Due to sharing its border with Haiti, the Dominican Republic has thousands of refugees.  Its economy is severely depressed and the people have little hope.  Poverty and race conflicts between the Haitians and the Dominicans create special ministry needs. Spanish is the official language. 

CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIP
The Encounter Group aims to not only change the lives of those we serve abroad but we also desire to meet the needs and desires of your mission team. One of the ways we do this is by allowing you to customize your trip in a way that will facilitate growth and excitement in those traveling on this trip. Several mission teams have chosen to participate in two or three different ministry opportunities throughout the week in order to allow their team different opportunites for ministry. (example: VBS in the morning and house repair in the afternoon.) Contact our office and let one of our Mission Facilitators help you customize your short term trip for the benefit of all involved. Below is a list of the ministry opportunities available for this specific mission encounter.

PROJECT HOUSE IN A BOX (construction of homes for the poor and church planting):
In conjunction with the Office of the Secretary of State and the Dominican Senate,  Encounter Group has been given the task of constructing 2000 homes for the poor and low income residents of the Dominican Republic.  For approximately $6000 a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home can be constructed.  These homes have been engineered to withstand the challenging natural elements in the Caribbean, including 140 mph winds.  And with every 10 homes constructed, the government will allow one to become a community center for use as a school, medical clinic, and church.

LIVING WATER PROJECT:
Across the globe some 6,000 children die everyday due to poor drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene. This staggering number is equivalent to 20 jumbo jets crashing every day. Encounter Group’s Living Water Project allows your mission team to be a part of an international campaign to save children and give them the very basic necessities to live another day. Your team is invited to participate in one or all of the 4 vital steps in the Living Water Project.

1. The de-worming of children.

Children are becoming so severely ill due to parasites in their drinking water that they perish for a lack of clean drinking water. In the past 10 years diarrhea has KILLED more children than all the people lost to armed conflict since World War II.

2. Provide clean water for every home by using low cost water filtration.

A simple water filtration system built out of cement, gravel and sand can be constructed from around $75.00 us. The contaminated water that is filtered through this simple devise becomes safe to drink and is 99% pure; no more parasites, no more needless death.

3. Provide much-needed shoes for the children in order to limit exposure of infection through cuts and abrasions.

De-worming and safe drinking water isn’t enough. The same parasites that haunt the drinking water can infect the children through the bottom of their feet. By placing new shoes on the feet of the children that are treated, we ensure they stay free of parasites.

4. Present the gospel to every household we serve…the only true Living Water!

Everything that the Encounter Group and our mission teams accomplish is for the GLORY of GOD. The Lord is faithful to hear the cries of His people and we want to share His abundant love with the families that we serve.

STREET CRUSADE and YOUTH OUTREACH:
Does your mission team have a worship band interested in doing a concert for the local youth and families? If yes, Encounter Group will gain approval to close one of the main streets in town and set up a concert and youth event for the local teens. Present the gospel through song, dance, mime, drama and sermon. The youth in the neighborhoods are hungry for a real and authentic relationship with Christ. Will your team be the ones to bring it to them?

SPORTS OUTREACH:
Bring a group that has a heart for the Lord and desire to use their God given talents in the sports arena to share their faith. Soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, etc. all are available and attract youth of all ages. For collegiate sports teams interested in sports ministry, there is an opportunity to partner with the Olympian teams of the Dominican Republic. Contact an Encounter Group Mission Facilitator for more details.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (VBS), Evangelistic mimes, dramas & puppets:
Children are often left home alone while Mom and Dad leave to find work or food. Hosting a VBS in a local church brings much needed love and attention to children who otherwise would sit at home and be left to their own devises. This is such a valuable ministry as it not only brings the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ to the children but it also points an entire family to the local church for strength and counsel.

DOOR-to-DOOR EVANGELISM, PRAYER MINISTRY and DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS:
Travel on foot through the villages in teams of 3-4 and share the love of Christ as you distribute valuable toiletries, food and vitamins to the poor and abandoned. Small toys for the children are always a wonderful blessing as well.

CONSTRUCTION and REPAIR HOMES FOR HAITIAN REFUGEES:  
In an attempt to find a better life for their family in the Dominican, many Haitians flee their home land only to find themselves displaced and in foreign territory. Families live in make-shift houses using scraps of tin metal and the trunks of trees to shelter them from the elements. Our mission team can build a place of shelter for a Haitian family for as little as $500. Are you ready to change someone’s life forever and share the love of Christ with these desperate people? The need is great and the harvest is great in these refugee communities.

MEDICAL CLINICS:
Join Encounter Group for one of our Medical Campaigns or bring a group of nurses and doctors with your missionary team in order to distribute much needed pharmaceuticals and treat the ailments found in this region. For more details on purchasing low cost medical supplies for your mission trip click here.

FUN N FREE DAYS:
If your team desires to add a day of fun and extra curricular activities*, Encounter Group is happy to help facilitate your free time. Here is a list of some of the available tourist activities in this region:

• Sightseeing tour of the Colonial District in Santo Domingo including where Christopher Columbus stayed prior to reaching the Americas.

• Snorkel excursion.

• Full day stay at an “all-inclusive” resort with access to water sports and pool areas.

NOTE: Extra curricular activities are not covered in your mission trip tuition. Contact the Encounter Group office for more details and prices.