Mission Trip to Asia 2007, VBS 2008, VBS 2009, VBS 2010, Mission Trip 2011, VBS 2012

Hey, my name is Annalyssa and I have been attending Trinity Christian School since 5^th grade, and I will be a freshman in high school in the fall.  As many people know, I love color. I’m the type of person that can make two different plaids look good together.  Being creative is what I do. Volleyball and dance come up next. I have played volleyball since 5^th grade and I have learned to love it. Dance is something that I have been doing since I was four. I stopped lessons in 5^th grade, but that doesn’t mean I stopped dancing.  There is one thing I really don’t like. Although I don’t like having to clean my room every day just because my sister messed it up, there is one thing that comes above that – judging.  I really don’t like when people judge others because of how they talk, dress, what they eat, etc. From being creative myself, I have learned not to judge people. There are so many ways that people can express themselves. For me it’s being colorful. I don’t like it when people judge the way others express themselves.

I was saved in 5th grade when I first came to Trinity. I found that the people who went to Trinity were all, I guess, happy. They all knew what they were doing and what God was calling them to do. I wanted to be like that. When I asked Jesus to come into my heart, I found that I felt fuller as a person and I felt a sense of calmness come over me that really changed me. Now, sadly, I would have to admit that I do not have as much Scriptural basis for my salvation as I would like. But I do have one verse. My favorite verse is Philippians 4:13, “for you can do all thing through Him who gives you strength.” This verse was our class verse for 8^th grade graduation, and it helped me through this school year. So many things were thrown at me this year, but, when I look at that verse, I know that God is always with me.

Last year, at a summer camp with my church, I was with three of my friends. It turns out that one girl didn’t know the Lord. (The other two were twins.) All four of us were eating lunch and the one girl turned to me and said “How do you get saved? Like what exactly do you say?”  I turned and looked at the twins and they both shrugged at the same time. Then the bell rang and the girl had to go somewhere else, while we went back to the tent. The twins and I spent the three hours of free time that we had, alone in the tent talking over what we could say or what verses to show her. I’m not sure of the verses anymore, but when she came into the tent we were ready. We told her how each of us were saved and the verses that were behind our salvation. After we were done, she got up and left the tent, and she didn’t say a word. We all looked at each not saying anything either. About an hour later we went outside and we found her crying on the bench praying to God. We came just in time to hear her ask Jesus into her heart. That moment, for all three of us, was one of the best moments ever.

I have been involved in many small ministries. I just completed two years of Confirmation classes and was confirmed in May. Since then, I have been going to a high school gathering every Thursday called Delta Hour. I love going there because it isn’t much different from my confirmation classes; it just has older kids involved. When I was younger, my mom directed VBS at our church, and I used to have to sit there and watch everything come together.  I wasn’t really able to help out much, just because I was too young to really get involved.  I also work on the sound system every Sunday during Worship Services, with my Grandpa, for our church’s Praise Team.

This is my first mission trip that I have gone on. I think that God wants me to go on this mission trip to help strengthen my faith as a Christian. I know that God will guide me in the direction that I need to go during this mission trip. I love to work with kids and I can’t wait to actually get to help out with every opportunity. I think that God has a lot in store for me when the mission trip week comes around.

Hello, my name is Ben. I’m a guy who is not your average guy. I like to do lots of different things. I enjoy running, soccer, fishing, learning predatory birds, different computer related things, and creating and building things. When I am with my family, I am my happiest. I love my mom, dad, sister, and dog. I play different sports like, disc golf, fishing, and lots of other things with my dad. My dad also teaches me different skills to know on fixing and even building things. He has really shown me the value of education and work ethics. With my mom, I play games, we go places, and talk together. We really enjoy getting to go around to parks, and nature reserves. My mom has really made sure my sister and I grow up loved and neat, knowing how to care for ourselves when needed. My sister is energetic and very funny. I learn lots of new things from her and her constant joyfulness. My dog is big and fluffy, he is always happy to romp around, or to let me rub my face in his fur when I’m feeling down. I know I had a grasp on God, and His plan for mankind since I was very young. I have gone to Christian school since I could, and have learned so much about God. But, when I was saved I was very small and trusting. So, I knowingly put my facts on God together and surrendered to Him. My Bible basis comes from Romans 5:8. This verse tells of that Christ (Jesus) died for me while I was still a sinner. Even before I accepted Him, He accepted me. When it comes to me sharing God’s Good News, I feel ready, but “delayable”. I can share His Word through example, speech, and by witness, but when it comes to me telling someone they’re wrong, I get kinda slow. I have shown God to others, and they have noticed something different about me by the way I work, and conduct myself. But all that praise and glory goes to God because by His grace I am saved. My prayer and devotional life is actually great. I used to put it in the corner of “when I feel like it”. But, one night, I decided to give God a time with me everyday. Since then, I have been highly diligent on my praying and Bible reading. When it comes to doing work for God, I get interested. At my church, I help out with baptisms. I help people get ready for their baptism before it, and after it. I guide them on little things, and I mop up after to keep younger kids from slipping on floors. I have modest jobs, but I get to talk to a lot of people, especially younger people, and I get to encourage them. I have never been on a mission trip. I have never gone on a mission trip out from my church or home. I was a jr. high leader at a summer Vacation Bible-Day-Camp at my church, but never out of state. I can feel that I should be on this trip is because I can’t find a reason not to. I have some talents I could help with, and I can certainly be a good helper, so why not do my best and work hard for the team to help out? While I’m there, I feel God is going to help me not feel alone, homesick, or worried. If I trust Him, and do my work all for Him, I won’t be alone, and I know I will come out a better, stronger person.

