A Tennis Missionary remembers

The best and the most difficult at the Australian Open - Christina McHale, Men's double final

The best of the Australian Open - Christina McHale - winner of the girls 2009 Australian Open Girls Doubles title.  I taught Christina and her sister Lauren from 6 years old and 7 years old respectively while the family lived in Hong Kong for five years.  What I remember during their time with me is that they learned from absolute beginner, learned to play competitive matches including tournaments and I often had them in classes with children four to six years older.  I have asked God in my quite time why my students had not progressed to the world adult level from beginner - after may developed into university and national level players.  This is my first student that has developed to the highest world level from beginner (which I focus on sound fundamentals developing into competitive play), women's world ranked in additional to junior ranked and a Grand Slam winner at that.  Amazingly I had completely lost contact with the family and did not even realize that they (Lauren is currently ranked #1 at Princeton University and top 10 US.) still played.  To have the Mother spot me in a room full of people and then in addition have the opportunity to work with Christina again, now 16 years old - is a miracle to me.  God did answer my prayer and allowed me to see her win this Championship.  Thank you God.

A close second to this is the mixed doubles final which I was privileged to be part of and all that involved.  I was blessed.

The most difficult of the Australian Open - Knowing all four doubles players in the finals - Being supported by one of the players for my credential for this Australian Open. Being at each teams matches all through the tournament.  In the finals sitting for one set with one team who provided my credential for this tournament then moving off the court for the next two sets to respect all the players and teams.  Then standing next to the winning player box upon the conclusion.  Afterwards seeing the winners rejoice and the losing team being sad.  I think of all four of these young men as like a family member.

Daily Verse blog most recent: Australian Open - details

Australian Open details

Day 1,2 - Arrive at 6pm Sunday from Sydney with my second case of food poisoning and dysentery in three days.  I am out of action for next three days, managing only to go to the player hotel for four hours.  I have air conditioning and a sofa to sit on with players walking by, stopping and talking.  I give out a booklet called "More than Gold" from RBC Ministries printed in English, Chinese and Japanese (more info link here.) which was given to athletes at the 2008 Olympics.  I pray for players, families, coaches and tournament and tour administrators.

Day 3 - My Credentials come through with two players nominating me. Thank you to them.  If I had received my credential before this time I would have missed the hotel outreach and going to the tournament would have been very bad for my health as the heat and stress would have difficult if not impossible.  I see God's perfect timing and plan.

Day 4 - 7 I have to pace myself for this period as my energy level is lower than normal.  This is my favorite time as so many players to speak with and I spend a good part of my time with players have a history of quarter finalists to finalists.  This level of players requires a lot of time as they have time commitments with media, drug testing and their managers, agents and sponsors.  I have to have patience and wait around for a convenient time to meet up.  I like to arrive at 10am and then stay until the last match which often ends at 2am or later.

Day 8 - A miracle.  I am surrounded by many players at the practice desk and I hear 'Is that Bob Kraft?'  It is the mother of my former student for five years Hong Kong.  I taught Christian McHale for the few years of her development five years of her development until the family moved from Hong Kong back to the US.   Now at 16 years old, she is playing in the main draw of women and juniors and world ranked.  I help her out as I can the remainder of the tournament.  She lost a close ones in the first round of women (lost of conditioning), second round of girls singles (close match) and wins the girls doubles championship.  This is her first Grand Slam event.  I am proud of her.  Yes, I am an registered ATP coach in addition to a Minister of the Gospel and I am thankful for that.

Day 11 -12 - A miracle.  The four player that have supported me so much with access are playing each other in the finals.  In addition Mahesh Bhupathi from India (he has stated that he can be publicly identified as a believer in Christ) is in the finals of Mixed doubles.  So I will be very busy with quite a few finals.  The temperature is 45C or 109F and while play is often suspended; play often takes place at 100F plus temperatures.

Day 13 - Watching the Junior finals with Christina and then the evening men's final.  In between I make a copy for a ministry video for athletes to be given to a Croatian player.  During a typical match I can pray for 90 minutes or two hours.  I consider this the highest form of ministry that I can do and is a great privilege that I have been given.  Evening men's final and then players party.  It is very hard as I know all players and to have some lose. But we do all this so that some may be reached for the Gospel's sake.

