One of the Caribbean's more obscure locales, the Dominican Republic, is a big country with spectacularly varied scenery. Majestic mountains, white sandy beaches, and the region's oldest, most cosmopolitan city, Santo Domingo, will delight you. Yet it is the beauty of the Dominican Republic's people and the faces of her children that will capture your heart.

Have you wondered how your monthly sponsorship really affects a child and if that afffect is sustainable over time? Do you wonder if the letters you write mean anything and, for that matter, if you really matter to the child pictured in the photo on your refrigerator? A Sponsor Tour to the Dominican Republic will answer these questions and many more. Nothing can prepare you for that moment when your eyes meet the child you sponsor for the first time or for that final hug that requires no translation. In that moment you will say, "It was worth every penny and every inconvenience – I am changed."

Our adventure will take us to see several child development centers, like the one your child attends. We'll venture deeper into the heart of the community, the home, where you will experience the richest expression of this culture. As a ministry team, we will work together to not just observe this culture but to dive in and get our hands dirty through hands-on mission elements and face-to-face ministry among the children. See you there!

Day 1: Our Journey Begins

Saturday, Jan. 10: This journey begins with a brief orientation to help us get to know each other and prepare ourselves for this unique experience. We arrive in Santo Domingo late evening to get a good night of rest and prepare for the life-changing week ahead.

Day 2: Expand Your Horizons

Sunday, Jan. 11: We will start our journey by becoming familiar with our new surroundings and culture as we worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ and see the sights.

Day 3: Meet the Compassion Dominican Republic Staff and Engage With the Child Survival Program

Monday, Jan. 12: With our hearts stirred to put our faith in action, we will visit the Compassion Dominican Republic office. This will provide a unique opportunity to understand how Compassion functions in-country and who is actually doing this amazing work in the lives of children. After lunch we will travel a short distance to see the Child Survival Program in action. This program serves expecting and new moms and their children through an early intervention program that operates through the local church. We will even have the opportunity to visit a few moms in their homes to learn how this program impacts their lives day to day.

Days 4-5: Minister to the Children and Child Development Staff

Tuesday - Wednesday, Jan. 13-14: The adventure continues as we leave Santo Domingo to travel to Santiago and then on to Puerto Plata. Over the next few days we will participate in hands-on service elements that benefit the children and center staff members who serve them day to day. You will also meet and hear testimonies from young people enrolled in Compassion's Leadership Development Program.

Day 5: Experience Your Ministry of Compassion in Action

Thursday, Jan. 15: We will begin the day with a half-day visit to a Compassion child development center. However, you are in for an amazing experience this afternoon. Against all odds, several emerging young leaderswho have completed Compassion's Leadership Development Program will graduate, and we are some of the honored guests to witness this miracle.

Friday, Jan. 16: Finally, the day you have been waiting for has arrived. Today you will spend the day with the child or children you sponsor. It is sure to be a day of smiles, but possibly a few tears of joy as well. We will meet the children in the morning and spend the rest of the day making memories and sharing our lives. Tonight we bring our powerful experiences to a close with a final dinner together.

Day 8: Bringing the Tour to a Close

Saturday, Jan. 17: After a week of immersing ourselves in the beauty and grandeur of this beautiful country, tasting a bit of the culture through our visits to the Compassion-assisted child development centers, and investing in the lives of children, we cannot help but be inspired and changed by our experiences. Armed with knowledge, equipped with our personal stories, and compelled to act we return to take up our calling as champions for children in poverty. 

Tour Schedule Details:

Registration: We suggest you respond quickly even if you don't have a passport yet because our trips fill up on a first-come basis. Once we have received your registration along with a deposit of $180, we will confirm your place on the tour and you may then purchase your domestic air ticket. The final payment of $2,295 is due no later than Sept. 23, 2009.

Please click on the Register Now button below to complete the registration form online. If you'd rather register by mail, click on the link to the printable Registration Form above right, below the photo.

Price: The cost of this tour is $2,475 per person for double occupancy.

Included in our tour price are round-trip airfare between Miami and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, lodging, all meals, travel within the Dominican Republic, tips, your child's travel, guides and translators during the tour, admission fees, departure tax and administrative costs.

Costs not included in the tour price are transportation to and from Miami, passport and incidentals such as snacks, additional beverages, laundry, phone calls, film and other personal items. You may want to bring extra spending money for shopping at the local markets.

Safety and Preparation: This tour will be moderate in difficulty because of impoverished conditions. Also, there will be some walking, rides on bumpy roads, and long days. We will have a work element in this tour.

Compassion constantly monitors the safety of our destination countries and will make any adjustments necessary to protect our tour participants, sponsored children and in-country staff. We believe it is important to provide safe, comfortable accommodations, traditional meals and reliable transportation so that your focus can be on what God is teaching you and the impact of the experience rather than concern for your personal safety and well-being.

Please read the Tour Conditions and General Information document before finalizing your decision.

BACKGROUND CHECK: 
In order to ensure our children's safety and determine eligibility to travel with Compassion, we now require all travelers (over the age of 18) to complete a criminal background check.  Please visit https://www.ministryopportunities.org/USCITours to complete your online background check at the time of registration. If you are unable to complete this online, please contact us and we will send you a paper form for you to fill out and return.  Compassion uses a third-party vendor, Protect My Ministry (www.protectmyministry.com) to process background checks. The results of your background check are confidential and all personal information is encrypted and secure. 

AIR TRANSPORTATION and FUEL SURCHARGES: 
Air transportation as included in the tour is based on economy-class transportation and is subject to all rules and regulations governing these fares. Fuel surcharges are added on a per-ticket basis at time of confirmation. In the event these surcharges are increasingly higher than budget estimates, we may require additional funds to cover these surcharges. We will communicate any pricing changes immediately. 

In the event that you need to cancel your trip, please refer to our cancellation policy below:

All deposits are nonrefundable.

Fifty percent of the tour cost will be required for cancellations 59-31 days prior to the sponsor tour.

One hundred percent of the tour cost will be required for cancellations 30-0 days prior to the sponsor tour.

Only written cancellations accepted.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to adjust or alter any travel program when necessary or desirable for the protection, safety or improvement of said travel program, or when local conditions do not permit operation as published. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to accept or deny participants application at its sole discretion.
RESPONSIBILITY: COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL makes arrangements with airlines, hotels and other independent parties to provide you with the travel services you purchase. These parties are independent suppliers over whom we have no direct control. In the absence of negligence on our part, we are not responsible for any claims, losses, damages, costs or expenses arising out of injury, accident or death; damage, loss or delay of baggage or other property; or delay, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, upset, disappointment, distress or frustration, whether physical or mental, resulting from (1) the act or omission of any party other than COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL or its employees; (2) mechanical breakdown, government actions, weather or other factors beyond our control; (3) failure to obtain documents, passports, visas and health certificates valid through the date of reentry, when required, in which case a cancellation charge will be assessed; (4) failure to follow instructions including but not limited to check-in and checkout times and baggage handling; (5) cancellation or change for any reason in the travel services offered; and (6) medical or health problems or physical disabilities. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL reserves the right to cancel or alter the travel services at its discretion, except as otherwise noted herein. In the event of change, COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL will try to substitute comparable services; in the event of complete cancellation by COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL, we shall refund all monies paid to us. COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL will not be responsible for any other cost incurred by participants.