Hi Everyone!
First off, Merry Christmas! My heart goes out to all of my close friends who have lost loved ones this year and this is their first Christmas without them. When my dad died 5 years ago, I remember how hard it was for me and I want you to know that I am praying for you and your family as you get through this first major holiday without them.
Secondly, I'd like to share the good news!! No doubt, thanks to all your prayers and support, I've now resumed shooting at the Olympic Training Center three days a week. Praise God! I'm very excited to have the opportunity to continue my training with Coach Lee and thankful for the help of some very key people who made it possible.
Have a blessed Christmas and I'll be speaking with you soon. If you would like to be added to my New Year's card list, please email me your address at joyfahrenkrog@yahoo.com. I'm going to be sending out a little surprise with it.
Love in Christ!
Joy
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Tribute to Jack Aborn
In the past five years, I've befriended hundreds of people within the archery community throughout the country and across the globe: archers, judges, coaches, parents of archers and Olympians. If I had a top 5 list, Jack Aborn would have been on it. Jack was, hands down, one of my absolute favorite archery people.
I first met Jack at ArcheryUSA in Dedham, MA in December of 2002 when I showed up for my first day of training in my new sport. From day one he believed that I would make the Olympic team and when things got tough along the way, he always lifted my spirits. When I moved from Boston to Florida to Illinois to Arizona to California, we always kept in touch.
One of Jack's favorite things to do was send me blonde jokes. I think he always felt it was his duty to keep me laughing, he knew how serious I was when I was competing and training. After I didn't make the Olympic team in 2004, Jack stepped up the humor a notch and started sending me every blonde joke that came his way. So, in an effort to help everyone who is suffering from the loss of this amazingly compassionate man feel a little better, I'm including many of his jokes below for your pleasure.
I'm am so very sad that he is gone, but incredibly happy that he was in my life. I thank God so much for such an amazing friend and confidant. I love you Jack!! The final words I'll leave you with are from a recent email that Jack wrote me "Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile."
JACK'S BLONDE JOKES (and then some other jokes):
My personal Favorite:
A blonde gets on an airplane and sits down in the first
class section. The stewardess tells her she must move to
economy because she doesn't have a first class ticket.
The blonde replies, "I'm blonde, I'm smart, I have a good
job and I'm staying in first class until we reach Jamaica."
The stewardess gets the head stewardess who asks the woman to leave and she says, "I'm blonde, I'm smart, I have a good
job and I'm staying in first class until we reach Jamaica."
The stewardesses don't know what to do because they have to
get the rest of the passengers seated to take off, so they
get the co-pilot.
The co-pilot goes up to the blonde and whispers in her ear.
She immediately gets up and goes to her seat in the economy
section.
The head stewardess asks the co-pilot what he said to get
her to move.
The co-pilot replies, "I told her the front half of the
airplane wasn't going to Jamaica."
SHE'S SO BLONDE THAT.....
She put lipstick on her forehead because she wanted
to makeup her mind.
SHE'S SO BLONDE THAT.....
When she heard that 90% of all crimes happened
around the home, she moved.
What do you call 9 blondes standing in a circle?
...A dope ring.
Son asked his mother the following question: "Mom, why are
wedding dresses white?"
The mother looks at her son and replies, "Son, this shows
your friends and relatives that your bride is pure."
The son thanks his Mom and goes off to double-check this
with his father. "Dad why are wedding dresses white?"
The father looks at his son in surprise and says, "Son,
all household appliances come in white."
Two blondes walk into a building,
You'd think at least one of them would have seen it.
Q. Did you hear about the blonde who shot an arrow into the air?
A. She missed.
A blonde's car gets a flat tire on the Interstate one day. So she eases it over onto the shoulder of the road.
She carefully steps out of the car and opens the trunk, takes out two cardboard men, unfolds them and stands them at the rear of the vehicle facing oncoming traffic.
The lifelike cardboard men are in trench coats exposing their nude bodies to approaching drivers...
Not surprisingly, the traffic became snarled and backed up. It wasn't very long before a police car arrives. The Officer, clearly enraged, approaches the blonde of the disabled vehicle yelling, "What is going on here?"
"My car broke down, Officer," says the woman calmly.
"Well, what the hell are these obscene cardboard pictures doing here by the road?" asks the officer.
