School: Kingsmen Baseball Academy
Position: Catcher
1st Year Kingsmen Player
“This is my second time coming to the Dominican Republic with Kingsmen. My first was with the academy, and this time it’s with the collegiate team. Both trips have been such an eye-opening experience, and I’m so thankful the Lord has given me the opportunity to see how He’s working here through Kingsmen Baseball.
Today we went to the boys’ orphanage and got to spend some time with them. We started by playing soccer, and one thing that really stood out to me was how competitive they were and how much fun they were having. We were all wearing running shoes, while almost all of them were barefoot, and they still beat us pretty good. It was a humbling experience. Spending time with those boys and getting to talk with them really put things into perspective. It reminded me of how much I take for granted, and it challenged me to have the same joy and gratitude they have, even though they have so much less.
After that, we visited a church in El Peñon that Coach visits every trip. Pastor Máximo was so excited to see us and welcomed us like we were family. The last time I was here with the academy, he was just starting to build a pavilion, and there wasn’t much to see. Coming back today and seeing it almost completely finished was really special. One of the coolest parts was seeing a Kingsmen Baseball poster hanging at the front entrance.
The people in that village don’t have much, but Pastor Máximo still welcomed us with open arms and served us more food and drinks than we could ask for. We all sat together and ate in that new pavilion, and seeing how happy he was to have everyone there was something I’ll never forget. It felt like the building was already doing exactly what God intended it to do, bringing people together. It was such a cool reminder that the Lord is always at work, even in places the world might overlook.
We wrapped up the day with an awesome chapel message from Lincoln that really tied everything together.
Days like today remind me that God is moving everywhere, and it’s easy to miss if we’re not paying attention. I’m so grateful to be here with this group of guys, to build relationships with people here, and most of all, to see the Lord working in so many lives. It’s a privilege to be a small part of what He’s doing here in the Dominican Republic, and I’m excited to see what He has in store for the rest of this trip.”
