Golden Eagles have "Golden" Opportunity in Dominican Republic
Sept. 3, 2010
Cookeville, Tenn. - Humbling - a term that is often defined by the phrase "to make modest in mind."
It is also a term that most simply and directly describes the pre-season opportunity that the men's basketball team at Tennessee Tech University was privileged enough to experience.
For one week beginning Aug. 19, the men's team participated in a foreign goodwill tour sponsored by G.O. Ministries in the Dominican Republic. They competed against seven pro teams from around the country, gaining valuable experience on the floor as a team and knowledge of international basketball.
The team knew shortly after arriving that their trip to the DR was a far cry from a break from pre-season three-a-days, as they faced off against four opponents in 30 hours within the first two days of the trip. What they may not have known, however, was that the personal gains that they would return with would be far greater than the strides that they made on the courts of the Dominican Republic. They were presented with the most ideal situation imaginable - to use pre-season basketball as an avenue to reach out to and connect with members of a far less fortunate culture on the island of Hispaniola. What they quickly learned was that they were not only connecting with the people of the Dominican, but being treated to what can only be called a life-altering experience.
"Basketball is just a sport," said head coach Mike Sutton. "But the `people' portion of the trip was what was most important.
"You could tell that our players were humbled," he continued. "Anytime you go to a foreign country, you gather a new outlook on the reality of how blessed you are. Our guys truly came to realize how fortunate we all are."
G.O. Ministries, a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to the ministry of short-term missions, sponsors brief trips to numerous countries around the world with the goal of preparing participants to support the efforts of Christian leaders abroad.
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