Hello, I’m Lily, a recent graduate from Trinity Christian School and now a member of the Missions Trip.  I enjoy reading, writing, and a variety of sports, which I do in my spare time.  I go to Shorewood Family of God’s youth group almost every Sunday.  In my family, because of our personalities, we argue.  We also love each other very much and talk about a lot of things together, within obvious limitations (age, attention span).

When I was three and four, I went to Sunday School and a kid’s club at my church every week.  One week, I decided that I wanted to be God’s child and prayed.  I know my parents always helped me with this.  Ever since then, I rededicate myself to God every time I am reminded or asked to accept God.

I haven’t been able to directly share the gospel with any individual yet, but I have and do lead by example and mention God.  Whenever I serve another individual, I try to tell them “God loves you” and “I’ll pray for you.”

Every night, I engage in devotionals, reading a short devotional and Scripture, praying, and thinking about what I read.  Sometimes I add to this for seasons like Lent and Advent.  I pray whenever I can and whenever I remember, sometimes asking, sometimes thanking, and sometimes just talking to God.

I have served at my church’s souper bowl which reaches many people.  I have also done a couple different jobs for MorningStar Mission, served at FMSC, and was an advocate at Joliet Cares.  I plan to do these in the future.  I help lead the children in my church once or twice a month and whenever else I am needed.

Ever since fifth grade, when I learned about the first VBS missions trip, I knew that I was supposed to be part of the missions trip team.  It fascinated me how people could make such a difference and have fun at the same time.  It made me look up to them even more.  This year, I felt more strongly.  I haven’t been on a missions trip.  I don’t know when I will be able to again.  But I feel that I should go on this one.  I think God wants to teach some lessons, maybe in giving of myself, patience, and cooperation.  I want to be able to work with people more easily. 

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Hi, I’m Lizzie and I’m an eighth grader going on the summer mission trip.  I enjoy playing volleyball and doing musicals.  I also enjoy hanging out with my friends and family.  I am very close with my family and we are very open with each other.  My salvation experience began when I was at a young age.  My experiences with sharing the gospel are mainly random because if the topic comes up in conversation with an unbeliever I just give my opinion and respectfully talk to them about salvation.  My personal prayer and devotion life consists mainly of each night I try to do a devotional and spend some time in prayer and journaling.  Some ministries that I have previously been involved in are mission trips with my church to places that need rebuilding after a disaster.  I enjoy ministry because of the effect it has on people’s lives.  I know God wants me to be a part of the mission team because of him placing such a desire for missions in my heart, I look forward to going on more mission trips to different places as I grow older.  I think God wants me to accomplish sharing the gospel and helping to lead someone to Christ.  

Hey. My name is Sarah. I love to play volleyball, swim, and run. Those are my 3 favorite things to do. I don’t like cleaning or doing my chores. A lot of times during my free time I enjoy listening to my I-pod while I sit or lay in my bed, texting or just doing nothing. I like riding my bike to the park and mess around with my friends. Mostly in the summer I go to my pool, which I could walk to. I can’t wait to go this summer. It will be great! I enjoy going with my family. Even though I am the only one swimming, I like eating nachos with them. I love my family so much. They are always smiling and making my laugh.

            I became a Christian when I was six. I was in kindergarten at the time. I attended her at TCS which was JCS at the time. When I was in first grade I learned many Bible verses. Some verses I learned are Numbers 6:24-26; Psalms 100; John 3:16; and I also learned the Lord’s Prayer. I said the Lord’s Prayer every night after devotions, which we did as a family after dinner. My sister Kim and I would learn a new verse every night and would repeat it till we got it right. I got baptized when I was one years old and I did my profession of faith when I was twelve turning thirteen. My pastor felt God was leading him to start a new church so he did and my family was one of the families that followed him.

            I haven’t gotten the chance to share the gospel with anyone yet. I kind of want to though. It seems fun and I love to see kid’s faces when they have the biggest smile on their face, plus I love that feeling when you get when you know that you helped someone. Many people tell me that I’m still young and that I have my whole life in front of me. Someday I hope to secede in telling someone about God and what He did for that person.

