After lunch we had about an hour to rest, play cards, and make bracelets. We’re planning on handing out bracelets to kids at the handicap orphanage on Monday, so we’ve been making them all week.

We then endured Santo Domingo traffic and headed to O & M College once more to play a game. We ended up playing the same team we played yesterday, except they added a few older players. Honestly, we were beating them pretty bad in the first inning and had to ask ourselves: “What is our purpose here? How do we go about playing while being respectful, showing them how they can get better, and fulfilling the greater purpose we are here to make?” So, we again got to play in positions we normally don’t play in! I killed it in the outfield with Chelsea and Autumn while Hayley made a great middle infielder with Baylee and Molly made a great third baseman (I say all of those statements very lightly). We had fun while playing but also made sure the girls we were playing were having fun. Jacob, a guy that’s been traveling with us all week, made an observation that struck me pretty hard: if these girls weren’t playing us right now, they would probably be on the streets in much worse situations. We were the safest these girls were probably going to be all day. These areas are known for sex trafficking and a lot of the women on the streets get forced into prostitution. This changed everything for us. Instead of being frustrated that the competition wasn’t high, we were grateful that we were even on the field with these girls.

After the game, we gathered around the pitcher’s mound as Baylee, Chelsea, Cheyenne, and Molly told the other team why we are here. They had us all wipe our hands in the dirt, look down, and realize that while we were all dirty, all of our hands still looked different. They explained how Jesus washes our filth away and makes us new again. A look of hope came across the girls’ faces, and some even nodded in agreement. Coach Levin then commended them in their ability to never give up during the game. He encouraged them to be pioneers of the sport and to teach the generation after them. Before leaving, we gathered hand and hand in prayer and left them each with a jersey.

After dinner, we gathered for our nightly meeting where we talk about the day and do a devotional. We realized that the other team only had one bat the whole game and instantly became grateful for the crazy amount of expensive bats that we have. Coach read us Acts 9:19-25 where Saul couldn’t contain himself in the presence of Jesus. Then, Jacob read us Daniel 3 where the three amigos (Shadrach, Meshach, Abedengo) had unwavering faith in God’s providence. We were reminded that we serve a God who delivers, who is with us in the fire, and is constantly chasing us down.

Today was a tiring and exciting day! Catch us tomorrow after we play our last game!

Prayer: that God prepares our hearts for the orphanage we are going to tomorrow and that we remember our greater purpose during our game.