In the small communities just outside the city of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic, Lutheran East students are making a big impact.
Since 2018, an international mission trip has become a cornerstone of the Lutheran East experience. In partnership with the organization Meeting God in Missions, groups of students and faculty have traveled to the Dominican Republic on four separate occasions.
Their work is centered near Hato Mayor—the largest city close to the rural communities of AB6 and AB4, where many residents earn a living in the sugar cane fields. There, Lutheran East students engage in community service and actively share the Gospel with local residents.
Now, a new group of students (primarily incoming juniors) are eager for the opportunity to continue this impactful tradition of service and ministry.
Lutheran East students build connections with the local communities by serving others and sharing their faith.
These communities are some of the poorest in the western hemisphere—many residents survive on the equivalent of less than $5 per day. Alongside each trip’s service initiative, Lutheran East buys and distributes rice and oil for all 25 families in AB6. The influx of helping hands and valuable resources from Lutheran East has made a significant difference in this village taking a step toward a more stable future.
Lutheran East students additionally lead a daily Vacation Bible School-style program for the community’s children. Through worship music, Bible verses, and stories, they share the message of God’s love in engaging and meaningful ways. Children receive materials to take home, allowing families to learn and worship together.
Hearing the testimonies of our students—how God is working in their lives—creates a powerful bond between people who, despite geographic distance, language barriers, and cultural differences, are all united as children of God.
While the impact on the people of AB4 and AB6 is overwhelming, the impact on our Lutheran East students is incredible.
The spirit of servant leadership inspired by the mission trips is an invaluable gift that Lutheran East students will carry with them into their senior years and into adulthood. They return to Lutheran East, to their families, to their churches, and to their local communities with a greater sense of purpose, worldliness, and commitment to serving ALL of God’s people.
“There’s an interesting phenomenon that takes place when people travel to bring the love of Christ through service to those in need. We find that God is already at work! And that God is at work in us, as well. Students who have taken this trip have found this to be true is so many ways in the Dominican Republic and as they shared the love of Christ with the people of Hato Mayor, they grew in their own relationships with God.”
– Miriam Uffelman, Director of Student Life and Faculty Advisor for Mission Trips
Your support will help send students to serve. Please consider a gift today.
Students are responsible for the costs of their passports and luggage fees. They do small fundraising initiatives throughout the year to help with these costs and to increase the amount that goes to purchase the food for the community.
However, this trip will not be possible without the financial support of our generous Lutheran East community.
