Team Member Bios and Testimonies

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.

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.

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.

Celeste with sister Caitlin

Although this is Celeste’s first mission trip, she has heard of the incredible ministry experiences that people encounter on missions trips, and she herself wants to be part of sharing Christ’s amazing love to those in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.  Her older sister had gone on a mission trip to Costa Rica when she had attended Xenia Christian, and Celeste wants to take her own understanding of the ministry and beauty beyond merely that which she has seen photographs.  She especially looks forward to interacting with the kids down in Central America. She also looks forward to ministering with her father, Brent Davis, who will be a team leader this year.

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.”

  

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.”

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.

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.