Just One More: April catch up time

Yes, we’re alive!! Seeing that it’s been almost 3 weeks since our last post, we have a lot of amazing things to tell you…
Last week, J and four of our guys went to Boca Chica to participate in a clinic put on by FCA for 3 days. It was an incredible time as four of the top baseball programs (teams that habitually have their athletes sign major league contracts) in the country brought their coaches and 20 athletes. This clinic is something J and our staff (and generally many of our coaches) have participated for several years but FCA changed the format this year to include these youth. It was a more intimate time with older youth (15-18 years old) who had the opportunity to play baseball and to let their guard down and be safe. And above all else they had the opportunity to share with men (primarily Dominicans from Meeting God in Baseball, AIM, FCA, and Go Ministries) who maybe don’t fit their definition of a “Christian”. These “Christians” weren’t the uptight guys in suits who tell you what you can and cannot do, but were guys who like baseball and like joking and like having a good time together. Each of the organizations (AIM, FCA, etc.) were given a team to work with, coach, and spend time with for the 3 days. AIM was given the team from Santiago. Overall, 16 of these youth gave their lives to Christ during the camp!! It will be exciting to continue watching the growth from this camp (each year) as more and more youth are reached with Christ prior to their being signed by the big leagues. Can you imagine what the Dominican signees in the big leagues will look like in 5, 10 and even 20 years? Please continue praying for all of these ministries who are outreaching to the kids and youth on the island and praying for a generational change!

Every month, the Christian Sports Association (who AIM works alongside) has a meeting to gather the coaches and discuss what is going on in Sosua and outlying areas, what big projects and tournaments are coming up and to simply get on the same page. Although we have continued seeing growth from these meetings including attendance, this month’s meeting was absolutely amazing! One of our goals here has been to change the dynamic of our staff and coach’s thinking from “receive” to “give”. Whether it’s receiving equipment, money, food, etc., we are trying to get them to think outwards to helping their brothers and sisters in the Dominican from their own time and money and services. However, this change in thought has been greatly avoided and even delayed as even our own staff has worried about how this thought process would be accepted from our coaches and leaders in the community. But, after praying fervently for a long time for this, God let us know it was time to do it. So, as I mentioned before, AIM and the Association were planning a 1 day camp in Nagua, and it was decided to ask the coaches who wanted to attend to pay RD$100.00 (about US $2.50). And when this was brought up at the meeting, every single coach was in agreement and understood the reason and plan! Even a few of our more opinionated coaches stood up to speak about the importance of this! So we are very excited about what this change can do for our coaches, the leaders and the community. We are continuing to push and strive for our team here to be growing towards God.

Last Saturday, AIM and the Association hosted a 1 day camp in Nagua (about 2 hours east of Sosua). We held the first 100% Dominican camp there last year. This year over 600 kids participated in baseball, soccer and volleyball. 60 kids (and a couple of adults) gave their lives to Christ! We had a team of 28 Dominicans (including our family) who got to love on the kids and coaches. We had the opportunity to share the activity with five pastors who all joined us for lunch!! During lunch, J spoke to the pastors about their role in what we do. Specifically that they have the opportunity to reach out to and disciple an entire generation who are absent from the churches. J described our work in changing the mindset of our coaches from beg and receive to give and serve. All of the pastors were very excited about this work and the work on the fields. Please join us in praying for these pastors as they are stretched and pushed to go outside of their comfort zones. (Again there tends to be a wall in their minds prohibiting them from mixing our faith and sports.)

Our team meeting the coaches, Pastors and leaders of Nagua.

The group of kids praying to accept Christ!!

Soccer players.

J and Coach Ani (our main baseball contact in Nagua). He has a very well structured program and a big heart for Christ. He has been with us on several camps. We are blessed to work alongside him.

And, this entire camp day was planned and organized by Rafael and Freysy (2 of our staff). Honestly, J and I could have stayed home as it was very smooth and organized with all the needs met. Although this is slightly sad (as our time is definitely coming to a close here), it is even more exciting and amazing to see the growth in our staff. To see their ability and knowledge in planning, organizing and implementing projects. To witness their growth in discipleship and as leaders in this community. Praise God for His continued hand on each of them as He raises them up and pours into them. (insert smiley face with tear) We are so proud of our brothers!

This past Sunday we celebrated as Pastor Rivas and Tati completed 20 years of ministry. (He is our main Pastor contact here and they are known to our girls as “Pastor and Grandma Tati”.) We are so grateful for their faithfulness in 20 years of service. They are among the long list of individuals in the story leading to us becoming missionaries.

On Monday, we hosted a program taught by the DR government about domestic abuse. This was a training to understand, recognize and deal with domestic abuse. We invited 40 people from the community (leaders, coaches, teachers, principals, pastors, etc.) to hear this message and information. At the conclusion J reminded each of them that we never receive a blessing simply to receive it and guard it and hoard it; we receive a blessing to be a blessing. J encouraged them to not simply take this information and keep it to themselves but to share it, apply it and multiply it. We are praying for multiplication of this program and for God’s continued hand in outreach in this community.

At home the girls are doing great. Ryann is standing on her own for longer periods now and wants to walk and play and run with the rest of them. She is much more opinionated than Aubrey (she is passionate like her mommy). She has 3 teeth now and I believe another on the way. Aubrey is great and getting bigger. She still loves playing with the kids on our street (and luckily the kids like it, too). Her Spanish is better. Again, she doesn't speak a whole lot of it but will answer when asked questions. J and I are good. We have our moments (I will call them breakdown moments), but I believe that's to be expected in general with an almost 3 year old and an almost 1 year old. :) Here are some pictures of family time: