Taking a chance results in life-changing experience in Dominican Republic
Published: February 16, 2026
Author: Dave Bell
Though she’s not by nature a risk-taker, Ella Basham ’27 took a chance and went on a short-term mission trip to the Dominican Republic during winter break.
“Despite my reservations, I felt God nudging me to go,” said Basham, a digital media major and business minor at Greenville University. “It just felt right. Plus, I figured it was the kind of thing that would look good on my résumé.”
Little did she know that the experience would capture her heart and kindle a fire to help the people she met there – especially the children.
“I’ve always loved children, but those kids were so special,” said the Mapleton, Illinois, native. “Many of them have come from horrible family situations, but because they’ve been introduced to Jesus, they have such joy. It’s so inspiring!”
Basham traveled to the Dominican Republic with two other GU women – Professor Lisa Moon and fellow digital media student Millie Clark. Their assignment was to capture new video footage of the GU CLIMB Global Learning program in action and to take still photographs of the 225 students attending the school and the 50 children living in the group home.
CLIMB is a gap-semester partnership program between Greenville University and SCORE International. It is overseen by Kyle Sunderland, a GU graduate.
“For many of the children, the school is the safest place in their lives,” Basham said. “And most of them aren’t getting adequate nutrition, so the school provides nourishing food. It made me realize that these kids have come through situations far worse than anything I’ll ever experience. In the few days we were there, I heard stories about God working real miracles in their lives.”
Though this was her first visit to the Dominican Republic, Basham will return in May. She’s a member of the GU Dance Team, which will travel to Juan Dolio at the end of the spring semester.
Basham connected with one eight-year-old girl during the trip, and that bond has resulted in Basham deciding to be a monthly sponsor to help provide for the girl.
“When I was taking pictures, she was always hanging around,” Basham said. “I finally just put the camera down and played with her. I’ve worked with kids my whole life, but this was a special kind of bond. And after seeing first-hand the conditions they have come out of, her joy in the Lord is even more incredible. It truly touched me, and that’s why I want to support her financially.
“I don’t remember much of my high school Spanish,” she added, “but we found ways to communicate. I’m currently taking an online course in Spanish and hope to be more fluent when I see her again at the end of the semester.”
Meanwhile, Basham is thankful that she didn’t let her initial reservations keep her from going on the trip.
“I’m so glad I pushed through my fears and went to the DR,” she said. “I decided to trust God and let him work everything out. The results have been amazing. I’m much more empathetic because of what I've seen and the people I've met. And seeing the joy those kids have – even in the middle of great poverty – has encouraged me in my Christian walk. I see now how God can use me to change situations, if I can just respond when he nudges me.”
