we visited Bet She'an which is one of the oldest cities in Israel and home to some well-preserved ruins. We also stopped at Gideon Springs and Qumran. Qumran is in the West Bank and it is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found - scrolls which aided in the study of the Old Testament.

Overall, my favorite part of the day was when we were at the David Dead Sea Resort & Spa. I fell in love with the view upon arrival! Our entire team enjoyed some tanning and pool time in the Israel heat (Did I mention how hot it is out here???). We swam … well, floated, in the Dead Sea, which was really cool. The Dead Sea got it’s name because it doesn’t have any outlets, meaning that any minerals that flow into it stay there, making it extremely salt. It is also below sea level, so therefore, cannot drain into the sea. Oh yeah … just a warning if you ever decide to visit the Dead Sea, DO NOT let the water get into your eyes or your mouth. You will deeply regret it. A couple of burning eyes later, we decided to go have some fun in the hotel pool We played chicken and just for the record, Bridgette cheated. This was the first time I’ve been in a pool all summer, so I felt like a little kid in a candy store.

Dinner was the last thing on our agenda for the day and who doesn’t love food? Without a doubt, everyone enjoyed trying the variety of desserts. A good night’s rest is well needed to get us ready for what is in store for on Day 4!

Israel Blog Day 2: Emily Walks Where Jesus Did

Hi Everyone,

Today the team went to Nazareth to play basketball with the girls there and had some fellowship and the best chocolate-filled croissants. The young ladies were very sweet, excited to met us, and we were excited to meet them as well, and worked very hard during our time of basketball together. My favorite part of the clinic was when we all started dancing at the end! I loved seeing all the girls smiling and enjoying themselves. I think it is amazing how basketball brings people together no matter where we come from. All differences are put aside. It was like we were one in unity; it was so beautiful. I loved every moment and will cherish every second of it! Pictures were taken, but they will not do justice of what it felt like being there and what I felt in my heart. God is truly amazing.

We also visited the town of Jesus in Capernaum and I was blown away! Seeing the little remains of where Jesus lived for some time, capturing the images of the town he lived in, the places he gathered with his disciples, and even the stones with the hand carved designs brought everything to life. It makes me realize that the Bible is more than just words on paper. All the events that occurred are true stories that really happened in the past. When reading God's Word it can be hard to picture what times were like and the layout of the land and also the culture, but after two days of seeing where Jesus lived, the Bible has come to life and I have a clearer image of what times were like in His day. I am having the time of my life right now learning more about Jesus every second and it has only been two days of touring. What an honor it is to walk where Jesus walked and performed miracles. I am beyond blessed to even have an opportunity such as this. Every minute I spend in Israel inspires me to read God's Word so that I may get to know my savior even more than I do now.

-Emily Lytle #23

Israel Blog Day 1: Jordan in the Jordan & Lizzie on Faith

Hi Everyone,

In the Gospel of John, God claims 7 things:

I am the Bread of Life
I am the Good Shepherd
I am the Sheep Gate
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
I am the True Vine
I am the Resurrection and the Life
I am the Light of the World

This shows me so much about Jesus' character. And so many sites and people in Israel are magnifying these statements and I can't think of anywhere better to feel so connected to the Lord and His purpose. God is making me hungry for His word and He is showing me so much about who He is and what His story is in the place where it actually took place. God is so good. He has blessed me so much by allowing me to be a part of the amazing Liberty women's basketball team, allowing me to go to Israel, and allowing me to be baptized for the first time in the Jordan River. I have never been baptized because I have prayed since I was little that I would be blessed enough to be baptized overseas and today God answered that prayer.

Matthew 3:16-17: As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.

