Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic (Aug 2026) - Service Trip Recap
Dates: August 1-9, 2026
Location: Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic
This HFK service trip to the Dominican Republic brought together a team from Reality SF to partner with Seed to Sower Ministries and serve alongside their local staff in Jarabacoa. 🇩🇴
Throughout the week, the team served through construction, painting, carpentry, and mural projects, hosted summer camp activities for local students, sorted 20+ bags of donations, and spent meaningful time with kids at the Ark Children’s Home. From building and delivering a bunk bed to playing sports, sharing testimonies and devotionals, and connecting with the local community, the week was filled with service, faith, connection, and meaningful moments together. 🫶
Day 1
The day began with a late-night meet-up at the airport! After an overnight flight, the team had some fun at the Miami airport, connecting with other passengers and praying before leaving the country. ✈️
They arrived in the DR with over 20 duffle bags of donations and made their way to Jarabacoa! 🇩🇴
As the team walked into the team house, they were greeted by the delicious smell of dinner prepared by their wonderful cooks for the week. 🍽️
After settling in, choosing their rooms, enjoying a typical bandera meal, and avoiding some bee-eating lizards, the team reflected on the day together and got some much-needed rest. 🙏
Blessing of the day: HFK’s biggest team since the pandemic arrived safe, sound, and healthy, ready to embrace the week! 🫶💙
Day 2
The day began with a morning service at one of HFK’s partners’ local churches, followed by a team lunch. ⛪️💙
The team then returned for an activity where they turned paper bags into “mailboxes” to share affirmations, gratitude, and positive notes with one another throughout the trip! 💌
Afterward, they headed to Balneario Salto Baiguate for a beautiful waterfall hike. Many team members even swam under a waterfall for the first time! 🙌
The evening ended with a delicious BBQ at one of HFK’s partners’ family homes, where everyone enjoyed Dominican food and meaningful conversations together. 🍽️
Blessing of the day: Gratitude for the sweet hospitality of the team’s hosts and the wonder of God’s creation in nature. 🫶
Day 3
This was the team’s first day focused on service projects to support the work HFK’s partners, Seed to Sower, are doing in the community through their school, Fountain of the Water of Life! 🫶🌐
The team split into four groups to tackle various projects, including construction, painting, carpentry, and mural design. 🛠️🎨
Then, they partnered with school staff to host a summer camp filled with activities for middle and high school students! It started with a biblical teaching, a fun introduction to HFK and the team, and activities such as soccer, dodgeball, board games, and positive movement! ✨
The team squeezed in an intra-squad volleyball game before heading to meet HFK’s partners, Jarabacoa A4 Sports Club, and join their high-level soccer scrimmage! 🏐⚽️
The day ended with a delicious dinner, which was a highlight for many, followed by a beautiful time of reflection and prayer. 🙏
Blessing of the day: Finding the last available pair of cleats for one of the participants and discovering they were the exact size they needed so they could play! 🙌💙
Day 4
The team continued their service projects and started to see their progress steadily unfold. 🙌
They heard an inspiring testimony from someone who courageously shared his powerful and moving story about his background and journey to Fuente de La Vida and God. 🙏
After a devotion, the team headed to more exciting activity stations, where the kids enjoyed soccer, arts and crafts, learning some English, creative movement and dance, and field sports like spikeball. 🎨💃⚽️
Some team members also participated in a beautiful theatrical presentation about Paul, while others enjoyed watching the creativity and joy of the team in action!
