Madeline serves as the coordinator of mission volunteers and groups throughout the Caribbean. Based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Madeline works with a steadily increasing number of volunteers from the USA and Puerto Rico. Visiting teams work mainly with our Partners in missions and often do mission work in the “bateyes’ (bah – tays) in the Dominican Republic. These bateyes were built by owners of the sugarcane fields for the Haitian workers and their families. The bateyes are known for their poverty, lack of basic needs and poor sanitation.
Madeline visits the communities and/or bateyes before the teams arrive to assess and prioritize the needs. Teams are told what supplies are needed, and they come prepared to provide food, clothes, bedding, etc. Many teams offer Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs for the children, set up medical clinics, offer training in hygiene, birth control and preventing domestic violence. Some teams build schools or do evangelistic work with the families bringing them the Gospel and sometimes Bibles in Creole or Spanish. It is a great time of hope, joy and faith when volunteers come to the Dominican Republic.
Madeline’s passion for missions began when she attended her first World Mission Conference in 1990. Working on God's timetable, she began to fulfill her mission call by participating in short term mission trips during her vacation time, and going to seminary. Ten years later, at the World Mission Conference in 2000, Madeline knew it was time to resign from her day job and become a full-time missionary with International Ministries.
Madeline's enthusiasm for missions is contagious. She stresses that missions are for everyone! "Any age, race, gender, color . . . you just need to have a heart" to serve.
Madeline visits the communities and/or bateyes before the teams arrive to assess and prioritize the needs. Teams are told what supplies are needed, and they come prepared to provide food, clothes, bedding, etc. Many teams offer Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs for the children, set up medical clinics, offer training in hygiene, birth control and preventing domestic violence. Some teams build schools or do evangelistic work with the families bringing them the Gospel and sometimes Bibles in Creole or Spanish. It is a great time of hope, joy and faith when volunteers come to the Dominican Republic.
Madeline’s passion for missions began when she attended her first World Mission Conference in 1990. Working on God's timetable, she began to fulfill her mission call by participating in short term mission trips during her vacation time, and going to seminary. Ten years later, at the World Mission Conference in 2000, Madeline knew it was time to resign from her day job and become a full-time missionary with International Ministries.
Madeline's enthusiasm for missions is contagious. She stresses that missions are for everyone! "Any age, race, gender, color . . . you just need to have a heart" to serve.
Languages used in ministry: Spanish, English and Creole.