Letter to the Editor: Missions Trip Highlights Need for Clean Water

This past summer, I was lucky enough to be part of a volunteer mission team from St. John’s Church of Sweet Air, Maryland.  A group of 20 of us went to several small, impoverished towns in the Dominican Republic on a medical mission. 

Through many generous donations from local businesses, family and friends, we were able to give medicine and vitamins to over 1,000 people.  While the medical aspects of the trip are very important, connecting with the people is also a very meaningful part of the trip.

During the medical clinics, a few team members would round up the children to play games like duck-duck goose, soccer, London Bridge, etc.; and make crafts, sing songs, and read stories together.  Through this time that we spent with the children of Esperanza, my eyes were opened to a problem that had never before been so prevalent to me. 

One day, a group of children asked me for a cup of water.  We had just finished playing soccer in the extremely hot sun; everyone was sweating and dehydrated.  I had to tell them that we had run out of clean water for the day.  It was truly heartbreaking to not be able to provide such a rudimentary and necessary thing to the thirsty children standing in front of me.

The abundance of clean water here in the United States is something that I, along with most Americans, take for granted.  Obtaining drinkable water is a day-to-day struggle for everyone in Esperanza.  Parasites make the water in the Dominican Republic undrinkable and very dangerous.  The contamination of the water in these towns is a huge contributing factor to the health issues that are common in these areas.  The team treated a large number of cases of this kind. 

I was not the only person on our team who was influenced by the water situation in Esperanza.  Upon returning to Maryland, David Jacobson, a fellow teammate coordinated with a man named Fausto Nelson.  Fausto lives in the Dominican Republic, and is the son of Pastor Mercedes who runs school and church programs in Sarmiento, San Pedro and other nearby towns. 

David was able to raise the $9,000 needed to install a water filtration system in Esperanza.  This filtration system will provide water for the people at an exponentially cheaper price than is generally available in the Dominican Republic.

This coming summer from July 2 through July 11, a new and growing team of 30 missionaries from St. John’s is going back to continue our medical mission in some of the same towns, along with some towns that we have not yet visited.  Not only does the trip connect the natives to the Americans, but it also brings us together as a community here in the United States. 

It is remarkable to see the number of individuals and businesses that have been more than willing to support our mission.  Our team greatly appreciates all of the people who have been helping us along the way.  This year’s trip will be blessed, and we hope to continue our mission in the best way possible!

Sarah Higby is Catonsville resident who attends McDaniel College.