serving in santiago

march 7th - 14th 2026

Crowded airport terminal at night with passengers carrying luggage and waiting in line.

The idea of a “mission trip” always scared me much more than I was willing to admit. I didn’t see how a short-term stay in a foreign country could make any sort of impact. Luckily, I was proved very wrong.

On March 6th, 2026, I traveled with a team of 10 other Butler University Young Life students to serve in the Dominican Republic. I was terrified. All anyone had told me was, “Don’t drink the water,” or “Watch out for infectious mosquitoes.” Suddenly, forgoing a comfortable spring break with my family in Savannah, GA, sounded rather dim-witted.

I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting when I stepped out of the Santiago airport, but it certainly wasn’t the scene I stumbled across. It felt more like a homecoming than an arrival. Crowds of people welcomed us to their country, many carrying bundles of balloons as they anxiously awaited the return of loved ones. At that moment, nerves were masked with joy, and I couldn’t wait to see what the week had in store.

Two women smiling and holding hands on a rooftop balcony with a metal railing, city buildings and trees in the background during sunset.

Our team called the Calle 2 dorm home for the week. The building provided a comfortable setup with dedicated, separate areas for the boys, girls, and leaders. We loved the open-air upstairs area—a perfect place for sharing meals and being in community together. In Santiago, it is unsafe to drink the water, even for locals. We were fortunate enough to have access to clean, filtered water, which we used to fill our bottles, hydrate, and brush our teeth.

The city frequently experiences water and electricity outages - we experienced both in our stay. Thankfully, these were short hiccups. It was a humbling reminder not to take these things for granted.

Multi-story white building with blue accents, black metal window grilles, and a gated entrance on a city street with overhead power lines.

The food in the DR was absolutely amazing! I typically don’t eat meat which was the main part of most meals (chicken, lamb, etc.) However, my friends claimed it was the “best meat they’d ever had.” I enjoyed a plethora of rice dishes, including Arroz con Fideos and Arroz con Maíz. I also tried yuca, a root vegetable with a flavor very similar to a potato. Our chef fried it, and it tasted exactly like a French fry! It would be remiss not to mention the sweet treats as well. During our two ice cream outings, I decided to try a flavor I’d never heard of before—Don Alfonso. A blend of cocoa, macadamia nuts, and coffee sauce. Each neighborhood also had a convenient Colmado - a small grocery store. These were fun to stop by and grab a Coke! I left the Dominican Republic with a souvenir of Embaiador hot chocolate.

Wide view of a rural landscape with green fields, scattered trees, distant houses, and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Each day, we would typically have some sort of “construction” task to work on. As someone who gets easily agitated in the heat, it was such a blessing that the weather stayed relatively cool. Although things like this aren’t typically up my alley, I can say that I learned a lot and am so glad I was able to serve in this way.

Group of people standing in front of a pink wooden house, smiling and posing for a photo.

For our first project, we painted the exterior of a house (a lovely tropical pink color). It was so remarkable to see how the whole neighborhood came to watch the process & cheer us on! The home belonged to a man who played on a local sports team, he was very grateful for our help.

A young woman wearing a pink t-shirt, black shorts, white cap, and sneakers kneeling on the ground at a construction site, holding a plastic water bottle and inspecting an unfinished concrete wall.

For our second project, we primed the concrete walls of a new structure. The building sits on an American missionary’s property; the plan is for it to be used as a gathering space for mission groups that come to Santiago! It will be incredible to see how this space comes to life!

Group of people standing in front of a construction site with an unfinished brick house, some holding shovels, on a dirt ground surrounded by trees.

For our third project, we assisted in laying the concrete floor for a future home/church. Although I wasn’t actually laying the floor or shoveling rock, I was lifting buckets! Don’t underestimate how heavy buckets of concrete are. The people of this neighborhood (Los Cocos) were so welcoming, I hope this place serves them well.

The absolute highlight of my trip was connecting with kids across Santiago through VBS and field days. I cannot even begin to describe the amount of joy that these children possessed. Walking around barefoot on sewage and trash-filled streets didn’t faze them. Sharing one crayon with 10 other children was a privilege. A deflated ball volleyball was incredibly exciting.

The kids taught us games, dances, and songs. We were able to share with them coloring books, paper crowns, bubbles, and a “Noah’s Ark” skit! I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve never smiled as much in my entire life!

Spending time with these kids was so impactful, but it was also pretty emotional. It really put life into perspective, making me realize how often I overlook my own blessings and want for more.

At the end of our time with the kids, we always spent time in prayer with the pastor - praying over the life of the church, community, and children.

Two young girls smiling and posing for the camera outdoors. One girl is wearing glasses and making a peace sign, while the other girl is wearing a paper crown with animal drawings.
Group of children and adults posing outside a building with blue beams and barred windows.
A woman with red hair sitting on the floor surrounded by children, some sitting and some standing, engaging in activities with paper and coloring supplies.
A young girl sitting on the ground and a young woman with glasses smiling at the camera. The girl is waving and holding a pencil, wearing a striped dress. The woman is wearing a striped shirt and has short, light brown hair. They are outdoors, with barrels and a fence in the background.
A group of people, including children, gathered outside a white building with a sign that reads "Iglesia Cristiana" in Spanish, with palm trees and power lines in the background. A man is riding a motorcycle in the foreground.

GO Ministries

All week, we had the privilege of partnering with GO Ministries. It was such a blessing to be led by members of the GO staff - Rae, Carly, Isa, and Emily. Along with a GO student and athlete, Said. On the first day, we were told, “Even if all the Americans left GO, the ministry would still be fully functioning.” How amazing is that? Our job was to empower the local leaders so that they felt equipped and inspired to lead, even after we left. We worked directly with local pastors, coaches, and teachers - it was evident that our being there was incredibly meaningful to them. Currently, the Santiago branch of GO is building a brand new Leadership Development Complex. The facility is gorgeous and includes dorms, recreation spaces, and academic centers. If you are interested in sponsoring GO, visit https://gomin.org/sponsorship/.