2012 Mission2DR
Read the Jan. 2012 blog!

Family Trip: June 16-23, 2012
Info Meeting for June trip: Sunday, Feb. 19, 7 pm
The Mission2DR team travels to the Dominican Republic each year, doing construction and community outreach. If you are interested in joining this year's mission team, please fill out the online application form.  For more information contact Dave McCarty at davem@lordoflife.org.

October, 2011 Mission Trip
Read updates and watch a video of photos on Dave and Lisa McCarty's blog. NEW! Watch a video from the October trip.

Here are stories from some of the 2011 participants:

Wow… I was just blessed with a week of worship, fellowship and service to our fellow Christians in the Dominican Republic.
I wasn’t quite sure why I decided to go on this year’s trip to the D.R. Ultimately, the trip was a week of serving God and our brothers and sisters in Christ. My decision was clearly confirmed after I met a man who dedicates his life to serving others.
The man is Pastor Juan “Agua.” Throughout my week Pastor Juan was a tutor of what it means to serve others. During one of our afternoon programs with local women I learned how influential Pastor Juan has become. Ladies attending the program all gave Pastor Juan a big hug as they left. I asked Pastor Juan if all of these ladies attended his church. He replied, “Oh on, they are from different communities and it is much too for them to walk to our church.” A few more minutes passed and many more hugs were exchanged. “Pastor Juan, well then, how do you know all of these women?” I inquired. His soft and slow response was heart lifting, “I walk to them."
If only we could all “walk to them.” I look forward to my next mission trip and was blessed to have the opportunity to serve my fellow Christians!
Join us next year, serve others and recharge your soul,
Kirk Hoover

"Americano, Americano!" As I turn around on the streets of Santo Domingo, a young boy runs up to me and says, "Un photo." Dominican children love to have their picture taken and then see it in the camera's viewfinder. 

To be honest, I wasn't going to go on the mission trip this year. I had my excuse list. And then I looked at it and discovered that perhaps never a more pathetic list had ever been created. So I surrendered to the idea that I was going to volunteer myself for the week and be guided by God. The rewards are too numerous to list here. Since my space is limited, I ask you to undertake this simple exercise:

Create a list of excuses why a volunteer trip cannot be part of your life. Write them down and then look in your heart. Perhaps next year you'll decide to experience the fellowship, rewards and joy by being a volunteer.

- Joe Wenker

Interview with 2011 Mission2DR participants. Want to hear more? Watch "the rest of the story"...

Where to begin…

For some time, my heart was telling me to serve others and to serve God.  When Dave presented the opportunity of going on this mission trip to the Dominican Republic, I knew it was right.  But I didn’t quite know why it was right until well into the trip.

I had emptied myself the best I could of all the turmoil and minutia of my daily life in Minnesota before we left.  But it took me a few days of hauling cement blocks, planting gardens, getting to know my fellow travelers and getting to know the wonderful people of the DR before I understood.

It was the day at the school in Villa Esfuerzo, seeing the fruits of years of mission service, feeling the passion and commitment of Pastor Firo to this school and community, understanding how this work and commitment had such positive impact on the physical and spiritual well-being of not only those who lived in the community, but also on those who went there in service.

I don’t know what sort of service will present itself next, but I can’t wait until it does…

Mike Winegar
DR 2011

Photos from Mission Dominican Republic 2011