Campbellsville University tennis head coach Kyle Caven is putting ease to a gut feeling he's had since high school - serve on an international mission trip. Caven is in the Dominican Republic July 26-31 with SCORE International. He and other coaches from the United States will be coaching kids tennis and finding ways to share the Gospel each day.

"I've always had an interest in going to another place and seeing other cultures," Caven said. "I'm super excited just to experience it, share the Lord with the kids and learn a lot ... Especially about myself, I'm sure. I can't wait to see what happens."

Caven said he learned of the trip while attending the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Tennis Championships this past May in Mobile, Ala. There, he learned of SCORE International, a ministry designed to expose people to short term missions. Doing so through sports is just one way SCORE brings mission-minded Christians together. Though sport, trips usually are for baseball/softball, soccer, basketball and volleyball . Tennis is a fairly new mission tool in the Dominican, which helped attract Caven to the trip.

"I get to use the gifts that I have through the game," Caven said. "We have the opportunity to speak if we want to or they have missionaries who can take care of that. We have opportunities as well to hang out with kids and build a relationship with them."

Caven said many of his players were interested in going on the trip but unable to do so with only two months notice.

"If this works out good, I'd be willing to bring a team back," Caven said.

Caven will provide daily updates from the Dominican Republic on CampbellsvilleTigers.com.

DOMINICAN DIARY