CHECK LIST Based on experience, the following list would be for your convinience for this specific country. Apart from your luggage, a backpack is very necessary for your to carry around while we visit homes and near by towns. Carpenter pants (the one’s at Old Navy with many pockets) and comfortable shoes are very useful. Its very important you drink water, ice tea, juice, that we will have for you. Avoid soda’s. For your trip, we would need an advance of to purchase groceries.

MEALS if your a group of 3 for 5 days $90. for a group of 5 $150. for a group of 10 $300.

TRIP ITINERARY: .A 4 1/2 HOUR TRIP

We are aware that you are coming to help the needy. But, we have learned that the 1st ones we need to think of are those that have come to live here fulltime. Our founder and his wife, the on-site missionaries. Please make sure to ask them before you travel, what they need. They have given there life to come and live surrounded by extreme poverty. There email is nchildorg@hotmail.com. They do need a donation to travel to Santo Domingo to meet with you. Dominican Republic is expensive for any one who lives on little like they do.
Please be prepared to walk. It is very hot and humid. At night though, it does get chilly. If we visit the town called "La Tinaja" where we built a school, the walk is difficult. But if we don't visit it, our town is easy. So please bring (2) comfortable shoes. Sneakers are fine or hiking shoes. One of them always get's wet.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING??

Have $15.US Dollars ready to pay for the tourist card in Dominican Republic airport.
Change your money to the Dominican Peso at the airport.
Once you pay for the tourist card and change your currency, make sure you get a cart for your luggage, its free.
Extra Cash in your pocket, for your expenses and to donate.
Your camera so you can take bk home and show others. That way awareness is made and help can come after you.
Extra pair of shoes
Flashlight with new batteries. (optional) but at least 2 per group.
Insect Repellent - Purchase the brand "OFF" the green can.
While in Juan Santiago, there are small convenience stores called “Colmados” with cinnamon rolls, cookies, chips, cup cakes, soda, water, you’ll need Dominican peso.
Towels please bring 2
Soap (antibacterial) & shampoo @ Targets there’s a small travelers bag. Excellent for travel. Also at Walmart.
Tooth brush, tooth paste
Tylenol – trust us… it can get hot and humid.
Booties, the ones you wear for the beach. (these shoes used for when you bathe)
Anti bacteria hand sanitizer 2.Oz size to carry with you in your backpack. Its vital you clean your hands constantly.
Make sure you bring a small bag (6''x4'') or a plastic bag to hold the items you will use to bathe. That way you can carry them with you to the river, or bathroom.
Alka-Seltzer.
Bring (2) large ICE Tea mix of 6lbs.or 5 oz approx. and or the large Lemonade

Packing - Luggage: Please bring a backpack, its very necessary, and one large bag, not weighing more then 45 lbs. (with wheels please.) Please make sure to check our wish list, please bring something from that list!! click here

About, location, & is it safe? Dominican Republic is one of the safest countries in Latin America. The people are very friendly. But, like every city/country, there are neighborhoods that are very dangerous. We have been working here with the poor and children since 2002 We are well known in these towns and will take you to meet most of the folks. Our trips set us apart, because we are very adventurous. You also have the option of bathing in the river which is a favorite. We have our own cooks that will prepare our meals each day. Very tasty! This is the route to our project, located in Provincia Elias Pina" a 4 hour 1/2 away from "SANTO DOMINGO, where you will be arriving (the airport). .

Clothing & travel information:
The best clothing I believe is carpenter pants; you have plenty of pockets. Old Navy has good prices. Light t-shirts and two pairs of shoes in case one of them gets wet. There are mosquitos, bring insect repellant.

Documents to travel: A valid US passport and photo ID. Make sure you keep your passport in a safe place.

Electricity: 110 volts as in the US. However, the electricity and water is cut for hrs. in a day, every day.

Money: The American dollar varies constantly as of Jan 07’ its worth is 32 Dominican pesos – (www.oanda.com/convert/classic ) Money exchange is done at the Dominican Airport upon arrival. The Dominican Republic is very expensive, compared to the States, because its an island. However, in the town we work in, food is very cheap. Gas however is not. It varies, but usually around $4.50 US per gallon.

Weather: In the 90's, it is very hot you must be drinking water constantly. There is no air conditioning here. Any where! Only the rich or stores, malls in Santo Domingo. Not in the country side.

Food: You can purchase bottled water, snacks, sodas, etc. There is a small Mercado next door to our project site. Do not drink water if it is not bottled. We have a cook, so the food is very good. Drink a lot of water, gatorade, etc. The less soda the better for you.

SUGESTIONS

We always encourage those that come, if they desire too, they can donate any items they bring. Everything is useful over here and needed. Everything!
Our biggest most important task is cleaning up the mess the “evangelicals” have made here. Teaching people that you need to be perfect, follow a set of rules, and dress a certain way. Encourage folks, remind them God is a loving father who desires to win the trust of his children. That he’s not interested in what you wear, but interested in having your heart. In you following him, having a purpose in life. His purpose. Many will tell you “I know God” or even sound Christian, they aren’t.
The less you talk the better. Dominican Republic’s education system is horrible. Especially the south. Here many don’t know how to read or write. Keeping it short and to the point will help them understand and remember what you shared. There is a local church, however it is one of those Pharisee places. Who have done more harm then good. This is the capital of witch-craft and superstition. The south.

Dos and Don’ts.

Don’t Give money to the poor, children, families. If you feel you should, make sure you do it inside a home in private. But only if you feel led to. The father usually will use it for alcohol. Many use the little they have to drink and get drunk. If you’d like to sponsor a family, the best thing is too purchase an animal for that family. Like a “chivo”, pig, chickens. This re-produces and is also useful for food. Its also an investment for families. Actually the best investment and the best way to help.
“Give a fish and they’ll eat for a day, buy them a fishing rod and there’ll eat forever”

Don’t eat or drink food that folks offer you. Only because they tend to cook with a lot of oil and that can give you diarrhea. The water they drink is not filtered it is contaminated. We have filtered water. We will have breakfast, lunch and dinner for you. We will need to do grocery shopping the day before in the capital. And will need $150.

Do’s we encourage you while near the group, to venture closely to a home a family, to approach a teen, a child, father, mother, anyone, and give them encouragement and the good news. Remind them, Christianity is different in the States. That God doesn’t criticize them or judge them for what they wear. That’s just an idea, feel free to use your own words. One on one ministry is very powerful.

Do’s giving away any Christian materials from your ministry to those you feel led.

Don’t push yourself. If your tired, rest, let us know. If you are feeling bad, let us know the moment you begin to feel something.

Brief grocery shopping in Santo Domingo – Prior to your arrival. (day before)

We would need a donation of $150. for grocery.