Dominican Republic

DATE: August 9th - 18th

COST: $800 plus airfare

FUNDRAISER: $10,000 goal 

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES:

This service trip focuses supporting IGLESIA COMUNIDAD MULTICULTURAL. A piece of land was donated to them for the purpose of building a new school for their ministry. The first step in getting the building process underway is construction a brick wall around the perimeter of the property. The purpose of the wall is to keep all the building supplies and material safe during construction and then keep the children attending the school safe. 

We will be working alongside a Dominican mason to help construct the wall.   

COST OVERVIEW

The cost includes housing, food (breakfast, lunch, & dinner), transportation, and pay for the

translators that will be with your team. 

You will be responsible for airfare, meals eaten out at restaurants (if your team

chooses to go out to eat), costs for the beach day (lunch and/or snorkeling/boat if your

group chooses), meals at the airport and any other personal items or souvenirs that

you may want to purchase.

Beach Day Options:

Public beach with lunch on the beach: approximately $10 USD per person

Paradise Island: boat tour to small island, snorkeling, fruit at the island, buffet lunch-

-$55 USD per person

MINISTRY INFORMATION

Their mission is to love God, love people, make disciples of all nations, and serve the

poor and marginalized.

Their vision is Being a multiethnic community of followers of Jesus on a mission, that catalyzes the transformation of lives and communities through the gospel, reproducing itself through discipleship.

History:

In 2012, the Philippe family felt the Lord leading them to begin investing in the community of

Pontezuela, Dominican Republic. After acquiring a piece of land and beginning to get to know

their neighbors, they realized the community had deep spiritual and physical needs. With a

desire to see their neighbors be transformed by Christ, they began meeting for worship on

the small plot of land and spending time with people in the community. Iglesia Comunidad

Multicultural (a now network of 13 local churches) was born through those Sunday worship

gatherings and still desires to see the Kingdom of God bring holistic transformation to the

community of Pontezuela and beyond. After several years of meeting outside, the church

moved to a rented building and began to develop plans for building a community center on

the original piece of land. When the Jubilee Community Center was completed, Iglesia

Comunidad Multicultural moved back to holding church services at the place where it all

began.

Jubilee Community Center:

Jubilee Community Center was launched in 2018 with the goal of providing holistic care for

our neighbors that they may reach their God-given potential and transform their own

community. Jubilee provides a safe place for children and adult community members to

receive nourishment and educational/vocational opportunities while learning more about

God’s love and plan for them. Jubilee means restoration, emancipation, reconciliation,

celebration, joy, and gratitude and our heart is to partner with God for holistic disciple-

making and integrated transformation in the community in order to see jubilee become a

reality.

Pontezuela is a diverse community of Dominican natives, Haitian migrants and Haitian-

Dominicans. Diversity is not only seen in the languages spoken and cultural traditions, but

also in socio-economic background and the very way of life. Years of life lived on the banks of

the canal with a lack of educational resources and in economic poverty has left Pontezuela

isolated from their neighbors and outside opportunities. Broken families and unemployment

foster an environment where already at-risk children are more susceptible to the alcohol,

drugs, and prostitution that have become part of the subculture of the community.

To find out more about this ministry partner you can check out their website here:

www.comunidadmulticultural.com

WHERE WILL WE STAY? 

We host all teams at the church’s mission house. The mission house is a

spacious 4-bedroom home with the capacity to sleep 24 people. It is situated next

to a large park (where the church’s soccer team practices) and is within walking

distance of many of the church members’ homes. Staying at the mission house

includes three meals a day, A/C, and Wi-Fi. Children 3 years and under stay for

free.

EXAMPLE SCHEDULE

Friday: 

- Flight arrives

- Staff meets team at the airport and takes them for a meal and lodging.

- Brief orientation

Saturday: 

- Breakfast 

- Begin the work project 

- Lunch 

- Work Project

- Dinner

Sunday:

- Breakfast 

- Church

- Fellowship

- Check out some local areas

- Dinner

Monday – Friday:

- Breakfast 

- Begin the work project 

- Lunch 

- Work Project

- Dinner

Saturday-Sunday

- Tour the local area

- Fly home

Saturday: Teams fly out. 

 
SUPPLY LIST

Everyone: 

• Passport/Travel Documents
• Bible/Devotional items
• Insect repellant/Sunscreen
• Hat/sunglasses
• Water bottle
• Personal toiletry items (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, etc.)
• Personal Medicines (Tylenol, Pepto, Dramamine, Anti-itch cream, etc.)
• Snacks (Granola bars, trail mix, etc.)
• Beach towel
• Female Toiletries (e.g. tampons are difficult to find here)
• Phone charger
• Sunglasses
• Flashlight
• A flexible, servant attitude!

Men:

• Short-sleeved shirts 
• Pants
• Comfortable shoes for walking
• Shorts for sports/around the house 
• Clothes for church (nice pants/jeans, nice shirt)
• Swimsuit

Women:

• Short-sleeved shirts/tank tops (no spaghetti straps) 
• Pants 
• Skirts/dresses
• Comfortable shoes for walking
• Modest shorts can be worn at the house 
• Clothes for church (nice pants/shirt, dress, skirt) 
• One-piece swimsuit

***Jewelry: Nose rings, lip rings, several along the ear lobes, belly button rings, etc. are

not common. If at all possible, ladies can limit their piercings to earrings.

Items you can bring for the church/community center:

Spanish Bibles (NTV or NVI translation)

Spanish children’s books

Scissors

Glue sticks

Crayons/Markers

Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches - 8 1/2 x 11

Please DO NOT bring/wear expensive jewelry.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Helping Hands International recommends you follow the health and safety recommendations readily published by the CDC and Travel Alert program offered by the US State Department, as well as those recommended by your personal physician. Please click here for vaccination requirements and/or recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Please note, if you do take prescription medicines, please check with your local pharmacist to ensure the medicines are not considered a controlled substance in the location you are traveling.  

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

Please be sure to read specific passport and visa requirements listed here, per the U.S. State Department.