When: July 14 - 22, 2012
Where: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Status: Accepting applications
Special Travel Announcement: Unless you are instructed by GHO or your team leader, do not book your own travel. Please email ghotravel@cmda.org prior to the ticket purchase if you want to use frequent flyer miles and/or want your number added to the ticket.
Who: Primary Medicine & Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapists, optometry or ophthalmology, Nurses, Logistics ( non-medical volunteers, usually family members of the medical professionals ), 1 - 2 Pastors (to take an active part in the Spiritual aspect of the team and work with the National Partners/Spiritual Counseling)
Project Fee: $1,350 plus International Airfare and $15 per hour for up to 7 hours CME/CDE (if applicable) Click here for more information on CME/CDE
Trip Leader: Eric Penniman, DO
To read Dr. Penniman's biography Click Here.
Trip Details: The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country on the island of Hispaniola. It shares its western border with Haiti. Last year our team went into Batey #7 where Haitian refugees live in very poor conditions to work the sugar cane fields for the Dominican government. This will by my 7th trip to the Dominican Republic. Each year we go to a different location in order to evangelize this country for Christ. The Oasis Church in Santo Domingo, DR has been an outstanding partner of GHO and our team. They typically have over half of their church members join us for the entire week as our interpreters and helpers. They are wonderful to work with and really model servant hood. Our team of 40 plus members usually cares for over 3000 unique patients. The Oasis Church’s pastoral team of Senior Pastor Tomas and Youth Pastor Dionnis identify where we will minister and then reach out to the local Christian pastors to work with us in the counseling area of our clinic. It is usual to see over 600 patients accept Christ for the first time. The local pastors then work with these new converts in helping to disciple them.
Each year our team really has a lot of fun bonding and growing in Christ. This is a relatively safe trip for families with decent amenities. We usually stay in a hotel and have American-like food for breakfast and supper. The lunch is served by the Oasis Church at the clinic site. As a team leader, Eric will help create an environment in which team members can bond and encourage one another in their faith. Morning devotion and prayer will serve to daily prepare our team for God’s work and help to encourage each other in our faith. We always begin with worship during the morning and evening devotion time. Each day after devotions, the group travel by bus to the clinic site which is generally in a small school where the children are on summer recess. The evening devotion time is set up for testimonies and “God sightings” that help us all understand how God is working. These are always especially meaningful times in which we can rejoice together. Devotions are led by various members of the team. This trip is especially suited for family members. Every year we rejoice as we witness the strengthening of each family as they serve the Dominicans and Haitians together! Eric is honored to serve along side his wife, Amy, who is in charge of organizing the logistics.
If you are ready to experience a completely different culture in a poor country while fulfilling your desire to share the love of Christ through our medical and dental skills, then the DR trip will be a great experience for you! I promise this will be a mission that God will use in amazing ways for His honor and glory as He works in and through the team and you. If this excites you and you are ready for a great adventure then my prayer is that you will accept this extraordinary invitation that God is offering! The only requirement to be on this team is a servant – heart.
Vaccination Information: Wondering what immunizations you’ll need for the mission trip? Please refer to the Centers for Disease Control website. (Generally Hep A & B, oral typhoid, and flu vaccines are recommended. Sometime malaria prophylaxis is needed)
For more information, contact your team leader Eric Penniman penniman.eric@marshfieldclinic.org
To apply for this trip, click here.
GHO Trip Calendar
GHOHome