Serving in the Dominican Republic

Greetings Wesley Chapel,

I’m Martha Loomis, a former member of Wesley Chapel for 8 years. In June of 2021, I had the opportunity to travel with a WC team to the Dominican Republic and saw firsthand the incredible work Project Mañana is doing. It was an impactful experience for me. At the end of 2021, my family moved to Florida for my husband's job. 

After moving, I was invited to join the Wesley Chapel team for the summer 2024 trip. I was thrilled to say “yes” and agreed to bring my oldest son, Harrison. I was excited to have this time with my son and to see how this experience would have an impact on his life. My experience is difficult to express because I not only saw how the Project Mañana ministry is creating better tomorrows through their various programs, but I also witnessed my son see God work. A memory that has been imprinted on my heart was from the day that we took water filters into a town that had no running water. It was visually overwhelming to see the lack of resources the community of Cienfuegos has and to have my son accompany me. 

Here is Harrison’s story: On July 16, 2024, my mom and I went to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. I’m 13 years old and did not really know what to expect. As a team, we worked serving God and the people in the towns of San Pablo and Cienfuegos. Over the course of the week, our team took part in helping build a house, we gave out water filters, and had a fun VBS program. This trip changed my life for the better and changed my perspectives on several things: water, Wi-Fi, money, food, transportation, school, and many other things. 

The most unforgettable day I've ever experienced was the water filtration day. That day, we gave people clean water for 10 YEARS by simply giving them a water filter! We prepared for this by decorating 5-gallon buckets with Bible verses. Once we were finished, we walked in groups to a few houses to give out the water filters. I had been learning Spanish for this trip and I was able to speak with a young mother who was holding her baby. I explained to her how to take care of her filter and how often to clean it. I explained to her that we are just like the dirty water that goes into the bucket, but Jesus is like the filter, He cleans us of our sins. That changed my attitude about the whole trip. After we walked away from her house, I broke down. I was so overwhelmed that a simple filter would change her life and keep her kids healthy. 

If you are thinking of supporting a Christian organization, Project Mañana is a great place to start! They offer child sponsorship opportunities and provide desperately needed services to the most vulnerable in the Dominican Republic. Wesley Chapel is a mission partner and will be returning to serve in the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2025. We hope that you consider serving! 

With Love,

Martha & Harrison Loomis