Some of the Ark House students joined the team for a soccer game, and everyone had an amazing time together on the field! ⚽️
The day continued with a walking neighborhood tour, ice cream from a local shop, and a visit to a nearby supermarket, making for a very full and memorable day! 🍦
Blessing of the day: The expertise and knowledge of HFK’s partner leaders and their patient guidance throughout the team’s projects! 💙
Day 5
The team got back to their projects and switched up their assignments so they could serve in different ways. 🛠️🫶
They heard a beautiful testimony from an STS staff member who grew up in the ministry, followed by lunch with the local staff. 💙
The team began summer camp with a biblical skit and an inspiring testimony from one of their own team members. They then led different stations alongside HFK’s partner staff, including dodgeball, kickball, water painting, and a hip-hop dance class! 🎨🕺
The afternoon continued as the team split up between playing soccer with middle school students and sorting through the 20+ bags of donations they brought! ⚽️🙌
The evening ended with dinner, a walk to the corner store, and even more dancing! ✨
Blessing of the day: Seeing firsthand how all of the donations the team brought will support vulnerable children and families! 🙏
Day 6
The team returned to the projects they had been working on the day before. 🎨🛠️
It was an extra special day because the physical education director at the site planned a fun and challenging team day course for the whole school. The team had an amazing time with the kids, and everyone enjoyed it! 🙌
They met with the local staff over lunch, getting to know one another better and learning more about the people they had been serving alongside throughout the week. 💙
There was a beautiful devotional about Jonah and the whale, followed by an inspiring testimony from one of HFK’s own team members. The team also spent quality time at the Ark, playing soccer and board games, making bracelets, and blowing bubbles with the kids. 📖⚽️🫧
Afterward, they headed to Los Colombianos for a delicious Colombian dinner, followed by a refreshing walk back to the team house. 🍽️🇨🇴
Blessing of the day: Installing a finished double bunk bed in the home of a mother and daughter and seeing their genuine gratitude. 🙏
Day 7
The day started with the team adding the final touches to their projects. Everyone felt so proud of all they had accomplished! 🫶
Some team members also had the opportunity to go on a barrio tour, where they were able to see how many people in the local community live. The team also enjoyed a beautiful devotional, followed by a meaningful testimony from one of their own team members. 🏠📖
The afternoon activity was a water fun day for the kids, and they had an amazing time playing with HFK and Palo Blanco staff! Activities included slip-and-slide, water balloons, and water tossing, followed by the local fire department hosing everyone down with wonderfully cool water! 💧🚒
The team visited the Ark, where staff and house parents joined them for activities with the kids, like playing soccer, swinging on the swings, meeting the farm animals, making bracelets, and playing board games. They ended their time together with pizza and soda, which the kids were so excited about! ⚽️🍕
The team closed with prayer and a circle of gratitude and gave all the kids prizes for their participation. It was so hard to say goodbye to the students, and everyone was incredibly grateful for the time they shared together!
The day ended with fun group activities alongside the Palo Blanco staff, including a water balloon challenge, followed by hugs and high fives all around. 💙
🙏 Blessing of the day: Spending time at the Ark, meeting kids who have faced difficult circumstances, and seeing how, through the Ark and the ministry, they are able to thrive and rebuild their lives!
Day 8
The day began with the team saying goodbye to Jarabacoa and heading to Sosúa. On the way, they stopped at the Vida Para Niños School and heard a testimony from a staff member who inspired the team with his story of strength and courage. They also went on a barrio tour, where they were able to see some of the families HFK’s partners work with and a new basketball court being built for the community. 📖🫶
The team then headed to their hotel in Sosúa for lunch, spent time getting to know one another better, and got ready to head to the beach! Everyone had a great time enjoying the warm Caribbean waters, swimming, jumping off cliffs, riding on a banana boat, and relaxing on the sand! 🏝️
Some team members also walked into town to visit the local market, where they bought handmade souvenirs from Dominican and Haitian artisans and experienced more of the local life, culture, and cuisine. 🇩🇴
The team then gathered for dinner and a final debrief with their Seed to Sower partners to wrap up an amazing week, along with hearing personal testimonies from their partners. 💙
🙏 Blessing of the day: Reflecting on the end of their time together and looking back at all they accomplished, both individually and as a team.
Our team had such a meaningful time serving in the DR! From building and painting to helping with summer camp, playing soccer, and spending time with students and families, the week was filled with service, connection, and joy. 💙
It was a blessing to come alongside the work already happening in the community, build meaningful relationships, and experience the eternal joy of service together. 🙏
