3 Hours of Sun, a dry field, and a bag of seeds

             That is all we need in order to have a baseball game and some fellowship.  Today, Friday August 26th, I dropped my kids off at school at approximately 8am. I drove home and started to do some work at my desk, when I receievd a call from Gus Hernandez (boss of the Highlands).  He told me that Luis Hernandez and 40 baseball players from Ozoria park in Boca Chica are on their way to the Highlands to play baseball per your offer.  ok.  I just learned something about the Dominican.  When you offer something to someone and do not hear back, they still might take you up on the offer.  Why you say?  They do not want to use up their minutes on their cell phone.  Or, they just do not think it is necessary.  Now, if I was still in Atlanta and not prepared for a group to come, I probably would have said "no" or "I am sorry".  BUT, I am not in Atlanta and my job now is to be prepared for anything and everything. I am ready.  I felt like a "minuteman" from the Revolutionary War or a fireman from the city.  40 kids were coming to my field to play baseball in an hour whether I was ready or not.
               For the past week it has been raining here.  It has been brutal to sit in a house for consecutive days when you live on an island near the equator.  The kids in the community were feeling it big time.  Every time I drove through town, I had to weave my way through 3 or 4 stick ball games in the street.  (For all of you that read this blog and are under 35 years old google stick ball)  The fields here are flooking more like the Chattahoochie River. 
               4 coaches and 40 kids that were from age 10-14 came to the little league field in front of my house and played baseball for 2+ hours.  Gum, sunflower seeds, water, sliding plays at the plate, homeruns, diving catches and a lot of high fives. You cannot beat it!  So of course...I joined it.  I had the opportunity to serve and talk a lot with the coaches.  It was truly an unexpectedly wonderful time.
              At the end, I spoke a little bit about why I am here in the Dominican and how blessed I am to be with them.  Then, Eddy Jesus (our evangelical director) presented the Gospel in a very interactive and amazing way.  I had the opportunity to pass out New Testaments to each kid and also give them an FCA Dominican rubber wristband.  I explained John 3:30 and told them about Holt Rowland and the work God is doing in this ministry.  It was an amazing 3 hours.

Ezekiel (on the right) was my intern for the day. He committed to a Bible study with me and the opportunity to serve younger players.

Pick-off move

Surprisingly the field was in great shape after 3 days of rain.  The players were wide-eyed when they got to the field.

Eddy Jesus really got the kids fired up for the Lord. 

Showing off their new armbands that say, "mas El, menos yo  Juan 3:30  HR 10  FCA Dominicana

Pictures From The Past Few Weeks

Uncle Tony and Auntie Jen came down to the DR for a long weekend. It was great that they were here to celebrate Grace's 4th Birthday.

For Grace's Birthday we went to a mall called MegaCentro.  It has an amusement park for kids inside of the middle of the mall.  The rides were a lot of fun and Grace and Wyman were never afraid unlike their parents.

As if Mommy and Daddy had planned it, Mickey Mouse was at the Acropolis Mall in Santo Domingo at the same time we were there for Grace's Birthday.  How do you figure?  She also had her Tinkerbell dress on.

We went to the beach on Saturday with Tony and Jenn so Grace could wear her new "bikini."  She also calls Zuchini "bikini, so that got a little confusing at first.  Daddy was definitely on the lookout for guys that were looking at his daughters new outfit.  She can wear all the bikinis she wants until she turns 10.

Ah yeah, that is me with icing dribbling from my mouth.  How do you figure that there is a Krispy Kreme in downtown Santo Domingo.  JACKPOT!  We sealed the deal with a few dozen.  Yes, a few dozen.  I had to buy a dozen for the guards that never had Krispy Kreme.  They must have thought that they died and went to Peachtree street in Atlanta.

I promised Wyman a camp out in the living room and Mommy and Gracie joined in on the fun.  We watched a movie, ate popcorn, and tried to sleep.  It is amazing how much kids move in their beds at night.  I think I got karate chopped 6 times in the ribs and chin.  All in good fun!

I know he looks scared, but he is really ok.  I am a pro at cutting hair.  Just ask Jason Couch.  He had to go to school each day and teach with a bald spot on the side of his head.  All in good fun!

The first day of school and we are ready.  Mommy and Daddy were ready for school to start, but were very nervous and sad to see them off in the morning.  Very few people speak english in their "Bilingual school".  No problema.  Estan listo!

I am so proud of my wife (here pictured with Josh, Toni and Debbie).  She has worked so hard and is doing extremely well with her spanish.  4 days per week, 3 hours in class, 2-3 hours out of class.  I will sound so much more romantic when I speak spanish to her...and she understands it.

It has been a joy to go to study spanish each morning.  Mercy and Julio are wonderful people and great teachers.  We are not faking, we do smile a lot while we work. 

Julio nos ensena como decir "Hola".

Donna King, Don King's long lost grandaughter.  Just kidding.  We heard it was Don King's Birthday so we had some fun with Gracie.

Picture of the month.  Of course I am extremely biased.  I was very sad taking my two little ones to class.  I got over it pretty quickly though.  



