Global Village Dominican Republic: A Trip to Remember

Habitat Dominican Republic, as our leader and protector of the work and the families: The experience is only as good as the guide. Not only did the Habitat Dominican staff coordinate the boots on the ground, but they did so while protecting the dignity of all involved. Staff indeed protected and led our team through the busy, traffic signless streets of Santo Domingo and San Juan de la Maguana. We learned how to build concrete panel homes, worked hard, and ate well, while families, neighbors, and crews were all treated with the utmost respect. What more could one ask for from our hosts?

Our team: I feel our Global Village team was the visual representation of compassion and love. Occasionally communication was difficult since so few of us spoke Spanish. On various occasions I found myself waving my arms frantically and talking loud to communicate. Although much was lost in translation, it turned out we all spoke the universal language of good will. Love in this case is tangible, it looks like a home!

And of course, the breath to our work -- the families: No two families have the same story. Indeed, the beauty of our work is the diverse cultures, peoples, and perspectives. Beyond just the physical, the families define hope, opportunity, and motivation. Dare I say the spirit of why and how we do our work.

The old cliché is if you haven’t been on a Global Village trip, do so as you will be amazed by the impact it makes. The reality is, well, it’s true!