A Week that Lasts Longer
Sometimes, a week of service lasts much longer than seven days. The Back2Back Dominican Republic team welcomed their first two mission teams this summer! The extra hands were a gift to the growing site, and the relationships formed along the way deepened the impact of their time there.
The summer began with two interns from the Cincinnati area who spent the entire month of June serving alongside the team. They stepped into the everyday work of ministry, offering practical support wherever it was needed and building relationships with staff and the community.
For one of the interns, those relationships didn’t end when June did. Through a connection she made while serving, she plans to return for a year-long study program in the D.R. – an unexpected next chapter that began with a willingness to show up and serve. Another group arrived later in the summer just in time for something the community had long anticipated: Vacation Bible School!
More than 50 children gathered for a space-themed week built around a simple but powerful message: God’s love is greater than they can imagine, and they can share that same love with others. Through skits, crafts, games, and plenty of laughter, children experienced a week created just for them. Excitement spread beyond the Back2Back team, too, as a local leader created an invitation to share with the whole community.
Mission teams provide much-needed support for Back2Back staff, but their impact is about more than extra hands. They bring encouragement and build relationships. They create intentional opportunities to connect with those Back2Back serves. And sometimes, the connections formed while serving open doors no one could have anticipated.
This summer, people came willing to give their time and energy. They left as part of a bigger story, one still unfolding in the Dominican Republic.
