In June I will be heading to the Dominican Republic (DR) for a month. I am going to be servant leading with two other leaders and a team of 10 High School Students. 

This is a great opportunity for me to start leading trips.  I have been learning a lot about how to lead in the last couple of years.  I have had some small opportunities to lead this year and have loved it.  This summer should be a time where I can get some practical hands on learning and will be able to lead for more than a weekend.  I am excited for this opportunity but also scared at the same time.  I am taking a big step of faith here and trying to do it in complete confidence in the Lord. I am excited to get to know the 9 girls that will be on the team and being able to pour into their lives.

Here is a little bit about the DR.

It shares an island with Haiti.  Its Population is about 9.365 million. Dominicans speak Spanish. They have a Representative democracy. About half of Dominicans live in rural areas; many are small landholders.

The Dominican people are among the friendliest people you'll ever meet. The happy sounds of meringue music can be heard pulsing through the calles and avenidas of a typical Dominican town. Walk down one of them and you're likely to see old men in folding chairs playing dominoes and sipping Barcelo rum while children play their games nearby. We love that sense of lively community here.

The D.R. is a country carved out of the sugar cane fields. It is rich in history and possibilities for those coming to visit. But its white beaches and tourist resorts belie the pain that you'll find in so many of the families with whom we will work with.