Day 4

 DR Blog – March 16, 2026

Today has truly been a day of seeing and experiencing God’s hand at work in each of the ministry areas that we do while in the D.R. Today we were able to serve in all the three areas of VBS, a medical clinic, and home water filtration systems in the municipality of Guaymate, about 30 minutes away from Casa Pastoral, the mission house where we stay each year.

However, due to coming in on Friday, right before the weekend, our supply of water buckets and bottles for the water filtration system had not been purchased so we were not able to distribute these on Saturday. We only had 10 of the five gallon buckets and needed the five gallon blue water bottles, which receive the filtered water, to complete each system (along with the Sawyer water filters we had brought from home). After inquiring if the water bottles were perhaps being stored in another area at the mission house, not only were the 10 water bottles found to complete what we had, but an additional 17 buckets and bottles were also found! This was a great answer to prayer as we usually are able to distribute around 25 in each community each day where we are serving. And, when we arrived back at Casa Pastoral this afternoon, 73 more buckets and bottles had been purchased, and will be able to be distributed over the next two days. God always provides. And before even starting with the first group today, God affirmed this valuable ministry when a lady from a nearby batay, where we had served last year, came to ask for a water system as she had not received one. She correctly informed us how the system works because she has seen her neighbors using them. What an answer to prayer to know that this system continues to provide clean water and better health for families in this batay. God is good.

VBS was held under the shade of a tree by the church that was being used for the medical clinic. The Bible story shared with about 50 children today was about God’s creation and that they are made in His image and are greatly loved by Him. The children are grouped on tablecloths to do a craft related to the story and one little boy shared with me smiling that he wasn’t wearing a hat, but a crown on his head! He was so proud. God uniquely made each one, and they showed that in their creativity. They loved completing the craft that so many of you helped to prepare. After the VBS time, the teen girls were gathered together to receive their hygiene kits sewn by some of you at Trinity and to be reminded that God loves them and has a plan for their lives. During this time today, one of the girls shared through the interpreter that she had decided to return to God. A prayer was prayed with her, and we are praising God in how He used this presentation today.

The medical clinic served 98 patients today with the help of our interpreters and doctors and a dentist. It is always amazing to see God working to help meet the medical needs of the people of the community and today was no exception. Through each station of the process, from intake until prescriptions were filled, God used the doctors, the interpreters, and at some point in the day, every member of our team to serve each person individually. Their needs were heard, their medications were prescribed and filled, then fully communicated in either Spanish or Creole by our interpreters. God hears our needs and equips those He calls to serve. 

It has truly been a privilege to participate and watch God working in each of these ministries today and through each person that He placed in this moment to serve. This includes each one of you who have prepared supplies or made donations to support God’s work here in the Dominican Republic. Thank you Trinity!

~ Renee

Day 3 - Greetings from Tammy Owens

Today has been glorious. We started with worship at Maranatha Baptist Church. We were blessed to be part of the Women’s Sunday. Female youth and adults led worship. The singers and speakers were inspiring, even though most of us do not speak Spanish! Glenn and Pete brought words of welcome from Trinity (Glenn provided a brief message and Pete translated.). The church members received us with open arms and even shared their children with us during the service!

In the afternoon we headed to the beach, a pool, and a private home for dinner. Our missions host invited us to this beautiful area where we had plenty of room to roam and experience the scenery.

Sunday has been a marvelous day of worship and rest. Tomorrow we return to the batayes for VBS, clinics, and clean water filter distributions. 

Blessings to all of you back home who have supported and prayed for the Dominican Republic missions trip.

Day 2

Flexible, flexible, flexible.  That has long been Glenn's message for us on any mission trip and this one is not different.  We got up this morning to an uncharacteristically pleasant temperature and enjoyed a good breakfast together.  We thought that we knew what our plan for the day looked like but it just didn't start out that way.  Not that anything bad happened, we just weren't able to get started on our tasks as we expected.  We spent some time resting, making alternate plans, and shopping lists.  During this time I was reminded by something that Glenn said about the importance of presence.  Frequently in the old testament someone is said to have "pitched his tent" somewhere or near someone else.  The intent seems to be to indicate the intent to commune with someone and stay awhile.  Presence.  While we aren't here very long, I think one of the main things we bring to the people here is simply our presence.  It's hard to measure or define the impact but I believe it is a very real and powerful way to share God's love with others.  After we had lunch, we went to the local supermarket, Jumbo, and got some supplies.  This put us back at Casa Pastoral well after 1:00 so we had doubts about going out again after that.  When we did get back we learned that part of our group was in fact going to go to one of the batayes to share bible lessons with the kids there.  The children were all very well behaved, focused, and engaged in a positive way in the songs, bible lesson, and related crafts.  It was interesting to watch as some of the older kids took on "assistant teacher" roles and helped the younger kids do the crafts.  This was the first time we could recall doing only VBS in a community without at the same time doing medical clinics, water filters or construction.  The overall dynamic was a bit different and the community seemed genuinely touched by our presence.  After the bible lesson and craft time, the children were given some medications and vitamins and then the older girls were given their hygeine kits that many in Trinity helped make.  While this was all happening, a smaller group stayed behind at Casa Pastoral to begin making preparations for the medical clinics starting Monday.  David, Pete, Jessica, Mike, and Julie worked on organizing the medicines that we have which meant sorting, counting, and bagging large quantities of pills and vitamins.  When the others returned from the batay we had a wonderful dinner followed by a devotional led by Renee.  She talked about how the book of Nehemiah describes how it was by the "gracious hand of God" that the wall was rebuilt in 52 days following exile.  She discussed the extensive planning, preparations and details needed to make this happen and compared that to the extensive planning, preparations and details needed to make this mission trip happen.  Particularly by Glenn and Teresa and the leaders of our subteams like Beth for VBS, Keith for water, and Julie for medical.  She closed by reading Ephesians 4:11-13 and discussing how the many roles different christians play work together to build up the body of Christ.  This is definitely happening when all of Trinity goes on mission.  Keep it up Trinity!

