A trip to the Dominican Republic immersed Claire in the unfamiliar. That was the point.
“I really want to have a new experience of knowing God, and to see Him at work in a different part of the world. I haven’t had a moment in my life where it’s like, ‘Wow, I truly, truly believe and I feel Your presence in my heart.’
“It’s not that I don’t believe. I do. I grew up in a Christian home, always gone to church, and attended Christian schools. What I long for is my own true experience of God.”
This heartfelt desire inspired Claire to participate in a 29-day trip with other students to the Dominican Republic (DR) as part of her International Block (I-Block) studies in partnership with EduDeo Ministries. In the weeks prior to the trip, her cohort learned about world religions, social justice, equity issues and global history.
“All these topics opened our eyes to the lives of different people and what true poverty is,” says Claire, a Grade 11 student. “We talked about four key relationships in our lives–with God, creation, others, and ourselves. When one relationship is lacking, poverty exists there.”
The Root of Poverty
Going to the DR, she and the team served the Dominican people in practical ways. Picking up garbage. Tidying public parks. Sprucing up areas with paint.
For Claire, the trip was more than hands-on service. She immersed herself in another culture. Engaged with different life experiences. Listened and learned from people she met.
“I saw firsthand the very things we discussed before the trip,” she says. “Around us, we experienced how relationships can flourish, but also how they can break…that’s the root of poverty: broken relationships.”
The Small Things
Being there for a short time, the students knew little could be done to fix big issues, but they started with restoring some of His creation. “We picked up trash,” says Claire, matter-of-factly. “It was a small thing but allowed us to portray God’s love through our actions and words.”
“We also attended church services and visited schools to share some of our testimonies or what God was speaking into our lives,” she adds.
Reflecting on life at home in Ontario, Claire now sees poverty from a new lens. “Here in Canada, many of us spend hours on our phones, endlessly scrolling and trying to fill the need to connect with people. In the DR, I saw people spending time outside of their homes and interacting with others. They focused more on building community and relationships…and seemed more content.”
What else did Claire bring back? “Everyone in the class has grown close to each other,” she says. “Our DR experience is something we can laugh and talk about…we’re like siblings, my second familia.”
