My Summer Orientation and Haiti Trip

This week involved a lot of "orientation" type learning for me. I have been busy working hard with helping to facilitate teams, but this week was a cool opportunity to get out and spend 2 days each at our sites in Hato del Yaque and Phaeton, Haiti.

Hato del Yaque is about 45 minutes from Hoya del Caimito and there is a great pastor who we partner with named Elido. I loved getting to know the kids in the area and what was especially interesting to me is that we recently purchased a field just down the road and we were starting to build a baseball field there! We started digging the trench to put in the backstop and I'm so excited to watch those plans unfold. I got to meet a few of the kids who play at the current "field" and they are so excited to have an actual baseball field.

I have been to Haiti 5-6 times now, but it is incredible how intensely it affects me every time I go there. The poverty is incredible, and there is such a difference in the kids. The kids there usually aren't really wearing clothes and are noticeably malnourished and have hernias or other very visible health issues. It is intense. GO is already active in partnering with a church/pastor in Phaeton, and has some amazing plans that are already in motion BUT it is so clear that no matter what we "do" in Haiti, they need Christ first and foremost. I'm sure I'll touch on this a lot more in future posts about Haiti, but it is so clear that good and evil are on a collision course in Phaeton ... but we have God on our side and I know that no matter what struggles/hardships we encounter in ministry there that we much trust and glorify God in every manner. Not an easy mindset to have, especially when considering the severity of issues that could arise, but I know God will be holding our hands every step of the way.

Here are some pictures from Haiti - I'll put more up on Facebook including some from Hato del Yaque

A few pictures from my first 2 weeks

Wheaton College hot on the recruiting trail all the way in the DR! I love it.

Lounging with my little dominican nieces in Jarabacoa

Fun day of Children's ministry with the team. These girls were leading some songs before a great skit/craft by the group.

Some new little friends

More kids

Worship with Beechland.

Celebrating birthdays and Mother's day in Jarabacoa.

Chucho's birthday

At the Ark in Jarabacoa

The little girls trying to pour a heavy container of water on chucho for his Birthday

Partnerships

"G.O. Ministries seeks to empower passionate, local leaders serving inside their own cultures to Redeem people, Renew communities and Restore Creation by developing dynamic International, mutually transformational Partnerships."

This morning, we dropped off Beechland Baptist Church at the airport, finishing up my first ever GO team! I forgot how deep and real relationships can be formed in such a short amount of time. This week was an incredible introduction to the crux of our ministry: Partnerships.


During this week I got to see an amazing example of how a church has rallied around a specific family that has worked with GO for many years, the husband as a construction worker and the wife as a cook. This family has become an extended part of the church family, and there are many people from the Louisville church that ask about and pray for this family even though they have never met them! This encouragement does wonders for our nationals, as they feel equipped and supported in order to really serve and minister here in Santiago.


Honestly, I didn't understand this crucial aspect of the ministry here. I was so excited about discipleship and my role in the baseball/basketball academies that I never really took the time to investigate the partnerships and relationships that play such a huge role in the ministries. God completely knew what I needed to see/experience in my first week and as always he proved faithful to helping equip me to effectively serve here. Which is perfect because I have no clue!


I hope each group this summer will be as big of a blessing as this past group has been!

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