"Helllllooooo, those are my emergency flashers!" she replied
A blind guy on a bar stool shouts to the bartender, "Wanna hear a blonde joke?"
In a hushed voice, the guy next to him says, "Before you tell that joke, you should know something."
Our bartender IS blonde, the bouncer is blonde. I'm a 6' tall, 200 lb black belt. The guy sitting next to me is 6'2", weighs 225, and he's a rugby player. The fella to your right is 6'5" pushing 300 and he's a wrestler. Each one of US is blonde. Think about it, Mister. Do you still wanna tell that joke?"
The blind guy says, "Nah, not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times."
Q: Why are gingerbread men the best men of all?
A: They are cute. They are sweet. And if they give you any lip, you can bite their friggin' heads off.
Q Why do little girls whine?
A Because they're practicing to be women.
Hear about the blonde who...
* Was trapped on an escalator for hours when the power went out.
* Couldn't call 911 because there was no 11 on any phone button.
What's the difference between a blonde and a parrot?
You can teach a parrot to say No.
Hear about the blonde who...
* When asked what the capital of California was, answered "C."
* Can't make KoolAid because eight cups of water won't fit into
one of those little packets.
Hear about the blonde who... Got hurt when she fell out of the tree while raking leaves.
Why are there no blonde ranchers?
They can't keep their calves together.
WHAT DO YOU CALL GOING ON A BLIND DATE WITH A BRUNETTE?
Brown-bagging it.
WHAT DO YOU CALL A BRUNETTE IN A ROOM FULL OF BLONDES?
Invisible.
WHY IS THE BRUNETTE CONSIDERED AN EVIL COLOR?
When was the last time you saw a blonde witch?
WHAT DO BRUNETTES MISS MOST ABOUT A GREAT PARTY?
The invitation
KNOW WHO INVENTED BLONDE JOKES?
Brunettes, they had nothing better to do on Friday or Saturday nights
What is the difference between a battery and a woman?
A battery has a positive side.
I first met Jack at ArcheryUSA in Dedham, MA in December of 2002 when I showed up for my first day of training in my new sport. From day one he believed that I would make the Olympic team and when things got tough along the way, he always lifted my spirits. When I moved from Boston to Florida to Illinois to Arizona to California, we always kept in touch.
One of Jack's favorite things to do was send me blonde jokes. I think he always felt it was his duty to keep me laughing, he knew how serious I was when I was competing and training. After I didn't make the Olympic team in 2004, Jack stepped up the humor a notch and started sending me every blonde joke that came his way. So, in an effort to help everyone who is suffering from the loss of this amazingly compassionate man feel a little better, I'm including many of his jokes below for your pleasure.
I'm am so very sad that he is gone, but incredibly happy that he was in my life. I thank God so much for such an amazing friend and confidant. I love you Jack!! The final words I'll leave you with are from a recent email that Jack wrote me "Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile."
JACK'S BLONDE JOKES (and then some other jokes):
My personal Favorite:
A blonde gets on an airplane and sits down in the first
class section. The stewardess tells her she must move to
economy because she doesn't have a first class ticket.
The blonde replies, "I'm blonde, I'm smart, I have a good
job and I'm staying in first class until we reach Jamaica."
The stewardess gets the head stewardess who asks the woman to leave and she says, "I'm blonde, I'm smart, I have a good
job and I'm staying in first class until we reach Jamaica."
The stewardesses don't know what to do because they have to
get the rest of the passengers seated to take off, so they
get the co-pilot.
The co-pilot goes up to the blonde and whispers in her ear.
She immediately gets up and goes to her seat in the economy
section.
The head stewardess asks the co-pilot what he said to get
her to move.
The co-pilot replies, "I told her the front half of the
airplane wasn't going to Jamaica."
SHE'S SO BLONDE THAT.....
She put lipstick on her forehead because she wanted
to makeup her mind.
SHE'S SO BLONDE THAT.....
When she heard that 90% of all crimes happened
around the home, she moved.
What do you call 9 blondes standing in a circle?
...A dope ring.
Son asked his mother the following question: "Mom, why are
wedding dresses white?"
The mother looks at her son and replies, "Son, this shows
your friends and relatives that your bride is pure."
The son thanks his Mom and goes off to double-check this
with his father. "Dad why are wedding dresses white?"