1st Day of School

August 17th, 2011

Dear Wyman and Grace,

Mommy and Daddy just dropped you off at your new school.  Grace I know you were crying and you didn't want me to leave you, but you will be OK.  You have Wyman with you all day today (thank you for that blessing).  Before long you will be asking me when you get to go to school again.  Wyman I know you really aren't quite sure what to say about this.  You are my little thinker.  I know it is scary, I know you don't know anyone, but you will, just give it time.  Remember if you go to school for these 3 half days then you get to have a sleep over in the living room on Friday, just like Daddy promised!  

We were so excited to meet the English teacher!  And even the guy from New York...yes he is a Yankees fan, but we love everyone right?  And he spoke English!!  I know there are going to be angels all over that place to watch over you.  I pray that you will make some fast friends.  I pray that you will fit in real quick and love your school.  I am so excited for you to have Spanish class and for both of you to start Karate.  In no time you will both know more Spanish than Mommy, and that is OK cause you are both so smart!

Can't wait to see how your 1st day went!!  Daddy will pick you up after Spanish!  Two more days of fun camp half days then you get to wear your uniforms on Monday!!

The Calm after the Storm

           After 6 weeks of craziness, we are finally able to relax and settle in in the Dominican Republic.  For the first 6 weeks, we had 5 FCA groups from Atlanta come here on missions trips, 5 house guests, sign-ups for school for Grace and Wyman, openings of bank accounts, insurance, and cell phones.  We also had 5 weeks of spanish classes (probably should have waited to start this now, but it has been fun) and the retrieval of our car from customs.  It has been pretty crazy.  If we could do it all over again (do not want to) I believe we would probably just buy a car here, start spanish after 1 month, and do a lot more relaxing.  We have learned a lot from this experience and feel like we are better for it (whatever that means). 
            Yesterday my cousin Tony and his wife Jen flew into the DR for a 5 day visit for Grace's Birthday.  They brought a lot of the extra stuff that we left at home.  It kinda felt like Christmas morning when they arrived with all the suitcases filled with coffee singles for me, toys for the kids, swedish fish for Jodi, business cards and armbands for the ministry and various other knick knacks.  We are looking forward to a day at the beach Saturday, church and an indoor amusement park Sunday, and a movie and dinner at the beach Monday.  Grace turns 4 and we are just blown away at where the time has gone.  She was born on August 16th of 2007.  Jodi and I recall driving after football practice each day to visit her at the hospital.  She was 3 pounds and 4 ounces at birth and we were speechless (yes, Jodi and I were speechless) at what God had created.  Grace and all the children of the world are His and we (parents) adopt them and nurture them.  Thank you Lord for allowing us to care for Wyman and Grace.  We are blessed.
             We miss all of you very much and look forward to visiting Atlanta over Thanksgiving and Boston over Christmas.  Jodi will be visiting Atlanta soon for a brief weekend and I will be visiting my brother Ed in Roanoke for 5 days when he starts chemo.  Thank you for all the prayers! 

               It's official now, we are Dominican!  Here is Michael's new business card (note the spanish name for FCA).  We also have a Dominican license plate on our car.  Somos Dominicano!

Official Business Card - wahoo!

Our crabby friend at the beach with Uncle Tony and Auntie Jen.  Jen and Wyman in the ocean. Gracie's newest friend in the restaurant across from the beach.



Pictures From a Rest Day With family

Sometimes you just need a day off.  We had a blast today just spending time together under the hot sun.

This morning bright and early there were about 6-7 horses right behind our house

What do you do with your new Domincian amigo (friend) Rafe when you don't speak the same language?  You play Wii.  These two played wii, played wiffle ball, did side-walk chalk, and swam for a total of 8 hours.

Mommy taught Grace how to play Go Fish, and she beat me!  "Check out my piggy that does not fit between my other piggies."

Dominicans LOVE dominos.  People play dominos right on the side of the road where ever they can. They even make the loser hold a cement block in their hand while they play.

Let's let the security guard win...he has the shot gun.  Valentine is awesome.

Wyman lost his shirt, but still had fun.

Just because he is so darn handsome!

Beautiful sunset to end a beautiful day!!

We love Uncle Eddy!

             My brother Ed was brought to the hospital last week for stomach pain.  What he found out after tests and surgery was that he had a cancerous tumor on his colon.  He is currently rehabilitating at home and awaiting word on his future treatment.  Please pray for healing and for God to reveal Himself in big ways to my brother.  The only peace we can truly have here on this earth is through Jesus Christ and His promise to us.  Pray that my brother's two kids (Tucker and Jackson),  and mother and sister find peace during this difficult time.  God is good, always.  Sin entered the world through Adam and sin brought disease, decay, sickness and death. God sent the cure for it all in Christ Jesus, and in heaven, none of that suffering will exist (Revelation 4).
Here are some pictures of my brother:

Gracie with her uncle.  Uncle Eddy always brings her Dunkin Donuts.

"I taught him how to hit those home runs."

Eddy and his girlfriend Lisa at Salem Red Sox game.  Praise Jesus for Lisa.  She has been taking good care of him at the hospital and at his apartment.

