2011 Video Recap

Here is a quick recap of our time here so far.  Excited about returning the end of December and beginning a new exciting year!  Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.  This year we have a lot to be thankful for!!

FCA Dominican Baseball and Home School

Hey, listen to Andy Pettite share his love for Christ

God is good

This was absolutely a great way for Jodi and I to finish up our first 5 months in the DR before we go to Atlanta and Boston for a break.  Today started with me handing out 28 FCA baseball game jerseys to players and coaches from Ozoria Baseball Club in Boca Chica.  They earned the right to wear those shirts today.  For the 5 months I have been here in Boca Chica, I have seen these guys work really hard on the ball field and listen to their coaches every day.  Their coaches are believers in Jesus Christ and want them to go to heaven too.  It made me so happy to see HR 10 on their sleeves.  Holt is proud of them and is excited to have more people come to see him in heaven someday.

After passing out the game jerseys, we played a game against an American home school team from 7 states.  Those home school boys played well and showed our boys here in the DR how to get it done.  I was happy to see the passion and discipline from the "gringos."  Ha Ha Ha.  Before the game we read some scripture in english and spansish and prayed.  That was good.

After the game, we ate lunch together and shared testimonies.  A coach from the FCA Dominican team along with a Dominican player gave testimonies to the Americans and that was good.  Then, Danny Lovett, former VP of Liberty and Prez of Tennessee Temple, shared the Gospel and several young men made the decision to accept Christ into their heart.  That was good.

After the sharing, we played game 2.  Game 2 was a little different.  Home School had a 40 year old  ringer brought in named Andy Pettite.  You might have heard of him.  I think he has the most post season victories of any pitcher in the history of MLB.  Not too shabby.  The pitcher for FCA Boca Chica...almost 37 year old Mike Shaheen.  Mike Shaheen is only famous in his mother's eyes, Bette Shaheen.  

After Andy Pettite finished his 2nd inning, the game stopped as both teams went out to the mound to thank him.  (Two Dominicans got hits off of him and saved the balls)  Andy stood in front of all the young men and adults watching and told us this:

Quoting my friend from Atlanta, Billy Worthington: How cool is that?  The look on the faces of those Dominican and American baseball players was priceless.  We still have two more days of clinics (one at the Highlands here) with guys like Damaso Marte, Lou Pinella, Andy Pettite and Luke Murton (GT grad, Yankee).  I was a little bummed that all these Yankees are here, but let's face it, we are all on the same team that counts.

Oh, by the way, after two innings I almost collapsed (joking, not really).  I probably should have stopped after one bad inning.

I hope you heard God talking to you today.  Looking forward to seeing you in a week or so.

Luv you!

The Shaheens

A year later....remembering Holt Rowland

Hi there, this is Jodi.  Last year about this time we heard horrible news that a young man who we were in the Dominican Republic with the summer of 2010 had been in a car accident.  His name was Holt Rowland.  If you have our wrist bands, have seen the FCA baseball shirts or know our ministry you will see HR10 adorned with pride along with Holt's favorite verse, John 3:30.  The accident occurred on November 9th, and Holt lived on machines until the next day and his organs were donated.  His parents Dave and Kim, and his brother Hunter Rowland have become dear friends of ours even though we met only them for the 1st time right after Holt went to be with the Lord.  Their faith during such a trying time was a blessing for me to see.  Kim raising her hand in praise and singing after the loss she just experienced made me think, what do you have so that you can do that....and it is faith!

Once a fierce rival, Pierce County (where Holt #10 played baseball) and Wesleyan are now joined in the love of Christ and Holt.  During this anniversary time, the Rowlands and all of Pierce County Nation was heavy on my heart.  When I started thinking of what I could do for the family, I thought of making them a video.  What it turned out to be for me was a reminder of what really matters in life.  We will never know when we will take our last breath, but it is how prepared we are when that happens and how much love we have shown the world that is really important.  I only spent a few instances in the DR with Holt but the time I spent with those who love him and hearing the stories while watching a video of his memorial service, it is evident that Holt Rowland got it.  I pray for comfort for his family and friends, but I know their faith and that they know one day they will be with him again.  It brings them joy to see countless souls now walking in Christ due to hearing their sons story.  They even knew how much Holt loved the DR and how excited he was for our upcoming ministry and they wanted donations in Holt's memory last fall to go to our ministry.  Pierce County Nation is part of making our ministry happen here and we are thankful.  I hope you have time to watch the video, it may change your life, or share it in order that it might change someone else's.  We don't have Holt but we know that his story will inspire others to commit to walking Christ.

If you don't have time for the video, it is about 12 mins, then here are some visuals, I felt were good reminders to all of us:

This picture below was discovered after Holt's passing.  He had faith that his deer stand was in a great place although no one else believed him because no on had ever seen or shot a deer there before.  That picture is one of the two deer caught on the trail camera around 5 AM.