The father looks at his son in surprise and says, "Son,
all household appliances come in white."
Two blondes walk into a building,
You'd think at least one of them would have seen it.
Q. Did you hear about the blonde who shot an arrow into the air?
A. She missed.
A blonde's car gets a flat tire on the Interstate one day. So she eases it over onto the shoulder of the road.
She carefully steps out of the car and opens the trunk, takes out two cardboard men, unfolds them and stands them at the rear of the vehicle facing oncoming traffic.
The lifelike cardboard men are in trench coats exposing their nude bodies to approaching drivers...
Not surprisingly, the traffic became snarled and backed up. It wasn't very long before a police car arrives. The Officer, clearly enraged, approaches the blonde of the disabled vehicle yelling, "What is going on here?"
"My car broke down, Officer," says the woman calmly.
"Well, what the hell are these obscene cardboard pictures doing here by the road?" asks the officer.
"Helllllooooo, those are my emergency flashers!" she replied
A blind guy on a bar stool shouts to the bartender, "Wanna hear a blonde joke?"
In a hushed voice, the guy next to him says, "Before you tell that joke, you should know something."
Our bartender IS blonde, the bouncer is blonde. I'm a 6' tall, 200 lb black belt. The guy sitting next to me is 6'2", weighs 225, and he's a rugby player. The fella to your right is 6'5" pushing 300 and he's a wrestler. Each one of US is blonde. Think about it, Mister. Do you still wanna tell that joke?"
The blind guy says, "Nah, not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times."
Q: Why are gingerbread men the best men of all?
A: They are cute. They are sweet. And if they give you any lip, you can bite their friggin' heads off.
Q Why do little girls whine?
A Because they're practicing to be women.
Hear about the blonde who...
* Was trapped on an escalator for hours when the power went out.
* Couldn't call 911 because there was no 11 on any phone button.
What's the difference between a blonde and a parrot?
You can teach a parrot to say No.
Hear about the blonde who...
* When asked what the capital of California was, answered "C."
* Can't make KoolAid because eight cups of water won't fit into
one of those little packets.
Hear about the blonde who... Got hurt when she fell out of the tree while raking leaves.
Why are there no blonde ranchers?
They can't keep their calves together.
WHAT DO YOU CALL GOING ON A BLIND DATE WITH A BRUNETTE?
Brown-bagging it.
WHAT DO YOU CALL A BRUNETTE IN A ROOM FULL OF BLONDES?
Invisible.
WHY IS THE BRUNETTE CONSIDERED AN EVIL COLOR?
When was the last time you saw a blonde witch?
WHAT DO BRUNETTES MISS MOST ABOUT A GREAT PARTY?
The invitation
KNOW WHO INVENTED BLONDE JOKES?
Brunettes, they had nothing better to do on Friday or Saturday nights
What is the difference between a battery and a woman?
A battery has a positive side.
Friday, October 26, 2007
San Diego 211 - Firestorm 2007
Hi Everyone!
I am currently writing this blog with about 6 hours of solid sleep since midnight Wednesday morning. As you may have heard, the fires have been raging in California since Sunday, October 21st. There are tons of pictures on the web but I thought these were incredible: http://www.pixagogo.com/6706394206. These pictures are of the training center taken by Marlon Shirley and distributed by Diana Wright. They show just how close the flames came to the OTC.
As I mentioned on my website, even though I am no longer a part of the Olympic Training Center program, they were very good about accounting for all the whereabouts of the athletes and taking the proper precautions to get people out of the training center in time. Fortunately, the flames did not actually reach the training center and no physical losses were sustained. The air quality is still not good enough to train outdoors.
San Diego residents have been incredible in their responsiveness to the need for volunteers. As the cities news stations reported around the clock, thousands of donations and volunteers showed up to help aid those in need. One of the organizations who needed help was 211. 211 San Diego (www.211sandiego.org) is an information hotline for San Diego County. Before Firestorm 2007, people could dial 211 from their phones and they could ask questions about services offered in and around San Diego County. Overnight it became the hotline for people who needed to know if they were under mandatory evacuation and where they needed to go to get out of harms way.