FCA College Baseball Finds New Perspective

          Last Saturday, July 28th, the FCA College baseball team from Kansas City led by Jason Haniger arrived in the Dominican Republic at 10:30pm.  The journey on Saturday was long, from Kansas City to Orlando, from Orlando to Philadelphia, from Phili to Santo Domingo.  Long layovers, airport food, recycled air in the sky...what  else does one need?  It was a great feeling for me to see them that night.  It is always nice to see familiar faces and people that are excited for the week ahead.  Jason Haniger and two other coaches Chris House and Zach Brewster played for Georgia Tech with former Wesleyan players Michael Hutts,Tony Plagman, Connor Winn and Devin Stanton.  I got to know Jason over about two years ago when he was seeking out a profession and was interested in being a Wesleyan Fellow (intern).
          After a late night snack and an informational meeting, the players when to bed around 12:30am.  The next day (Sunday), the team and the Shaheen's woke up bright and early, ate breakfast, and headed out to church in the capital.  That was a great experience for this group in particular.  Not only did they get to participate in a Dominican service (in spanish but translated by headphone), but also a Baptist/Nondenominational type service.  Most of the guys on this trip are Roman Catholic and have never been to a protestant service.  It was great for me to see their reactions and to explain to them a lot of the differences in the two denominations.  I grew up Catholic before switching to nondenominational and so did Jason Haniger, so it was a God thing that we were able to have good discussions on the differences in denominations.  The overall discussions were positive and the guys were really excited for the week ahead.

On the way to the Sugarcane village.

                   Monday morning was wonderful.  After fellowship with the coaches on top of the tower that overlooks the campus, I had the opportunity to speak to the SF Giants Dominican team.  They are the two time DR champs and of course the Giants MLB team won the World Series.  I pray that God will somehow use me in their lives over the next few years.  There is no doubt that they are caught up in the opportunity to be a Major Leaguer and make lots of money.  They have the world in their hands a lot like our college students do in the States.  After I spoke to the Giants, I jumped on la Gua Gua (Bus) with the college FCA team and we headed out to a sugarcane village in San Pedro de Macoris.  We brought some wiffle balls and bats, frisbees, bouncy balls, and of course, some chiclee (gum) and dulces (candy).   Our big, burly, shy young men turned into soft, extroverted magnifiers of Christ's light.  We had a blast playing with the kids.  Here are the pictures:

Coach House throwing a football like a baseball player.

Who needs the Boston Garden.  A tree, a car wheel rim, and some flat ground.

Coach Haniger "the human carousel"

"You have some pretty cool pets. I have pets at home too.  A cat, a dog."  

All kids love bubbles!

"Bringing the cheese"

Some lovin

Let's praise and talk about our Savior.

Picture of the day.

                      The guys really loved spending time in the village on Monday morning.  They could not get enough of it.  We plan on feeding a village on Thursday afternoon and they are really looking forward to it.  Spending time in a sugarcane village (batey) really is a major change in perspective.  Dirt floors, no AC, no transportation, little amounts of food, limited water, etc...  On Monday afternoon, the game scheduled in the capital was postponed due to weather, but the guys did not care.  They were still buzzing over the time spent with the kids in the batey.  

                     Tuesday they played a doubleheader of baseball in the capital.  They told me that the best part of the games was the interaction with the other team.  Players from each team spent time in their opponents dugout in order to talk about baseball and life.  It was pretty cool to hear that the games were extremely competitive and the both teams won one game each.  The Gospel was presented after the game and the Dominicans accepted the gifts of Bibles with excitement and thanks.

                    Wednesday July's team from San Pedro came to the Highlands to play a game at 9:30am.  The game was postponed after 3 innings because of rain, but that did not matter.  The teams played soccer together in  the rain, fooseball, ping pong, four square, and then ate lunch together.  It was a special time between Dominicans and Americans.  The best part of the day came when July (pronouced Julie) spoke in front of both teams after lunch, and for the first time, openly gave his testimony.  His players were stunned (in a very exciting way).  I am very excited about July and his future as a Christian leader in his community.  July has committed to meet with me every week to read and discuss the Bible.  He always tells me,"I teach you spanish, you teach me Bible."  That's a deal!  later in the afternoon, the boys went to La casa de Luz, an orphanage for physically and mentally handicapped children.  There are not words to explain the experience they had with the kids in Casa de Luz.  Suffice it to say, we had a lot to discuss after dinner last night.  I am really enjoying my time with these young men.  They wear their hearts on their sleeves.  They ask good questions and are always honest.

                 Today may be a wash.  The tropical storm has brought us a lot of rain.  So far there have not been any bad wind gusts.  We should be pretty safe as long as we stay inside.  Thank you for your prayers on this storm.  Hopefully later today we will be able to feed the village of El Penon (the village that I brought the 3 college guys last week).  We would like to finish the week tomorrow with a ball game and some time at Boca Chica Beach.  There is no better place to learn about Dominican culture than at la playa de BC.

Tropical storm Emily from our front door.