Katie Miller states with all the
enthusiasm she can muster, “I am a senior!” Another of our Xenia Christian veteran
team members, Katie plans on going to school for Psychology and Interior
Design, and additionally taking art history classes at the Art Institute of
Chicago.
“I
wanted to go back to Costa Rica because I loved being involved in other
people’s lives by connecting them to Christ,” Katie shares. Even through this last year, Katie has kept
contact with those that she met this past year and she is “excited to see some
of them again!” Originally, she decided
on joining the Costa Rica team because she studies Spanish and she had heard
that she would have many opportunities to work with children. Throughout the
adventure of working with the Costa Rica 2013 team, Katie had “loads of fun”
acquainting herself with the other team members as well as sharing Christ’s love
with children. The XC senior states that last year’s trip “really taught
me to trust in God’s sovereignty and to trust that God really does know what He
is doing.” She also developed a stronger faith in God’s answering of prayer—even
the prayers that may seem “silly.”
This
year—besides looking forward to warm weather—Katie looks forward to meeting new
people with whom she is related to through Christ. “If I make a
difference in one child’s life,” she states, “my mission will be accomplished!”
Besides
her interest in missions, Spanish, and children’s ministries, Katie also loves
theater. She has just finished
participating in her eighth production with the Dramatic Arts Department at
Xenia Christian (seven on stage, one as student directer). She looks forward to
student directing the middle school play this year as well as being a part of
the musical in the spring. Katie also spends quality time watching movies
with friends and eating Chinese food. She hopes to discover a meaningful
way to utilize those hobbies in the future, too.
Katie
shared, “I want readers to know that I am super excited to go back to Costa
Rica! I want them to know that last year in Costa Rica, for a few days we
would drive through a valley to get to a church, and the drive was so pretty!
Every morning in the van I would think ‘it would be so cool to walk to
the church instead of drive!’ The last morning we were there, the
bus got a flat tire and we had to walk to the church! I was so excited
and spent the entire walk taking pictures and thanking God over and over again
for letting me walk.
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| Madison and Katie |
“If
I could encourage someone, I would tell them: GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING!
So often we do not give God credit for all he does, or we blame Him when
things go wrong. But in the end, God’s plan is perfect. Look to God
for all you do, and He will always be there and help you. He
will be your strength and rock if you let Him.”
A fellow senior at Xenia Christian,
Madison Castle also plans a 2014 graduation and college
thereafter. Also a first-time team
member, Madison’s interest in joining the ministry this year stems from her
love to help people and spread the Gospel of Christ’s salvation. She, too, had heard many exciting and
positive stories from previous team members and wants to share in that
excitement personally. She has had previous experience on weekend mission trips
to the city of Columbus, OH, where her youth group helps at an inner city
home. This ministry has taught her the contrast
of how blessed she is to that of how much less others have to get by in life.
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| Celeste, Madison, and Rachel |
On this ministry trip, Madison
looks forward to traveling and interacting with the team members, visiting a
foreign country and learning about their culture. Ultimately, she looks forward
to sharing God’s Word with others.
Madison also enjoys sports and
art. She hopes to one day find a job
where she can use her artistic ability every day. Another hobby she admits
to: “I love to eat!”
To encourage others, Madison reminds
that God loves each of us and is always there personally for each one.
Graduating from Xenia Christian this year, Celeste Davis looks forward to attending Cedarville University where she will major in social work and play on the reserve soccer team.
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| Celeste with sister Caitlin |
Celeste’s interests include a love for playing soccer, which she will continue in college, and even more so, she has a “huge heart” for children, which has led her to help kids in the future through social work.
“I am the Lord the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” This special verse, Celeste shares, reminds all of us to “keep your head up. Your storm is nothing compared to our God.”
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| Rachel on the Jan-2013 trip |
Rachel Graver joins the team for her second time
this year as a junior from Xenia Christian. Looking forward to the future, she plans
on attending a Christian college and play soccer as well as study.
Last year’s trip, Rachel says, “was
such an eye-opener for me. The children, teens, and even adults were such
genuine people.” They were interested in learning more about Christ. “Last year
I went to Costa Rica,” she continues, “and it taught me how I need to put
others above myself and always look to see what I can do to help someone else—not
what can someone do to help me.”
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| Rachel directing this year's ministry mime |
Just as Rachel’s sister had during
her own XC years, Rachel hopes to go on this trip as many years as possible. The
mission trip to Costa Rica provides so many ways to share the Word of God.
Rachel looks forward to seeing many of the “ticos/ticas” that she met last
year, and she looks forward to this year’s new venture—going across the border
and ministering in Nicaragua.
Other hobbies that Rachel enjoys
include sports, anything imaginative, and photography. Hoping for a
scholarship, Rachel hopes to play college soccer. She also enjoys hearing and
telling jokes; “laughing is what makes everything ten-times better,” she states.
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| This is what it's all about. |
“No matter what is going on in your
life--,” Rachel encourages, “No matter how much you feel you have messed up or
if you’re lonely, God is the God of love and forgiveness and will always be
waiting with open arms to receive you.”
Rachel reminds us that God desires us to have Him present in each of our
lives.
