MARION, Ind. -- The Indiana Wesleyan University men's basketball team and staff recently returned from a life changing mission visit to the city of Santiago in the Dominican Republic.

During the week long trip, the team was able to witness first hand the poverty that is so prevalent in many third world nations. As in many countries in our hemisphere, western world influences are quite prominent in many areas, but in other places the evidence of clean water, sanitation, proper housing, and disease control are not to be found.

The team worked in an area where raw sewage literally ran down the sidewalks in the entire neighborhood. In spite of what westerners would proclaim as squalor at every turn, the power of God and the Message of the Gospel continue to go forward and are being embraced by a large number of Dominicans.

Our team was able to partner with a host, Global Outreach Ministries, in church construction, sports outreach and feeding hungry children. Team members were quite moved by the love and sincerity of the Global Outreach team and their dedication to serving the poor and spreading the message of Jesus Christ to those who are desperately searching. Many of our team members expressed sentiments that indicated this trip and what it taught all of us was the most profound and life-changing event of their young lives.

Everyone had the same question at the end of our adventure, "When can we return to continue what we have begun?"