Tennis season started off right with trip to DR
by Jim Sawin, sports information intern
CEDARVILLE, Ohio - A number of athletic teams at Cedarville University head south during spring break in order to compete in some favorable weather conditions. Baseball and softball head to Florida, golf to Georgia, and track and field to Tennessee. While all of the above teams travel south for competition, the women's tennis team went against the norm by taking a trip to the Dominican Republic without their tennis racquets.
The team had the opportunity to work with SCORE International, an athletic ministry, where they could serve others and practice their game, but the women chose HOPE International instead.
Why would a tennis team in the middle of their spring season choose a ministry that didn't allow them to practice? The most important thing to the team was interacting with children so they could impact their lives. With HOPE International, the women would have the opportunity to work with the same children every day. SCORE International could not offer the same type of contact, so the ladies took a step of faith and headed to the Dominican without their racquets.
"We knew that it was going to be a sacrifice to give up this time of practice," said No. 1 player Alisa Rutt. "But we also knew that the benefit was there and that God would bless our efforts as we came back for our season."
Five coaches and all 12 members of the women's tennis team arrived in Santo Domingo, DR with the understanding that they would be teaching English to children at language camps. When they met with Pastor Daniel King in the DR, however, he asked them to take on a couple other responsibilities.
"Originally we were told we would only be teaching English to the kids," said associate coach Pam Johnson. "But when we got there, Pastor Daniel expected us to do everything. The girls were excited about the new duties because they were prepared to tell Bible stories and loved to play games."
The team took advantage of these new responsibilities and was able to share their faith with a number of children and teens during the camp sessions. Senior Laura McCully reflects on God's hand in the Dominican: "My favorite memory of the trip to the DR was one of the Bible classes we taught. It was neat as the week went on to see our class size double and almost triple in just four days. On Wednesday afternoon, I had the opportunity to share my testimony with the group and apply it to our lesson which was about Christ's unconditional love for each of us. They asked all sorts of questions...it was another opportunity to share our faith and relate to them on a personal basis."
As the members of the team were impacting the lives of many in the Dominican, they were also developing bonds with their teammates - bonds which began in the fall when the girls started meeting together once a week for a team Bible study. This team connection contributed to the women's ability to work together in the Dominican even though it didn't involve tennis.
"This was a great trip for our team to take prior to our season because we really got to know the freshman," said junior player Olivia Dolph. "Usually we don't really know them until the end of the year. Our team came together in a way I never expected and really allowed God's love to shine through us."
"Everyone saw everyone else on the team in a different way starting in the fall and especially on the trip," said Johnson. "It's a coach's dream to have your players appreciate each other off-the-court and I believe we'll see that bond displayed in our tennis matches."
God has blessed the team's willingness to reach the people in the Dominican. Although the team didn't practice at all on the trip, they won their first eight matches of the season. This is yet another example of God bestowing blessings upon His children for putting Him first in their lives.
Alisa puts it best saying, "Although we went to the Dominican to share the blessings that we have, I feel as though we have each been blessed and have learned so much through this experience."
