Dominican Trip 2010

The students working on the trench.

This was the eleventh trip Freedom Christian School had taken to Juan Tomas, Dominican Republic. There were 20 students and 4 leaders that went on this trip. They departed at 4:00 a.m. on April 1, and arrived safely at their destination at 10:00 p.m. with all luggage and tubs in tow. They had made it through customs without delay and quicker than they had in the previous five trips down, according to Freedom alumnus, Beka Bole who has gone on this trip previously. It had been a long day.

The next morning, they toured the goat farm the missionaries depend on for a living. After the tour they started with their work assignments for the week. While they were there, they painted, dug holes, put up fencing, and leveled some ground for a laundry area, put up beams for swing sets. Keith's group worked on digging a 250 foot long trench, 2 feet deep through stone, clay, and rock. They mostly used pick axes and put in an inch pipe and put in an electrical line on top, cemented every ten feet so the piping could not be pulled out and then buried it all back up. It was very hard and hot work. This project was completed in six days.

Freedom kept the tradition of working hard on the projects given while there. The missionary and the director of Partners in Christ both agreed they were very encouraged with all the work that had been accomplished while they were there.

The team agreed that even when there is a language barrier, everyone can praise God and be so blessed. The Dominicans have so little but love the Lord. They all realized that we Americans have so much to be thankful for. The teens came back with a greater appreciation of what they have and not to take what we do have for granted.

They also had an opportunity to visit a Haitian village in the Dominican. They put on a 3-day Bible Club. One of the teens commented how you could see the sadness on the children's faces. They were awstruck when they saw the living conditions of the people there. They go to a place to pump water and carry it back to their homes. There is an 80% unemployment rate.

The final Saturday they were there, they visited a market and then were able to visit an all-inclusive resort. They spent the day relaxing by eating and swimming and just having fun before heading back to the US. It was a wonderful way to end the week!

Some of the things that Keith took away from this trip: How blessed he is. Sometimes people get so wrapped up with material things, we lose sight of what we do have. He has learned to be thankful in all circumstances. His prayer life has deepened. He has learned that he needs to depend on God in every situation he faces in his life. He also grew by having been put in a leadership role.

Keith is very grateful he was able to go on this trip.