May 24th!

It's official, May 24th I will be moving back to the DR! I have been waiting patiently for this day, and even though at times it was tempting to just buy a ticket and move down after baseball season ended April 13th. But God has been teaching me over and over again to wait on His perfect timing and I completely see the value of spending this month with my family and in preparation for my new life with GO Ministries. I'm very excited to go out and see my sister Caroline and brother-in-law Kirk for the first time in Denver and see their life out there.

Please continue to pray for me during this month of transition.
-Pray for the quality time spent and saying goodbye (again) to family and friends.
-Pray for meetings made and relationships built that will help advance GO and the work going on in Santiago!
-Pray for energy and sanity as I step into a very busy summer schedule and I hope that it will be a seamless transition so I can assist the ministry in whatever way is necessary..
-Pray for my financial support that God would continue to provide monthly supporters and that I can meet my budget by this summer!

Transitions

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and reflecting on this next step in my life and how God brought me here. It has been fun to think back at a few specific events that have led to my full-time role in sports ministry in the DR with G.O. Ministries.

-In the Spring of 2004, I was a cocky 18 year old finishing up HS and getting ready to head to Wheaton College. All the DR was to me was a place my older sister had visited for a week a few years ago. Now God has given me a heart and a passion for the country and people of the DR and I can't imagine wanting to live anywhere else.

-In the Fall of 2008, I was finishing my Senior football season at Wheaton and looking forward to working with Kids Alive, slightly entertaining the idea of trying out for the Baseball team. Now God has given me a heart and a passion to reach athletes in the DR and has blessed me through my experiences playing/coaching College baseball.

-In the Fall of 2010, I had never heard of North Carolina Wesleyan or Coach Long. Now I have spent a full school year learning the ins and outs of baseball and coaching from 2 great Godly examples in Coach Long and Coach Jones.

-In August of 2011, I was leaving Kids Alive with a dream of starting a Christian Sports Academy in the DR and had never heard of G.O. Ministries. Now God has given me a specific calling through G.O. and affirmed me time and time again in my long-term commitment to G.O. Ministries.

I have been really missing the DR, especially since the baseball season ended last week. God has really shown me the purpose of truly preparing to leave in many ways. I will have a very busy month before leaving in the end of May, but after being away from family for so long I am so excited to spend quality time with my entire family before I go! I also hope to add a few more financial supporters before heading down so I can narrow the gap towards having my budget fully covered.

Please pray for me this next month. I will be traveling a good amount and also having some important meetings. Pray for my spiritual preparation as well as I am learning and growing a lot and I know God will have me right where He wants me when it is time to leave. Please be in touch - if you have any questions about my role or G.O. Ministries please don't hesitate to contact me I would love to share.

Updating the Blog

Check out some of the videos put up on the 'Links/Videos/Pictures' tab. GO is really doing some great things through churchs, schools, teams and organizations and I can't wait to be a part of it!  I'll be working on updating these tabs this week so check back for more info.

ESPN Article

Here is a short article and video that really explains a lot of the problems that we hope to combat in Baseball in the Dominican Republic. Above all of this, I truly believe that the saving grace and hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ will help to transform lives more than any educational or societal reforms, but there are some important changes happening and the charge is being led by Major League Baseball. Please check it out.

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/page/MLB-rule-change/major-league-baseball-rule-change-free-agent-pay-causes-concern-dominican-republic-venezuela

Sports in the DR

I wanted to do a quick update to the blog - and since I'm about to be diving into a more Sports-Ministry oriented role with GO Ministries, I figured it would be appropriate to just post a bunch of sports pictures I've taken in the DR over the past few years. Now, I'm not a photographer, I usually just take tons of pictures and hope something turns out so sorry for the bad quality! Hope you enjoy.

Baseball Clinic in Santo Domingo

Annual "marathon" race at the Ark in Jarabacoa

Representing Constanza in the Old People's All-Star game .. yes it was as awesome as it sounds

With Mike Shaheen and Will Thompson at the San Francisco Giants Dominican Team's complex sharing the gospel. Santo Domingo.

Mike Shaheen, Will Thompson and me after the talk with the Coaches from the Giants DR team. Santo Domingo.

Baseball Clinic in Santiago

Baseball Clinic in Santiago

4 Square at Palo Blanco (Jarabacoa)

Kickball at Palo Blanco (Jarabacoa)

At the Ark in Constanza

Cane field out by San Pedro de Macoris

Playing in the Christmas tournament (league) in Constanza

ANIJA (Jarabacoa) after a big win in the Copa Coca Cola

Baseball Players on the trophies for the Basketball tournament..I love this country. Easter week 3v3 Tournament in Jarabacoa

Easter week tournament - Jarabacoa. Trying to guard one of the best post players in the Pro league from La Vega

Pick-up Baseball in a field in Constanza

Races during PE classes at ANIJA in Jarabacoa

Girls playing soccer at ANIJA in Jarabacoa

Van loaded up during my month with St. Mary's doing Soccer ministry all over the country

Awesome game kind of like cricket that the kids play all the time. Constanza.

Soccer (kind of) in Caraballo, on the North Coast.

Clinic in San Pedro at one of the better Baseball Academies in the country.

Working with the catchers in Constanza

Wheaton Football vs Constanza pick-up game.

Wheaton Football vs Constanza post-game. (Dartt looking content after dropping 36)

Wheaton Baseball in Santo Domingo on their trip in May 2010

Aguilas vs Estrellas professional Winter League game in Santiago

Playing with the kids and bringing food to a small village outside San Pedro de Macoris.

My favorite Winter League team, las Estrellas from San Pedro de Macoris.

And everyones favorite mascot, San Pedro de Macoris.

Trip to Haiti/DR

God is good. I've been continually reminded over the past few weeks how blessed I am and how fortunate I am to be stepping into a ministry and role that fits my passions and gifts so perfectly. It has been so fun to be out on the field with the guys at NC Wesleyan this week as we get practice underway preparing for our first game February 11th. Again, God has blessed me with a tremendous opportunity to coach and learn more about coaching at NCWC, but also the flexibility to take 2 trips to the DR and also to really work on raising support while I prepare to head down in June!

Here are some pictures of my recent trip to Haiti and the DR. The first leg of my trip was connecting with Grant and Natasha Roszkowiak in the Fort Lauderdale airport and heading to La Baie in Haiti to see their ministry! It was a huge blessing to head down with James Gizzo who is about 3 weeks in to a 6 month stint serving alongside Grant and Natasha. It was such an amazing experience to not only see what they are doing down there (running an orphanage of 14 3-5 year old haitian kids, among many other things!) but also to fellowship with amazing friends.

 Now I've done a lot of travelling, and a lot of public bus type transports around the DR and I like to think I have a pretty good feel for getting around....but getting from remote Northwest Haiti to the DR in one day was one of the craziest experiences of my life. Oh yeah and I was by myself for almost the entire trip. It was all worth it in the end as I was able to spend some quality time with dear friends in the DR and help out with Randy Farris and his annual group from St. Mary's college. I'll post a nice random assortment of pictures!

It is a little different not being around Wheaton to follow up on meetings and connections while I'm raising support, but I am learning to totally lean and rely on God for everything. I know that if this is truly where God wants me, then the money will all be in so I can leave on time! Please prayerfully consider becoming a monthly supporter of me and GO Ministries. It is a blessing to be a part of God's plan for the kids and people in the DR.