What do people say who have been on a trip to the Dominican Republic?

After my first trip, my "needs" list and "wants" list completely changed. I learned that you do not need stuff to be happy. I learned that things will go exactly as they are supposed to regardless of how much you plan. I can't wait to go and be used in any way possible. - Anna Allen

I have left my heart there...so there's no questions I have to go back. We go thinking we're helping them but I always come back with gifts of the heart and blessed beyond words. From the team members to the sweet people of Barahona...God definitely has his hands all over this. - Paula Lambert

I've been down to the Dominican Republic twice. Our church had been going and Dale Williams was very active. When he mentioned that he was taking Megan down for her senior project, my daughter Amanda and I tagged along.

After that I was hooked. The people are warm and loving, especially the children. The country is beautiful, the weather nice, especially in the winter and there are so many opportunities.

Sometimes in America it seems like it is hard to have an impact but there one person can have a tremendous impact on people's lives. My two trips down there have been wonderful and the kids from the DR are in my thoughts a lot.  I consider it to be one of the most life changing experiences I have had.  The other nice thing is that we are continuing to work there and are developing a permanent connection. - Mike Vitamvas
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Dream Ministries is committed to helping the people around Barahona, Dominican Republic.  We support a full time medical clinic that is run by Dr. Jorge Volquez Alcantara.  In addition we coordinate a number of different mission trips including:

  • Medical teams
  • Building teams
  • Clinical teams

Clinica Buen Samaritano serves the medical needs of the people in Batey 7 and surrounding Bateys.  It provides basic care and dispenses prescriptions.

Medical teams perform operations at the Hospital in Barahona.  We have been very fortunate to have the support of the top people at the hospital.

The Dominican Republic has nationalized medicine but because it is not a wealthy nation free medical treatment is limited mostly to basic coverage.  If someone needs an operation they have to travel to the capital and wait or go to one of the private hospitals in the area.  Neither option is generally available to the people we are serving.

Our medical teams operate three or four times a year and Dr. Jorge prescreens the patients and gets them set up for our teams.

During our trips we usually perform between 70 to 100 operations and see thousands of people at the clinics that are set up in different areas around Barahona.

Building Teams
Most homes consist of wood pieced together or concrete and many do not have outhouses or running water.  A team from Winston-Salem NC recently installed a water purification system so we do have clean water in the Batey, but that is not the case in most of the Bateys. 

Youth and adult building teams have come down and done a variety of work including home repair, construction of outhouses and additions to the medical clinic but we are just getting started.  If you are interested in participating in a building program or taking your youth group contact us.  We have a variety of housing arrangements set up for groups of all sizes.  Click on the link that says accommodations for more information.

The video below shows a typical trip.

About the Dominican Republic and Batey 7


Barahona is the largest city in the southern part of the DR.  As with many developing countries it is a mixture of wealth and poverty. 

Batey 7 is a community of approximately 1,500 people.  Men are employed seasonally in the surrounding sugar cane plantations.  (Batey means sugar town).  They also work odd jobs.  The average monthly income is around $35.  The government provides some basic food support each month also.

Despite the economic hardships the people of the Dominican are generally happy and resourceful.  Thanks to warm weather, abundant rain and fertile soil the people may not have much but they are not generally starving either.
Batey 7 like all the other Batey's have a elementary and and high school system.  The problem is that it generally is not effective at inspiring or educating many of the students to excel beyond their current status.  Many in the Bateys are of Hatian decent, which only adds to the problem of advancing.

There is so much potential.  The children are loving and have a desire to excel.  There are a lot of Americans working down there and they are making a difference.  One person can have a big impact in the lives of people down in the Dominican Republic.

If you would like to know how you can help, click the "Get involved" button to the left.