Thrive in Joy’s Fall 2023 Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic
Thrive in Joy’s 17th trip to the Dominican Republic was a huge success thanks to an incredible team of 13 volunteers from across the US! This trip marked another milestone as it was the first time the team included a mom and her two children. Los Angeles team members included Thrive in Joy’s co-founders Mary and Jay Fagnano along with Elizabeth Rojas, Thrive in Joy’s Director of Programs and Development, and Scott Hagizadegan, Thrive in Joy Board Member. Esther Lee and her children, Faith and Aaror along with Katie Shanahan and Brendan Kite, both recent college graduates rounded out the LA contingent. From other parts of the country, Tom White traveled to the DR from Oregon, Denis Carvill came from Ohio, and Anne Butfilofski, who hasn’t missed a fall trip since 2014 (excluding when travel stopped during COVID-19) joined the team from South Carolina.
Here’s how each day was spent:
Wednesday, Travel Day: Arriving in Santo Domingo on Wednesday night, the team’s first stop was Barra Payan, the famous sandwich stand by the airport. A smooth check-in at the Fiesta Hotel got everyone in their rooms by 11:00 pm in order to rest up from a long day of traveling and be ready to meet the students at Tia Tatiana School the next morning.
Thursday, Day 1: Accompanied by college students in the DR who participate in Casa Misionera’s young leaders program, the team visited Tia Tatiana School and did a craft project based on the character trait of gratitude with the younger students and a skit activity using all 11 of the C11 character traits with the high school students. As always, the team received so much joy spending time with the 400+ students at Tia Tatiana. The day ended with a delicious home-cooked Dominican dinner at Casa Misionera’s beautiful new mission house and headquarters.
Friday, Day 2: The team returned to Tia Tatiana School to attend the morning assembly and dance party! In the afternoon everyone assembled bags of food and delivered rice, eggs, canned goods, and other staples to families in need in the Herrera community. Sara, a Casa Misionera member who has lived in Herrera her entire life, helped identify the families in greatest need. The lack of resources in this community can be overwhelming; but visiting and praying with the sick, those without a family, mothers mourning the loss of a child, and those who are handicapped; allowed everyone to experience the difference it can make when someone shows they care enough to step into these humble homes with words of love and support and items of sustenance.
Saturday, Day 3: It’s always a joy to spend time with the children and young adults at the Remar Orphanage. Team Thrive in Joy’s first task was to form an assembly line along with the Casa Misionera team to transfer all the provisions purchased for the orphanage from the truck to the kitchen (which Thrive in Joy built last year). After filling the orphanage's empty pantry shelves, the Thrive in Joy team spread out and spent time engaging the children and young adults in various activities. The Remar girls had fun picking out donated jewelry, the younger children played games the team brought. Everyone enjoyed the enthusiastic talents of all who call Remar home during the Remar’s Got Talent show. Whether here for just a short time or most of their young lives, these young people show so much love and support for each other. Remar Directors, Yenny and Paco, took some time to talk to our team about what it takes to keep the orphanage going including constant repair needs. They also expressed their desire to reconfigure some of the living space in order to take in ten more girls. The need is great, they said, for a safe place for the many girls in the DR rescued from dangerous communities who have experienced abuse and/or trauma. The team said goodbye to Esther, Aaron, and Faith as they departed for the airport since staying longer would mean too many days of missed school for Aaron and Faith. A few hours later, with gratitude for the time to serve at Remar but sadness to say goodbye, the rest of the team boarded the bus for a two- and- a -half hour drive to Las Terrenas on the northeastern side of the island where the beautiful Hotel Albachiara would be home base for the remainder of the trip.
Sunday, Day 4: After a sumptuous breakfast overlooking the ocean at the hotel, the team departed at 9:00 am to arrive in Nagua by 10:00 a.m. for church. Music and dancing are all part of the Dominican worship experience at the church of Pastor Elisandro and his wife, Pastora Gricetty. The congregation welcomed the team and each member shared a few words and introduced themselves. The big event of the day was the ribbon-cutting of the water purification plant funded by Thrive in Joy, thanks to the generosity of the LB Charitable Foundation. Thousands of families in the Nagua community will benefit from this accessibility to clean, affordable water and the church will be blessed by its ability to provide jobs as well as revenue to care for those most in need in this rural community. A celebratory lunch followed the ribbon-cutting, after which the team changed into clothes suitable for sweating during the food distribution to a nearby community known as “El Tren” where many families live without electricity, clean water, or secure shelter. Every team member was moved by the experience of meeting the families we served and experiencing their gratitude.
Monday, Day 5: This was the team’s R & R day to enjoy the laid-back beach community of Las Terrenas. For Mary and Elizabeth, the day was filled with excitement because that afternoon they met Crisbel Jimenez, one of the Casa Misionera members, who introduced a group of students at (Escuela Secundaria) Liceo Angel Maria Hernandez Croussett High School in Nagua to Thrive in Joy’s C11 program. The students listened intently to Crisbel explain how the club’s purpose is to inspire them to develop their character strengths and to implement an Entrepreneurial Social Impact project in their community. Mary was able to experience their empathy as the students watched the video about Nick and heard how the life of Mary and Jay’s son inspired the C11 program. Crisbel shared how Club Thrive in Joy would provide the students with leadership and teamwork opportunities that could have an impact on their entire student body. Two students eagerly volunteered to be club leads. Elizabeth provided invaluable support to Mary as she translated the students’ comments to English and Crisbel, who is also fluent in Spanish and English, is now part of the Club Thrive in Joy advisor team which includes three advisors in Los Angeles. The evening ended with a team meal at an open-air restaurant on the beach and with the sound of the waves in the background, everyone reflected on how the activities of the week had impacted them.
Tuesday, Day 6: The team boarded the bus for one last ride with Yency through the lush mountainous landscape along the coastline and into the flatlands leading back to Santo Domingo.. The two-and-a-half hour bus ride provided additional time for reflection that affirmed why Thrive in Joy continues to bring teams to experience the joy of service alongside the inspiring young people who are members of Casa Misionera. The LA-based team members were home and in their beds by midnight with thoughts of all the incredible people we encountered during our five full days in the Dominican Republic. On every trip we have a very special gratitude for Nelson Paulino, who has coordinated all the good works Thrive in Joy has been able to accomplish on behalf of the vulnerable children and families in this country. Additionally, there is so much gratitude each team member shares for the kindness and generosity of each team member who chose to participate in this life-changing experience.
Work to be done
On each trip, specific needs emerge. At the orphanage there are repairs needed throughout the girls’ house along with construction to provide housing to accommodate more girls. A store the orphanage runs to raise money for operations could benefit from consulting to become more profitable. At Tia Tatiana School, the wish list includes three reading areas for different grade levels. These areas would create an inviting space for students to discover books and experience the joy of reading, which is not culturally encouraged in most homes in the community the school serves. Throughout the Dominican Republic there is a movement to introduce programs that will reduce aggressive behavior among students which could present a significant opportunity for Thrive in Joy’s C11 program.
If you would like to support Thrive in Joy’s work in the Dominican Republic, click HERE.
If you would like to receive information about our October 2024 mission trip, click HERE.
