Global Teams

Christ for the City International•Blog•Global Teams

Category: Global Teams

8 Kids. 4 Families. One Mission: Why This Group Is Saying “Yes” Together

It started with a simple desire: To be a family that serves God together.

Now, that “yes” is taking four families—7 adults and 8 kids ranging from just 9 months to 11 years old—all the way to Costa Rica.

This June, families from Valiente Dual Academy will step into something bigger than a trip. They’ll step into the global Church.

And they won’t be going empty-handed.

Learning a Language… and Living It

Valiente Dual Academy began just two years ago with a vision: create a space where children could learn Spanish through fun, connection, and culture.

Games. Crafts. Laughter. Friendship.

But beneath it all was something deeper—the belief that language opens doors.

“We wanted our kids to learn about other cultures and languages while having fun,” Savannah Vasquez, co-founder of the school, shared. “But also to connect.”

Now, those lessons are about to come alive.

“I think they’ll be surprised how much they already understand,” she said. “And inspired to keep learning so they can continue building relationships.”

Because in Costa Rica, Spanish won’t just be something they practice.

It will be how they love people.

A Bigger View of the World

For Savannah and her husband, this trip is deeply personal.

Both have served in missions and lived overseas. Those experiences shaped something foundational in them:

God’s Kingdom is global.

“When you experience other cultures at a young age,” Savannah said, “you’re less likely to believe false ideas about the world. You’ve seen it. You’ve built relationships.”

And that changes you.

It reminds you that even across languages and cultures, we’re not so different after all.

We’re all searching for purpose. For belonging.

What They’re Really Going to Learn

Yes, they’ll be leading children’s ministry.

Yes, they’ll be serving.

But that’s not the full story.

“What I’m most excited for,” Savannah shared, “is that they’ll realize missions is less about giving of yourself and more about making room for God to work in your heart.”

That shift—from doing to becoming—is where transformation happens.

She hopes each person walks away seeing people the way God does:

Not as different. Not as distant.
But as reflections of His image.

Seeing It Through a Child’s Eyes

And maybe the most powerful perspective comes from the kids themselves.

“I think it will be like helping other people and telling them about God.” – Emmanuel, 9

“Because most of the kids speak Spanish, so I can communicate with them.” – Emmanuel

“To fly on an airplane and playing games!” – Jonathan, 5

Honest. Joyful. Expectant.

Even their fears are real:

“Flying.” – Jonathan

But so is their willingness to go anyway.

It Started in the Classroom… and It Didn’t Stay There

After spending the year learning about Spanish-speaking countries, the group decided to bring Costa Rica to their community through a fundraiser event.

Coffee. Crafts. Community support.

A glimpse of what was ahead.

But the bigger picture?

This isn’t just about one trip.

It’s about a way of living.

Just Go

Savannah said it simply:

“If God is nudging you to do it—do it. He will make a way.”

That’s the invitation.

Not just for these families.

For all of us.

You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You don’t have to go alone.

Grab a group. Bring your family.

Go across the street.
Go across the world.

Just go.

👉 Start your trip with Christ For The City International: www.cfci.org/go

Urban Plunge vs. Global Team — And Why We Need Both

When people hear the word missions, they usually picture one thing:

A passport.
An airplane.
Another language.

But what if missions is just as real in downtown Omaha as it is in rural Guatemala?

At Christ For the City International, we believe something simple and powerful:

God is at work everywhere.

And that’s why we offer both Urban Plunges and Global Teams — because each experience shapes you in a different way.

Urban Plunges: Seeing Your Own Backyard Differently

Our Urban Plunges happen in cities like:

  • Chicago
  • Dallas
  • Des Moines
  • Kansas City
  • Los Angeles
  • Omaha
  • Sioux Falls

You don’t need a passport. You need open eyes.

During an Urban Plunge, you serve alongside local leaders who know their communities best — people who live there, love there, and are invested long-term.

You might:

  • Serve at food banks
  • Build relationships with those experiencing homelessness
  • Encourage kids and families
  • Go on prayer walks
  • Share your faith in everyday conversations

Urban Plunges teach you something critical:

Missions isn’t far away.

It’s here.

You learn boldness. You learn compassion. You learn how to see your own city — and the people in it — through God’s eyes.

And when you go home, you don’t leave missions behind. You bring it with you.

Global Teams: Crossing Borders, Expanding Perspective

Then there’s the global experience.