Day 14 - Not just written, but the men's singles and mixed doubles finals.  I am not writing much about this day, as I am sending this just before the finals.  I believe I will be at court-side for players for the mixed.

Day 15-17 - I have three and half days of down time after the tournament due to airline reservation difficulties.  I will take at least 2 days to sight see Melbourne and the surrounding area.  I have to find time to finish setting up my tennis program in Hong Kong which starts Feb. 7th.  God uses this as my means to provide provision for my family and each new session is trusting that God provides and He has for all these years both on the pro tour and for my family.

Read more here:
http://dailyverse.multiply.com
http://bobkraft.multiply.com  The latest blog: (

The best and the most difficult at the Australian Open - Christina McHale, Men's doubles final)

The Big News - Australian Open

I just read where Roger and Serena won their matches, the Open tournament has more fans attending than any other time and Pittsburgh and Arizona are in the XLIII NFL Superbowl.  The focus is here.

But the really big news is my little boy Joshua just learned how to say 30 words in English and Chinese.  My day is free, so I plan to call the entire family.  And the big news is that I will go to the mall to buy "the Fireman costume' that my sweet baby girl asked for.

I know what is important in my world today; Cause I know the really big news.

The really big news is that my little boy Joshua wants to learn to ride his red three wheeled tricycle.  Mom (mine) wasn't expect to live through the night, but when I called she laboriously said 'I have been waiting for your call'.

When Ashley says 'Dad, come on out and let's play' with knowing that I can't refuse.  You see I still read the paper especially the sports but I know the really Big News.

This was adapted with my own experiences this week and is from the song 'The Really Big News' by The Gaither Vocal Band recorded in Sydney, Australia in 2002.  The music video can be viewed here.

Our websites: http://tennisministry.org/  http://dailyverse.multiply.com/  http://www.tmi.typepad.com/  http://hktennisministry.multiply.com/  http://bobkraft.multiply.com/

Another MUSIC VIDEO: 'I'm Gonna Sing' - The Gaither Vocal Band

'The Medibank Classic' Sydney details

Day 1,2 - Met at the airport by a Pastor from St. Andrews Anglican Church - Dudas at 10:30pm.  The next morning we attend church; have lunch and discuss our ministries.  He takes me to the couple who will host me for the week.

 

Day 3 -  Arrive at the tournament site (10am) and say hello to people I had met from the preceding year.  The Player lounge is very large and full.  About 25% of the people I know and sit down group by group to catch up and share the Goodness of God with them.  I am on Centre court with a player for the last night match finishing at 1am.

 

 

Day 4 - Start at 10:30 am and sit in the sun (35to42C/95to108F) on various courts finishing at 4:30pm.  I sit right next to the court and that is for players that I know well.  In the evening matches I am on court with the players until 2am on Centre Court and speak with players after the match. 

 

Day 5 - I have food poisoning for 16 hours.  I pace myself - 30 minutes on the courts and 30 minutes off talking to players or resting in the air conditioning.  Some matches I know all the players playing against each other and I sit right in the middle of the courts in Section D.  As a Pastor, I want the best for everyone - You win - you rejoice and you lose - you grow from it and then put all this into a good Godly context. I miss the night matches (women's finals) as I am too weak and need rest.

 

Day 6 Morning out with my host family.  Then the Finals at 4:30pm. I try my best to put things in a Godly perspective with a player.  How does God view winning and losing and how does that work in the big picture of a year, a career or a lifetime.  These singles players finalist's and their support team are just getting to know me and seeing me around helps in this process. 

 

Day 7 - Food poisoning again starting at 3am. Pack, do laundry and then ready for the flight to Melbourne (4:15pm).

