2017 CR Team Member Bios -- Part 3 of 5

Every year the XCHS/LCA Costa Rica ministry team brings another collection of servant hearts ready to share with others what they have learned in their walk with God.  In the upcoming blogposts, we will introduce to you the mosaic of hearts and souls enthusiastic to work together on this March mission. 

One of our new team members, sophomore Rylanne Burdette has always had a passion for working with children, and this short-term ministry offers her the opportunity to spread love to children and build relationships with them. Having the chance to minister in another culture also piques her interest. Already she has enjoyed reading and learning about Costa Rica and its people and culture.

Rylanne looks forward to building relationships with the people with whom we will spend time.  Because of her passion for children, she is particularly looking forward to building friendships with the children with whom we minister in Bible clubs.

At LCA, Rylanne invests time and energy as a varsity cheerleader and also helping with stage crew for the production of The Wizard of Oz.  Rylanne’s other hobbies include reading, writing, and singing.  If she were to have a superpower, Rylanne would like to have a photographic memory.  That way, after she read or saw anything—even if only once—she would remember it forever and for anytime—including sharing Bible verses in order to share the gospel.

 

To encourage, Rylanne reminds each of us, “You are amazing, you are brave, you are strong.”  “Insecurity,” she says, “is a part of today’s world. And encouragement can really life one’s spirits.”

As a senior, Austin Frueh, plans to attend Wright State University to study mechanical engineering after graduating this year. He chose to join this Costa Rica trip because he has gone on other trips before and truly been blessed. He also has heard that Costa Rica is beautiful. Austin thoroughly enjoys serving others and working hard. “And everything is always better when you have a great team like I do.” Furthermore, Austin looks forward to being able to put his classroom Spanish to use in ministering to others.

Two summers ago, Austin had the opportunity to travel with his church to El Salvador. He appreciated the relationships he built and the memories made. It also sparked the interest to study the Spanish language to use in real life. He looks forward to be able to use what he has learned in language to serve the people and show God’s love and message of salvation. “It would be so cool,” Austin shares, “to see kids come to Christ through our ministry.”

Austin’s hobbies include soccer, baseball, and basketball. He loves spending time with his friends, being outside, and seeing God’s creation. He shares that if he were a superhero, he would love to be known for having a super mind that solves problems and conflicts in an instant.

In encouraging others, Austin would do so with the words that he himself often needs to hear.  “God’s forgiveness,” he says, “is greater than anything you can do against Him. He will never give up on you but will be there to help you when you fall.”

Senior and trip veteran Rachel Griffith plans to attend, after graduation, Indiana Wesleyan University with a major in English and a minor in Spanish.  Her experience on the trip last year was “mind-blowing,” and she is eager to return.  “The love of the ticos and the acceptance that they had for us reflected the love of Jesus and calmed many fears about culture shock and new surroundings.”  That experience last year forced “me to reflect on my life and the things that I take for granted. The trip showed me God’s providence even in crazy situations.”

This year, Rachel looks forward to revisiting her tico friends that she made last year—AND making new friends this year.  She eagerly awaits reliving the mission experience—especially since this year—with her mother along.  Mrs. Griffith, a medical doctor, will be assisting our team with the medical outreach ministry.

Rachel’s hobbies include writing, reading, and drawing.  She also enjoys watching Netflix and spending time with friends.  If she were a superhero, she would like to be Batman because “not only does he help people as Batman, but also as Bruce Wayne. He gives to others with this wealth and his knowledge works to make life for others better.”

Rachel leaves the readers with a quote from author Earnest Hemingway: “True courage is grace when under fire.”

Junior Anne Kensinger looks forward to this her first mission trip. In particular, her reason for choosing this particular opportunity to join the Costa Rica team is because she wants to share the gospel. She has seen pictures from previous ministry trips and it inspire her to share her own faith story. Furthermore, she looks forward to helping with the medical outreach clinics and meeting and helping children.

Anne enjoys participating in athletics and has been part of several school teams: cross country, volleyball, basketball, track, and softball. She also loves spending time with friends, and in her family of eleven(!) family time is special (Anne is in the exact middle of 9 siblings). When asked what super power she would want to have as a superhero, she would want to fly, just because “I would love to fly.”

Anne would like readers to remember that God made each of us just the way he wanted to. “You are beautiful for you are made in His image. No words or thoughts could take that away.”

Another of our new team members, senior, Ariana Nelson, plans to study nursing at Cedarville University.  In considering this opportunity to minister on a short-term ministry trip, Ariana wanted to see people come to know the Lord. She wants to be part of the “Lord’s team and see the ways that He will work when we depend on Him.”

In that this is her first mission trip, Ariana looks forward to going to a new place to meet new people and learn about their culture. She wants to make new friends and see God’s hand at word.  (She will.) 

Ariana enjoys playing sports, running, singing, and cooking and baking. If she were to have a superpower, she would like to have the ability to memorize anything. With that power “I old memorize the entire Bible and be able to share the gospel or any specific verse with any person at any time.”

Ariana encourages those going through hard times to remember to look for the bright side of situations.  “Always count your blessings and especially thank the Lord for being with you.  You probably have a lot more blessings than you realize.”

One of our veteran team members, LCA Junior Matt Sullivan has missions in his heart! He loves to serve others and show people—specifically children—God’s perfect love. Ever since he went on the trip last year, his goal has been to return. “Costa Rica,” he shares, “impacted my life. Seeing the love and community of the ticos was amazing to me.” (“Tico” is the nickname for Costa Ricans.)

 

Besides having gone with Xenia Christian (LCA) last year to Costa Rica, Matt has also gone to Chicago with his eighth grade class. These mission trips have inspired Matt to love people he had never considered loving before:  all the world needs God’s love through each of us—not just our friends and family. On this trip, Matt looks forward to developing my Spanish language skills even more this time. He also prays to grow his love for the ticos even more.

Matt’s hobbies include reading, watching “Shark Tank,” but mostly he loves attending LCA sports games. He loves cheering on his classmates.  “If I were ascribed a super power,” Matt shares, “I believe people would describe me with the power to make people cheerful when they are down.”  (This writer verifies this as quite true in her opinion.)

To encourage others, Matt tells each of us to “hold on to God.”  God cares for each and of us and loves us; there is peace in Him.  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1