El Edificio Azul (The Blue Building)

El Edificio Azul (The Blue Building) is located in the heart of Navarrete, half a block from our other accommodation, La Posada Amarilla (The Yellow Building). It is a blue, two-story building with covered roof access, a beautiful view of the mountains, and a capacity of 32 people. It has three different apartment-style areas, each with its own bathroom. The first floor contains our dining area and the kitchen where our cooks will prepare your meals. Behind the kitchen is our first apartment. The other two apartments are on the second floor. The roof access has picnic tables, rocking chairs, a ping-pong table, and cornhole boards. We have rented El Edificio Azul since 2019 and have wonderful relationships with our neighbors. Right across the street, you will find a colmado (convenience store) where you can buy sodas, Gatorade, chips, and more.

Facility Info

AC

The building is equipped with mini-split air conditioning units in the dining area and the upstairs apartments.
Turn them off when you leave the room.

Bathroom

Each of the three bathrooms has a shower, toilet, and sink.
Do NOT drink the tap water or use it to brush your teeth (We have purified drinking water available to use instead).
The building does not have hot water.
Do NOT flush toilet paper. Flushing the toilet paper will cause major plumbing issues, and there is a small trash can beside every toilet where you can throw away your toilet paper.
Please take quick showers as we have limited amounts of water.

Cleaning

At the end of the week, before you leave…

Gather all bedding and towels in the common areas of each apartment.
Gather all the trash and take it to the street where we have big blue tanks you can put it in.
Turn off the AC.
Turn off the lights.
Close the windows.

Kitchen

The cooks will be in the kitchen preparing your meals most of the week.
You are welcome to use the refrigerators or freezers.
You are not obligated, but if you would like to help with dishes at the end of meals, the cooks will set up a station for you to do that.

Lights

Please make sure to turn the lights off as you leave your rooms.

Safety

We encourage you to walk around the area, but we ask that you follow these guidelines and see our Risk Plan for more details.

Stay inside of our accommodations at night.
Don’t walk around town alone.
Adults should always accompany minors outside of our facilities.
Make sure your missionary and team leader know where you are at all times.
Keep a close eye on your belongings.
Don’t touch the animals.
Don’t give monetary gifts to anyone.
Dress modestly (no tank tops, short shorts, leggings, or tight-fitting clothing).
Don’t take people up on offers to go into their home.

Services

If you would like to attend a church service or do an extra service project during your trip, please let your Casas missionary know, and we will do everything we can to make that happen.

Store

Casas por Cristo has merch that you can buy to help support our cause. Ask your Casas missionary to take you to our physical store during your trip or shop online when you get home.

Supplies

Cleaning supplies can be found in the kitchen with the cook or under the stairs.
Trash bags, extra hand soap, toilet paper, and paper towels are in the pantry.
Extra bedding and towels can be found in the closets in the apartments.

Trash

Trash can be brought out to the front of the building and put in the blue tanks on the street.

Valuables

Each of our buildings has a small safe to store any valuables you may have (passports/cash).

People You Might Encounter

Dominican Site Coordinator

Hello, my name is José Ernesto García. I am from La Loma, but I currently live in Cañada Bonita, a municipality belonging to Navarrete. I am married with two children and I am a sports lover, especially baseball and softball, which I practice in my free time. I like to work in construction, which I know extensively and in detail because I had worked with my father and my older brother since I was a child. On the weekends, I perform with my band. I especially like to sing typical music (merengue). I have had the opportunity to work with Casas por Cristo since 2015. I have been dedicated and honest in my work with this ministry that I love.

Dominican Site Coordinator

Hi! My name is Manny, and I live in Navarrete, Dominican Republic. I have been a Christian since I was a teenager, and I have been working with a local ministry, Mas Que Creyentes, since 2015. Working alongside that ministry, I had the opportunity to help serve with Casas por Cristo building houses and driving. I have always loved serving people and helping teenagers grow in God’s way. I’ve been coaching basketball in the community for four years. In 2021, I had the opportunity to help and drive a great team that was here for a week. This was when I felt God pushing me to work with Casas. I officially joined staff in January 2022 as a Dominican Site Coordinator. I’m so excited to see this group of imperfect people doing the works of our perfect God.

Dominican Site Coordinator

Hey everyone! I’m Loammi Pérez, residing in Esperanza, Valverde, Dominican Republic. My journey in ministry began with a deep-seated passion for missionary work, leading me to attend Bible school to equip myself for service to God further. Growing up in a pastor’s family, I’ve been actively involved in various church ministries, including youth ministry, multimedia teamwork, and worship leadership. Serving others and spreading God’s love is at the core of who I am. Joining Casas por Cristo has been a fulfilling opportunity for me to extend this mission and contribute to meaningful community service. I’m grateful for the chance to be part of such a transformative ministry and look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of others.

Dominican Site Coordinator & Bus Driver

Hi! My name is Osoky, and I have helped with the ministry of Casas por Cristo since it began operations in the Dominican Republic in 2015. I was hired full-time in 2023. I do many things for the ministry, but the most common is driving the bus. I also weld all the rebar and do a lot of repairs around the buildings. I have a beautiful wife and two boys. I look forward to working alongside you!

