About Us
In 2006, Luis and Jennifer Lopez first felt a call on their lives to international orphan ministry. When Luis, a now-retired US Army veteran, was sent on his 6th combat deployment, Jennifer spent the time that her husband was in Afghanistan, living and serving in an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. Both Luis and Jennifer witnessed the pain and devastation of children who had been broken, abandoned, abused, and neglected in two totally different parts of the world simultaneously. Although physically separated from each other, the Lord simultaneously filled their hearts with an unquenchable desire to see these children come to the life-altering knowledge of a God that literally gave His life to be with them and to restore them.
Today, several of the youth from that original orphanage serve alongside the Lopezs as FAMILY and are now leaders in Their Tree Ministry themselves. They have a specific passion for reaching back to serve youth who were just like they once were.
Our Vision
Their Tree is a ministry that exists to give hope and transform lives through the gospel. We seek to disciple and serve teens from difficult backgrounds such as neglect, abuse, trafficking, or extreme poverty and homelessness.
Why We Do It
The sting of that is particularly felt when a child reaches the 7th grade, as the government will not allow these children to progress any further in their education without a birth certificate. The legal fees to produce one, especially those who come from a lineage of mothers without birth certificates themselves, is a heavy burden and one that many kids in the poorest community are never able to overcome. So many of the poorest kids do not get the same educational opportunities as other children and thus do not have a fighting chance in the future job market.
So what are their remaining choices? Sadly there are those who would seek to exploit these precious youth who have little other options. Prostitution in the D.R. is legal and sex tourism is a booming industry. In addition to sexual exploitation, many undocumented
youth are forced to work in agriculture, domestic work, street vending, bond labor, and/or begging.
How We Do It
Their Tree works off of three basic pillars
To Rescue
One of our primary focuses is the identification and RESCUE of youth in the Dominican Republic who are at risk for forced labor and trafficking. Alarmingly, only 1% of human trafficking victims are ever rescued, so early identification is vital. Once rescued, the youth are placed in a loving home environment, given medical care, and legal support. Their "survival mode" needs are met first so that the process to help RESTORE them can begin…
To Restore
Each Their Tree home is kept small in numbers on purpose. The goal is to include them as a valued family member and not just a number among many. In this way, each is given the time and attention necessary for helping to restore them. They are given opportunities to dream again; an opportunity that had previously been stolen from them as they were just trying to survive before. What are their individual needs? What drives them? What are their God-given talents? And how can we help get them to their goals? These are all questions that sometimes get lost in an institutionalized environment as opposed to a family environment. Each youth is placed on an individualized path of restoration which includes:
-Daily, focused discipleship and Biblical training
- Trauma Care counseling
-Enrollment and completion of a minimum of a high school education
-Life-skills training, (cooking, managing a household, budgeting)
-Vocational training including mentorship and apprenticeship programs
-Job assistance and resume building
-English classes
-Legal documentation for those without necessary birth certificates and ID’s
To Reach Back
Outreach and missional living are demonstrated daily to each of the Their Tree youth. They are encouraged to live with “eyes wide open” to see the hurt around them and to live outwardly; to seek for ways to help others as well.
1. We believe that healing comes in our own lives more holistically when we begin to look outside of ourselves and focus on helping others as well.
2. We believe that we have been comforted by Christ, in order that we may comfort others (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
3. we believe wholeheartedly that Christ’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Cor 12:9-10)
The youth in each of our “Their Tree” homes regularly participate in outreaches in their communities, in their churches, as well as throughout Dominican Republic. Some have even gone on to open Their tree homes themselves.
At Their Tree, we have seen first hand, many powerful moves of God in the lives of others through the testimonies of each of the TT youth. These youth have a unique angle to be able to reach others who are coming from hard places, just as they once were. They also have a specific compassion towards them because of their own experiences. It’s beautiful to get to witness this connection.
We hope you would desire to come be a part of this on one of our missions and would be able to share your own testimonies and the amazing work of Christ in your lives as well! (Rev 12:11) Each year, we invite short-term mission groups to join us in our outreach efforts throughout the Dominican Republic. For more information on upcoming trips contact us.