Whether serving in:

  • Guatemala
  • El Salvador
  • Zimbabwe
  • Nicaragua

Global Teams immerse you in a different culture, language, and rhythm of life.

You partner with national missionaries and local churches — not to “fix,” but to come alongside what God is already doing.

You might:

  • Support children’s ministry
  • Participate in evangelism and discipleship
  • Help with community outreach
  • Serve in practical, hands-on projects
  • Encourage local pastors and leaders

International missions stretches you in a unique way.

You learn humility.
You learn flexibility.
You learn how small the world feels — and how big God is.

You discover that the Gospel transcends language and culture.

Different Experiences. Same Invitation.

Urban Plunges often grow boldness.
Global Teams often grow humility.

Both grow dependence on God.

Both help you:

  • Discover your spiritual gifts
  • Grow in compassion
  • Build deep friendships
  • Step into leadership
  • Live your faith in tangible ways

And both remind you:

You are sent.

Not someday.
Not somewhere else.
Now.

Why Both Matter

If you only serve locally, you may miss the beauty of the global Church.

If you only serve internationally, you may forget that your own city needs the Gospel too.

God’s heart is global.
And it’s local.

Sometimes an Urban Plunge awakens you.
Sometimes a Global Team expands you.
Often, God uses both.

Ready to Step Into It?

Whether you’re leading a youth group, gathering friends, or sensing God stir something in you personally, there’s a place for you.

Explore upcoming Urban Plunges and Global Teams at:

👉 www.cfci.org/go

Because the world is wide.
The cities are waiting.
And God is already at work.

Step Away from Screens: Why Urban Plunge and Global Teams Matter in a Digital World

📱 iPad. Xbox. Tik Tok. Screens everywhere. Notifications buzzing. Feeds scrolling endlessly.

It’s easy for teens’ lives—and even their faith—to get trapped in the digital world. But some experiences can’t be swiped, double-tapped, or streamed. They need to be lived.

That’s where Urban Plunge and Global Teams step in.

For a few days, a week, or longer, students trade the screen glow for sunlight, notifications for conversations, and feeds for real-life faith in action. They worship together, serve shoulder-to-shoulder, and discover what it really means to live out their faith—beyond apps, filters, and likes.

🌆 Urban Plunge: Adventure Right in Your Backyard

Urban Plunge takes students into the heart of American cities—Chicago, Dallas, Des Moines, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Omaha, and Sioux Falls—where they serve alongside local leaders in ways that actually matter.

Think:

  • Food banks, homeless outreach, and mentoring kids
  • Prayer walks and street ministry
  • Community projects—painting, cleaning, or park restoration

It’s about learning boldness, creativity, and compassion… all while discovering how to be the hands and feet of Jesus right where they live.

✈️ Global Teams: Adventure with Friends Around the World

For students ready to go further, Global Teams offer an international mission alongside friends. They serve communities in Guatemala, El Salvador, Zimbabwe, and Nicaragua—partnering with local ministries who know their people best.

From evangelism to children’s ministry, construction to community projects, every moment teaches humility, teamwork, and faith in action. And the best part? Serving together bonds friends in ways nothing else can.

Why Getting Offline Changes Everything

These trips aren’t just about travel—they’re about presence.

No swiping. No scrolling. Just real people. Real stories. Real faith.

Teens discover that life is bigger than their feed. That God moves in real, messy, beautiful ways when you show up. And that serving others—whether across the street or across the globe—changes the way they see the world… and themselves.

If you want your teen to step away from screens, step into service, and step into God’s story, Urban Plunge or Global Teams might be the perfect next adventure.

👉 Learn more and sign up today: cfci.org/go

Oh, the Places They’ll Go: A Graduation Gift That Shapes Who They Become

Caps fly.
Cameras flash.
Party invites stack up on the counter.

And somewhere between “We’re so proud of you” and “What’s your major again?” there’s a quieter question every senior is asking:

Who am I becoming?

Graduation gifts usually look like money in a card. A new laptop. Dorm décor. Maybe luggage for what’s next.

All good things.

But what if this year, you gave something that doesn’t wear out, power down, or get replaced in four years?

What if you gave an experience that strengthens their faith, builds their confidence, and gives them space to hear God clearly before the next big step?

At Christ For the City International, we see it every year.

When young adults step into mission — something shifts.

A Global Team: The “Trip” That Actually Changes Them

After graduation, many students plan one last big adventure with friends.

