We returned yesterday from Baribo District, Kampong Chhnang Province. I took Kayla and 15 boys to participate in the first annual Major League Baseball International Clinic in Cambodia. It was great meeting the guys from MLB International. We talked about plans to start a youth baseball league here in Phnom Penh. MLB donated some bats, baseballs, gloves, batting helmets, and catcher's gear for us to start a league. In between training clinic sessions, our kids enjoyed fishing, catching frogs and freshwater crabs, going on walks, and riding water buffaloes. All in all, there were about 100 kids gathered together for the clinic.
The man who is the "catalyst" behind the Cambodia Baseball is Joe Cook. Joe is a Cambodian/American who lives in Dothan, Alabama. He is a great guy and loves the Lord, loves his native land, and loves baseball. The event was attended by dignitaries and press alike. Representatives from the U.S. Embassy were in attendance as well as reporters and photographers from AP, European Press Agency, CTN TV, and the Cambodia Daily.
It was a fun trip and I really enjoyed it. It was one of those no electricity, no running water, no flush toilet experiences, but it was well worth it.
We look forward to working with Major League Baseball in the future. This will work quite well with our sports ministry. Having sports activities has been a real plus in opening doors to talk to youth about the Lord. They have a natural curiosity for things from the U.S. So if we do something special like this, lots of kids come out of everywhere. Pray for us as we give kids the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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