This is so powerful; this is the verse that was running through my mind during this amazing experience. I am so humbled to be baptized in the Jordan River and to physically be able to follow the path of Jesus' ministry. God is so intentional and He has opened these doors for me with such grace and power. Words can't explain how grateful I am for this opportunity. Israel is teaching me the trials and depths of Jesus' ministry; physically walking where Jesus traveled while teaching and performing countless miracles is a feeling unlike anything else. Today we visited many biblical and historical sites, but in Migdala and Caesarea Phillipi, knowing the conversations that Jesus shared with people such as Mary Magdalene and Simon in the places right below our feet is surreal. I have had so many amazing experiences here in Israel and it's only the third day. I am so excited for the knowledge and the understanding I am going to gain this week and all the lessons Jesus is preparing to show my teammates and me.

-Jordan Peters #3

Hi Everyone,

All I can say is that I have felt nothing but peace, love, and compassion in Israel, and it's only been a few days. I am learning more about who I am as a person and who my new teammates are as well. Everyone has come from different situations, good or bad. What I've found is that the more I understand, the more I care. The more I care, the more I understand how Jesus was. I always believed, but I was weak and was led astray. Jesus saved me. He's continuing to save me every moment I pursue Him. He saves those who want to be saved, so please pursue Him. Please take this to heart. He will change you in the process. Surround yourself with people who will accept you for who you want to be. You will be surprised at who comes your way.

Luke 17:6: He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say this to a mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.'"

-Lizzie Moore #32

Brooke's Walk-on Story

Hello Everyone,

My name is Brooke Basinger and I am a junior in the School of Aeronautics here at Liberty University. I want to take a little time to tell you the story of how I walked on to the basketball team this season. This whole adventure started out this past summer with a simple email to Coach Green asking him if I could help out with the team in any way possible. He gave me a call a few days later and explained to me that he didn’t think there were any opportunities for me to be involved with the team due to the many different rules and regulations that he had to follow. Ever since I can remember, my life revolved around sports. I decided to reach out because I missed being a part of a team, so hearing that I was unable to be involved was very upsetting for me. I trusted that the Lord was going to open up a new door for me since it looked like this was not going to work out. However, I was wrong. The Lord had an amazing plan for me, one that I could have only dreamed of, which was having the chance to play on a Division I basketball team.

A month or two into the fall semester I got a call around 8am from a random number. I answered the phone and to my surprise the voice on the other side was saying “Good morning Brooke, this is Coach Green”. He asked me to come in and meet with him later that day. Walking into that meeting I didn’t know what I wanted him to say, but I did know I wasn’t interested in a roster spot because my degree is so challenging and time consuming I couldn’t imagine also playing basketball. Although it has been very hard to do both flight school and basketball, the coaches have been amazing and have been so understanding of my academics. Without my teachers, instructors, and coaches' flexibility and help there is no way I could have done both. Looking back I can see God's hand at work in my life through all of this because everything that I said I would never do is exactly what I ended up doing. The Lord had bigger plans, plans that I couldn’t see for myself.

I ended up joining this amazing team a few days after my first meeting with Coach Green, which was a week before our first game of the season. I still remember walking into my first practice, with a practice jersey on, looking at my soon-to-be teammates knowing that they had no idea who I was. To say I was intimidated would be an understatement. Even though I was an unexpected surprise, my teammates and everyone involved with this team welcomed me into their family right away. This meant the world to me because I know it’s not always easy to accept new people into an already established group and most teams wouldn’t have done what my team did for me.

One day, after I had a few practices under my belt, I remembered calling home and my dad asking me what my goals for this season were. I told him that aside from basketball, my goal was to help grow my teammates as Christ followers. Looking back this goal came from a selfish state of mind, I thought I had a lot to offer to them but I didn’t see what they could offer me. However, I quickly realized that was not the case. I went into this season of my life trying to change others, when in reality the Lord put me on this team in order for this group of girls to change me. They have challenged me to become more of the woman of God that I aspire to be and pushed me in all areas of my life. It has been an absolute honor to be able to spend every day, both on and off the court, with this amazing group of people. I am so thankful to be able to call this group of girls my best friends, but even more then that I consider them my sisters.

Go Flames!

-Brooke Basinger #11

Senior Day and Future Plans

Hello Everyone!

