Christian Sports Association

I know I have mentioned the Christian Sports Association many times in my blogging throughout our time here.  So I wanted to give a little background as to who they are... the Christian Sports Association is an organization that started to provide unity among coaches in a variety of disciplines in the greater Sosua area.  Coaches that work not for their own benefit but for that of their athletes.  It provides opportunities to play, receive training and support and encouragement in discipleship.  The Association began when a group of the coaches recognized a need to formalize the change in coaching that was happening here (changing it to being about the kids and not the coach).  Over the past several years it has grown and matured and is in the process of becoming a legal Dominican organization.  With the encouragement the Association offers, our staff and Luis Chingping (president of the Association) have been working on encouraging more coaches to be involved and participate.  Chingping has been attending our Monday staff meetings for a year or so now so AIM and the Association can continue working together and building up the community here.  When we wrote out the list of local coaches a few weeks ago, many of them are regularly involved in the Association.  It was decided amongst our staff and Chingping to visit the coaches who are not regular attenders to encourage them to come and be a part of the Association.  2 meetings took place earlier this week with J, AIM staff and Chingping and they were both very positive and encouraging.  Both coaches expressed a love for coaching and the kids and a desire to participate more.  We will continue praying for these coaches and their outreach and for their participation in the Association.

Last Friday, the Association hosted a parade to start off the 2 month baseball tournament.  We marched with them and then saw a game in Maimon (about 45 minutes from our house) with Coach Hector on Saturday.  I always enjoy the parades and it was a beautiful Saturday to watch some baseball. 

Checo inviting the community out to the games in all the areas.

There continues to be incredible work with the staff.  I know I just wrote about this, but they continue to amaze us in their growth and maturity.  J has been working with them on the critical thinking aspect of their work.  Every one of our staff are meeting regularly with at least 3+ other coaches throughout the week (among their other responsibilities and teams).  So we want them to be thinking about how they are reaching these coaches, what effect are they having, how can they encourage these coaches to grow in Christ and as leaders, how can they teach these coaches to lead devotionals (see one, do one, teach one)...  Again great movement and work!  So blessed to be here working alongside our brothers!

Several weeks ago Alfre led a devotional and J prayed with the athletes before a tryout for the Texas Rangers. 

Victor planned and organized a volleyball tournament joining all the teams of Sosua and the surrounding areas to promote volleyball and to take a step in unifying the elite athletes under 1 select Sosua team.

 One of our Monday staff meetings.

Freysy at his men's volleyball practice.  He is a leader amongst his peers and in the community.  His dedication continues to amaze me as he is a full time teacher, works with AIM, coaches teams, leads devotionals...

On the homefront things are good.  The "mystery pox" went away.  (Still not sure what it was.  The kids here kept calling them "little burns" and said they were very common and not dangerous.  So, praise the Lord that is better.)  Aubrey continues to love school and is doing great.  (Proud mom moment...) She was actually bumped up to "kindergarten" here because she knew her letters and shapes and numbers that would have been taught in the "pre-K" class.  She is learning her vowels, how to write her letters and numbers, etc.  One of her favorite parts of the day is when they all sing the national anthem.  J and I realized a few weeks ago that maybe we should work on teaching her the American anthem.  She stands with her hand on her heart and mumbles some of the words.  However, when she comes home to play school with her friends on the street, they always do the anthem as well.  There are times she only wants to pray in Spanish (Padre nuestro, que esta en los cielos...).  It's very sweet.  Ryann is good as well.  She is full of personality and joy (most of the time).  She loves her sister and loves to dance (it's actually a bit more like marching in place but still adorable).  She has 8 teeth and we are still figuring out what food she likes best (yogurt seems to be up there).  She still refuses to eat leftovers (how can a 1 year old know... and something she will have to get over as we tend to eat leftovers as long as possible). Ryann has become a daddy's girl and using her one volume (loud) yells, "Daaaa" for J and shows him everything (her sunglasses, her toys, her shoes, her diaper...).  So sweet..  J and I are great.  Working and loving life.  Nothing too exciting in our lives... just getting older. :)

We visited Alfre in La Cienaga a few weeks ago.  Here the girls are in their typical fashion.

