Making a Difference in the Dominican Republic YACS Spring Mission Trip The Yakima Adventist Christian School (YACS) ninth- and tenth-grade class and their sponsors joined Maranatha Volunteers International and several other schools for a two-week mission trip to the Dominican Republic in March. Three YACS students stayed in Yakima as the home mission group and led a prayer team for the missionaries and handled correspondence between the group and home. After landing in the capital, Santo Domingo, the YACS group traveled 200 miles by bus to Mao. Bright and early the next morning everyone got up to meet the rest of the Maranatha team and begin work on a new Adventist school. Students shoveled, made mortar and concrete, hauled cement blocks and tied steel in the walls. They felt the work went slowly at first, but after the first few days students were encouraged to see progress as the cement block walls grew. During their stay, a team completed the outside and inside walls, leaving only the roof for another group to complete. Groups of students and adults also ran a Vacation Bible School and joined the nationals to visit door to door with booklets. YACS students made friends with the nationals and were able to learn new games and participate in activities with church members and local students. They also participated in church services. While some YACS students preached in English, the bilingual students were able to interpret for them to the Spanish-speaking nationals. Before leaving the Dominican Republic, the group enjoyed the beach and saw many historical landmarks, some from the time of Columbus. On the return trip, the class spent several hours in New York and enjoyed seeing the sights there, too. Relatives, church members and family sponsored the students' trip. The missionaries received many blessings and hope to serve again in this way.
Making a Difference in the Dominican Republic
YACS Spring Mission Trip
The Yakima Adventist Christian School (YACS) ninth- and tenth-grade class and their sponsors joined Maranatha Volunteers International and several other schools for a two-week mission trip to the Dominican Republic in March. Three YACS students stayed in Yakima as the home mission group and led a prayer team for the missionaries and handled correspondence between the group and home.
After landing in the capital, Santo Domingo, the YACS group traveled 200 miles by bus to Mao. Bright and early the next morning everyone got up to meet the rest of the Maranatha team and begin work on a new Adventist school.
Students shoveled, made mortar and concrete, hauled cement blocks and tied steel in the walls. They felt the work went slowly at first, but after the first few days students were encouraged to see progress as the cement block walls grew. During their stay, a team completed the outside and inside walls, leaving only the roof for another group to complete.
Groups of students and adults also ran a Vacation Bible School and joined the nationals to visit door to door with booklets. YACS students made friends with the nationals and were able to learn new games and participate in activities with church members and local students. They also participated in church services. While some YACS students preached in English, the bilingual students were able to interpret for them to the Spanish-speaking nationals.
Before leaving the Dominican Republic, the group enjoyed the beach and saw many historical landmarks, some from the time of Columbus. On the return trip, the class spent several hours in New York and enjoyed seeing the sights there, too.
Relatives, church members and family sponsored the students' trip. The missionaries received many blessings and hope to serve again in this way.
The quickest way to get the cement blocks from the outside to the inside was via the block brigade.
YACS students visited the orphanage operated by International Childrens Care and made friends with some of the kids.
