Travel Blog: Preds, Soles4Souls Serve in Dominican Republic

Note: Throughout the week, a group of Predators employees will blog on their adventures in the Dominican Republic as they distribute thousands of shoes with Soles4Souls.
Day One:
After a filling breakfast of tropical fruits and pan dulce, our Soles 4 Souls team sorted through the shoes and toys for the three visits planned for today.
We were out the door by 8:30 a.m. and headed to our first destination in Maimon, about 25 minutes west of where we are staying in Sosua. The small village - just off the main road - looked like the spitting image of a local storefront. Its residents sat patiently in rows of plastic picnic chairs as they awaited our arrival. We prepared to serve 30 children, which quickly became 70, but our team was in high spirits and eager to give to this gracious community. Our team was divided up into stations of washing feet, finding the correct shoe size and running to find the perfect pair for each child.

Our second stop was another community inside the same village, a few short miles up the road. We met in what appeared to be a community center, and the boys and girls were lined up with huge smiles ready for their shoes. This 60-person visit turned into a distribution for around 100, making sure each young child who arrived left with their own new pair of shoes.

By this point in the afternoon, we were ready to feast! And we did, at the world famous Parada Jhoan. We piled into the restaurant by walking through two rows of grills and an outdoor kitchen, which is constantly grilling and frying full fillets of red snapper and tilapia, freshly caught that morning. Our team split plates of platanos and French fries and each team member had their own filet to devour.
With a full stomach and after a quick rain shower, we were off to the final stop of the day, a Haitian community about 25 minutes from our meal. We were welcomed by songs and chocolas (high fives), then led the kids through a version of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. The community ended up receiving close to 130 pairs of shoes, meaning our team closed our first day of service by giving more than 300 pairs of shoes.

It wouldn't be a true trip to the Dominican Republic without a view of its famous Fortaleza San Felipe and the equally historic port founded by Christopher Columbus. The day was filled to the brim with moments to connect with our team and locals alike. We're anxious to see what adventures the rest of the week will bring us!

Day Two:
Day two of our service trip started with a quick breakfast before organizing and replenishing the remaining shoe bags - all before 8:45 a.m.
Both of our service destinations were closer to Sosua (the town we are staying in) but more inland, surrounded by farmland, mountains and plenty of horses and cows. We arrived a bit early to our first stop in Caraballo, giving us time to play soccer and draw with chalk with our soon-to-be shoe recipients. Once the distribution started we sized and fitted 110 children with new pairs of shoes!
The distribution went smoothly and allowed us time to hang with the children afterward. When we accepted the challenge from some locals to a game of futbol (soccer), it was game on. The Souls4Soles team unfortunately fell short, losing 2-1, but the laughter shared during the competition will be unforgettable. After a good game and high fives all around, we headed back to the hotel for a lunch overlooking the water.

Thirty minutes later, we drove to the second distribution site in Poncho Mateo. We pulled up outside the church and were immediately swarmed with crowds of children. After getting everyone in order, we handed out more than 140 pairs of shoes to the community members, from newborns to teenagers. That brings our grand total to more than 550 pairs of shoes in just two days!
We ended the busy day by playing basketball, making brackets and getting to know the individuals that make these towns so special.

Day Three:
Our third day was dedicated to fully taking in the natural beauty the Dominican Republic has to offer. With a 7 a.m. start to the day, we loaded up the buses and headed to Muñoz for a dune buggy outing. Weaving through the jungle, we took rocky roads to the beachfront.
Following our cow-chasing guide on an ATV, we next ventured through the small village and on our way up Mount Isabel de Torres. Arriving at a small outdoor villa surrounded by cashew, almond and avocado trees, the group was able to take in a picturesque look back down to Puerto Plata, palm trees scattered down the mountain below.
We concluded our adventure with a stop to cool off at a swimming hole in the Cuma River. Our trek back to base showed off the power of our vehicles as we ripped through parts of the river and many, many puddles - to say we collected some mud is an understatement.

After a brief lunch and break at the hotel, we ventured back to Muñoz to spend a few hours playing with the children of the community. A poorer community within Puerto Plata, Muñoz is a predominantly Haitian population. Everywhere you looked, more children came to join the fun. From futbol, to sack races, to converting ourselves into human jungle gyms, these children played relentlessly! The joy that they displayed as a result of our time with them was indescribable.

Day Four:
A week that went by all too fast had one more adventure. After packing all the extra shoes and delivering them to our local missionary partner, we took a trip to the Teleferico, the only cable car in the entire Caribbean. Extending 8,950 feet, this cable car travels to the peak of the mountain Isabel de Torres, which stands 2,565 feet tall. A beautiful ride up the mountain exposed the vastness of Puerto Plata below.
The spectacular attraction at the top of this mountain is the Christ the Redeemer statue that sits atop a former government outpost, initially built by President Trujillo in the 1950s to spot potential invaders. This Christ the Redeemer statue is one of three in the world, the other two are located in the artist's hometown, with the infamous statue in Rio de Janeiro. An inspiring sight to see, this final stop on our trip provided a fitting opportunity to reflect on the work we were able to do to help those in this world that need it most.

A minor bag mishap at the airport in Puerto Plata and again in Miami didn't slow us down. A truly life-changing trip behind us, this group was ready to return to Smashville. Twelve hours, two flights and a Catchphrase-filled dinner later, and the weary group of travelers touched down back home. Until next year: give shoes, give love.
- Photos by Erin Cooley