|
|
|
International Testimonials
|
In May, 2009, while I was visiting in Santa Emilia, Nicaragua, one of the young people stood up during a meeting with the community leaders and asked quietly but strongly… “Could you bring some baseball equipment?” “What?” I replied, not sure that I had heard him right.
We had been talking about several major community projects that our organization, JustHope, and their community were engaged in together – a clean water project, a clinic project, a housing project – projects that affected the lives of everyone in this critically poor community. This unexpected request for baseball equipment seemed oddly out of place.
“Could you bring us some baseball equipment?” the young man continued. “We have two teams here in Santa Emilia and only a few pieces of old equipment – one ball and one bat and three old gloves.”“Yes, but they play as good as the Yankees!” a community member said smiling broadly. And suddenly the room was alive with conversation and laughter. Just the mention of the baseball teams had raised their spirits.
What I learned was that one of the teams is youth – young people who in the islolated cloud-forest community of coffee pickers, have little to entertain themselves. And the other team is adults – men and women; and the favorite activity of the entire community is the baseball games – even with one ball, one bat and three gloves. Baseball gives the young people a constructive activity and helps avoid delinquency; baseball gives the adults a sense of community and something to engage in that doesn’t require money and resources they don’t have. Baseball gives the whole community a sense of pride.
When I returned to Tulsa, I immediately called World Baseball Outreach and asked Jerry for enough equipment to outfit one of the teams. He generously gave me two full bags of equipment and another bag full of uniforms – enough to outfit BOTH teams in Santa Emilia!
I delivered the equipment in July. The entire community turned out to receive the equipment. The young men on the team couldn’t wait to try on the uniforms and test out the equipment. Even though it was dark, they put it all on and gave it a whirl. “We’ll be the champions for sure!” they kept saying!” so excited they could hardly contain themselves. I’m told that one young man slept in his uniform that night. “We never expected this,” the leaders kept repeating… “please tell your donors thank you form the bottom of our hearts!”
So, World Baseball Outreach – THANK YOU! Thank you for the equipment, thank you for the uniforms, thank you for the joy you’ve given to the people of Santa Emilia, Nicaragua!
|
 
|
|
Rev. Leslie Penrose, JustHope, www.justhope.org |
|
This is Joe Wengerd--the American boy from camp in the Dominican Republic.
I wanted to e-mail you for a few reasons. First, thank you so much for the baseball
equipment that you brought along to the Dominican for our campers. They loved having
that equipment for practice at activities and for games. Although the kids may not
have realized how truly fortunate they were to have such great equipment, I certainly
was aware of the monetary value of the equipment you donated. Our camp could not
dream of purchasing that much baseball equipment--the funds simply are not available.
Even more than the monetary worth of the equipment, be sure that the equipment has
eternal value as well. During the two terms of camp, many campers accepted
Christ into their lives for the first time. In addition, we witnessed significant
growth in the lives of almost every child. The second reason I wanted to contact
you was to create an avenue for future communication. I would love to be of service
to World Baseball Outreach in any way possible. I will be transparent and say that
WBO is a very exciting ministry to me because it combines my love of ministry with
my love of baseball. One of the lessons I learned while at camp was that many of
the children present did not understand the concept of rules, consequences, and
order both in sports and every other facet of their lives. Teaching the game of
baseball with all of its intricacies can provide children worldwide with important
life lessons. For example, sacrifice is integral to baseball. Everything from moving
a runner up to hitting a sacrifice fly helps to demonstrate the importance of putting
others before yourself for the greater good of the team. This is a lesson that many
of my campers struggled to comprehend, but I have faith that they will learn it
eventually. Stay strong in your ministry and keep in touch. Remember the essential
words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13- "And now these three remain: faith, hope,
and love. But the greatest of these is love." As you continue to put God first in
your life and in WBO, his love with show through and lead to changed lives for Christ.
|
|
|
|
Tulsa Area Testimonials
|
Jerry Jacobson and the World Baseball Outreach program have been a tremendous
and exciting gift to the boys of Tulsa Boys' Home. Jerry's passion and excitement
about baseball has sparked a new campus wide enthusiasm for one of America 's favorite
pastimes the likes I've never seen before. Not only does Jerry and the WBO volunteers
bring high caliber instruction with personalized coaching for boys with respect
to the skills related to the game of baseball, but they instill a newfound sense
of self-confidence and self-esteem that carry over into all other aspects of the
boys' lives. When Jerry and the guys come in and set up shop, you'd think you were
at the New York Yankees spring training camp! Truly an amazing and exciting initiative
that can have a significant and lasting impact for hundreds of boys here at Tulsa
Boys' Home. We plan to have WBO clinics and training camps for a long, long time.
Jerry and his WBO colleagues are awesome, positive role models for our boys. I'm
proud to have them involved in the mission of Tulsa Boys' Home.
|
|
|
Gregg Conway, Executive Director Tulsa Boys Home
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Tulsa Dream Center Baseball clinic conducted by World Baseball Outreach
was a huge success that touched many young lives. Approximately 53 boys and girls
between the ages of 5-14 attended the one day event that provided instruction of
baseball fundamentals and sportsmanship off and on the field. Many of the participants
never had an opportunity to play or participate in an organized baseball event,
so the clinic was an introductory lesson to the game of baseball. The basic skills
of baseball: catching, throwing, and hitting were explained in ways the children
understood and we're able to execute as many of them walked away from the various
skill stations with smiles on their faces.
One of the most profound moments of the day was when a family of four children accompanied
by their father was given baseball gloves and other equipment to take home. At the
beginning of the clinic the father asked if there was a possibility of getting gloves
for himself and children, in order for his children to continue to learn how baseball
is played. He mentioned that his financial situation had never allowed him to purchase
anything really extra for his family to enjoy. At the end of the clinic World Baseball
Outreach offered baseball gloves and equipment to anyone who wanted it. The facial
expression followed by the gratitude words of the father made the clinic all the
more purposeful.
The World Baseball Outreach program went beyond expectations in providing a first-class
baseball clinic to the Northern Tulsa community. A big thank you goes out to Jerry
and his volunteer team for a great event!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dean Heath, Assistant Director Tulsa Dream Center
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
