Trip Calendar

Ramón & Ludis Castro, La Romana Baptist Church

Ramón and his wife, Ludis, have two daughters, Emely and Sorangle. Pastor Ramón gave his life to Christ when he was 14 years old and since then began to support and participate in the ministries of the church, until the Lord called him to be a full-time pastor. Pastor Ramón has served for 30+ years in pastoral ministry in La Romana, and Ludis is the former administrator of a school they founded for special needs children. Their church is also home to a seminary and an orphanage. Their family is having a generational impact in this area for the gospel.  

They work with churches founded in the Haitian community of their city, and they desire for more churches to be started. The local healthcare in their community, and areas close to their founded churches, do not have easy access to the healthcare mainly due to lack of documentation or money. There are many nationalities represented since it is a city where many come in search of work. Even with multiple cultures, the people are accessible, humble, full of joy, hard-working, very creative, and diverse. 

Connect with them:

[email protected]

[email protected]

You will fall in love with the spirited Dominican patients we will see. In addition to lack of access to good healthcare, other health concerns arise from factors like dietary risks, human trafficking/sex trades, and substance abuse. In the face of such obstacles, conversations about eternity flow freely. Be a part of the change that happens in broken hearts.

The Dominican Republic is located on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. The island is full of mountains and beaches, waterfalls and forests, and a moderate tropical climate of year-round warm and humid conditions, making it a top tourist destination in the Caribbean. 

After more than 300 years of Spanish rule, the country declared independence in 1821. Over the next 150 years, there were civil wars, invasions, occupations, presidential assassinations, a military coup, and dictatorships, but the country has since 1978 had a stable representative democracy. 

Hospitals and trained medical personnel are available only in the larger cities. Unsanitary water, inadequate housing and health services, and poor nutrition undermine health conditions among the poor. As a result, infectious and parasitic diseases are common and the infant mortality rate is high.

Fun Dominican Facts:

• The daily lunch dish of rice, beans, and meat is named after the national flag – La Bandera Dominicana.

• The cuisine includes peppers, fresh seafood, tropical fruits, queso fresco, and fried plantains.

• Exports include gold, tobacco, bananas, sugar, coffee, and chocolate. 

• Noted fashion designer Oscar de la Renta was born in the Dominican Republic.

• 95% of the population consider themselves Christians, with most claiming to be Roman Catholic. 

• The Dominican Republic has the second highest number of Major League Baseball players after the United States. 

• The island of Hispaniola was the first place in the New World to be settled by Europeans. The first cathedral, hospital, and university in the Americas were founded in what is now the capital city, Santo Domingo.

• The country’s currency is the Dominican peso – DOP or RD$.

• The Dominican Republic is home to both the highest peak in the Caribbean and the lowest point in the Caribbean.

• With a diversity of African, European and Taíno ethnicities, you can expect Dominican culture to be vibrant, colorful, and spicy. 

• Dominicans love to dance, celebrate, and cook. ¡Olé!

For more country information, click here https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/dominican-republic/

Our plan is to offer medical, dental and optical care to this community. If you are a physical therapy professional interested in potentially serving on this team, please fill out an INTEREST FORM to inquire about offering these services. Every patient who receives care will hear the gospel from a member of this local church.

This trip is now closed. Thank you for your interest.

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