For the Widow exists to serve widows in the Dominican Republic physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When teams travel to the DR, they are able to be the hands and feet of Jesus by visiting the widows and helping to meet their needs. This is our first priority at all times and the reason we are there. What that looks like can vary from trip to trip based on the team and the predetermined purpose of the trip.

While we are serving the widows, there are opportunities to share the Gospel with other members of the community, including the widows’ families and neighbors. We call this the ripple effect and it is an important part of what we hope this ministry will accomplish.

The cost of the trip is $800 per person plus airfare. This cost covers your lodging, meals, ground transportation, and interpreters for the trip. Airfare costs vary depending on the time of year, current airline rates, and where you are departing and returning to. See more details about booking travel in the following question below.

A For the Widow team member will be working with you and your travel group to ensure that your travel accommodations are booked correctly. Depending on your departing location, you will fly to Atlanta or Miami and connect from there to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 

Once you have arrived in Santo Domingo, our DR team will meet you at the airport and take you by van or bus to Barahona. The ride is approximately 4 hours with a stop at a local store after 2 hours.

As a new organization, we do not currently have a mission house in the DR. However, as we continue to grow and establish relationships within the communities we serve, we pray that will be a part of our future plans. 

Until that time, we use local AirBnBs that meet the following criteria: financially prudent, in a safe area, enough space to house the team, and centrally located to the areas that we are serving in. So, the exact location of where you will stay may vary, but you can be confident that those four considerations are used to determine appropriate lodging.

We want everyone to feel as safe as possible on a For the Widow Mission Trip. The following steps are taken to ensure safety:

• A driver and one of our Dominican team members will pick you up at the airport to ensure that you get to the house in Barahona and return with you to the airport at the end of the trip.
• The house is protected by a gate and walls around the complex.
• When traveling to the areas to serve, you will always be accompanied by Miqueas, our program director, and translators who will help you communicate. 
• At night, the house is locked up and all travel team members are required to stay at the house throughout the night. 
• Members of the travel team do not go anywhere alone or without one of our Dominican team members.

Learning some basic Spanish words is encouraged but not required. Being able to communicate at a minimal level can serve you well during the trip. However, translators will accompany you wherever you go and will help you communicate and share the Gospel with the people of the DR.

Most For the Widow trips are planned for 8 days, however there are other options, depending on the purpose of the trip and the willingness of the team to serve for longer. 

A normal 8-day trip includes two travel days, five days of serving widows in various communities, and one day of rest and recreation (usually a trip to the beach for lunch and other activities). 

However, trips can be set up in different ways as long as they are on mission in serving the widows. Send our team a message if you have more questions.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided as a part of your trip cost each day. You are encouraged to bring your own snacks if needed.

The majority of expenses are included in your trip cost. While there is not exact amount of extra money that you need to bring, the following list will give you an idea of what other costs you may incur:

1. Tip for the staff - We are well taken care of throughout the week by a small group of hard-working men and women. You may tip whatever you feel led to give but this amount is typically $30-40 per person (to be divided by the staff).
2. Souvenirs - While on the trip, you will have several opportunities to buy local jewelry, artwork, coffee, etc. An extra $20-$100, depending on what you plan to buy, is usually more than enough to cover these items. 
3. Extra food/snacks - When you arrive at the airport there are options for food, and the store you will stop in during your bus ride to and from Barahona has pastries, snacks, and meals. These are not included in your food costs, so you will need to purchase these on your own.

One of the best parts about these trips is the people you will come into contact with. The people of the Dominican Republic are kind and welcoming. They will invite you onto their porch or into their house and will usually be very open to discussing their lives and beliefs with you. This allows for many opportunities to share the Gospel during the trip.

The first way to have a meaningful conversation about Jesus is to ask questions and get to know them. Then, once you have established good communication with them, they are open to listening to what you have to share.

While there are many resources out there that you can use, we encourage all teams to download the Life on Mission app and commit it to memory. We have found this particular resource to be very helpful in communicating the Gospel in a simple, effective way. We also have this resource translated into Spanish to share. 

We are always open to new ways of sharing the Gospel with people, so if you have an idea or resource, let us know and we will send it to our Program Director in the DR to make sure it is something that he feels will be effective.

For the Widow encourages families to serve together in the DR. We recommend that children under the age of 10 not participate in these trips because of the amount of travel, the long days walking in the communities, and the need for everyone to be able to share the Gospel with those we come in contact with. However, if you feel that your child under the age of 10 will be able to handle the rigors of the trip and will not be a hindrance to the purpose and mission, please reach out to our team.