Meet Our Team 2013 -- part II

Our 2013 Costa Rica missions team includes a variety of ready and willing, enthusiastic and able high school students. We want you to meet them, and just as we—the leaders—are getting to understand their hearts and abilities, we wish to have you see, too, those same loving souls and what brought them to our team.

David Dupont

As a senior on the Xenia Christian campus, David Dupont, hopes to attend Wright State University to study engineering. David enjoys sports a lot, especially soccer. At XCHS, he is involved in soccer and swimming. He also enjoys reading (when time is available), but his favorite thing to do is to spend time with friends.

Having seen his friends go on the Costa Rica mission trips these past years has encouraged David to do the same.  “I have seen my friends come back from the trip changed and more oriented towards God and His plan for their lives,” David states. 

With the purpose of serving local community in Cincinnati, David has gone on local ministry trips for several summers. David remembers, “It was great to go and help the community, and it showed me how much I can give back to the community.” On this upcoming trip, David looks forward to being able to help the people of Costa Rica and to impact their lives for eternity.  

Overall in life, David has learned and wants to share with others: “I would say that no matter how bad something seems, God has a plan to turn it into our good, and He will turn it around in some way.”

Rachel Graver

Our youngest team member, a sophomore, had never imagined undertaking a mission trip until two years ago when her older sister Sarah decided to go to Costa Rica.  In fact, not only did Sarah go once, but she went twice before graduating, and the stories and adventures she shared with Rachel really excited her to think of taking the same trip one year herself. “I guess you could say,” Rachel shares, “that my interest in going to another country for a short term mission trip is all the life-changing memories my sister brought back with her; I would love to experience the same for myself. I chose Costa Rica because I have heard so much about the country.”

Rachel looks forward to working with the children’s Bible schools and helping the Ticos. In her own life, she looks forward to growing closer to the Lord through sharing His love with others while putting her trust in Him and allowing him to choose the best agenda to do so.

Among Rachel’s other interests, first comes soccer, and she hopes to play in college after graduating.

Whether by people or by God, Rachel loves being reminded time and time again, and she wants to encourage others with the fact that if we can just learn to put our trust and faith in the Lord, He will never leave us. Rachel states, “His mighty plan for all of our lives is in His control, and He will not give us more then we can handle. He is always in control when we feel like we can't control anything else.”


Savannah Slaton

A junior at the Miamisburg DCSS campus, Savannah Slaton, chose to join the Costa Rica team after experiencing a trip to Peru with her youth group in 2011.  She really feels that God is calling her to go on another trip to spread his Word while doing things she loves.  After considering a variety of mission trip options, Savannah felt like God really wanted her to go to Costa Rica. 

Savannah shared that her trip to Peru in 2011 really showed her how to be grateful and thankful for everything God has given her--everything from her family to her house to her church and everything between. On this trip, Savannah looks forward to sharing God's word in every way she can and to building strong relationships with the other team members. 

Savannah’s other interests include . . . well, pretty much just cheerleading. As she states, “I love cheerleading and it pretty much consumes my life so I don't really have time for many other hobbies.” Savannah does enjoy encouraging friends with cards or candy, particularly to remind them that they are loved and appreciated.

ARIN WILGUS

Arin Wilgus—or as most of us know him—“Dash” is a junior at the Xenia campus.  When asked about his reasons for wanting to go on a missions trip, Arin shared that he wants to serve God, and in particular, he wants to share the gospel with the “Ticos” (Costa Ricans) in their native language.  

An enthusiastic student in Spanish III, Arin states that one of the reasons he chose to go to Costa Rica is because “me encanta” the Spanish language. He also saw this as an excellent opportunity to serve the Lord. He looks forward to teaching kids about God and to growing more in his own faith.

Other interests of Arin include reading and outdoor activities. He participates in sports, particularly swimming and track. He also enjoys his pet, a bearded dragon named Torch.

To encourage all of us, Arin reminds us that “God will use you in ways you will never believe.”