Dominican Republic Summer 2026 Trips
Dominican Republic Mission Trips 2026
This summer, First CRC sent two teams to the Dominican Republic—one in June and one in July. Together, 23 high school seniors and 6 adults traveled to serve with ministry partners, build relationships, and learn more about the church and communities in the Dominican Republic.
The June team served through a combination of construction and Vacation Bible School. Students helped with construction on a new church, including organizing materials, repurposing nails, filling floors with rubble, and tying rebar. They also spent time with children through VBS. Building relationships with the kids was a highlight of the trip.
The experience also gave students a new perspective on cultural and economic differences. One student reflected on seeing children wait to see if there would be leftover food after a meal, which challenged him to think differently about waste and gratitude.
Another student summarized one of the larger lessons of the trip:
"Despite cultural differences and language barriers, the God that we serve here is the same God there."
The July team served at a Christian Reformed church in Santo Domingo, including helping with Vacation Bible School. Initially, they found the language barrier intimidating, but quickly discovered that students could connect through playing and spending time together.
"God's love doesn't need a translator."
They also noticed the joy and community she saw among people who had fewer material possessions than she was accustomed to.
"They didn't have much materialistically, but they had so much joy."
Both trips gave students opportunities to serve while learning from the people and communities they encountered. They returned with new experiences, friendships, and perspectives that they can carry into their own communities.
We are grateful to everyone who prayed for and supported these students and leaders throughout the trips.
Take a look through the slideshow below for photos and highlights from the two Dominican Republic trips.