Weekly Verse - January 19 and 26, 2009 (Australian Open Special Edition)

Jan. 19 MONDAY (First Round):   Let's put it on a new cart." Others said, "Let's get Uzzah and Ahio to drive the cart (with the Ark). - 2 Samuel 6:3
The ark could be brought back only God's way and that was by people who (1) knew how to walk in balance, (2) knew how to walk in unity, (3) knew how to walk in righteousness.
 
TUESDAY (First Round):  I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless. - Thessalonians 5:23
Your soul is constantly caught between your fleshly desires, which says "no" to God and your spiritual desires, which says "yes." That's why it must be constantly reprogrammed by the Word of God (The Bible).
 
WEDNESDAY (Second round):  Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. - Romans 12:2
Until you think differently, you won't live differently.

THURSDAY (Second round):  I (Jesus Christ) will make you fishers of men. -  Matthew 4:19
If you're there, prayer is there, hope is there and God is there!" Wherever you are, turn on the light!
 
FRIDAY (Third round):  Compel them to come in, that My (Christ) house may be filled. - Luke 14:23
Some people will require 'intensive care' - give it to them. The fact is, you may be the only Christian they'll ever meet, so don't let them down.
 
SATURDAY (Third round):  In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and rescued me. - Psalm 118:5
For me, Jesus was the only answer and friend; He's your only answer, too." Why don't you come to Him today?
 
SUNDAY (Third round and Quarter finals women’s):  Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle. – Romans 1:1
Lord, I'm not serving You because I have to, I'm serving You because I love You. Bond me together with You.
 
Jan. 26 MONDAY (Quarter finals men’s and women’s):  And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy - the kind He can accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask?" – Romans 12:1
Ministry is it what you do, not what you claim to be.
 
TUESDAY (Quarterfinals men’s): Lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left. - Isaiah 54:2-3
Some were called and some just went." Those who are 'called' take time to build solid foundations in prayer, in the Word and in relationships that help them grow. That way they're strong enough, flexible enough, to handle the waiting periods, the enemy attacks and the personal disappointments.  If this devotional is all the reading you do, your diet is sorely deficient. Rearrange your priorities and start putting first things first.

WEDNESDAY (semifinals men’s and women’s):  'This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.' " – Mark 4:26-29
Are in the dark?' How and when your harvest will come is entirely up to God. All you know is - that it will! Are you in the harvest?  That's when you hear the words, “…put in the sickle because the harvest has come." Whatever season you're in today, stand fast and keep trusting, for your harvest and your answer are on the way!

THURSDAY (semifinals women’s):  You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. - Colossians 3:13
Father, whatever I ask for myself in blessing, I ask for them too: make it a double portion.
 
FRIDAY (semifinals men’s):  And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. - Genesis 37:5
To discover your dream - get to know yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses. Look at your opportunities. Examine where God has put you, and then seek His counsel. If you do, He'll give you a dream for your life.
 
SATURDAY (finals women’s):  Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. - Ephesians 5:18
When you find out what the Holy Spirit can do for you, you won't want to live one day without Him. He'll guide you into the truth. - John 16:13
 
SUNDAY (finals men’s):  I will pray the Father (God), and He shall give you another Comforter (Spirit) that He may abide with you forever. - John 14:16
The Spirit will constantly assure you that you're God's child; the right words at just the right time and even produce in you the nature of Christ.

Recent posts:
'The Medibank Classic' Sydney details (upcoming)
Loveliness at "The Medibank Classic" Sydney, Australia
'The Hopman Cup' Perth details

The Hopman Cup details.

Day 0 - Overnight flight from Hong Kong to Perth 8.5 hours and same time zone.  Hurray! (The kid really wasn't on the plane windscreen - just wanted to add a little humor!)

Day 1 - Arrival and then on to my host family (my second year) who attend Victory Centre Church in Perth.  Sleep in that day. 

Day 2 - Take the city train (45 minutes) to the tournament.  The Tournament Director was very kind to me and took care of me.  Thanks!

Day 2-4 Only 2-4 players on site at a given time out of 16, so lots of time to spend together.  Some new players that I learned and some older that I have known a long time.  Good ministry.

Day 5 - Former World number one player Margaret Court-Smith and her husband Barry and I spend time together.  They are Pastors of Victory Life Church and she is an Advisory Board members of this ministry.  We focus on the positive!

