DR | Liam

On this trip, to be truthful, I did not expect it to move me as much as it did. At first, I was not too interested in the people I was going to be around for a week or the people I would meet on the trip. However, the funny thing is that those people are what made this trip what it was for me, which was truly a blessing.

The Dominican Republic is a place where many people live in poverty and have very few material possessions. Even though this is the case, these people are much more grateful and spiritually rich than many people, and even many Christians, in the United States. After spending time at baseball fields, basketball courts, churches, and communities full of people who had little materially but so much spiritually, I began to wonder why I am often so numb and dull to the Spirit. Then I realized that much of it comes down to the people we surround ourselves with on a daily basis.

I recognized that the connection and relationships between people, whether family members or strangers, were much stronger in the Dominican Republic. Everyone seemed connected and communicated not out of necessity, but out of the opportunity and joy of being able to do so. That mindset bleeds into their spiritual lives as well. When people are deeply connected to one another, they become more socially fulfilled. At the same time, those connections make it much easier to become spiritually fulfilled as well.

On top of noticing the spiritual and social closeness of the people in the Dominican Republic, their way of life began to permeate our missions group. As a group, we quickly bonded over many things, but we also grew together in the Word and sharpened our awareness of what God had in store for us. Through everything we saw and experienced together, we became more connected and spiritually full. Even though I was hesitant about the trip at first, the people made it completely worthwhile.

The group of college students and mentors allowed me to see what it looks like to be spiritually filled and to pursue God’s heart every day. Being surrounded by that for a week naturally rubbed off on me. The intellectual and mature approach to walking with Christ demonstrated by people like Denny Hyland, Ty Holler, and Mike Deni gave me insight into what it looks like to be open and obedient to what God is calling me to do. At the same time, younger mentors like Troy McClelland, Brian Belade, Noah Wright, and Etienne Somuah showed me what it means to be childlike and joyful in our walk with Christ.

A relationship with God is not always made up of emotional highs or constant excitement. A walk with Christ is not simply trying not to sin as much as possible. At times, following Christ can feel dull, and there may be moments when it seems like His voice cannot be heard. A walk with Christ is challenging. It is remaining disciplined enough to continue moving forward with God and leaning on Him when you cannot pull yourself out on your own. The people I was with on this trip reminded me of that. When times are difficult or God feels distant, being reminded of His presence through the people around you is such a blessing.

Looking back, the greatest lesson I learned from this trip was not found in a specific service project, church visit, or outreach event. Instead, it was found in the people I met and the relationships that were formed. Through the people of the Dominican Republic and the people in our missions group, God showed me how much our environment and community shape our spiritual lives. This trip reminded me that a strong walk with Christ is not meant to be lived alone. It is strengthened through fellowship, encouragement, and being surrounded by people who continually point one another back to God. For that reason, this trip is something I will carry with me long after returning home. 

Liam McKlveen, Dominican Republic 2026