The SWU Men's basketball team took a mission to the Dominican Republic. The trip was the vision of head coach Charles Wimphrie. Assistant Coach Charles Holland and 10 players made the trip and had plenty of eye-opening experiences.

There were many adjustments to be made in the visit to a Third World country including water and sewer restrictions. Daily treks to Sugarcane Villages and Orphanages gave an amazing insight to true happiness. The children of the villages greeted the group with open arms and wanted only our love and affection. They were overjoyed to have people play with them and give them quality time. We were able to share the gospel through an interpreter and several children gave their lives to God.

There was also an opportunity to play 5 basketball games. We left the states with the understanding we were going to play college level teams. We discovered that each team had one or two professional players. We played in gyms where having a scoreboard was a luxury and air conditioning was out of the question. There was even one game in which the score was kept on a flipchart and the time was kept on a cell phone! SWU was fortunate to win four of the five games. The team usually held a clinic prior to the games for about 100 kids. One of the most rewarding experiences was when a pro player gave a SWU player an autographed jersey and a young kid gave another player a silver necklace with a Cross when most people did not even have food every day!

Assistant Coach Charles "Skeet" Holland felt the trip opened the eyes of the players and allowed the team to bond. " I have never felt so much love at each turn for mankind and God which helped remind us that the world is never just about us but about sharing through the love of God."

Head Coach Charles Wimphrie said, "God opened my eyes to many things while in the Dominican Republic. I was able to see the harsh conditions of a third world country through God's eyes. I am thankful that God chose me to lead such a life-changing experience for my team. I look forward to another mission trip in the near future."

Please visit swuatheletics.com and read the daily blog for more information on the trip.