Because of the mass numbers of evacuees, current reports are saying up to 1 million people were displaced by the fires, 211 needed volunteer reinforcements and so they hooked up with www.volunteersandiego.org to find volunteers to man the phone lines in the 211 headquarters. Qualcomm came in and gave 211 everything they needed, instantly hooking up over 50 new phone lines and some large screen tvs.
It turns out that one of the gals who attends my church is heavily involved with San Diego 211 and she was looking for volunteers. By 2:30pm, I was in the headquarters offering my services as a volunteer coordinator. For the next 6 and a half hours I sat on the phone (we had been given pay as you go cell phones) and started calling the hundreds of volunteers who had signed up on the web. It was INCREDIBLE! There were so many emails that the piles were a couple of feet high. Our goal was to have 50-70 people at the 211 headquarters around the clock, serving 4 hour shifts.
My number one goal was to fill out the volunteer slots for the midnight to 4am and 4am to 8am shifts. People were amazing. I think partially because most people weren't working and because they knew they were needed, hardly anyone said they couldn't do it. I decided that I too would come back at midnight to help out, if I was asking others to do it, why couldn't I?
So there I was at midnight, helping train and direct the new volunteers, many of whom, I'd spoken with on the phone earlier. The phones were ringing off the hook, we had all types of calls; People who were bed-ridden who needed to know what to do if they were evacuated, people in areas where they could see flames outside their kitchen window and needed to know where to go, Army commanders who needed to know what roads were closed so they could get truck loads of supplies to the local shelters. The phones rang off the hook all night, over 1,000 calls an hour. We did the best we could with limited information.
I stayed until 9am that morning, went home to get some sleep then returned again at midnight last night. Fortunately by midnight on Thursday, the phone calls had started to die off, meaning people who needed the information had it for the most part. However, at 7am the phones started going nuts when a press conference announced that 211 would have information on who could return home. I was so impressed with how many people wanted to help, how many people put themselves aside and focused on making a difference.
Please continue to pray for those who were displaced, who lost their homes, and those who are helping to restore order!
Joy
I am currently writing this blog with about 6 hours of solid sleep since midnight Wednesday morning. As you may have heard, the fires have been raging in California since Sunday, October 21st. There are tons of pictures on the web but I thought these were incredible: http://www.pixagogo.com/6706394206. These pictures are of the training center taken by Marlon Shirley and distributed by Diana Wright. They show just how close the flames came to the OTC.
As I mentioned on my website, even though I am no longer a part of the Olympic Training Center program, they were very good about accounting for all the whereabouts of the athletes and taking the proper precautions to get people out of the training center in time. Fortunately, the flames did not actually reach the training center and no physical losses were sustained. The air quality is still not good enough to train outdoors.
San Diego residents have been incredible in their responsiveness to the need for volunteers. As the cities news stations reported around the clock, thousands of donations and volunteers showed up to help aid those in need. One of the organizations who needed help was 211. 211 San Diego (www.211sandiego.org) is an information hotline for San Diego County. Before Firestorm 2007, people could dial 211 from their phones and they could ask questions about services offered in and around San Diego County. Overnight it became the hotline for people who needed to know if they were under mandatory evacuation and where they needed to go to get out of harms way.
Because of the mass numbers of evacuees, current reports are saying up to 1 million people were displaced by the fires, 211 needed volunteer reinforcements and so they hooked up with www.volunteersandiego.org to find volunteers to man the phone lines in the 211 headquarters. Qualcomm came in and gave 211 everything they needed, instantly hooking up over 50 new phone lines and some large screen tvs.
It turns out that one of the gals who attends my church is heavily involved with San Diego 211 and she was looking for volunteers. By 2:30pm, I was in the headquarters offering my services as a volunteer coordinator. For the next 6 and a half hours I sat on the phone (we had been given pay as you go cell phones) and started calling the hundreds of volunteers who had signed up on the web. It was INCREDIBLE! There were so many emails that the piles were a couple of feet high. Our goal was to have 50-70 people at the 211 headquarters around the clock, serving 4 hour shifts.
My number one goal was to fill out the volunteer slots for the midnight to 4am and 4am to 8am shifts. People were amazing. I think partially because most people weren't working and because they knew they were needed, hardly anyone said they couldn't do it. I decided that I too would come back at midnight to help out, if I was asking others to do it, why couldn't I?
