Table of Contents
Day 1 - January 29th
Our journey began in the quiet, early hours at Dulles International Airport, where the team gathered at 4:00 AM to navigate the first leg of our mission. Despite a few minor technical hurdles at check-in, we were cleared and ready at the gate shortly after. A quick flight brought us to Newark for a brisk, cold transfer between terminals—a sharp contrast to the tropical weather awaiting us. By the time we boarded our final flight to Santo Domingo, the energy was high, and three hours later, we stepped off the plane into the welcoming 80-degree warmth of the Dominican Republic.
The transition through the airport required a bit of strategy to ensure our supplies moved smoothly. While many of the team members were able to pass through passport control and customs without incident, we did encounter a significant delay with our equipment. Despite our best efforts to coordinate the arrival, five of our bags—containing essential supplies and personal items—were held by customs for further processing. We successfully cleared eight bags, and while the temporary loss is a challenge, we remain optimistic as we work through the necessary paperwork to retrieve the remaining gear.
As evening falls, the team is spread out but moving forward with purpose. Most of the group is currently making the long drive to Bánica, while a small contingent remains in Santo Domingo to coordinate the recovery of our bags with the help of local contacts. We are incredibly grateful for the support of Fr. Pedro Mateo and others on the ground who are helping us navigate the local logistics. With one more team member arriving tonight, we hope to have our full crew and all of our equipment reunited by tomorrow morning so we can begin our work in earnest.
Day 2 - January 30th
The day began with a renewed sense of hope and the relief of a complete team. After a late-night arrival, our final team member joined us for breakfast, marking the first time the entire group was together on the ground. We shared a few laughs over local fruit and southern traditions before diving into the day’s primary mission: navigating the complex logistics of customs to recover our held equipment.
By mid-morning, we were at the airport working through the necessary channels to clear our supplies. The process required us to secure a temporary importer license and undergo a rigorous inspection by the health department. Every bottle and box was accounted for, with officials ensuring our medications met all expiration requirements. Despite the meticulous scrutiny—and a humorous moment clarifying that our open bottles of sunscreen were for personal use rather than distribution—we successfully cleared the hurdles. By mid-afternoon, we finally walked out of the airport with every bag in hand.
The journey from Santo Domingo to Bánica was an adventure in its own right. Navigating the “organized chaos” of Dominican traffic requires a stout heart and an expert driver, and we experienced both as we pushed westward. While the long hours on the road eventually took their toll on our weary joints, the elation of having our gear kept our spirits high. We finally rolled into the mission center late that night to a warm welcome from the rest of the team. With the bags secured and the full crew reunited, we are finally ready to begin the work we came here to do.
Day 3 - January 31st
The mission work officially began with an early start, a hearty breakfast, and—most importantly—plenty of coffee. By 8:30 AM, the team was loaded into the vehicles and heading out to Sabana Higuero to set up our first mobile clinic. The energy was high as we transitioned from the logistics of travel to the heart of our mission: providing care to the community.
Our first session was a whirlwind of activity, serving 55 patients in just three hours. The clinic saw a remarkable range of people, with ages spanning from one-year-old toddlers to elders claiming to be 94 (though we suspect a few might have been rounding up for effect!). It was a successful and deeply rewarding morning that left the medical team energized and eager to reach even more people in the villages to come.
The work continued back at the mission center through the afternoon as we pivoted to pharmacy logistics. We spent several hours sorting through our inventory and organizing medications to ensure everything is staged and ready for the busy days ahead. After a final team dinner and a successful first day of service, the “early bird” schedule is starting to catch up with us—we’re turning in early to rest up for tomorrow’s sunrise start.
Day 4 - February 1st
The journey to our second clinic site took us off the beaten path—literally. Traveling south from Bánica in open-air trucks, we spent over 30 minutes navigating rugged, unpaved roads that wound through steep hills and rural landscapes. The drive offered a raw look at the local environment, passing free-roaming livestock and humble homes before arriving at the village of Pino. Even before we could offload our gear, a crowd of over 30 people was already waiting, signaling just how much our presence was needed in this remote area.
Setting up the clinic was an exercise in “organized chaos.” We transformed a local home and its surrounding yard into a full-service medical center, with doctors stationed both on the shaded veranda and out in the open air. Managing the flow of 225 patients required constant coordination—balancing intake, numbering, and crowd control to ensure everyone was seen in an orderly fashion. Despite the logistical challenges of keeping everyone in line while the pharmacy worked at top speed, the team moved with incredible efficiency, providing care to everyone from infants to the elderly.
The day didn’t end when the last patient was seen. Back at the mission center, the team shifted gears into administrative and preparatory work. While some organized the pharmacy for tomorrow’s site, others focused on digitizing patient records to ensure the data from our 225 consultations was preserved for future reporting. We capped off the exhausting but fulfilling day with a traditional Dominican stew and a deep discussion about the long-term impact of medical missions, grateful for the chance to serve such a resilient community.
Day 5 - February 2nd
The morning began with a crisp, cool breeze—a welcome change of pace as the team fueled up with a warm breakfast before heading out. By 8:15 AM, we arrived at El Corbano, where we quickly set to work transforming a small compound into a functioning medical site. Using a covered outdoor area for intake and consultations and a local chapel for our pharmacy, we were able to create an organized flow that respected the local space while maximizing our efficiency.
Managing the clinic required some creative logistics. We repurposed church pews as waiting benches to help guide patients from the compound entrance through to intake and finally to the doctors. This system allowed us to treat 145 patients by midday. Each location teaches us something new about our workflow, and we are already planning ways to further streamline the intake process to reduce wait times and see even more people in the coming days.
The afternoon provided an opportunity for the team to gain a deeper perspective on the local healthcare environment. A few members walked into Bánica to visit the local hospital and pharmacy, a sobering experience that underscored the vital importance of the mission’s work. While there, we were also able to procure additional essential medicines locally, ensuring our pharmacy remains well-stocked for the duration of the trip.
Back at the mission center, the late afternoon was spent in a familiar routine: inventorying supplies and prepping for the next village. With the logistics handled and the data entered, the team enjoyed some well-earned downtime—including a few lessons in the local card game, Bisca—before gathering for a hearty spaghetti dinner.