Holt, we miss you and we are blessed that your story is alive in the Dominican Republic.  

In His Grip,

Jodi

Haiti Video

Pulling Heaven Down in Haiti

Hi there, this is Jodi.  Mike is in Haiti, so I wanted to do a quick update and ask for your prayers.  If you remember back when we first got to the DR a man contacted Mike named Eliezer Lembert Caraballo and they became fast friends.  The story is back in July titled "It’s Clear Now Why We Are Here" if you didn't get to read it.  Saturday night Mike and I took the kids, along with our fellow missionary friends Craig & Joanna, to a Dominican Winter League baseball game in the Santo Domingo.  It was quite the experience!  There are 6 teams in the winter league and Mike has 2 ballparks crossed off the list!  We had a great time.  Eliezer met us there and spent the night and they drove back to Pedernales together the next day.  Craig McClure a SCORE Missionary went as well, along with Rawlings Foundation Missionary Eddy Jesus Gil and Intern with the Rawlings Foundation Will Thompson.  They suited up a baseball team with new uniforms, played soccer and American football with the kids.  Shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ using The Gloves for God baseball glove, and I am sure many more things I didn't get updated on from each of their facebook pages.  


Here is a map and a video of some of the pictures they posted to give you a little idea of what they are doing.  Pray for safety and their drive back to Boca Chica (about 5 hours I believe) and for there to be many seeds planted as it is God's will.  Thank you!!  More to come when Mike returns on Wednesday evening!  I am sure he will have many stories!!

Map of Dominican showing Pedernales

Gravity ~ Pulling Heaven Down in Haiti from Jodi Shaheen on Vimeo.

The Clinic

On October 15th, we hosted a baseball clinic for over 150 young boys from Boca Chica, San Pedro de Macoris and Juan Dolio.  Brian Doyle (78' Yankees World Series) and Anderson Feliz (Yankees top prospect) did an amazing job teaching the young men the fundamentals of baseball.  A lot of jovenes went home with new equipment, more baseball knowledge, and most importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 Before we started the clinic, we gave all the Juan Dolio kids a new glove, batting gloves, and a pair of cleats. This is my garage. Thank you Degooeys and Emerichs!  

 Members of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. They came over for the clinic and served.  They were truly the hands and feet of Christ.  They even took pictures of each Juan Dolio kid and made them a baseball card.

Anderson Feliz, Bill Rose and Brian Doyle did a great job with this clinic.  Brian (right) was extremely sick with the flu that day but persevered.  He even presented the Gospel to 150 young men that day.    

Anderson Feliz (the next Jeter) teaching the fundamentals of fielding.

Brian Doyle and I were both sick that day, so we shared the duties of teaching hitting.  I had a blast.  

The Johnson Ferry guys went around looking for kids that did not have cleats and provided a pair.

The Gospel was presented in a baseball way.  Brian took the kids to each base and used each base as a metaphor for the Gospel.  It was awesome.

6 Woes of a Leader

Earlier this week, my Spanish teacher Julio and I spent a little time studying Luke 11, verses 17-53.  After reading and discerning what Jesus was trying to convey to the Pharisees and His disciples, I could not help but see a great guide for leaders (coaches, teachers, pastors, parents, etc..).  In this passage, Jesus had clearly decided that it was time to expose the hypocritical ways of the Pharisees.  While doing so, it appears to me that we can use this passage for improvement in leadership.  Here are the 6 Woes of a leader:

1.       (Verses 39-41) Are we Gilded?  Do we spend most of our time trying to look good on the outside, while we neglect our soul.  I personally had a problem with this early on as a head coach.  It was easy to focus so much on how we present ourselves as a program, rather than focusing on the little things each day that develop character and love for each other.  Also, as a coach, we can easily deprive ourselves because we are always trying to fill everyone else’s love tank while our tank is becoming empty.  We cannot give what we do not have ourselves.  We may look good walking around campus, at our workplace or at home, but are we really empty inside.  The Pharisees looked really nice walking around in their robes, but as Jesus said, they were rotten inside.

2.       (Verse 42) Are we all about the game and winning?  I know that you will not only keep your job, but also get a lot of accolades if you win a lot of games, but is that what it is all about.  What is our purpose?  Is it to spread the Gospel and disciple young men/women? Is it to multiple the kingdom?   In my last few years as a head coach I started to really understand the influence of a coach.  In that influence, are we bringing people to heaven with us? Jesus told the Pharisees that they were all about the law and traditions, but had no care for their subordinates or colleagues.  Law or love? What’s our focus?