A Europe trip.
A beach week.
A “bro trip.”
A girls’ getaway.

And there’s nothing wrong with celebrating.

But what if their post-grad trip wasn’t just fun — it was formative?

A Global Team is designed to be done together.

Your graduate can go with friends, with their youth group, or build a small team of people they already trust and love.

Instead of sightseeing alone, they could spend a week or two serving alongside national missionaries in places like:

  • Guatemala
  • El Salvador
  • Zimbabwe
  • Nicaragua

They’ll participate in children’s ministry, evangelism, prayer walks, outreach, and hands-on community projects — partnering with local leaders who know their communities best.

And here’s what parents often notice afterward:

Serving together bonds friends in a different way.

When they pray together.
When they navigate another culture together.
When they step out in courage together.

The conversations go deeper. The faith becomes more personal. The friendships become stronger.

Ten years from now, they won’t just remember the laughs.

They’ll remember how God met them there.

A Global Ambassador: A Gap Year That Grounds Them

For some graduates, the invitation goes even deeper.

Not just a short-term team experience — but an intentional season set apart.

A Global Ambassador experience is more immersive. More personal. More formative.

Instead of rushing straight into college or career, what if your graduate had space to:

  • Live cross-culturally
  • Serve consistently alongside a CFCI base
  • Be discipled and mentored
  • Develop leadership and responsibility
  • Slow down enough to hear God clearly

They may go on their own.
Or with one close friend.

But this isn’t about group momentum.

It’s about identity.

In a culture that pressures students to “figure it out fast,” a gap year centered on Christ says:

Root yourself first.

We’ve seen students return from a Global Ambassador season more grounded, more mature, and more confident in who God created them to be.

Not because it was easy.
But because it was intentional.

Oh, the Places They’ll Go

Yes — new countries.
New cultures.
New friendships.

But more importantly:

Deeper faith.
Stronger character.
Clearer direction.

This isn’t just about geography.

It’s about formation before foundation.

Before lecture halls.
Before job interviews.
Before the pace of adulthood accelerates.

A Gift That Outlasts Graduation Season

Long after the cake is gone.
Long after the thank-you notes are written.
Long after the gift cards are spent.

An experience like this continues shaping who they become.

If you’re wondering what to give the graduate in your life this spring, consider something bold.

Give them the opportunity to go.
To serve.
To grow.
To listen.
To be stretched.
To be sent.

Explore Global Teams and Global Ambassador opportunities at:

👉 www.cfci.org/go

Because sometimes the best graduation gift isn’t something they unwrap.

It’s somewhere they go.

The 8-Year-Old Who Told Her Doctor She’d Be a Missionary

Most eight-year-olds dream about becoming astronauts, athletes, or veterinarians.

Ellie Hyvonen apparently had a different plan.

“At 8 years old, I told my doctor that I wanted to be a missionary when I grew up,” Ellie said with a laugh.

While that might sound unusual for a child, the calling on her life didn’t fade with time—it only grew stronger.

“My journey in missions started at a young age when the Lord tugged at my heartstrings for Haiti,” she said.

By the time Ellie was 11, that tug became impossible to ignore. When a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, she knew she wanted to help in some way.

So she did what any determined middle schooler with a big heart might do—she started a fundraiser.

Ellie began selling handmade jewelry and artwork at church and even vegetables from her family’s farm at the end of the road. Every dollar she raised went toward buying chickens for orphans living on the island of La Gonâve.

“When I saw the pictures of those little kids receiving meat and smiling so big, there was no stopping me,” she said.

Soon after, Ellie traveled to Haiti with her mom and church teams. Those trips became the beginning of something much bigger than she could have imagined.

Throughout high school, Ellie continued looking for opportunities to experience new cultures and serve communities in need. Spring breaks often turned into mission trips, taking her to places like Japan, Hungary, Philadelphia, and West Virginia.

“In each of these trips, I clearly saw how God was developing different spiritual gifts in my life through teaching, hospitality, administration, leadership, and compassion,” she said.

Then in college, Ellie committed to a six-month internship in Costa Rica—a decision that would eventually connect her with Christ For The City International.

During that time, she studied Spanish, lived with a host family, and served in a rehabilitation home for adolescent girls coming out of trafficking, drugs, and prostitution.

“I never knew at the time that my time grueling over learning the language and pouring into these girls would eventually lead to me leading the very same work with teams from the States,” Ellie said.