Before Genesis's birthday dinner.  She invited us to a pizzeria at the Air Base that had a playground.  It ended up being just our family and her family (with all 3 of the girls I write about often.. Genesis, Loralee and Miralee).  We had a great time and the girls loved the pizza and playground.

Ryann on the slide.

Aubrey on the see-saw. (She was finally brave enough to try it and loved it.)

 

Liam, Aubrey and Ilene marching one afternoon. They are soaking wet because they were jumping and splashing around in the kiddie pool (to the left).  Liam and Ilene are twins and live next door.  Liam and Aubrey get along especially well as Liam is very calm and would prefer to play doctor or with the baby dolls whereas Ilene is all about playing with the balls or running around.

Ryann wearing Aubrey's shoes.

We were invited to Cristin's engagement party.  (This is Pastor Rivas's daughter- part of our Dominican family here.)  Cristin has always taken extra great care of Aubrey and loves on her (and buys her more chips and snacks than a girl knows what to do with).  Congrats to Cristin and Braulio!!

Cristin's ring.  This was a surprise for her... she was not planning on receiving a ring yet.

Aubrey a few days ago at school.  It was "dia de la raza" (Day of the People) so they all got their face painted and a crown.  Super cute.

So, things here are going well.  Thank you for your prayers and love and support.  We are humbled and blessed to be here!

Much love!

Overdue

So lately we have been undergoing some spiritual warfare.  And although there has not been one major event, it is the culmination of all those small things day in and day out that continue to add up.  Sore throat here, case of the "mystery pox" on Ryann here (Doc McStuffins anyone?), a 1 year old who has apparently decided to go on a hunger strike, 3 year old going on 13 attitude met with the stresses of daily life, finances, etc.  (You all know what I'm talking about.)  And through this time I have not been so good about keeping our team (you reading this) updated.  I have often felt lately I "don't have anything to blog about" but I realize now that I have kept the amazing work God has been doing from being shared.  So for that I am sorry.  So let me start by saying our staff in the DR are doing an AMAZING work.  When we came back 7 weeks ago (wow time flies), our brothers had blossomed overnight.  Their work, attitude, heart and overall demeanor just clicked.  They have always been hardworking and loving but now they are on fire.  We continue having our weekly staff meetings and then Jay meets with all 5 of them individually throughout the week for more individualized growth.  And all of these meetings simply thrill us to hear their thoughts and actions moving forward.  (Much of our work over the past 2 years has been pouring into these men to raise them up so they can reach the other coaches of the greater Sosua area and eventually the island.)  A list was formed last week of all the coaches within the Sosua area from all sports (baseball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, track, softball) and 90% of the coaches are being reached in some fashion by our staff!  How incredible is that?!  These coaches are being prayed with, taught how to lead devotionals, taught how to practice efficiently and better, and simply loved on.  Our brothers have always been a great mix of a desire to pour in here in Sosua mixed with the desire to go explore and meet new coaches.  They are making contacts throughout the north zone and continue to build and raise up leaders.  So, let me just say God is working overtime right now in the DR.  He is growing and building and moving in our brothers and we get to see their excitement along with ours throughout all of it!  Praise God!

So for tonight, I just want to say thank you, our team, for your love and support and listening ears and prayers throughout our journey.  It continues to amaze me the love we have from all of you (even when my communication has not been the best). 

Oh, and there was the case of the bugs in our macaroni and cheese.  First from the box mixed in with the pasta (which I can understand having been shipped from the States... well things happen), then when we mixed in the cheese a couple of bugs fell out.  Bugs.  In the sealed packet of cheese. 
We ate something else.