To the Dominican Republic and Beyond!

Dear family and friends,

 Many people have been asking me how I have been doing and are curious as to what turns my life has taken since I moved to the Dominican Republic 4 1/2 months ago. Truthfully, a lot. 

Let me start from the beginning. 

Most people know that I have a thirst for adventure and a passion for interacting with different cultures and people. I was finding it difficult to experience those things in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  It really was a lack of trying to find these adventures and filling up my time so I did not feel stuck in my current situation (a full-time student and working almost full-time….. to pay to be a full-time student...vicious cycle). Over the course of the last year, many of my friends and family had exciting opportunities to travel abroad and have adventures I longed for. I became quite discontent and complacent towards God because the direction my life was taking. My future looked quite bleak for me (poor, sad me) and I was not happy with how God was handling this situation.  

Looking back, I can see how God was trying to tell me, "Olivia, hold on, I have something beyond your dreams planned for you. Trust me." 

When my parents told me that they planned on moving to a different country, the Dominican Republic, I was floored!  They didn't have a great desire to move.... I did. Why couldn't it be me!.........Sadly, I did throw a little temper tantrum. I did NOT want to be left at home while my family was off having a grand adventure without me. 

Gathering courage, I asked the CEO of the organization that my dad worked for (Lifeline Child and Family Services) and asked for an internship in marketing (my major). While Lifeline was contemplating whether an internship was feasible or not, out of the blue I was offered a full-time position as a nanny (a reliable job for the next couple years). I heard back from Lifeline, that they could use me as an intern at the CMA (Caribbean Mountain Academy) campus; I now had to make a decision. I seriously struggled with the decision. I couldn't decide what to do. I was relying on myself. After my mom saw me struggling like this for a couple of days, she told me to take a walk. Quite literally. She told me to not come home until I had actually prayed, asked God for guidance, and… listened.  What was GOD's will for my life.  I needed to take time to search what God wanted/planned for me to do. So, I took a walk for an hour. God gave me a peace about coming to the DR. One hour. After days of struggling about what would be the best decision...one hour was all it took. I never actually took my concern to Him. 

Silly me. God always knows best.

The most prominent prayer I had after I decided to come down to the Dominican Republic, was that I would set aside time to specifically learn about God; that I would be able to experience Him from a whole different perspective. I wanted to take advantage of the laid back pace of life in the DR and to learn about Him. I never took that time back home.... the busier I could be, the better. 

God has been showing me a great deal her in the Dominican Republic. Something that has been impacting me a lot more than I thought is how much the little things in life mean to others and myself.  I know it sounds simple, but here a few examples. 

While being here I have had the opportunity to be a part of the worship team for church every Sunday. I will have students come up to me and ask me to sing a specific praise song next Sunday and they always seem surprised when I do.  But that surprise can go both ways. For me, spending time with the students or taking time to talk to them does not seem like a huge sacrifice, but when they take a moment to write me a little note or tell me how much my investment in them means to them, I am amazed. 

There have been those moments in my own life, when I have told someone who has mentored me how much taking time for me, means to me.  I never thought I would be the one that other people go to. I came to a different country to step away from my busy life and learn about God, and He has given me more opportunities than I ever imagined.  

OK, now the reason I wanted to start this blog…. :)

One of these opportunities is one I have never dreamed of having. God has given me a chance to learn about Him through a rigorous 17-day backpacking trip across Israel and Jordan in mid-June. We will be visiting places like the Wilderness of Zin, Northern Galilee, Valley of Jezreel, and Old Jerusalem. In order to go on this trip I have to memorize Matthew 5, 6, and 7. The Sermon on the Mount is something I have heard dozens of times, but I personally have never studied it. 

No matter how many times I recite these verses, something is always convicting me to do more for Jesus and study these verses beyond just memorizing them. I have started to listen to the series of sermons John Piper gave on the Sermon on the Mount; I do not just want to memorize these verses, I want to know them. One thing that is always standing out to me while memorizing chapter 5 is the wording Jesus uses. Whenever He is addressing how "those of old" perceived the Law, He describes how they saw it, and then tells us, "but I say unto you." He was saying here is what the old law says, but this is what I want you to do. 

I am asking that you please pray that I will be open to receiving what God has to teach me, and how I can better understand Him.  We have been asked to find at least 4 people to pray for us leading up to and during the trip, but you can never have too much prayer.  

Although the trip is fairly inexpensive due to a scholarship I have received, I will still need to purchase hiking attire that is appropriate for the climate and the culture. I am asking for 55 people to donate $20. Unfortunately, this is not tax deductible so donate however the spirit leads. :)  The best way to donate is to send a check to my house in the states and I will receive it there. If you would like to know my address just let me know.

This trip is very extensive and includes many things, if you would like to know more about trip, ask me questions, or need my home address you can email me at olivia.j.schu@gmail.com or inbox me on Facebook. I will be continually posting to my blog about the preparations for the trip and about the trip in June. Thank you all for the continued support you have shown to my family over this huge transition in our lives.

With lots of love,

-Olivia