Upcoming Serve Trips

Dominican Serve Members:

Rio Vista Lodge, Dominican Republic

Convenient to the areas we serve and the places we will evangelize, these facilities have been serving missionaries for years. The layout of the grounds is ideal for worship, group devotional sessions and Bible study and will help create a team feel.

*If you would like your own room by yourself, there is an additional charge.

Your Dominican Republic accommodations are included in the cost of your trip.

(Any accommodations related to, or in preparation for your departure from or upon returning to the United States are not included. If, for example, you need to get a hotel prior to your departure close to your originating airport, that will be at your expense.)

Malawi Serve Members:

LODGES close to where we will be doing ministry

Convenient to the areas we serve and the places we will evangelize, these facilities have been serving our teams for years.

Your accommodations are part of the estimated costs for the whole trip (depending on cost of airfare).

A word about our housing. Remember this is the third world.
Remember, that we are also on a budget. We can ensure that you will be fed for every meal and that your accommodations will be safe and a place where you can rest. You may or may not have hot water. You may or may not have electricity. Welcome to Africa. Sometimes at the lodges, we have bucket baths with hot water.
 Bring your toiletries. Bring some washing detergent or extra shampoo to wash your clothes. Clothes dry quickly in the African sun.

1. We leave on time. Respect your team and get on the truck 3-5 mins early. Get your seat picked! (Well chosen).
2. Don’t drink water from sink or faucet. Keep mouth closed in shower.
3. Don’t brush your teeth with faucet water. Use purified water.
4. Deet Before You Eat. Say it 3x. Mosquitoes love the dining area. They dine!
5. No leaving the hotel without permission from leader and never alone

(Any accommodations related to, or in preparation for your departure from or upon returning to the United States are not included. If, for example, you need to get a hotel prior to your departure close to your originating airport, that will be at your additional expense.)

You will carry two(2) pieces of luggage, including one suitcase that you will leave behind. The “leave behind” suitcase will contain supplies to meet the needs of the mission; the other will contain your personal belongings; both will need to fit on the plane.

WE DO NOT CHECK LUGGAGE. (If you or someone you know does not have an old suitcase to donate, purchase one inexpensively at a thrift store. Consider asking friends, relatives, and parishioners to help support your trip by donating some or all of the following items.) Items you will supply:

• Children’s Vitamins
• Small Dress Shoes BLACK
• Basketball (Deflated)
• Pencils – both regular and colored
• Sharpeners
• Crayons
• Glue
• Erasers
• Rulers
• Protractors
• Paper
• Markers
• Pens
• Fans
• Umbrella/Poncho
• Hand Sanitizer
• First Aid supplies
• Sound cables/old phones

For your personal luggage, you will bring a carry-on bag which will need to fit on board the aircraft. Be sure to check the size requirements and weight limits for your specific airline. Here is what we recommend for you to pack in your carry-on:

Six sets of clothes:

One for travel and one for each of the five days of your trip.

We recommend that you take old or second-hand clothing for each workday.

One pair of old sneakers or shoes:

These will be worn when we make trips to the dump and can be discarded at the end of your trip. These must be close toed shoes!

A swimsuit:

Women, please bring a cover-up to wear traveling to and from the pool.

We recommend that you do not bring any valuables or electronic devices with you. Cell phone service is not available; however, the lodge does provide WiFi. You will be provided a contact telephone number in advance of your departure where you can be reached in the event of an emergency.

For your personal luggage, you will bring a carry-on bag which will need to fit on board the aircraft. Be sure to check the size requirements and weight limits for your specific airline. Here is what we recommend for you to pack in your carry-on:

Six sets of clothes:

• One for travel and one for each of the days of your trip. We wash our clothes in the shower usually and hang up to dry, so we can wear them twice. We recommend that you take old or second-hand clothing for each workday.
• One pair of old sneakers or shoes: These must be close toed shoes!

We recommend that you do not bring any valuables or electronic devices with you.

The Dominican peso is the national currency; however, the American dollar is accepted everywhere. The trip fee covers all expenses in country, including food, water, and transportation and lodging. Bring only a small amount of money for any souvenirs you may wish to purchase, and limit this to one and five – dollar bills. (It’s hard to bargain for a $ 5 item when all you have are $20s!) Consider bringing one credit card for emergencies. If you want to snorkel, bring $25, sometimes they give us group discount. And yes, you can use some of your cash to tip our drivers/translators as you feel led.

Yes, we may get souvenirs or go on a Safari, you will be made aware of this before the trip. The trip fee covers all expenses in country, including food, water, and transportation and lodging. Consider bringing one credit card for emergencies.

Your trip cost includes:

• Transportation on the ground, fuel, and a driver
• Interpreters, when needed
• Meals while in the D.R.
• Supplies needed for painting/construction
• Lodging during your stay (we do not guarantee a specific hotel/lodge)
• Any gratuities

Your trip cost does not include:

• Airfare: each person is responsible for coordinating airfare to arrive in POP (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) on the Monday afternoon of the start date of their trip. Because teams fly from all over the country to join us, it is impossible to predict an average price for airfare costs.
• The amount it costs to check in one donation supply suitcase to stow under the plane.
• Some mission participants have status with their respective airlines that give them a checked bag for free. If you do not, the average price is typically $30-$40 to check a bag.
• Travel Insurance

Your trip cost includes:

• Transportation on the ground, fuel, and a driver
• Interpreters, when needed
• Meals
• Lodging during your stay (we do not guarantee a specific hotel/lodge)
• Airfare: each person is responsible for coordinating airfare to arrive in ATL to travel to Africa.

