MILTON — They waited a long time for this trip, and it was worth it.
The junior class of Meadowbrook Christian School recently returned home from a 10-day excursion to the Dominican Republic, in the area of the capital city Santo Domingo. They left April 18, and stayed at the Juan Tomas Bible Center, or the “goat farm” as the kids put it.
For at least seven years, juniors at the school have had the special privilege on going on missions trip. Other destinations in the past have include Costa Rica, Paraguay, Honduras and Peru, according to Penny Gabel, assistant director of student services.
Amazingly, the students start fundraising for this journey when they are in seventh-grade. Each student needed $1,500 to go this year. All 21 students in the junior class where able to go, though at least one said he went by the grace of God.
Bryan Reeb of Allenwood wasn’t able to raise the money he needed. However, he said a former classmate left a ticket behind when that student transferred out of MCS. Coupled with some last minute anonymous donations and support from teachers and he was ready to board the plane. A miracle in itself is that he was able to secure a passport in a short amount of time.
“You’ll do what God wants you to do,” Reeb said. “It’s not a coincidence.”
God had the students do a lot of great things in the Caribbean country.
The juniors spent the first six days supporting Esperanza Comunitaria, a school. They constructed a food hut and everything but net for a concrete basketball court. In addition, they painted nine rooms, a hallway and added murals depicting animals as well as the world.
They taught vacation Bible school, to share God’s love.
Most people who visit a Third World country say their experience was eye-opening. These Meadowbrook students were no different.
“You gain appreciation when you realize what they don’t have,” said Erica Anderson of Elimsport.
Lauren Elsasser of Mifflinburg said she was impacted by how warmly welcomed they were, something many take for granted here in the U.S.
“We appreciated it,” she said, recalling a church dinner where nothing was spared, even though they don’t have much to give. “They put it all out on the table.”
Reeb, as well as Evan McConnell of the Turbotville area, complimented the islanders’ work ethic. They don’t waste time there.
McConnell said he was touched seeing a woman who was out every day selling popcorn for five pesos a bag to pay for her child’s school tuition. Reeb mentioned a man who was on the work crew during the construction phase, spending the entire day mixing cement.
“It taught me to be hardworking,” he said.
Hard work led to some play for the students. At the Bible center they were able to play some basketball with the locals, and tried fresh coconut ice cream. Some, if not all, were surprised to find out they eating goat for supper. They also went to the beach and spent a night at a hotel after spending the rest of the time on the farm under the protection of mosquito nets.
The Meadowbrook juniors didn’t leave the Dominican Republic without providing the school they visited with a variety of gifts and supplies. Gabel, who mentioned they couldn’t find a pencil in the whole school, said the principal was just overwhelmed.
Both sides were impacted by the trip and the exchange. Gabel said they go there to benefit others, but the students always end up leaving changed as well.
Also attending with the students were Pastor Jim Terwilliger, mission trip coordinator; Beth Morgan, Spanish teacher; and John Cook, a science teacher. While it’s been mainly the juniors for the past several years, Meadowbrook has supported trips since 1993, Gabel said.

Jeff Shaffer: 570-742-9671
jeff@standard-journal.com