Trip to DR

As many of you know, I was able to return to the DR from November 12-22. Although I was only away for 3 months...it felt like 3 years! It seemed that so much had changed, especially in Constanza, but the relationships and friendships I had developed over the past few years picked up right where they left off.

It was such a blessing to spend my 2nd year at SCORE's annual Men's Coaches Conference in the Capital. It was amazing to be surrounded by so man Christian men who are also passionate about the game of baseball. I was able to make some strong friendships and make some cool relationships for my future in Santiago.

With Will Thompson and Brian Kolb for the week.

 

 

Fun spending some time with Chris Burke and Andy Pettite

Me and Kolb dominated the hitting station all week

Speaking to the SF Giants DR team the last night

Great to get to know Mike Shaheen from FCA-DR. Great man.

Me and Kolb got to visit the kids we sponsor at the orphanage in La Romana

Me and Kenny Dickerson visiting Soriano's care center. Great book by Trot Nixon's Wife.  Fruits of the spirit in Baseball (in Spanish!)

Will Thompson and I were able to continue the trip for a few days after the conference. We went to Jarabacoa and Constanza to visit where I had lived the past few years and to see friends. It was fun for Will to experience a very different area of the DR, and fun for me to see everyone again. It was exactly what I needed!

My little friends at Chucho and Alida's house

Love my little Dominican niece!

Had a great time at a Pro baseball game in Santiago

Good friends Chucho and Paul Cooper

Mi hermano Yovanny - fun to spend most of my time in Jarabacoa with him

Eduardo showing off his gift from Constanza legend Jota Jota

Eneury with gifts from the Ochs'

Me and Joanny

Juliana with her gifts from the Ochs'

Our time in Constanza was special because we were able to see all the exciting stuff going on at the Ark and at the Care Center. Fred and Kasandra have done an incredible job so far as the new Constanza missionaries and it is fun to see them in action. Will and I were also able to go to the Baseball field in Constanza and do a little clinic and share the gospel with the kids there.

For some reason I ALWAYS see these 2 girls here whenever I come to this field. We were only gonna be there for a short time this trip, but in the back of my mind I was praying that I would run into them and sure enough they came running up right in the middle of Will's gospel presentation!

Cool relationship with this team, will be coming back in the future for sure.

God really opened a lot of doors and connected me with the right people during this trip. I am more excited than ever for what God is doing in the DR and how sports can be a huge avenue to reach kids for Christ!