Check out our fundraising resource page!

As you plan your trip, you may decide to fundraise to cover the expenses. We know it can feel uncomfortable to ask people for money, but here at the Mission, we believe that fundraising can be an opportunity for ministry. When you ask people to partner with you, you offer them a chance to be a part of the Mission too, even if they can’t go on a trip themselves. You also open up the door to encourage them with stories from your trip after you return.

Below are some ideas that maybe helpful for you to fundraise:

• Write letters to people who may be interested in partnering with you.
  • One way to do this is by breaking down the total cost of your trip by day or expense. For instance, divide the total cost of your trip by the number of days you will be serving, then ask someone to partner with you for one day.
  • Malawi Fundraising Letter Template
• Host a car wash with others who are also fundraising.
• Sell baked goods or frozen meals.
• Offer childcare or babysitting services.
• Host a silent auction with donated items from friends, family, or local businesses.
• Offer lawncare or maintenance services.

These are just a few ideas to assist you as you seek to fundraise over the coming months. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our stateside office!

While you’re on the ground with us in the Dominican Republic, you will have several opportunities to share your testimony. We believe that your story is important! Revelation 12:11 says, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimonies. For they loved not their lives even unto death.” Sharing a part of your story in a way that displays the love and sacrifice of Christ is how we overcome the enemy. It’s a way of showing others how you love Christ more than your own life. This being said, we want to equip you to share your testimony in the most effective way we know how!

To simplify your story, you can break it up into five short phrases that complete the following sentences:

• Once upon a time…
• Everyday…
• Until one day…
• Because of that…
• Until finally…

You don’t have to use these exact words, but it can be helpful. Let’s break it down:

1. What you used to believe or how you used to act. Who were you? What was the context?
2. How this belief or action impacted your everyday life. What did you do every day before the Lord transformed this part of your story?
3. The moment that began to change you. What was the turning point or realization?
4. The result on your daily life. What changed about your life?
5. What you believe or how you act now. Who are you now? What is the new context or theme of your life because of this change?

Here is an example of what your testimony might look like:

I used to be frustrated with myself because I felt like I couldn’t ever do anything right. I felt so guilty for not being as good of a person as I thought I should be. One day, someone shared with me that God still loved me and that He sent Jesus to die for me so that I didn’t have to get it right all the time. Because of this, I was more joyful and happy because I didn’t feel guilty. Now, I feel free to obey God no matter what because even when I mess up, He still loves me!

Visit your physician to let them know that you will be participating in mission work in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and adhere to all immunization recommendations. Check with the CDC travelers health information.

Use only bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth. The hotel offers many bottled water stations. Bottled water will also be provided at all work locations. Some individuals bring a water bottle/container with them on the trip that they can refill.

If you are coming down to the Dominican Republic with us during the summer months, you will have the opportunity to share a character sketch at Bible camps. This is a fun way that you can help children and youth better understand the Bible. So, here is what you need to prepare, in order to effectively teach in a creative way!

1. Choose a Bible Character.
2. Write down 5 -7 facts about the character you chose.
3. Come up with a costume that you can bring with you to wear as you act out the characteristics/facts that you wrote about your chosen Bible character.

For example, if you chose Solomon, here are some possible facts/characteristics that you could say about him:

1. I was King David’s son.
2. God told me He would grant me one thing.
3. I asked God for wisdom.
4. I was the richest king in the whole world.
5. I wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. Who am I?

After you recite and act out your character in front of the kids, they will guess who you are!

Here’s an idea of some activities you may be doing on your trip. Please note that we may not be able to particiapte in all of these activities. We will do a variation of these with the potential for a few additions

Mountain Village Hike

Join us on a steep hike up to a remote mountain village called Alto de la Jagua. There, we will have an adult bible study, a kids mini Bible Camp, worship, and share a community meal with the people who live there!

Painting Houses

Most of the homes in our villages are made of concrete brick. However, paint is expensive and most families can’t afford to decorate their home in this way. As a mission, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to make these communities visually bright and colorful, while encouraging the homeowners to take ownership of the appearance of their homes.

Bible Camp

In the afternoons, we will serve hundreds of kids at a time through Bible camps. During this time, you’ll dance with the kids, perform your character sketches, share your testimony, and pray over children as they hear a Bible lesson.

Worship & Missionary Story

Join us for a time of worship with your team members, as well as some Dominican friends. You’ll be able to hear from one of our missionary families as they tell their testimonies or how the Lord led them to serve with CUPS!

Village Movie Night

This is a wonderful time to get to know the kids in our villages! Join us as we gather with children and families to worship the Lord, dance, sing, and enjoy an outdoor movie together!

House Visitations

We’ll go door-to-door in different communities to speak with families and learn how we can pray for them. Then, on their front porch or in their living room, we will pray with them (with the help of a translator). We will also give these families a small gift of rice and oil.

Visit Orphanage

We will bring the toys and we hope you’ll bring the energy. We’ll spend a few hours playing with the children and hosting a mini Bible camp for them.

Snorkeling/Free Time

Use this time to have some fun! The beaches in the Dominican are gorgeous, and we want you to be able to experience them. You’ll have the option to go on a snorkeling cruise (additional fee) or you’ll have free time to relax by the hotel pool!

Worship & Debrief

This will be a wonderful time of reflection on what the Lord has taught you over the past week. We will worship together, share our “snapshot” moments, and reflect over the time spent serving the Lord.

*Activities subject to change

You can view our cancellation policy here.

The mountain hike is 1.5 miles both directions and 700ft in elevation.