When I first heard about the opportunity to serve on a Global Health Outreach trip to Santo Domingo, I knew it would be meaningful, but I did not realize just how much it would change me. Going into the week, I hoped to grow in compassion and service, but what I left with was a deeper faith, a renewed trust in God’s plan, and a clearer understanding of what true surrender means.
Throughout the trip, we met people who faced unimaginable hardship. Many families had limited access to healthcare, children were growing up in poverty, and entire communities were struggling with basic needs. Yet, what struck me most was how steadfast their belief in God remained despite their difficulties. Seeing such faith made me stop and reflect on my own. I realized how often I try to control my life and how hesitant I can be to truly let go and trust that God’s plan is greater than my own. This trip helped me understand that surrender is not weakness. Instead, it is an act of love and faith. Allowing myself to be emptied of control and filled with His will was both humbling and freeing.
Serving alongside my classmates and the new friends I made was another incredible blessing. The fellowship we shared through prayer, reflection, laughter, and long clinic days strengthened my convictions and deepened my desire to live out my faith more boldly. I learned that faith grows best when it is nurtured in community. We are called not only to serve others but also to walk together in faith and encourage one another along the way.
One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was serving the children. Their joy, curiosity, and trust reminded me why Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” Watching their pure and wholehearted love helped me understand what it means to have childlike faith. It is a faith that does not depend on circumstances but is rooted in love and openness. I left feeling inspired to be more childlike in my own faith and in the way I treat others.
This experience did not just renew my faith. It reshaped it. I came home with a stronger desire to seek God’s will in every part of my life and to keep learning about the foundation of what I believe. The Santo Domingo trip was more than a mission experience for me. It was a moment of transformation and a call to deeper trust, surrender, and love.