Took 3/4 of day before the night matches and had a tour south 1 1/2 hours south of Perth along the coastline.  Fabulous!

Day 6 - At the airport leaving... unexpectedly ran into tour regulars.  Very, very good for the future and can not share more.

Read this weeks general update at 'Bob's Site' - Loveliness at "The Medibank Classic" Sydney, Australia

Recent posts in case you've missed:
Weekly Verse - January 12, 2009
TENNIS VIDEO: 1971 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Margaret Court def. Evonne Goolagong Final (Part 1/2)
TENNIS VIDEO: 1983 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Wilander def. Lendl Final on grass
TENNIS VIDEO: 2000 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Agassi def. Sampras Semifinal

Loveliness at "The Medibank Classic" Sydney, Australia

My idea of beauty since arriving.  I want to always remind myself 'think positive'.

Arrival in Sydney 10:30pm from Perth  - 5 hours flight and 2 hours time zone difference - the weather on touchdown is 24C (75F) and clear. Live Cam link.

Sunday service at St. Andrews Anglican Church - an 80 year old neighbourhood church in the second oldest city in Australia (Parramatta)

Living in a house of 88 years old, restored to its original status.  Beautiful beyond description.

Tournament access - The comment: "Bob's in" then official recognition - what a pleasure. Medibank Classic link.

You may also want to catch up at this weeks 'The Hopman Cup details" from Perth.

Recent posts in case you've missed:
Weekly Verse - January 12, 2009
TENNIS VIDEO: 1971 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Margaret Court def. Evonne Goolagong Final (Part 1/2)
TENNIS VIDEO: 1983 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Wilander def. Lendl Final on grass
TENNIS VIDEO: 2000 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Agassi def. Sampras Semifinal

Weekly Verse - January 5, 2009

MONDAY:  Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God. - 1 John 3:21
Miracles happen only to the believing - so move back into a position where you can confidently believe God again.

TUESDAY:  But someone may ask, 'How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?'- 1 Corinthians 15:35
Cancer is limited; it cannot cripple love. It cannot shatter hope. It cannot corrode faith. It cannot eat away peace. It cannot destroy confidence. It cannot kill friendship. It cannot shut out memories. It cannot silence courage. It cannot invade the soul. It cannot reduce eternal life. It cannot quench the spirit and it cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.

WEDNESDAY:  There are different kinds of flesh - whether of humans, animals, birds or fish. - 1 Corinthians 15:39
Just as fish are designed to handle the pressures of the deep and birds are designed to fly, your new resurrection body will have 'no limitations.'THURSDAY:  For one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.  - 1 Corinthians 15:41-42
There will be degrees of honor and differences of reward when we all get home to Heaven.

FRIDAY:  It (your body) is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. - 1 Corinthians 15:43
The sexton's word for cemetery is 'God's acre.'How wonderful! Christians don't get buried, they get planted. Think of it; planted in corruption, but raised in the likeness of Christ.

SATURDAY:  We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him (Christ). - 1 John 3:2
Go ahead, live today and everyday in the light of that moment.

SUNDAY:  How shall the ark of the Lord come to me? -  2 Samuel 6:9
When King David asked - it was because all his own efforts had failed. What has God been telling you to do? Have you done it? Remember, He won't negotiate, He won't compromise and He won't overlook disobedience. You've got to go back and deal with it before you can go forward again.MUSIC VIDEO: Jaci Velasquez - On My Knees (English) lyrics

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Beauty at The Hopman Cup – Perth, Australia

My idea of beauty since arriving.  I want to always remind myself…think positive!

Clear blue sky.  Webcam link.

Indoor arena for tennis – temperature 24C (75F); 46% humidity.  Current  weather link

Sunday worship music at Victory Christian Centre – Pastor Margaret Court’s church.  MC link

16 players in the tournament – relaxed atmosphere, friendly faces from the players.  'The  Hopman  Cup' link

Fruit - fresh, sweet and all grown in Australia.

Sharing the Gospel message.