Letenye Part One: God’s Idea

Olivia Parsons desired to serve people from other cultures. She wanted to expand her perspective of the world to discover how she could use her gift for teaching within it. 

That’s why she was excited to go on a mission trip to teach in Lita, Ecuador her junior year of high school. The trip was led by her favorite teacher and God had provided all the necessary funds. Every door seemed to be open to her dream becoming a reality – until COVID-19 happened, slamming them all in her face. The trip was postponed, but the following years she was unable to go for a variety of reasons. Olivia was confused. God placed a desire within her for missions, so why did all her opportunities suddenly vanish?

Olivia entered Asbury University and began studying elementary education. During her second year, she decided to walk away from playing soccer at Asbury because she felt the Lord was asking her to step into more ministry roles. Through that decision, she became a student leader for the One Mission Society Student Center at Asbury.

One day the director of the center, David Schnake, told her about a preschool in Budapest being developed by the OMS Hungary team. David mentioned it a few more times to her. Weeks later, Olivia remembered his suggestion and decided to look into it further. 

“I like to say when I’m talking to people, it really was just a God idea,” said Olivia. 

Dr. Barbara Hamilton, associate professor of education at Asbury, also had connections with OMS through her own time at Asbury. She was mentoring Olivia and they talked about the possibility of a partnership between OMS Hungary and the Asbury School of Education. 

Olivia asked her, "Would you be willing to explore this God idea with me and see what happens?”  

Olivia, David, and Barbara met virtually with Shannon DePue, the OMS Hungary field director, to explore possible opportunities. The conversation started with sending student teachers to the preschool, but it was clear God wanted to go another direction – English camps.  

The meeting began a partnership between OMS and Asbury. A team of education students led by Barbara created activities and curriculum and taught at an English camp OMS helps operate in Letenye, Hungary. The partnership would fulfill Asbury’s cross-cultural requirement for its students and provide them with valuable teaching experience. 

“We just saw how God was moving in all of it,” said David. “There was a lot of commonality and spiritual focus that really was profound. We knew God was doing something here.”

The meeting occurred two days before the Asbury Outpouring in February 2023. The time of collective spiritual renewal prepared Olivia and the team to be sensitive to God’s work within and through them.

“It was a really cool experience of us beginning to understand more of how God was weaving it all together,” Olivia said. “It’s been amazing to watch it all unfold. He’s been really faithful throughout the process to continue to teach me about removing myself and allowing him to take His idea.”

“This whole trip was God’s idea, he really led us step by step to get to where we are today. Each one of us in the partnership had an important role to play. It’s not like one of us came with this big idea, it’s as if God revealed it as we took our steps of faith with him,” said Barbara.

Teaching in Letenye taught Olivia how to step outside the context of her own country and see the classroom in an impactful way. She learned how to communicate through a language barrier and how to connect with the students and find commonality with them. 

“A teacher might not always be teaching English, but we’re teaching love and we’re teaching care,” said Olivia. “We’re showing kids that even in a world that shows a lot of selfishness and isolation, there is a community that cares about them and that loves them. Teaching and education build community in ways that are infused with the Lord.”

Although Olivia came to teach the students, she was taught by them. Her experience affected her profoundly in how she views the integration of her faith and work. 

“I don’t know exactly how this experience will change me but I know it’s going to change me,” said Olivia. “Right now I’m trying to sit in a posture of openness. I’m saying here’s all the good and all the bad – here, God, have it all.” 

Olivia’s dream of teaching cross-culturally was not in the country or in the way she anticipated – it was God working his bigger plan through her.