DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

In March of 2018, as a freshman in high school, I went on my very first missions trip—to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I traveled with my classmates through a partnership with Word of Life (Palabra de Vida), and we spent the week hosting a VBS-style camp and helping paint houses on the property.

It was my first time stepping into another culture like this, and it marked me. I remember looking into the eyes of children who had so little—and yet they lit up just because we showed up. I felt a depth of humility and gratitude I’d never known before. I couldn’t stop thinking, Why was I born into comfort while these kids were born into brokenness? That question started to shape everything.

This trip was the spark that lit the fire of missions in me. I didn’t know all that God had ahead, but I knew—even at 15—that He was calling me to carry the Gospel. It was His perfect timing to send me.

One wild moment I’ll never forget: my friend Joana was suddenly gifted the ability to speak fluent Spanish, supernaturally. None of us had ever seen anything like it. We stood there in awe as the Spirit of God made Himself known.