3.       (Verses 43,44) Are we always directing or are we serving?  Are we willing to do what we are telling our players to do?  Do we subscribe to the philosophy that “we already did our time as a student and now it is our time to tell people how to do it?”  If so, we are going to be a temporary director of information.  Jesus clearly told and showed us that a leader must “wash the feet” of those that he is leading.  Although absolutely contrary to our world today, it is the only way that will provide the results that a kingdom-minded leader would want.  The Pharisees were all about shaking hands and kissing babies, but Jesus told them that never held a hand out to help their fellow brother.

4.       (Verse 46)  Do we load others with burdens in order to lighten our load?  This is a trap that so many coaches fall into as their careers extend in to the double-digit years.  I always hear from coaches that “a good coach is a good delegator.”  Although to some extent that is true (we should not do everything and micromanage), it is very important that we are the first to work and the last one to leave.  It is important that we do not expect our assistants to carry the load of the menial jobs.  We really show our true colors in the amount and type of work that we do as leaders.  Jesus was disgusted with the fact that the Pharisees had no problem giving others too much to handle while they sat and watched.

5.       (Verses 47-51)  How much time do we spend recognizing the past?  Do we like to build, spend money and resources on our past accomplishments?  Do we spend most of our time talking about the great players or teams of the past?  Remember, we have young men women right in front of us now that have the potential to be the next great pastor, doctor, missionary, teacher, manager or coach?  Are we pouring into their souls each and every moment we have the opportunity?  Are we Martha or Mary?  Are we seizing the moment with our new flock or too busy recognizing our accomplishments?  Do we have a new slogan/scripture for the season on our warm-up shirt or are we wearing a shirt that has all the accomplishments of the past on it?  Build up souls, not monuments!  Jesus tells us that we will be held responsible, not for what monuments we can erect or trophies we can hold up, but who we loved and shared the Good News.  The Pharisees were all about the bling.

6.       (Verse 52)  Do we foster development in our assistants, captains, employees, etc..?  Do we include them in everything so that they can be a leader in the future? Or do we hide our secrets to success and experiences?  I have seen so many coaches, managers, parents, teachers and other leaders keep everything they have learned to themselves.  What a shame?  We have this fear inside that the person next to us or the person that will succeed us will be better.  True discipleship is giving everything you have to the person in front of you with the hope that they share the Good News with twice as many people as you did.  Share everything that worked well in your experience and also the stuff that did not work out.  How many of us would share our secrets with our opponents or competitors? If not, who are you really hurting?  You are hurting the people who could be better coached if you shared with their coach, boss, or parent.  What did Jesus do right after He scorned the Pharisees in these passages?  He warned and encouraged His disciples about the future. He coached them up as best He could so that when He was gone they would succeed in spreading the Good News. 

The world tells us that a leader is someone that directs others to do the dirty work so that they can continue to gain more and more power. The world tells us to work really hard early in life so that you can be a leader someday and cruise into retirement.  Jesus tells us differently.  In fact, he explains to us in John 13 that it is the total opposite.  We should look so different as Christian leaders that we stick out like a sore thumb. 

"Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory of God. Love means doing all we can, at whatever cost to ourselves, to help people be enthralled with the glory of God. When they are, they are satisfied and God is glorified. Therefore loving people and glorifying God are one."

-John Piper

First 3 Months Video Update

It is hard to believe we have been in the Dominican for 3 months!  Here is a 10 minute video update for y'all.  Thanks for all your support and prayers, we couldn't do it without you!

Happily walking in God's Will,

The Shaheen Family

Thank you God for this Long Weekend

How I was blessed this weekend:

Saturday: A new baseball team from Andres (Boca Chica) came to the Highlands in order to start a relationship with me and our organization.  I had just enough baseball clothing and cleats to fit them all up.  We did not have enough gloves, but that did not matter, the outfielders used the gloves while the infielders used wooden "softhands".  I had one of our facilities guys from the Highlands, Elvin, preach the Gospel and 4 young men from that group made a decision to accept Jesus into their heart.

I also picked up Bob Wiedemann from FCA in the afternoon and we spent some quality time together figuring out our short and long term plans in the Dominican.  I was also introduced to some friends of Bob that are looking to do ministry here in the DR with the possibility of partnering with FCA.

Sunday: Bob and I went to church in the capital (Grace was sick) to a church that I call the "North Point of the Dominican".  It was a great time worshiping the Lord for who He is.  After church, I took Bob shopping for food in the the capital.  That was an interesting experience.  Two clueless guys roaming a supermarket with a long list.  When we arrived at the house, the Patriots were on.  That evening we had a dinner meeting with another young man that is interested in coming to the DR with his wife in order to serve the community. It was interesting driving that night.  I found out what the Dominican is like on the last weekend of every month.  I was told by someone after the fact that pay day is the last Friday.  All I can tell you is that it looked like mardi gras everywhere.  It took us about an hour to drive 15 miles to get to dinner. Liquor stores turned into bars that spread all the way into the streets.  Driving was scary because there are no street lights.  I just prayed while driving that I would not hit anyone.  Thank you, God.

