Day 5 of the tennis and baseball camp kicked off with setting up the baseball field. Thanks to all hands on deck from our volunteers, we successfully set the bases, split the teams, distributed jerseys, coordinated batting and fielding lineups, and stood at home plate for the Dominican Republic national anthem. The 6-to-9-year-olds were incredibly excited to finally play a real game and put their new skills to the test. A second game for the 10-to-16-year-old boys followed later in the...

One of the anticipated challenges of serving at a sports camp for children in the Dominican Republic, is the language barrier. My Spanish is very limited, and there are moments when I wish I could communicate more clearly, tell a joke, explain a lesson, or encourage a child with exactly the right words. Yet this experience is teaching that building relationships is not dependent on perfect communication. In many ways, what we do speaks louder than what we say. When words don’t make sense...

On Day 3 of Sports Camp, coaches recognized the program has become much more than a place to learn skills and play games. In an impoverished nation such as the D.R., where opportunities and resources are limited, it can become a source of hope, encouragement, and inspiration for young people. Although the majority of our coaches do not speak Spanish, we have remembered that a smile is recognized internationally. Coaches often arrive focused on teaching fundamentals, teamwork, and discipline,...