Today, Ellie helps lead mission teams with CFCI in Costa Rica and Guatemala, guiding others as they step into cross-cultural ministry.

“Every trip I have been on with CFCI has been so incredibly organized and well thought out,” she said. “It makes leading trips easy.”

Leading teams from different backgrounds and personalities has taught Ellie a lot about patience—and flexibility.

“It has taught me to appreciate how different each person is made,” she explained. “Every team is made up of such unique individuals, which means I have to manage a lot of personalities and intelligences.”

Thankfully, the Costa Rica base has a helpful motto for moments when things don’t go exactly as planned.

“I love the SFINC acronym they use: Smile, be Flexible, Improvise, and No Complaining,”She laughed. “That about sums it up perfectly.”

After all, life on the mission field rarely follows a perfectly planned schedule.

“Our timing is often not the Lord’s timing nor our plans His,” Ellie said. “However, I have learned that they can be His if we submit them to Him in humility.”

For Ellie, some of the most meaningful moments on the mission field happen in the quiet, unexpected spaces.

On a recent trip to Costa Rica, she spent time with a young mother at the Kairos Rehabilitation Home who had endured years of severe abuse and hardship.

After listening to her story, Ellie suggested they paint flowers together.

As they painted, Ellie shared a simple truth.

“I explained how if God cares for these flowers and thinks they are so beautiful, how much more does He see her as precious and beautiful,” she said.

The young woman asked Ellie to sign the painting before they finished.

“Sometimes it is the simple things that lead to the greatest transformation or perspective change in our hearts,” Ellie reflected.

Next, Ellie will lead a team from Jesse Remington High School to El Salvador from April 6–13.

She’s excited to experience a new CFCI base and explore a new culture.

“I am so excited to see a totally new base and do some island ministry,” she says. “It’s also such a small world—I know CFCI’s Communication Specialist from Costa Rica, but he grew up right there in El Salvador, so I’ll get to meet many of his missionary friends.”

For Ellie, each trip is another opportunity to see how God is working in communities around the world.

Through years of mission work, Ellie has learned that leadership is often far simpler—and more humble—than people expect.

“Leadership is just influence,” she said. “It’s doing the small tasks alongside everyone else.”

Her philosophy is straightforward.

“If a leader can scrub a toilet, the followers will probably have the confidence to do it even better,” she said.

Ellie credits mentors who modeled lives of prayer and gratitude for shaping her leadership.

“No matter how bad the situation seems, going to prayer and gratitude is always the answer,” she said.

Ultimately, Ellie believes God is the one building every team.

“He only asks that I bring those people and their skills to Him and be grateful for how He moves,” she said.

A Step of Faith

For those wondering if they should step into missions—or any calling God might be placing on their hearts—Ellie had a simple starting point.

“It can’t hurt to ask the Lord, ‘Is this for me?’” she said.

But following God rarely comes with complete certainty.

“It just takes a blind step of faith—and I mean blind.”

She pointed to Peter stepping out of the boat to walk toward Jesus.

“He didn’t know all the answers, but he trusted Jesus enough to take action when he could not.”

And even when Peter began to sink, Jesus was there.

“Missions will have moments when we sink,” Ellie said. “But Jesus is there. He isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for a heart that keeps reaching out for His hand.”

She left with one final question for anyone considering their own step of faith “Are you reaching out?”

Ready to reach out?

Learn more about upcoming Urban Plunges and Global Teams at:

👉 cfci.org/go

Fasting Before You Go: Making Space for God Before Your Mission Trip

It’s Lent.

A season of slowing down.
Of surrender.
Of making room.

And if you’re preparing for a mission trip — whether across the street or across the world — there may not be a better time to lean in.

Before you pack your bag, raise support, or finalize logistics… consider fasting.

Not to prove something.
Not to be intense.
Not to check a spiritual box.

But to make space.

Why Fast Before a Mission Trip?

Mission trips aren’t powered by strategy alone. They’re sustained by dependence.

Fasting is one of the clearest ways we say:

“God, I need You more than I need comfort.”

Throughout Scripture, fasting was connected to:

  • Clarity

  • Repentance

  • Breakthrough

  • Preparation

  • Spiritual authority

Even Jesus fasted before stepping fully into public ministry (see Gospel of Matthew 4:1–11).

If fasting mattered before He stepped into His calling, it might matter before we step into ours too.

What Is Fasting — Really?