Monday: This was one of those days that comes along every so often.  A day like this is like a  perfect golf shot up the middle of the fairway during a tough round of golf.  It keeps you coming back for more.  I woke up praying for a day that would be significant to many people.  It was!  I picked up Bob Wiedemann at the hotel at 9am and we headed to Juan Dolio to meet up with some friends.  One of those friends, Cristian, is a 16 year old young man that Bob has developed a good relationship over the past few years on his mission trips.  Cristian is a believer, but does not have a lot of encouragement or support from others in his community.  Bob and I had the opportunity to sit down with him and talk about servant leadership.  We used John 13 and the washing of the disciples' feet by Jesus.  I read the verses in spanish, Bob explained, I translated, and it was wonderful.  Cristain has been helping me coach the 8-12 year olds from his community every Wednesday and Saturday.  He has been improving, but I felt like he really thought that leadership was "telling people what to do."  Through the way me and the other coaches do things, and now more importantly with the guidance of Jesus Christ, I believe Cristian "gets it."  What a wonderful moment!  Cristian agreed to follow us the rest of the day....and boy was that a great choice.  We did go by a colegio (private school) in Juan Dolio to visit Gabriela and Rachel (also friends of ours from past trips).  It was great to see them and talk about their futures in college.

In the afternoon, Bob, Cristian and I met up with Steve and Gonzalo.  Steve has a ministry in Kenya and is looking to possibly branch out into the Dominican.  He has a big heart and a passion to feed millions of people with food and more importantly with the word of God.  Gonzalo works in Steve's ministry using food as a means to evangelize, disciple and plant churches.  He just developed that kind of community in Monterrey, Mexico and is now living in the States as a coordinator.  He is a very talented man that has given his talents to the Lord in order to glorify Him.  We set out for the village La Brisa in San Pedro de Macoris in order to meet up with my friend Yuly Pozo.  Yuly (Julie) is one of the coaches that I am trying to pour into here in the Dominican.  He has a lot of influence (240 young men and 400 people) in the community and he turned his life over to Christ in July when Bob Wiedemann shared the Gospel with him.  Since then, Yuly has struggled a bit in the same way Cristian is struggling.  It is very hard to change when no one else is changing around you or even supporting your change.  We all sat down with Yuly for about 1 hour talking about Jesus and why we love him so much.  It was clear to us that Yuly has a tough time with forgiveness/grace.  He believes that he must do something to gain salvation.  He had always been told that he must do stuff in order to be "Holy."  Bob spoke, I read from the Spanish Bible and Gonzalo translated it all. We explained to Yuly that the battle has been won.  We told him that there is nothing that he can do.  It is done...finished!  Jesus paid the price.  We are now free to live with the Holy Spirit guiding our lives, not sin.  I cannot begin to tell you what those words did to Yuly.  He went from a man with slumped shoulders and watery eyes...to a man that looked like he was floating on air.  Praise the Lord.  God, you are amazing.

That's not all.  We capped off the day with a trip to the orphanage called Fundacion Ninas y Ninos de Cristo in La Romana.  Los Ninos de Cristo is an orphanage of about 100 girls and 10 boys.  Our FCA trips each summer spend a day here at the orphanage with the girls playing sports or just talking about life.  These girls are wonderful.  We spent 20 minutes talking with the leader (amazing woman) and another hour playing volleyball with the girls.  It is always hard to leave Los Ninos.  There were nothing but smiles and laughing the whole 45 minute ride home. It really does amazing things to your soul to meet those young girls.  It also makes you want to take them home with you and care for them...but that is a whole different story.  We finished the whole day by picking up my family at the house and going to Niccolo's Pizza in Boca Chica.  It is the best pizza ever.  Niccolo is an Italian (from Italy to the DR 10 years ago) that ships his dough, cheese and sauce to the DR from Italy.  We met Eddy Jesus and enjoyed talking about how amazing the day was together with each other.

I hit the ball around with these girls.  They laughed at me a little bit.  Volleyball is not "my thang."

All out, full court volleyball with the gang.  My team won. Not that that is important. 

Our cheering section.  It was a packed house at the Fundacion (aka: da Fundy).

In an amazing moment of the day, a Dominican mariachi band came up to our table at Niccolo's and started playing.  The fact that we had Gonzalo (Mexican) made it really providential.  Gonzalo grabbed one of the guitars and played a Christian praise and worship song and the mariachi band loved it.  Amazing!

Not trying to advertise beer, but we all agreed that this was one of the most amazing sights of the day.  As crazy as the picture looks, it does not do that billboard justice.  It looked like a monster sized cooler of El Presidente dropped from the heavens.  It is bigger than the Dallas Cowboys jumble-tron.