It is crazy to think that senior year is coming to a close. I am so excited for what is in store for the rest of the season considering that we’ve had a successful one so far. I can remember being a freshman and in a blink of an eye, I am a senior. Freshman year was my favorite year because we won the Big South Tournament and went to the NCAA Tournament. It is an amazing feeling knowing that all the hard work that was put in paid off in that very moment. This year’s team is so special and winning Big South is definitely in the plans this season. With my senior season almost over, it would be awesome to leave with a ring. It has been exciting to see my team play together and enjoy the success we've had so far this year.

Another highlight of my college career was being able to go to Kenya this summer with my teammate Molly through Athletes in Action. I want to shout out Sarah Boruta, our DOBO, because without her this trip would not have been possible. She always does the behind the scenes work for our team and has helped me grow in so many areas in my life. Going to Kenya has changed my perspective on life and hopefully one day I can go back.

During my time at Liberty, I have grown so much and made so many relationships. I specifically would like to thank my coaches for believing in me to play at this university and all the advice I have been given in my time here. I would like to thank my teammates for all the support they have given me over the past four years; they will always be my sisters in Christ on and off the court. Lastly, I would like to thank Erin Hagen, our Senior Women’s Administrator, for all the support she brings for our women’s sports and how much of a positive influence she has been to me.

Since I am a senior, you all are probably wondering what’s next? I was recently accepted into a program through the Women's Basketball Coaches Association called “So You Want To Be A Coach” and in this program, participants go to the Final Four and network with several coaches and administrators. It is definitely a blessing and right on God’s timing. I am excited for this opportunity and looking forward to staying around basketball in either a coaching or administrative position.

This Saturday is Senior Day and it will definitely be a bittersweet moment. I would love for everyone to come out and support us as we fight to clinch the regular season title!

Go Flames!

-Sheana Vega #20

Fun Facts About Croatia

Hi Everyone,

Since most of you know me as the blonde foreign girl on the basketball team, I decided to tell all of you something more about where I actually come from. I was born and raised in Croatia. Croatia is a little country situated at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe. It shares the Adriatic Sea with Italy and it is surrounded by Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia.

Since I barely get any breaks because of basketball and it takes approximately 18 hours of traveling to get home, I only get to see my friends and family during the summer. I miss them a lot, especially my younger sister Mirta, who is one of the most interesting people you'd ever meet. She is studying German and English, she’s a back vocal in a rock band, and she loves changing the color of her hair, which is currently purple, lol.

Anyway, let’s get back to the point. I know most of you will probably be surprised to hear that Croatia has only been independent country for 26 years. It used to be part of a big country called Yugoslavia, but due to the independence war, Croatia is finally a democratic republic, as most of the European countries. Croatia is known for it’s beautiful nature, clear sea, rich history, and believe it or not, athletes. 

The capital city of Croatia is Zagreb, but in my opinion, the most beautiful Croatian cities are situated on the coast. Although they are really small, those Mediterranean cities are home of some of the loveliest beaches you’ve ever seen. Also, the architectural composition of those cities comes from the time of the Roman Empire so not only it looks amazing, but it also tells a story. It is hard to explain the beauty of it in words so I would suggest you to look up the following cities to understand what I am talking about: Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Pula, and Poreč. Fun fact for Game of Thrones fans, if you wish to see the real “King’s Landing“, go to Dubrovnik because that’s where it’s filmed.

As I previously said, although Croatia has a population of only 4.5 million, it has many great athletes. Croatia is a home of many of the world’s famous soccer and basketball players. There’s currently 6 Croatians in the NBA. I also can’t fail to mention that my country is the 2017 worlds champion in waterpolo and Croatian national handball team won the Olympics twice.

Oh and I think it is worth mentioning that the man who is the reason that the world has a modern alternating current electricity supply system was born in Croatia. Ever heard of Nikola Tesla? 🙃

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this and learned something that you didn’t know. If this made you want to visit Croatia, I'll take all the credit for it and I am more than willing to be your tour guide. 😉

Go Flames!

