If you’ve followed me for long, you know my intense love for the Dominican Republic.
From the moment my feet hit the ground in 1997, the Dominican Republic felt like home. The warmth, the faith, the smiles, it was like stepping into God’s embrace.
David has managed three of the Dominican Winter Ball teams, so baseball brought us to the country, but the people won our hearts.
I’ve had the privilege of returning to help with Compassion International’s trips with professional baseball players and wives, to experience the incredible work they do with local churches there. I’ve been a Compassion speaker since 2018.
A short plug for Compassion if you don’t know about them. Compassion International works to end child poverty by connecting vulnerable children with local churches that care for them by fighting malnutrition, delivering medical care, and sharing the hope of the gospel, which changes everything.
As a child sponsorship organization, we work to meet the needs of children living in poverty so they can thrive, mind, body, and soul. If you are interested in delivering hope through child sponsorship, donating to a cause or giving a gift, I will put a link in the show notes.
In 2024, my book Baseball Family: The 9 Core Qualities for Developing Healthy Relationships was released and translated into Spanish. David and I wanted to donate books to the country’s Compassion office so each church would have a copy.
I traveled to the DR with three full suitcases of books and a backpack with my things. While there I was asked to speak at a pastor’s conference.
One of the pastors at the conference heard me share my other books and when she heard Distraction Detox she was intrigued.
She asked the Compassion staff if that book was translated into Spanish and unfortunately it was not. Then she asked if I could speak to a group of women at her church about the topic of that book. They introduced us and promised to get me her contact information.
Months went by without hearing anything.
A few months after being in the DR I prayed the Lord would open up my speaking this year to take me places I didn’t know needed the message. I was thinking US, He was not.
In March, I received a WhatsApp connecting me with Pastora Keren. The beginning of an answer to a prayer I didn’t even know was possible.
In April I traveled back to the DR to speak to seven different groups.
I had the privilege of sharing about one of my favorite topics: freedom from emotional toxins and the transforming love of Jesus. Watching women’s eyes light up as truth and freedom took root in their hearts… I can’t even describe it.
God orchestrated every step. From conversations with women who felt stuck in fear or shame, to moments of laughter and tears as they realized Jesus came to set them free, not just spiritually, but emotionally, too.
If I could tell you every story of transformation, we’d be here for hours. But here’s what I want you to hear today: Freedom from Emotional Toxins has no Borders
You can listen to the extended podcast here: Freedom from Emotional Toxins Has No Borders.
What began with a book, Baseball Family, translated into Spanish and donated to Compassion International, sparked a divine ripple effect. That led to speaking with pastors, connecting with the amazing Pastora Keren, and meeting Megan, who translated with such grace and love.
You don’t have to be trapped by emotional toxins. The same God who moved so powerfully in those conference rooms in the DR wants to move in your heart, your home, your story.
Freedom isn’t just for a few; it’s for YOU.
