This past summer, my family and I embarked on our very first mission trip to the Dominican Republic.
Along with other members from CenterPointe Community Church, we traveled for a week in August, to serve with SCORE International. Our mission was to reach out and be the body of Christ for those in need. Our main focus was to share the Gospel wherever we went. We shared the Gospel in words and actions by serving in areas such as vacation Bible school in remote villages, working with children in orphanages, visiting a nursing home, several work projects, and providing food to families.
The Monti Cristi Nursing Home and Casa de Luz (House of Light – an orphanage for severely handicapped children) are two of the ministries that we served. Our purpose was to love them and provide loving physical touch. The elderly at the nursing home and the children at the orphanage are there because no one else will care for them. We brought the love of Jesus to them and prayed that others would come to do the same.
Going into the villages for food distribution was something I will never forget. The food bags we distributed cost $10 and provided enough food for a family for two weeks. Each box included items like rice, pasta, beans, and canned fish. Even though that does not seem like it would feed a family for two weeks, families make it last by only eating one meal a day.
To prevent hunger they chew on sugar cane and often feed the kids “mud pies.”
We blessed others by serving and we were also blessed in the process. The smiles on people’s faces and the laughter of the children when we played are memories that we will cherish forever.
“To glorify God through missions in obedience to the Great Commission.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Written by Rachel Cichocki ’18, Miranda Cichocki ’20, Connor Cichocki ’23, Mrs. Dianna Cichocki, & Dr. Jason Cichocki