-Iva Ilic #24

Ola's Dreams Come True

Hey Everyone,

My name is Aleksandra Makurat. Friends call me Ola. I am a sophomore here at Liberty and this is my second year in the U.S. I was born in Gdansk, in the north of Poland. I come from the small town of Sierakowice situated in the very heart of Kashubian region. There lives my family...my mom, dad and two sisters. I am proud of my roots. My parents raised me in the Christian spirit. They also made me interested in basketball and a basketball was always within my reach. My mother is a former athlete, and now a coach. Also, my dad played as an amateur. My sisters love this sport the same as I do. As you can see, basketball is our common family passion.

Since I can remember, I always have wanted to be professional at what I do. Even when I was much younger, I was very keen on my sporting development. I always wanted to be better and better, though my physical conditions were not ideal. Specifically, I could not see well in my left eye, so I would always drive to the left because that would allow my good, right eye to see most of the court around me. Because of that, even though I am right handed, I am very capable of going to the left as well! My eye eventually healed, but still I knew that it was necessary to work very hard every day to become an outstanding player. My parents sometimes recall the times when as a little girl I managed to persuade them to take me to another city where I wanted to practice.

I wanted to make my dreams come true, and one of them always was go to the United States. At that time it was just abstract thinking. But one day it turned out that it could happen! My dreams started to come true! However, before this happened, I had to face some health problems. I think that this had an immense influence on my present attitude, as I succeeded in spite of pains and tears. This is why I am now a stronger person and I understand people who are going through similar difficulties. In this hard time for me, I entrusted myself to Jesus, and I know that my faith was my strength. I was looking for motivation and I remember the verse that says..."God will find a way to overcome your problems, even when it seems impossible to you."

These trials made me interested in the fields of science, and namely Sport Psychology. In my country it is very difficult for the young players to combine professional sport with education. It is even more wonderful that at Liberty I could choose the study area in which I am so interested (sport psychology), which is not too popular in Poland and do at the same time what I really love - play basketball. My parents have always told me that with God all things are possible, and nothing is possible without God, and that is why I am doing everything the best I can and leave the rest to HIM.

My stay in America opened my eyes to the true beauty of Poland and our Polish culture. I appreciate Poland more than ever before. I would like to thank my family for their support and encouragement. They watch my games no matter what, even though they are 6 hours ahead in Poland and timing is not always perfect. It's a huge motivation and I'm lucky because I can feel their love even though I am so far away from home.

Sisters in Christ

Hi Everyone,

This past summer, our team got to experience something we hadn't had the chance to do as a whole. We took a team bonding trip to Camp Hydaway, where we encountered many challenging experiences. Our FCA leader, Rebekah, divided us into groups, which were the people that we bunked with, completed challenges with, and did other specific exercises with.

Over the course of the weekend, we expressed our greatest fears, strengths and weaknesses, and goals for our upcoming season. All of our groups competed in a scavenger hunt in the dark and after that we got to make our own ice cream sundaes! We even ziplined in the fog, which was the scariest of all but surprisingly my favorite! I’ve never done anything like that before, so I’m glad my teammates encouraged me to conquer my fears. We also rock climbed, played an insane game of frisbee, and swung on this GIANT swing set. Getting to see everyone’s reactions when they were dropped from the air was probably the most hilarious moment of the weekend.

Of course, all those sound like great things (which they were), but our mental toughness was truly put to the test when we went hiking at 4AM!!!! Now I’m not a morning person at all so at first, I wasn’t so hype about this hiking adventure. However, once we reached the top of the mountain it was one of the greatest moments ever. We made it just in time to watch the sunrise and see how wonderful God’s work truly is. We prayed together and left the mountain with greater spirits than when we got there. There were many laughs, tears, and a little bit of complaining, but it was truly great to find comfort in your teammates and your coaches as well. Not only do I consider my teammates as women I play with on the court, but my sisters in Christ as well.

Go Flames!

Kierra Graham #10