Get involved in St. Marks’ Foreign Mission
St. Mark’s Chapel has been supportive of the Dominican Republic Mission of All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head, which had its inception in February, 2006 when All Saints made an exploratory trip to discern how best to become involved. Upon return the exploratory group recommended to the vestry that All Saints support the construction of a church and school in Barahona, a large port city about three hours west of Santo Domingo on the Caribbean coast. Starting in 2007, the parish joined with the Clearwater, FL Deanery to complete the building of Iglesia La Redención. Additional support has been provided by Ascension & Holy Trinity in Wyoming, OH. All Saints has been instrumental in the completion of the church building helping the congregation move from a store front to a new church. The first service in Iglesia La Redención was held on Sunday, June 22, 2008 which coincided with the All Saints team being able to conduct the first Vacation Bible School in the new church building. The new church consisted of 75 to 100 Dominican and Haitian parishioners.
Work on many of the school rooms at La Redención was completed in June, 2009. The school opened in September of 2010. Construction mission teams are working on the second story, which will provide for more children to be educated.
In the past few years, St Mark’s and several parishioners have given $300 scholarships which provide for much of a child’s education. The experience of those in the Dominican Republic who have developed these educational programs has shown that “parents must make an investment in their child’s education in order for a student to make satisfactory progress,” but the main part of the scholarship is donated and crucial for children to get the education they need.
All Saints made a “Discovery Trip” to the DR in February 2011. St Marker’s will be hearing about and seeing photos of the progress being made. Two St Marker’s, Barbara Pinkerton and Judy Alling, are members of the All Saints Dominican Republic Committee and attend monthly meetings. A Vacation Bible School Mission Trip and a Construction Trip from June 18th to the 26th is scheduled as well as a Medical Mission Trip in February.
HOW CAN ST MARKER’S HELP
Right now $300 Scholarships for ten students at one of the schools are desperately needed. Please let someone on the St Mark’s Committee know if you can help a needy child attend an Episcopal School for a year. In the past, sometimes two or more people joined together to provide a full scholarship.
Consider volunteering for the June mission trips.
Help with fundraiser –e.g. bake sales, dinner featuring DR menu, etc.
Join the DR Committee.
Prayer is requested for the people and clergy of the Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic.
Contact Barbara (522-3446, barbpinkert@gmail.com) or Judy (404-556-7007, jalling@charter.net) for more information.
“The Dominican Republic is a place of profound poverty and amazingly upbeat, loving and spirit-filled people, who, in spite of their circumstances, are an inspiration to all who encounter them. We came away as highly honored that we had a chance to be with them even for such a short time.” — A short term mission team member from All Saints