Fasting isn’t about spiritual performance.

It’s about removing something normal in your life to become more aware of your need for God.

It’s creating intentional hunger — physical or otherwise — so your heart becomes more attentive.

And during Lent especially, fasting reminds us:

We are not self-sufficient.
We are sustained by Him.

How to Fast (Without Making It Weird)

You don’t have to go extreme to go deep.

Here’s a simple framework:

1. Ask God What to Fast

One meal?
A full day?
Social media?
Caffeine?
Sugar?
Streaming?

Start with prayer. This is about obedience, not comparison.

2. Set Your Focus

Don’t just remove something — replace it with intention.

Ask:

  • Am I praying for boldness?

  • Unity on our team?

  • Protection?

  • Open hearts?

  • Personal surrender?

Write it down. Be specific.

3. Replace the Time

If you skip a meal, use that time to pray.
If you give up social media, use that scroll-time for Scripture.

Reflect on passages like:

  • Psalm 69:10,13

  • Joel 2:12

  • Gospel of Matthew 6:16–18

Fasting without prayer is just dieting.
Fasting with prayer is dependence.

4. Expect Discomfort

You might get a headache.
You might feel irritable.
You might really miss your coffee.

That discomfort is not failure — it’s awareness.

Every time you feel it, let it become a whisper:

“God, I need You.”

And don’t be surprised if distractions increase. Spiritual focus often invites resistance. Stay grounded. Stay steady.

5. Ease Back In

If you fast from food, reintroduce it slowly. Your body will thank you.

Fasting is spiritual — but it’s also physical wisdom.

Before You Begin

Pause for a moment.

  • What might God be inviting you to surrender?

  • What time can you intentionally set apart for Him?

  • What are you hoping to hear?

  • What are you afraid He might say?

Lent is not about deprivation.
It’s about preparation.

And a mission trip is not just something you do.
It’s something God does in you.

Living Sent Starts in the Secret Place

Before public ministry comes private surrender.

Before outreach comes intimacy.

If you’re preparing for an Urban Plunge or a Global Team, don’t just prepare your suitcase.

Prepare your spirit.

Make space.
Lean in.
Let Him shape you before He sends you.

Ready to step into what God is inviting you into?

Learn more about upcoming Urban Plunges and Global Teams at:

👉 cfci.org/go

He could have take a vacation. He went to Zimbabwe instead.

When Andrew Dickerson—a university professor with a rare break between semesters—looked at his calendar, he had options. He could rest. He could travel. He could take a well-earned vacation.

Instead, he chose Zimbabwe.

After a personally difficult yet deeply formative year, Andrew wanted to mark the season with something meaningful. A mission trip offered more than a change of scenery—it offered a reset for the soul and a chance to keep growing while serving God’s Kingdom.

Once on the ground, there was no such thing as a “normal” day.

Some days were spent at the Emthunzini Wethemba Children’s Home—repairing broken windows, hanging swings, grilling food, and laughing with the boys who live there. Other days included hospital visits, home visits, and playing with children at an orphanage for kids five and under. Thanks to the leadership of Pastor Mangwende, Andrew experienced a wide range of ministry moments that showed him just how much God can do through simple obedience.

One moment that stuck with him? Watching the boys play endlessly on the swings he helped hang.

“It goes to show how the simple things that enable play can bring so much joy,” Andrew shared.

Another unforgettable moment came during a hospital visit, where the team met a woman named Caroline who had been without vital medication for months due to lack of funding. The solution wasn’t complicated—they went to the pharmacy, bought the medicine, prayed with her, shared the gospel, and reminded her she was deeply loved by people she had never met.

Throughout the trip, Andrew’s practical skills came in handy—but God was also doing quieter work. Each day required patience, openness, and trust.

“Trips like these aren’t fun in the same way vacations are,” Andrew reflected, “but they are equally memorable—and more beneficial.”

As he heads home, Andrew is carrying two things with him: generosity and gratitude. And when asked how he’d encourage others to serve, his answer was simple and honest: “Get outside your comfort zone—even for just a moment. The first step is the hardest.”

Maybe that first step is yours.

Whether you gather a group of friends, students, coworkers, or go solo as a Global Ambassador, mission trips create space for God to move—in the world and in you.

Read to take the first step?

What’s on the Other Side of Your Yes?

When Jennifer Weaver first heard about Christ For the City International in 2010, she had no idea how deeply it would shape her life—or how God would use that connection to impact more than a thousand women around the world.

