Project Mañana's First Annual Baseball Camp

When you think of the Dominican Republic, one of the first things that comes to mind is...BASEBALL! In fact, there are more young men and boys playing baseball than enrolled in school or working.

It's no surprise that many of the children enrolled in Project Mañana's sponsorship program are also huge baseball fans. That said, we are so excited to be hosting Baseball Camp this week for 27 of these children.

The community of San Pablo, Dominican Republic has been filled with energy by the children and their families as they attend practice with trainers in the mornings and play games in the afternoons. And, as an added blessing, each participant will receive a brand new bat and baseball at the end of the camp.

The purpose of this Baseball Camp is to connect with young men through something that is familiar; allowing the gospel of Jesus Christ to be shared. Through the team dynamics, trainers, and their peers, a perfect discipleship environment is created where devotionals and spiritual encouragement take place throughout the day.

Thanks to our sponsors, partners, and a very generous donation by Louisville Slugger, Project Mañana is honored to be able to host this special Baseball Camp.

If you would like to support activities like these, please make a tax-deductible donation.

Campers warming up for baseball practice

Baseball coach, Johan, giving a bible devotional to the campers

Cincinnati Christian School team

Project Mañana was delighted to host a team of 22 missionaries from Center Pointe Christian Church and various other churches around Cincinnati, Ohio at the beginning of the summer.

As one of Project Mañana’s very first mission teams back in 2012 (led by Denny Board, Project Mañana board member, and his wife Julie), this team has created several special and long-lasting relationships as many of the team members have returned year-after-year. One of the team members returned for the 5th time this year!

During their 8-day mission trip, they joined hands with Project Mañana’s in-country team in order to continue the work in the community of San Pablo -- painting the first concrete block school building at Project Mañana’s private school, distributing clean water filters, deepening their relationships with the children and the community as a whole, and strengthening Project Mañana’s community outreach efforts.

Thanks to this team, we can report these advancements:

• The 2-story school building was primed for its final paint job
• The temporary elementary school building was beautifully painted
• 22 families received clean water filtration systems
• 5 sponsors were able to meet their sponsored children and form bonds
• 150+ children attended two outreach activities with bible stories, songs, and arts/crafts
• 215 nutritious meals were served each day to the impoverished children

The team building bunk beds for the Guest House	Joy Ecker, Trey Weinberger, Warren Mills, and Faith Bogard
Antoinette Beerman paints the new school building	The team sang and played games with the children

William Gomez teaching at the National Penitentiary School

In our last newsletter, we were honored to announce that Project Mañana’s Institute for Authentic Manhood™ had received official approval and recognition from officials at the highest levels of the Dominican government -- the impact of which, has been very significant.

In June 2016, the Institute for Authentic Manhood™ began teaching its courses at the National Penitentiary School (ENAP), a facility in charge of training all the future prison guards for the nation. There are currently 200 men enrolled in our courses.

Moreover, the National Penitentiary Director, Dr. Ysmael Paniagua, has mandated that every prison guard (male and female) already working at a prison enroll in the Institute for Authentic Manhood™. These developments mean life change not only for the inmates who are already completing these courses inside the prisons, but also for the guards who supervise them.

The very first inmate receiving an inTouch audio device

Project Mañana's Institute for Authentic Manhood™ recently received recognition in a newspaper article by the Signal Newspaper in Santa Clarita, California; as they reported on how our partner, Awana Lifeline, has worked closely with Project Mañana to launch their programs (Malachi Dads & Hannah's Gift) in the prisons of the Dominican Republic.

Click here to enlarge the article

Thanks to Project Mañana's partner, Because International (creators of The Shoe That Grows), 100 impoverished children in the Dominican Republic received a brand new pair of shoes.