A semester like no other: live, learn, and serve in the Dominican Republic
Published: February 20, 2025
Author: Liz Dowell
“We want to go back,” declared participants in Greenville University’s inaugural study-abroad semester in the Dominican Republic upon their return last December.
Who knew the personal transformation they brought back flowed from one man’s doubts more than a year earlier? Who knew the experiences they treasured began with his misgivings?
AIMING FOR A FREEBIE
As Kyle Sunderland approached graduation in 2023, his future felt uncertain. With a double major in marketing and Spanish, he wasn’t sure what direction to take after college.
"I was considering getting a personal trainer license and opening up a gym, honestly," Kyle admits. However, his love for soccer kept him rooted at GU. Athletic participation rules altered by the COVID pandemic gave him a chance to play a fifth year. This decision opened the door to new possibilities.
Rumors surfaced about a new program involving Greenville University's partnership with SCORE International Ministries in the Dominican Republic. Intrigued, he contacted GU’s VP of Athletics Tom Ackerman and expressed interest in participating as a translator.
“I was just hoping to get a free trip to the Dominican Republic,” Kyle admits.
A whirlwind of opportunity followed, including evidence of God’s leading. The result? Kyle agreed to direct GU’s Climb Experience.
THE CLIMB EXPERIENCE
Greenville University has partnered with SCORE International Ministries to give students life-changing opportunities that include:
- Living and learning on the SCORE International Ministries campus in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.
- Semester-long study abroad, a memorable “gap-year” experience.
- Cultural and language immersion in and around Juan Dolio.
- The opportunity to earn college credits in the process.
- Opportunities to serve others via established ministries.
Kyle began developing the program while completing his final year of soccer and starting a master's degree in business administration. By the fall of 2024, he officially transitioned into the role of program director. He and the SCORE International staff launched the program last fall.
EMBRACING SERVICE AND HUMILITY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
In the heart of the Dominican Republic, Kyle guides students like Taylor Smith as they live, learn, and minister.
"Speaking Spanish was the hardest part for me,” recalls Taylor. “I got so nervous because I wanted to say everything perfectly, and if I wasn’t sure, I just wouldn’t say anything. But our Spanish teacher reminded us, ‘It’s about the ministry first. God isn’t asking you to be perfect in Spanish; He’s equipping you to serve.’ That really helped me let go of my fear."
Visits every Thursday to Pasitos de Jesús, a girls’ orphanage, emboldened Taylor. She came to regard the orphans as sisters. “It was so cool to connect with people we had never met before, speaking their language, practicing Spanish, and just loving on them.”
IMMERSION: THE GREAT TEACHER
Life in the Dominican Republic has been as much about personal growth as it has been about ministry for Kyle. Living in an environment where even essential resources like drinkable water require careful planning was an adjustment.
“In my apartment, I couldn’t drink out of my sink at all,” Kyle explains. “The water is dangerous to people who aren’t used to it. By the end of the semester, I had built up enough tolerance to wet my toothbrush with it, but even that required caution. They tell you to keep a water bottle by the sink for brushing your teeth. That’s how you stay safe.”
Kyle’s experience underscores the privileges many take for granted. “On campus, there’s no real third-world suffering,” he says. “We have air conditioning, hot water, three meals daily, and Wi-Fi. But when students complain about the slow internet, we remind them that we just visited a village where people don’t even have electricity. It’s about recognizing our privilege and using that awareness to serve others.”
COMING ALONGSIDE
“We talk a lot about the ‘white savior complex,’” Kyle explains. “We’re not here to save anyone. Our job is to be Christ’s image-bearers, not saviors. When we go to ministry sites, we don’t bring the attitude of ‘we’re here to fix you.’ Instead, we focus on learning and growing alongside the people we meet.”
Sometimes this can mean dancing; other times, it may mean child’s play. "But relearning how to be a kid was one of the most powerful ways we connected with the community,” says Kyle.
SERVING WITH INTEGRITY
Climb participants also learn the complexity of serving without unintentionally causing harm.
“It’s natural to think, 'Let's drop off food and fix the problem,'" Kyle explains. "But sometimes, that can do more harm than good. For example, giving away food for free can put local market sellers out of business and create even more needs in the future. Instead, we focus on walking alongside the community, learning from them, and supporting sustainable solutions."
Climb’s Bible professor Craig McClure, exemplifies this thoughtful approach. He has lived for more than a decade in one of the poorest villages in the Dominican Republic. Kyle describes him as “a white man from Georgia who speaks perfect Spanish and has completely immersed himself in the community. He’s taught us that ministry is like a three-legged stool - it doesn’t exist without the one serving, the one being served, and the local church. His life is a testament to humility and commitment.”
LIFE-CHANGING TRANSFORMATION
At Pasitos de Jesús, Estrella, a young girl with autism, found comfort in a Climb participant’s lap during worship.
“[It] was a reminder that no matter how much someone has been through, we can be a source of peace and build trust even in brokenness,” says Kyle.
By the end of the semester, the Climb student felt empowered to share her story and embrace her testimony.
BUILDING THE FUTURE
Kyle's work with Greenville University and SCORE International inspires students to serve with humility, love, and respect. "Our goal is to be a reason people see Christ differently," he says. "It's about leaving our privilege at the door and walking alongside others in faith."
His initial misgivings about his future led him to an unexpected path—one that shaped not only his own life but the lives of others. What started as a hesitant pursuit of a “free trip” became a calling to serve, to grow, and to walk alongside those in the Dominican Republic with humility and purpose.
Now, as Kyle watches student's step into the same transformative journey, he sees how God was at work all along—turning doubts into the direction, fear into faith, and uncertainty into a life-changing mission.
As the Climb Experience continues to grow, its impact reaches far beyond a single semester abroad. Students return not only with unforgettable memories but with a deeper understanding of service, humility, and faith in action.
The Climb Experience is a new program for GU; if you would like to learn more about the program and possibly apply, follow this link. If you would like to help support the work students are doing in the DC or donate to the program, follow this link.