We have arrived

We have arrived! Travel has its share of challenges nowadays and can be very tiring, at least for us older folk in the group. But we arrived in the Dominican Republic without any problems. Of course it helps to be traveling with such a cooperative and positive group. Many thanks go to Teresa and Glen for all the planning they do for our mission trip. It really pays off when they start shepherding our crowd through three airports and a bus ride. 

It is great to see the familiar faces here at Casa Pastoral. The staff does such a great job providing for us. Their Christian hospitality is exemplary and inspiring.

We are looking forward to a good night of rest and a meaningful and productive week ahead, especially as you remember us in prayer each day.

- David

The last day

On Thursday, our last day in the DR, we had the opportunity to visit the church and school that Trinity helped build over several years in La Lechosa before heading to the airport. This was a very special treat for the team.  Several of the member poured blood, sweat, and tears into constructing the church and school in previous years.  At times, it felt like there would never be kids at the school.  But, this visit showed why we do these trips.  Over 500 children are now going to school and receiving an education thanks, in part, to Trinity mission trips.

It was the kids last day of school, so they were having class parties.  We were welcomed to the school with a special dance performance and then had some time to visit classrooms and talk with the school administrators. Words cannot adequately describe seeing the school in operation.

We also had some time to visit with Pastor Ramon at the church. It was a perfect ending to a very good trip.

Safely home

Thank you for your prayers and support.  The team just landed in Huntsville.  Our last morning in the DR was very special.  I will post more about it tomorrow,  but now is the time for us to get some rest.

Our final work day

Today was our last work day in the DR and was filled with a strong mix of emotions.  I’ll say more about that in a few minutes but let me begin with the basics of what we did.  The day started as usual with breakfast and then loading of the bus.  We always mention the loading without much detail but it does involve quite a lot of logistics as well as hefting and toting.  Lots of containers of medicine, suitcases full of VBS supplies, water filtration systems, and 20 to 30 thirty pound boxes of food supplements.  After a bit of a ride on an old school bus we arrived at Batay 20.  We then had to unload all of the same stuff.  Lots of hefting and toting again.  The medical team set up shop in one small schoolhouse, the VBS team set up in another small schoolhouse, and the water team prepared to walk around the batay and provide filtration systems along with the necessary training.  The medical team provided much needed medication to 75 people.  The water team provided 39 water filtration systems.  The VBS team shared the love of Christ with a good number of children with a variety of crafts and activities.  Each of the teams always shares the love of Christ with the people they encounter whether doing medical, water, or VBS.  One thing that was unique today for the water team was that the team visited this same batay last year.  This provided a great opportunity for them to assess the effectiveness of the distribution method and training.   After we returned to the Casa Pastoral we took a few moments to acknowledge the local team of interpreters, cooks, and medical professionals that we are helping to do all of the ministries that we undertake.  I mentioned earlier the mixed emotions.  One side of this is knowing that we will be leaving our good friends tomorrow and won’t see them for some time.  Another side is that we are all very tired and looking very forward to returning home.  While we were all processing all of this, the most exciting thing that happened today for me personally occurred after we had eaten and were having a brief team meeting and devotional.  This was intended to be short but the group quickly turned this time into a rather lengthy time of discussion about how those of us who have gone on these mission trips can do a better job of sharing our passion for missions with others.  I don’t know what will come next but I do know that the spirit of God was moving in our small group tonight and I’m very excited to see how this will continue in the coming months.  Please pray for us as we travel tomorrow and as we continue to process how God is working in each of us.

Thanks to all who have gone with us on the trip in so many ways, especially through your prayers,

Steve

PS. Since I have the nightly job of posting the blog, I am going to take advantage of the responsibility and add one message of my own...Take a close look at the pictures that have been posted.  You will see a lot of smiling faces.  While these trips involve a lot of hard work as Steve mentioned above, they are also full of fun moments and a lot of fellowship with others on the trip.  Start thinking now about if you want to be part of next year's trip. - Keith