Bridging Cultures, Building Community & Creating a Lasting Foundation

Hosting people isn’t just something I do—it’s something I’ve always known.

Growing up, my home was never just for my family. My dad ran the Lighthouse Mission, overseeing a homeless shelter, and our doors were always open—to foster kids, travelers, and anyone who needed a safe place to land. Even now, my own home has been a space of welcome, having hosted over 50 people through the years.

Now, I have the opportunity to continue that mission by helping organize a Japanese exchange program—connecting students with host families and creating meaningful experiences. If you’re interested in learning more, consider hosting or sharing ideas! You can find more details here: NEWSLETTER LINK

A Role That’s More Than Just a Job

This isn’t just a project or a contract—it’s a chance to use my skills to build something special in my own community. It’s rare to find an opportunity where your passions, talents, and experience all come together in such a meaningful way.

And what’s made it even more incredible is being able to weave it into the baseball community that has been such a big part of my life.

Baseball, Culture & Community

Baseball has a way of bringing people together, and it’s exciting to see this program merge cultural exchange with the love of the game. While the Japanese students won’t be playing baseball as part of the program, the connections being built between sports, culture, and community are just as impactful.

But this program goes far beyond baseball itself. It’s not just about what happens on the field—it’s about the connections, culture, and shared experiences that happen off of it, too. I’ve been working to make this program even more enriching by connecting with organic farms, local agricultural programs, and other unique opportunities that will give students a hands-on way to experience both culture and community during their time here.

This program isn’t just about playing baseball—it’s about using baseball as a bridge to something much bigger. It’s about creating meaningful interactions, sharing traditions, and showing how culture, community, and connection all exist in the same space. 😊⚾🌍

Inspired by FirstSwing & A Christmas Gift to Myself

One of the things that inspired me to step up and take a leadership role was seeing the impact of Phil Rognier’s FirstSwing program, which I’ll be traveling to Vietnam with in April. FirstSwing uses baseball as a way to teach life skills and build bridges between cultures, and it really opened my eyes to what’s possible when sports and education come together.

When I came across this exchange program opportunity right around Christmastime, it felt like a gift to myself—a way to invest my time and energy into something truly meaningful.

A Year That Means Even More

This year is special for so many reasons.

💙 It’s my son Malachi’s senior year. If ever there was a year to pour my heart into something meaningful, it’s this one.

⚾ Malachi will be playing baseball for Everett Community College next year—which is one of the schools this exchange program will be touring. Seeing those two worlds overlap is such a cool and unexpected blessing.

🏟️ It’s also my last year as President of our High School Baseball Parent Boosters Club. This role has been a lot of work, but looking back, I’m grateful for every moment. It’s been worth it.

Building Something That Lasts—Literally!

As if all of this weren’t already enough of a blessing, I also get to bring in something entirely unexpected—Greener Concrete.

Japanese students engage in a hands-on activity, sculpting and experimenting with concrete in a classroom setting.

As part of the exchange program’s host project, the Japanese students will be creating a concrete piece using Greener Concrete, a sustainable material that I’ve had the privilege to work with. It’s incredible to think that beyond the friendships and memories, there will be a physical, lasting piece of this exchange—something that remains long after the students return home.

It feels like everything is coming together in ways I never could have planned, and I’m just grateful to be a part of it.

A Heart Full of Gratitude

I don’t take any of this for granted.

I know how rare it is to be given an opportunity where your work is meaningful, your passions align, and you get to see real impact in your community. This past year has been a whirlwind of opportunities, and I just feel so thankful to be in a place where I can help make things happen—while learning and growing alongside everyone else.

So as I step into the rest of this year, I just want to soak it all in, appreciate every moment, and continue finding ways to bring people together.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from a lifetime of hosting, it’s that the best things in life happen when you open your door—and your heart.

This picture was taken years ago when we hosted some sweet soccer coaches from the UK and we took them to a Japanese Steakhouse here