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  NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS REACH
ministering in the Dominican RepublicSPREADING HOPE TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (by Danny Spainhour) - On February 18, 2005 the Sports Reach team from North Carolina headed to the Dominican Republic.  While it was snowing and sleeting in North Carolina, the Sports Reach boys were ministering through softball in the balmy tropical breezes.
    Our first stop was to play the coaches and scouts of the Arizona Diamondbacks in Santo Domingo, D.R.
    The Diamondbacks have a complex and farm team which plays in a winter Dominican league with other MLB teams.  SportsReach introduced the coaches and scouts to some good ole fashion slow pitch softball.  (Most of the Dominicans play modified fast pitch softball.)
    The games were never really close in score (Sports Reach won both) but we were able to get close to the coaches and scouts.  We talked to them about Jesus Christ and reminded them of the influence they had on the players that were under them.
    In a place where so many dreams are never realized, the HOPE of Jesus Christ always remains.  Junior Noboa - the Head Dominican Scout for the Diamondbacks said that only a small percentage of players will ever make it out of the Dominican or into the Major Leagues.
    It's good to know that we will always have our relationship with Jesus Christ.
    Throughout the next week, our SportsReach team was able to help with the construction of Dr. Steve and Julie Dorsey's new home in El Catey - about 4 hours from the capital city of Santo Domingo.  With a few skilled laborers on our team - the rest with strong backs/weak minds - everyone found plenty of work to do.
    On Wednesday, we got back to more softball in and around the Sanchez/El Catey area.
    We would play one game the "Dominican" way (Modified) and one game the "American" way (Slow Pitch).  I'm happy to say we held our own in the modified games (won 2 out of 3) even though there were plenty of awkward swings as we swatted at "the heat."
    Once the slow pitch rolled around, some bombs were hit at the excitement of the other team and the fans in the crowd!
    If you ever want to draw a crowd in the Dominican, all you need to do is rattle a few bats and balls - the people will come!
    Before and during each game we were able to explain through interpreters the Hope and Message of the Gospel to the teams and spectators alike.  It was a great opportunity to witness for Christ using a game we all love.
    On Saturday, the day before we left, we hosted a slow-pitch tournament in El Catey with the teams we had played during the week.
    It gave us another chance to talk to the teams and spectators.  It also gave us another chance to introduce Dr. Steve and Julie Dorsey to everyone present.
    At every opportunity we had to share, we introduced the Dorsey's and their ministry, Del Corazon de Jesucristo.
    Del Corazon de Jesucristo literally means, "from the heart of Jesus Christ" in Spanish.  Steve and Julie intend to present the Gospel by using medical care, education, and loving the people in El Catey "from the heart of Jesus Christ."
    We purposely introduced everyone we came in contact with to - because long-term relationships and growth will come through the Dorsey's in the El Catey community.
    This was the second trip that the NC SportsReach was able to go to the Dominican Republic to minister through softball.
    The trip was a huge success - we finished the first floor of the Dorsey's house and played plenty of softball.  The goals of our trip were accomplished as we were able to use SPORTS to REACH people for Jesus Christ!