So there I was at midnight, helping train and direct the new volunteers, many of whom, I'd spoken with on the phone earlier. The phones were ringing off the hook, we had all types of calls; People who were bed-ridden who needed to know what to do if they were evacuated, people in areas where they could see flames outside their kitchen window and needed to know where to go, Army commanders who needed to know what roads were closed so they could get truck loads of supplies to the local shelters. The phones rang off the hook all night, over 1,000 calls an hour. We did the best we could with limited information.
I stayed until 9am that morning, went home to get some sleep then returned again at midnight last night. Fortunately by midnight on Thursday, the phone calls had started to die off, meaning people who needed the information had it for the most part. However, at 7am the phones started going nuts when a press conference announced that 211 would have information on who could return home. I was so impressed with how many people wanted to help, how many people put themselves aside and focused on making a difference.
Please continue to pray for those who were displaced, who lost their homes, and those who are helping to restore order!
Joy
Friday, October 19, 2007
New season, new time - Joy is no longer a resident athlete
Ecclesiastes 3 A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
In the 1965, as the United States was about to enter a time of political unrest, the Byrds used this scripture as the basis for their number one billboard hit, "Turn! Turn! Turn! (to everything there is a season). In 2002, we placed Ecclesiastes 3:1 as the verse under a photo of my dad happily enjoying a ride on Italian wooden speed boat, his hair tussled by the Venetian wind, on the front of his memorial card.
Today, as I sit back and reflect on the past two years, as I try and understand what is happening around me, it is this verse that sticks out above all others. It hasn't been more than a few days since I received an email with the words "Dear Joy, Please see the attached letter in reference to the RA Program." Attached was the following letter:
Dear Joy,
This letter is sent to inform you of the direction and status of the 2008 archery Resident Athlete Program for the United States Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California.
The program is taking a new and dynamic approach to athlete training in preparation for the development of elite archers for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. At this time, the upcoming program plan is well focused on the continuing development of a strong Women's team. In complying with this new direction, the resident athlete program will retain our two top women resident athletes. Additionally, the program will bring in elite junior athletes to fill the remaining program spots. We are fortunate to have such talented Olympians to lead this new team and even more fortunate that one of those individuals is an Olympic medalist. These two women will provide the leadership and set the necessary example for the new recruits to follow. Furthermore, our resident Olympians will act as mentors for these young athletes, providing the guidance, experience and additional motivation to help them grow into future Olympians. What is currently unknown territory to these budding athletes will quickly become a much easier transition with the help of two seasoned Olympic archers.
While moving forward in our new direction, we do wish to take this moment to commend you on the effort and progress you have made in the RA program under the teachings and guidance of Mr. Kisik Lee, considered by many to be the World's top archery coach. We feel you have learned a great deal through your experience in the RA program and can now forge ahead with the skills you have learned from Coach Lee. Coach Lee has left you with the ultimate tools to continue your elite training in a setting of your own choosing. Although you have progressed and continue to show steady improvement while in the RA program, your skill sets and scores are not yet to the level required to be internationally competitive. We feel strongly that if you continue to train diligently, compete on a regular basis and steadily refine your shooting technique; you will eventually develop the ability to post scores that will earn you a slot on future international teams. We also want to inform you that the High Performance team will always have an open door for you or any high level athlete to reapply to the Resident Athlete Program during those future dates when applications are being accepted.
Presently, the High Performance Team is attempting to work within the parameters and restrictions of limited bed space at the OTC. However, we fully understand the constraints that are placed on the Olympic Training Center and greatly appreciate what they are currently able to offer. As US athletes gear up to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, the pressure on the training center to meet those needs maximizes the capacity of the facility to adequately house those many athletes from a variety of sports. This fact sparked the inspiration to look further toward our future. We must develop our new Olympians now so that we may again dominate the world in Olympic Archery. One of the compelling reasons that have driven the decision to change directions in the RA program is the simple fact that since 1988, the US Women's Team has not won a single medal. The pendulum must again swing in our direction and therefore, the High Performance Team has chosen to follow a new plan and one that is considered to be a highly promising road to success. Success is vital to the growth of archery in the US and to obtain the much-needed funding opportunities provided by the USOC for medal winning sports.
We wish to thank you for your participation in the Resident Athlete Program for the sport of archery and wish you great success in all of your future archery endeavors.