Head Cook

Fifi has been serving as a head cook with Casas since the Dominican location opened in 2015. She lives about an hour away near a camp Casas partnered with in the early years of our Dominican location. She would cook when teams stayed at the camp, but when logistics made it difficult to continue partnering with the camp, we asked Fifi and her assistant cook Maria to travel to Navarrete to continue cooking for us. You will quickly learn why we did not want to lose her. She is an incredible cook and a joy to serve with. Fifi is originally from Haiti and speaks Spanish, Haitian Creole, and French.

Assistant Cook

Maria is the assistant cook and Fifi’s best friend. She has been serving with us since we arrived in the Dominican in 2015. She is a bubbly, kind lady and an incredible cook. She can be recognized for her red hair and beautiful dresses. You will not want to miss the opportunity to get to know her.

Head Cook

Juana has been serving as as a cook with Casas since 2015 when Casas arrived in the Dominican Republic. She started as an assistant cook to Katherine, but as we have grown she has shifted to be one of our head cooks. She is also Pastor Michel’s mother-in-law. She is a great cook and a wonderful person to work with.

Assistant Cook

Mayra is the assistant cook to Juana. She is so kind and quick to give the sweetest compliments. She is a wonderful cook and a joy to work with. One of the first things you learn about Mayra is that she loves her grandchildren and her many plants. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear all about them.

Head Cook

Katherine has been serving as a head cook for Casas since the Dominican location opened in 2015. She is one of the first people Casas had the opportunity to build a home for in the Dominican Republic and has a special heart to serve with our ministry. She is an amazing cook and is known for her delicious dill salad. When you have her as your cook, you will often get to meet her sweet children and grandchildren. Katherine is incredibly kind and humble. Though she may be a little shy, she would love to get to know you.

Assistant Cook

Mari has been serving with Casas since 2022 as an assistant cook to Katherine. She is so much fun to serve with. She brings spunk and intentionality to all her work. She wants to make sure all of the dishes are perfect, and if she ever gets the slightest idea people are not enjoying the food, she will ask about it so she can make changes.

NAVARRETE

Pronunciation: Nah vah rreh teh
Other Name: Municipio de Villa Bisonó
Population: 140,666
Founded: 1939
Location: 16 miles from Santiago, in the Cibao Valley of the Yaque del Norte River in the Central Region of the Dominican Republic
Elevation: 160 ft.
Climate: Tropical Monsoon

COUNTRY PROFILE

Resting between the crystal clear Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the island of Hispaniola is home to the Dominican Republic. Not only is it the second-largest country in the Caribbean with upwards of 10.7 million people, but the Dominican also has the Caribbean’s most geographically diverse countryside with stunning mountain scenery, desert scrubland, and breathtaking coastline.

The musical tones of bachata resonate in the air only to be muffled by laughter lingering around men playing dominoes on the street corners. Houses characterized by rough-cut tree limbs, low hanging roofs, and sheet metal painted with bright blues, yellows, and greens are staples in the Dominican countryside.

The Dominican Republic’s tropical climate and white sand beaches house some of the world’s most luxurious vacation destinations. While the country’s $1 billion tourist industry may give the appearance of a thriving nation, the stark reality is that 40% of Dominicans live in poverty, surviving on less than $1.50 a day, and the unemployment rate stands at a daunting 60%. Families are left struggling to pay for food, safe drinking water, and adequate housing. Many families have to choose whether or not to put the majority of their income into housing, knowing that there will only be pennies left to provide other basic necessities. Heartrendingly, some families are forced to sell their children into slavery in order to survive. The human trafficking industry in the Dominican is a $9.5 billion a year industry.

By working alongside the Dominican church, Casas por Cristo volunteers help alleviate families’ financial burdens and bring the hope of Christ to this remarkable land. With the provision of safe and secure housing, the largest tangible gift anyone will ever receive, you can proclaim the truth of God’s love not only to a family but also to the community at large.

Check out our Dominican Culture Guide for more info!

Restaurants

Name	Information	GPS Coordinates
Don Cola	Pizza	19.560444, -70.870167
Bon	Ice cream shop	19.561806, -70.874694
Jaruco	Sit down restaurant that offers burgers, rice and beans, pasta, steak, and chicken	19.559972, -70.870944
Expresso Dorado	Fried chicken and fries, rice and beans	19.561028, -70.873806
Ney Pollo	Rice and beans, roasted chicken	19.564806, -70.883389
Mellizos	Stewed meat, rice and beans	19.562139, -70.873833

Activities

Place	Information	GPS Coordinates
Basketball Court		19.559444, -70.868000
Central Square/Park		19.561306, -70.874611

Shops

Name	Information	GPS Coordinates
Plaza Oriental	A department store that sells home goods and knock-off clothes	19.561139, -70.874611
Oscars	Grocery store, sodas, juices, candies	19.560306, -70.871694
Fruteria	Fresh fruit and vegetable stand	19.563083, -70.869361

CASAS POR CRISTO

Casas por Cristo exists to open the door for local pastors and churches to share the love of Jesus Christ by serving. Our mission is to build and serve. Check out our story to learn more.