“With this being my first time in the Dominican, I haven’t had the chance to experience all that it has to offer yet, but in these 5 days I’ve seen how friendly and welcoming everyone is. Visiting the boys and girls orphanages was an eye opening experience for me. Seeing the kid’s joy when they played games and other activities was awesome. It showed me that there is more to life than the situation you’re in, and you can decide how your mood will be by your actions, not the circumstances your in. Playing basketball and soccer with the boys was a highlight of my visit. To socialize and connect with them it showed me how alike we really are. Through all the games and jokes you could really tell they’re a family and seeing how outgoing and cooperative they are warms your heart. Before the visit, I thought we were going to be making a difference in their lives, which is undoubtedly true, but they have had a bigger impact on me and how I see things. When just the simple act of playing ball or telling jokes makes that much of a difference in our lives it shows you how God is working. Playing against local teams and connecting through baseball is what God has sent us here to do. It’s an amazing experience to be able to trade jokes, take pictures with them after the games, and share the good news.”
Henry Malarski
Pitcher
Oakton College
