Today was the last day that Chris, Kevin and Phil were spending here in the Dominican Republic. Because it is the last of 11 great days, we decided to go out with a bang. This morning we woke up at 6:30am in order to pack up some baseball equipment and head to a baseball field in Guayacanes (in between Boca Chica and Juan Dolio). Guayacanes is a very poor village right next to the ocean. The children in the village love baseball and play every day at the little park next to the highway. Jodi and I see them almost every day when we drive over to Juan Dolio for spanish class. Two days ago, I finally felt the Holy Spirit tug at me to stop and start a relationship with the coach and his players. The coach, Eduardo, accepted my offer to come and help with a clinic today. I figured it was meant to be when I realized it was the college boys last morning here. They were very excited when I told them what we were going to do.
Well, it did not go the way the clinic went yesterday in El Penon. It was very clear from the start that their was a lack of leadership in this village in Guayacanes. In El Penon, Maximo the Pastor had total control over his people (in a good way) and the young men and boys were very respectful and excited about playing baseball. In Eduardo's village, not so much. They did not seem to listen to him, or us for that matter. Some of the younger boys that were 10-13 years old were excited and played well with each other, but that was not the norm. I was very impressed with the way Kevin, Phil and Chris handled the tough situation. God calls us to love the unlovable. Yesterday was easy (other than the heat). Today, we were called to love those that showed hostility, laziness, bad attitudes and apathy. Although it did not seem that these boys and their coach listened a whole lot to us, I truly believe it was a start of a very significant relationship. I will continue to go to the village and play, teach, evangelize and most of all...love. I will pray each day for Eduardo (told me he is not a Christian yet but his mom and brother are) and his community. They do have a church and I will make every attempt to connect with their pastor and support him as much as possible.
The college boys may be leaving in a few hours, but they were influencial in the start of something really big in Guayacanes. May the Lord bless kevin, Phil and Chris abundently, and give them courage and boldness to take what they learned here in the DR and bring it with them to school this year. Amen!
Dustin Pedroia look a like and his new friend
Preaching in spanish and hoping a seed was planted.
Phil and his homies.
Picture of the day!
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