On March 1, my Global Outreach team of 12 students and one nursing professor headed to the Dominican Republic. This team was unique because six out of the 12 students were a part of the same trip in 2023, including me. We stayed in Juan Dolio, which is located on the southern coast of the DR. While we were there, we partnered with missionaries who live in the rural sugarcane villages and set up both medical and dental clinics to provide care to those who live there. We also had a construction team that built a new shed for one of the missionaries.
A Typical Ministry Day
Each day of our trip was full! Each morning, a group would head down to the beach to watch the sunrise before breakfast, then head back to the SCORE (Sharing Christ Our Redeemer Everywhere) International complex, eat, and load up supplies for the clinics. We would drive an hour to get to each village, unload the cargo truck, and begin seeing patients. Patients were able to get either medical or dental care along with eyeglasses, acupuncture, and pharmaceutical needs. It was amazing to work with a team of nurses, pharmacists, and doctors who all had the same mindset to make Christ known through the gift of healthcare.
Usually, we would work until 4 p.m., pack up, and drive back to the complex, where we would have nightly devotions and debrief about the day. I think this time brought the group closer together because we shared about the conversations we had and the needs of the people we were able to meet.
The Impact the Dominican Republic Had on Me
Oftentimes when returning to a familiar place, there are expectations of what the trip might look like. I struggled with this and prayed continually that the Lord would not allow me to have expectations from the previous year when I went to the DR, but instead, allow me to hold my hands open to His plan. The Lord is so good and gave me peace and a posture of surrender.
I came to Cedarville to study nursing with the plan to do long-term missions after graduation. Cedarville has blessed me with many different opportunities to serve in this season of preparing for full-time missions. This trip specifically showed me what doing ministry and working in the medical field can look like.
One of my favorite opportunities on this trip was when I had a patient come into the clinic due to chronic pain. She was scared of the treatment, and I was able to speak a small bit in Spanish to determine the cause. I asked if we could pray for her, and she was so excited. What stuck out to me the most was that we were two different people from two different cultures but worshiping the same God together. This is what ministry looks like.
The Lord’s hand was so evident in every aspect of this trip. Something that I learned day after day was my own weakness and insufficiency but the greatness of God. My favorite verse that I think about daily is 2 Corinthians 12:9, which says, “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness, therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” This verse reflects the dependency we must have on the Lord, especially on the mission field.
I am so thankful for the work that God is doing through the people in the Dominican Republic and the opportunity to be a small part of it. I would encourage you to be willing to say yes to where the Lord calls. It is a gift to be able to learn from and love those all over the world.
Year: Junior
Major: Nursing
Tags: #fieldexperience, #globaloutreach
Posted in: Global Outreach, Student Life