This week my granddaughter and I went to help at a orphanage in Barahona, Dominican Republic. I wanted to help understand more of the world beyond North Carolina and to think more about serving God and others. Mission accomplished! Here are my thoughts and why I think more people and churches should be focused on overseas trips.
Years ago I was against spending all that money to go on a mission trip. After all we can hire locals to do the work for way less than what it costs us to go do it. That was before my first trip. After that I understood it is not about the money, but about serving one another and growing in our faith. You can't put a price on that. This is my thoughts from this trip.
We started early, up at 3:30 a.m., traveling from Greensboro to Miami, then on to Santo Domingo, followed by a long four-hour bus ride to Barahona. By the time we arrived, everyone was worn down. Still, we were able to spend some time playing with the kids that first evening, and even in our exhaustion, it was clear we were exactly where we were meant to be. Being here over Christmas helped too, the temperatures were great compared to North Carolina, 70-83 verses 13-45.
Day two we spent entirely with the kids. We played games, held VBS, celebrated three birthdays, and had plenty of time just being together, kids and team members interacting with one another. Those unstructured moments often say more than planned activities ever could.
My granddaughter, Avianna, who is 15, was right in the middle of it all. She got her fair share of attention from the boys, which gave us all a few laughs, but more importantly, I watched her connect with the kids in a genuine way. Seeing her engage so naturally reminded me how powerful simply showing up can be, especially for young people. When we got home she was talking with her aunt, who had also been down in the past, and I was surprised that she could name off every kid in the orphanage.
As the days went on, I learned more about the deeper struggles these kids face. One of the hardest realities is discrimination. About half of the children at the Helping Hands Orphanage are Haitian, and the tension between Dominicans and Haitians is very real. Some of the kids have been picked up by border patrol and sent back to Haiti, even though they are legally under the care of Helping Hands. Others are no longer allowed to attend school. It breaks my heart that kids who are 10 years old are picked up by the boarder patrol and shipped 30 miles back to Haiti and dropped off.
Thankfully, all of the children have returned. Some found their way back on their own, and for others, Helping Hands paid people to go search for them and bring them home. Without that effort, these kids would quite literally be on the streets.
Schooling remains another major challenge. At this point, private school is the only real option available to them, but it is expensive. The orphanage is actively working on fundraising so these children can continue their education, an education that is changing lives.
On Sunday, we worshiped at Pastor Pedro’s church, Iglesia Evangelica Dominicana. After the service, we held a Christmas party where the kids received their Christmas gifts. The joy in that room was unmistakable. It wasn’t about how much they received, it was about being seen, remembered, and loved.
Throughout this trip, I’ve seen God at work in the lives of the kids, in the team members, and in my granddaughter. I’ve also felt God clearly calling me to help bring awareness to the Helping Hands Orphanage. Without this place, these children would have no safety net, sent back to Haiti or left to survive on their own in the Dominican Republic.
There are countless stories of changed lives here. Some of these kids have gone on to college. Others arrived scared, shy, and with little or no schooling and are now excelling, confident, capable, and hopeful. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people choose to care, to stay, and to fight for them.
Several of us talked and prayed over the challenges: Lack of available education and work. Several of us have ideas how we can help. Pray that as we explore them, that God will lead us. I'd love it if Helping Hands became a model of what can be done when people pray, think and work to serve others. You'll hear more in the months ahead. Thanks so much to Chloe, a very talented and inspiring 22 year old who put together the videos on this page!
