The Shorter Hawk Baseball Team went on a mission trip during winter break this year. They traveled to Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and stayed in Ichmul.

The team was able to share the gospel through the platform of baseball. They ministered to the Mayan community by hosting baseball clinics and repairing fields. 

We interviewed a couple of those baseball players and will share their stories throughout the day. 

First, we would like to share the story of junior catcher, Nathaniel Butterworth:
 

What was your favorite moment of the mission trip?

At the beginning of the baseball camp, we had just set up our speaker and the music was playing. This was a humbling moment for me because we were about to start the camp and we were all praying for the people who would come. I could feel it in the air that God was about to do something big.

What kind of work did the team do on the mission trip?    

We ran baseball clinics, taught basic baseball skills, and exposed the people of that area to the game of baseball. Our goal was to inspire the people there to follow God because of the joy we spread. We used baseball to teach the gospel to people who have never heard it because that was something familiar to them.

What was some of the challenges of this trip and how did you and your team manage to overcome those obstacles?

The biggest obstacle was the language barrier, we could not communicate as well as we would like to. People of that area were hesitant to associate with us because of us being Americans, they had an idea in their head of how we would act that did not match the work we were trying to do. The language barrier was overcome by the Spanish speaking players on our team, it was not as efficient as we would like, but we had some form of communication. We also started our day with a quiet time and that helped the day not seem as long. Spending time with God at the start of the day was the number one thing that helped us stay encouraged.

What surprised you about the culture? Or what was something new that you were not used to seeing?

The poverty was shocking, they actually live in tiki huts and they are not connected to the rest of the world with our news and social media. There were also a lot of stray animals around.

How did this experience impact your view of the world?

It changed my whole perspective of how blessed I am with the opportunities I have been given and still get today. I can be used by God to accomplish His work.

How did this experience strengthen your relationship with God?

I was baptized for the first time on the mission trip. I was really good at being a Christian by myself, but not as much publicly. I need to be more vocal through word in actions about my faith. The trip impacted me in a huge way and has really changed the way I live back at home.

What is God teaching you now that you are back home?

I have learned that missions can also be done locally without taking a trip. That is something I can play a part in everyday back home.

Is there a passage of scripture or a verse that reminds you of this experience?

John 3:17, Christians forget about that verse sometimes but it is right after one of the most important verses in the Bible (John 3:16). Outsiders think of Christianity of all of the things we can't do instead of what we can do. They think it is a religion of rules and judgement. We are not put on this earth to judge or condemn. We are put here to show each other community and love, and not to judge what someone else may be going through.