            I do devotionals after dinner with my family. I love to see what God has to tell me. Sometimes what Kim or my dad reads is just what I needed to hear. It’s amazing how God works through others to send the message to others. After devotions we pray. Now that’s not the only time I pray. I pray before I get up and out of warm bed. I also pray before eating lunch and dinner. Right before I go to bed I pray. I pray for everyone’s safety, and good health. Another thing I always pray for at night is for a good day tomorrow and for a good rest of the week. I also pray for special or specific prayer requests I hear from others. For example, I pray for my sponsor child, Abigail who lives Bolivia.

I have been doing nursery for kid’s ages three and under every Sunday. They can choose someone else but they choose me because I am the oldest Teenager who is a girl and enjoys it. Plus, they knew me ever since I was a baby. So they know and trust me that I will be responsible. I love working in nursery. Yes, the kids scream and cry for their parents, mostly their mom, but I am really good at calming them down. The best part about doing nursery is seeing the kid’s faces when they see me. They have the biggest smile on their face. So big I can see all their faces. I think that is so cute. Especially when Mason, Lily, and Faye come funning as fast as they can to me, just to hug me and for me to hold them. I got to know them the most, so they are like my favorite. I did children’s ministry once for my church and didn’t like it as much as nursery. They are just full of energy and love to play the game, ATTACK SARAH! Everyone did this, except for Owen. I love Owen. He’s so sweet and kind. I know him because I had small group with him and he would listen to me whenever I would tell him something. He would hesitate. I wasn’t able to attend my church missions’ ministry because I was in China so yeah. I was upset but I was fun in China.

            I felt God has leaded me to this mission team because I will be working with kids and I have heard from many people that I am pretty good at it. It seems to be a lot of fun so I said yes. I think it will be a good experience for me before I attend ACHS. (Aurora Christian High School) Like I said before, I would have attended my church mission trip be I was out of the states so I couldn’t. While I am on the E’s mission trip, I hope that I will become a stronger Christian and get to know God more, and maybe learn more. I can’t wait till I go on the E’s mission trip! I’m going to have a blast, and I know it!

Hi my name is Andrew.  I like sports and legos.  I don’t really like milk but I love chocolate.  In my free time, I like to make movies.  My family is real close and likes to mess around a lot.  I got saved when I was 5 years old and wanted God in my heart.  I just have to use blind faith to believe in Him.  I try to either get others interested or try to plant the seed so God can take over.  I try to keep up with my devotions and prayer life even though it’s not as much as I would like for it to be.  This is my first mission’s trip for me other than something like Feed My Starving Children.  I know God wants me to be on this trip because He is helping me be able to join the team because I have baseball and I can’t miss one of my games.  So being closer lets me spend more time doing God’s work.  I think God will try to help us accomplish much and show who He is and why God sent His Son to die for us.



Hi! My name is Mikaela Elechicon. I just finished up my junior year in high school at Ridgewood Baptist Academy in Joliet, IL. I sang in the worship team we had there, and took part in my favorite sport (basketball) and volleyball. I also helped in our school play. During my free time, I am usually either playing basketball or playing my guitar.

My family and I have a good relationship. We are able to mess around with eachother without getting upset or offended and I know that my family will always be there to back me up whenever I need it.

I was saved when I was three years old. I asked my mom if I would go to Heaven when I died. She had to tell me I would not because I wasn’t saved. I told her that I wanted to be saved and she led me to Christ. I don’t really remember the verses we used other than John 3:16 and the Romans Road, but I remember sitting with my mom and praying with her to accept Jesus into my life. When I was 10, we were at my grandparents’ house in Iowa and were talking about some of our unsaved relatives. I don’t know why, but I started panicking that I wasn’t saved. I remembered praying with my mom, but I started thinking that I didn’t fully understand what it meant to ask Jesus into my heart because I was so little when I accepted Him. So I told my mom and she went over the Romans Road again and talked with me and I reaffirmed my faith in Him. Then, my sophomore year in high school, I was at youth group and realized that I wasn’t living my life the way that I needed to be. I was saved, but I was living more for myself instead of for God. So I talked to the youth pastor there and I rededicated my life to Christ. It hasn’t been an easy road, but god has given me great friends this year who have helped me to stay on track and who have been a great encouragement to me.

The school that I went to my freshman year was not a Christian school and there was a girl there that has made it clear that she was not a Christian. My friends and I decided to talk to her, but not to gang up on her so to speak. So we talked to her about why she wasn’t saved and about being a Christian and she listened and talked with us. I’m not really sure if anything happened from that, but God used my friends and me to plant the seed in her heart.

This year I have found myself praying more earnestly and much more than I have before, and I thank God for it. I’m still working on the habit of daily devotionals—I sometimes tend to let the day’s activities get in the way. But through this school year, I have grown a whole lot more to Christ.

I have been a part of all the VBS mission trips that my parents have taken kids on through TCS. I also went to Asia with my parents the summer before my eighth grade school year.

This mission trip is sort of a new experience for me this year because 1) it isn’t a VBS in Iowa like we have been doing and 2) being a Senior in highschool, I’ll be counted more on the adult side of things with more responsibilities than I have had before. I don’t know what God has in store for me to learn this year, but I’m excited to find out!