This summer, before I start my World Race Semester, I am working as a finance intern with Samaritan’s Purse in Dominica. Hurricane Maria, a category 5 storm, destroyed much of the little Caribbean island in 2017. Samaritan’s Purse arrived shortly after the hurricane hit and has been running various programs to assist Dominica in its recovery since. Samaritan’s Purse has provided emergency relief, chickens, reconstruction assistance, and more during its time on the island. Much of the hurricane damage has been restored, but the effects are still visible in buildings, neighborhoods, and roads throughout the island.
Dominica is nicknamed the “Nature Isle of the Caribbean” because of the vast, untouched mountains and rain forests that make up much of the island. The beauty of the island is like nothing I have ever seen before. It is incredible to look around and only see lush, green foliage. There are tons of great hiking trails, natural pools, beaches, and waterfalls. So far I have been to Boiling Lake, Middleham Falls, and Trafalgar Falls. All three were very different experiences, but all worth the beautiful views. Boiling lake was the longest hike (about 12 miles), but it was also the most fun. The trail leads you through many different types of terrain to the second largest boiling lake in the world. At some points along the trail, we had to repel down rocks, climb over boulders, climb rocks, and cross rivers.
Middleham Falls was a much shorter, easier hike to the tallest waterfall in Dominica.
There is really no hike to get to Trafalgar Falls, but there are boulders you can climb up to get to pools at the bottom of both waterfalls.
The sunsets here are beautiful, as well. I feel like I have taken a picture of the sunset just about every night since I have been here.
Another part of the island that I love is the style of the houses. They are all very colorful, like you would see in a beach town in the US. When you are driving on the main road down by the beach, you can look up the mountain and see colorful houses scattered along the mountainside. The house I am staying at is nice, and it has a pool. It is very hot here, and I am told it is going to get hotter, so I am very lucky to have a pool in the backyard. There is also a mango tree in the backyard that has been producing tons of mango. The is a lot of local fruit here like bananas, pineapple, and mango, and it all tastes so much better than any I have eaten in the US. Everything is so fresh.
I have been in Dominica almost three weeks now, and I have already fallen in love with the people here and the island. The island is recovering really well, but hurricane season has just started, and many of the people here are understandably nervous. Please pray that God would protect the island from storms and that He would use Samaritan’s Purse to share the love of Christ no matter what that looks like this season. Pray that God would use me and teach me in many different ways this summer during my internship and that He would use this summer to prepare me to serve in Ecuador and Peru in the fall.