Sincerely,
USA Archery High Performance Team:
Tom Parrish
Kisik Lee
Don Rabska
So where does that leave me now? I've known for a long time that I am an Olympian at heart, becoming one is in the very core of me. Although I have no status as a resident athlete, a resident athlete is not what defines me. No, I am defined by, and my identity is found in, Jesus Christ who has plans to "prosper me and not harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
I rather like the verses that follow Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:
9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
God has put me in a situation where the only possible way to make it now is going to be through Him and in the end that may have been his very plan.
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
In the 1965, as the United States was about to enter a time of political unrest, the Byrds used this scripture as the basis for their number one billboard hit, "Turn! Turn! Turn! (to everything there is a season). In 2002, we placed Ecclesiastes 3:1 as the verse under a photo of my dad happily enjoying a ride on Italian wooden speed boat, his hair tussled by the Venetian wind, on the front of his memorial card.
Today, as I sit back and reflect on the past two years, as I try and understand what is happening around me, it is this verse that sticks out above all others. It hasn't been more than a few days since I received an email with the words "Dear Joy, Please see the attached letter in reference to the RA Program." Attached was the following letter:
Dear Joy,
This letter is sent to inform you of the direction and status of the 2008 archery Resident Athlete Program for the United States Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California.
The program is taking a new and dynamic approach to athlete training in preparation for the development of elite archers for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. At this time, the upcoming program plan is well focused on the continuing development of a strong Women's team. In complying with this new direction, the resident athlete program will retain our two top women resident athletes. Additionally, the program will bring in elite junior athletes to fill the remaining program spots. We are fortunate to have such talented Olympians to lead this new team and even more fortunate that one of those individuals is an Olympic medalist. These two women will provide the leadership and set the necessary example for the new recruits to follow. Furthermore, our resident Olympians will act as mentors for these young athletes, providing the guidance, experience and additional motivation to help them grow into future Olympians. What is currently unknown territory to these budding athletes will quickly become a much easier transition with the help of two seasoned Olympic archers.
While moving forward in our new direction, we do wish to take this moment to commend you on the effort and progress you have made in the RA program under the teachings and guidance of Mr. Kisik Lee, considered by many to be the World's top archery coach. We feel you have learned a great deal through your experience in the RA program and can now forge ahead with the skills you have learned from Coach Lee. Coach Lee has left you with the ultimate tools to continue your elite training in a setting of your own choosing. Although you have progressed and continue to show steady improvement while in the RA program, your skill sets and scores are not yet to the level required to be internationally competitive. We feel strongly that if you continue to train diligently, compete on a regular basis and steadily refine your shooting technique; you will eventually develop the ability to post scores that will earn you a slot on future international teams. We also want to inform you that the High Performance team will always have an open door for you or any high level athlete to reapply to the Resident Athlete Program during those future dates when applications are being accepted.
Presently, the High Performance Team is attempting to work within the parameters and restrictions of limited bed space at the OTC. However, we fully understand the constraints that are placed on the Olympic Training Center and greatly appreciate what they are currently able to offer. As US athletes gear up to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, the pressure on the training center to meet those needs maximizes the capacity of the facility to adequately house those many athletes from a variety of sports. This fact sparked the inspiration to look further toward our future. We must develop our new Olympians now so that we may again dominate the world in Olympic Archery. One of the compelling reasons that have driven the decision to change directions in the RA program is the simple fact that since 1988, the US Women's Team has not won a single medal. The pendulum must again swing in our direction and therefore, the High Performance Team has chosen to follow a new plan and one that is considered to be a highly promising road to success. Success is vital to the growth of archery in the US and to obtain the much-needed funding opportunities provided by the USOC for medal winning sports.
We wish to thank you for your participation in the Resident Athlete Program for the sport of archery and wish you great success in all of your future archery endeavors.
Sincerely,
USA Archery High Performance Team:
Tom Parrish
Kisik Lee
Don Rabska
So where does that leave me now? I've known for a long time that I am an Olympian at heart, becoming one is in the very core of me. Although I have no status as a resident athlete, a resident athlete is not what defines me. No, I am defined by, and my identity is found in, Jesus Christ who has plans to "prosper me and not harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
I rather like the verses that follow Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:
9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
God has put me in a situation where the only possible way to make it now is going to be through Him and in the end that may have been his very plan.
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