Citylight's short-term global trips serve alongside long-term global partners in the work God is doing in their context. Every summer, various trips for our High School students, Salt students, and individuals/families go across the world. Each team goes with the posture ready to serve, no matter the task. Whether through work projects or relational ministry, each global team’s desire is to be a blessing to the host culture, to our global partners and their team, and to one another, embodying the posture of Jesus through our selfless love and our willing service.
This past summer, two teams went to Jamaica to serve alongside our global partners Dave and Robin Laney at Robin’s Nest Children's Home. One of the teams had teenagers. Two of those teens were Ella Miller and Waverly Julian. Both Ella and Waverly were not new to going and serving others over their summer break. The past two years they served with the student ministry in New Orleans. This year, both were new to serving outside of the U.S. and expectant of what God would do. They had witnessed God do more than they ever imagined.
“I’ve been wanting to do more mission trips,” Ella shared. “I was praying at the end of the school year. I asked God “Where do you want me to go?” The Jamaica trip fell into my lap. The next Sunday, they announced it. The focus was a VBS and a garden work project. I was not expecting a ton of relationships. So, I prepared for that and prayed for energy that God would sustain me.”
The team arrived and immediately the work began. It was hot and hard. Both girls didn’t know how they were going to finish it all between the heat and how much space needing to be covered. However, God gave them and the team the energy. He also provided unexpected relief in the evenings.
“I knew there would be people our age there,” Waverly described. “I know sometimes it’s hard to connect with people my age, especially on short notice. Physically and emotionally. The first night, we met five teenage girls who lived there. We played card games after dinner .. And for the rest of the week we played board games every night, hung out and talked with one another. We would talk about our life at home, all the differences with school, church and day to day. They asked us if we were baptized. They wanted to be baptized. They shared their dreams. The youngest girl wanted to move to the U.S. and become a doctor. Another girl wanted to join the navy for her country. A lot of them have strong goals and passions. It was so nice to get to know them and what they want to do when they are older. It ended up being great. They made it great. We ended up being really close with them.”
Through God, the girls began to see purpose and hope and then joy. God was in control. They saw God at work. The team was united, and Ella and Waverly grew close with their new friends during their time.
“You know, God was in every conversation,” Ella said with care and love. “He used us in some cool ways. One night where we had to finish out VBS, I talked to a lot of the little kids but not the older kids. One older kid came over to me. She chatted and asked me about the Bible. She shared that she knew God but didn’t have a relationship. I got my Bible out and we talked about it. I didn’t know some of the answers, but we looked it up together. That was God and the Holy Spirit. I usually have a harder time connecting with new people. But with our game nights every night, it made it easier. The girls destroyed me at UNO. We all stayed up so late every night. We were exhausted in the morning, but it was so special. They were so open with us with what they wanted and their many dreams and hopes.”
Ella and Waverly grew in their understanding of why someone goes and serves. God opened their eyes to what he is doing outside of Omaha and the U.S. A heart for the nations was kindled along with their excitement in sharing and serving.
“I have realized there is nothing outside of God that I would need to feel comfortable,” Waverly explained. “And I don’t need to feel comfortable as long as I have him. The generosity I saw at the Robin’s Nest made me feel that I am not generous enough with my time. I want to work with my relationship with God so I can become as much like Jesus as I can. We all need to get out of our bubbles to see what God is doing in the world. I also saw that even though we are young, God can use us. He can use our words even though we may not understand it all. He will lead us.”
For Ella, God used a small garden project and a VBS to connect her with people. She realized that it doesn’t have to be big. He can do big things in her heart and for others in a week or a year.
“I also learned that we take so much for granted,” Ella confessed. “These kids have so much joy even though they don’t have parents. I think personally “Wow!” I take so much for granted. When I go through hard stuff, I think of these kids and how they respond. They encourage me with their joy and happiness.”
The last day at Robin’s Nest was difficult for Ella and Waverly. It was hard to leave their new friends.
“We were either crying or on the brink of tears,” Waverly described. “The night before the girls braided our hair and it was super fun. We just tried to make the most of our time since we knew we wouldn't see each other for a while. We exchanged our social accounts by text. When we got back, we would talk a few times a week. With school, we call ever so often. We talked for a few hours and hung out and talked about things. I miss them. I miss our time together. I want to play cards and sit around and talk and be together.”
The girl’s hope is that they would see their friends soon and the very least, to text them and talk to them often. The girl’s hope and prayer are for their friends to grow in their relationship with God and find a place in their life where it's steady. To grow closer with each other and learn to know what’s really important in life. Ella and Waverly are thankful for going. Thankful for Dave and Robin, for their team, for their new friends, and for Jesus. Waverly concluded with a special message to their Jamaica friends,
“I want them to know that as long as they have God, they are ok. They go through and will go through a lot of things in their life. Even if there’s not a lot of constants, I want them to know that there is one constant in their life: it is God.”
Like with Waverly and Ella, short-term trips give our members a glimpse of the long-term call to join Jesus on His mission - whether that’s right here or by crossing real boundaries of language and culture to places with little access to the gospel. It’s been exciting to see how Jesus has worked in and through Citylight this past year as we’ve sought to join Him faithfully - both locally and in sending long-term workers among the nations.
On November 9th, during our Global Focus Week, we invite you to come hear from two of our Global Partners, Dave and Chris Manfred! They have faithfully served for decades in Cambodia, witnessing a church-planting movement among the Khmer people, the Bible translated into new languages, and the first baptisms among previously unreached people groups.
We’ll also celebrate all that God has done through Citylight Global this past year and share opportunities for the year ahead - including:
Short-term trips
Discovery Groups – spaces to wrestle with, “What is the mission of God… and what is my role in it?”
Local mission opportunities
Global internships (1 year overseas)
Whether you’re simply curious about Citylight’s global opportunities, passionate about sending missionaries, or personally burdened for the nations, we’d love for you to join us!
November 9 | 12:30–4:00 PM | Midtown Location
Lunch provided. No childcare available.
Register here >>> https://citylight.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3206828