Her introduction came through a client, John Wilton, a longtime member of CFCI’s International Board of Directors. A few years later, in 2014, Jennifer joined her first Urban Plunge in Omaha. The experience changed her.

“I absolutely loved serving at different ministries,” she recalls. “That trip opened my eyes to the way CFCI truly shows up for vulnerable communities.”

One of the people Jennifer met early on was Dr. Duane “Chip” Anderson, then the President of CFCI. Chip didn’t just encourage her—he helped redirect the course of her entire life.

His influence led Jennifer to attend Fuller Seminary, which eventually resulted in her co-founding an anti–human trafficking nonprofit in Kansas City. Since then, their drop-in center has served over 1,200 women experiencing exploitation.

“My life and how I serve in the Kingdom would look completely different had I not gone to seminary,” she says. “God used CFCI to open that door.”

Fifteen years later, Jennifer continues to travel, volunteer, and walk alongside CFCI missionaries around the world. What keeps her connected?

“I love the way CFCI shows up all over the world to be the hands and feet of Christ,” she says. “They don’t just talk about serving communities—they actually do the work. They listen. They partner. They bring solutions that come from the heart of the people who live there.”

Jennifer especially values CFCI’s model of local partnership, where missionaries shape ministry based on the real needs of their communities.

“CFCI isn’t telling people what they should do—they’re listening, learning, and working alongside them.”

For Jennifer, some of the most sacred moments have been the simplest ones—standing on dusty soccer fields, sitting on front steps, or kneeling beside children in extreme poverty.

“Their joy when you simply show up… it’s overwhelming,” she says. “Even if all you can offer is your time and attention, God uses that. That’s when I feel closest to Christ—being His hands and feet.”

She’s lost count of how many times she’s experienced that kind of holy encounter through CFCI.

“Go,” she says. “Just go.”

“Take the mission trip. Do the Urban Plunge. Volunteer for a day. Have coffee with a missionary. Say yes and see what God has in store for you.”

Because in her words, “You never know what’s on the other side of your obedience.”

Take Your Next Step!

She gave her life to Christ—because a teenager prayed

It all started with a prayer.

Students in House Church’s youth ministry began asking if they could go on a mission trip. Together with their leaders, they prayed specifically for God to open the door to a Spanish-speaking country. The Dominican Republic, Cuba, El Salvador, Costa Rica—all were on the list.

Then came confirmation. A new friend—unaware of their prayers—began talking about his partnership with Christ For the City in Costa Rica. The church was barely two and a half years old, but they knew God was leading. They said yes.

That’s how four adults and twelve high school students, ages 13–18, found themselves serving with CFCI in San José. Their days were full—VBS, sports ministry, crafts, worship, street walks, food distribution, prayer, testimonies, and worship gatherings. Their evenings were filled with stories of how God was moving.

One unforgettable moment happened in Tirrases. While the team walked the streets, one student felt the Spirit urging him to stop and pray with a young mom caring for three children. She gave her life to Christ on the spot. Days later, her mother passed away. The team attended the wake, where Enrique, a CFCI leader, shared the news of her decision to follow Jesus. Because one student obeyed, the gospel was proclaimed to an entire family in the middle of their grief.

For Pastor Jordan Fuller, the trip was not only life-giving for his students but deeply transformational for him as a leader.

“I realized that trying to ‘do it all’ can actually rob others of the chance to be used by God,” Jordan said. “Watching Him work through our students grew my faith tremendously.”

The impact of the trip went far beyond Costa Rica. Just weeks later, tragedy struck when a student in their youth ministry passed away unexpectedly.

“The grief was devastating,” Jordan said. “But because of what we had just experienced in Costa Rica, our faith was stronger, our unity was deeper, and our hope in Christ was unshaken. God poured into us there so we could pour His love out here, even in the midst of grief.”

House Church’s trip is a powerful reminder: when you go, God not only works through you but also prepares you for what’s ahead.

Is God calling you to take that step?

➡️ Learn more about Global Teams and other opportunities to go!

 

Expect the Unexpected: Jenna’s Story from El Salvador

At the soccer school Jenna talked about her testimony: Jesus is pursuing you no matter how far you try to run, He is more powerful than our short comings.

When Jenna signed up for her first-ever mission trip with Christ For the City International, she wasn’t sure what to expect. She imagined long days of dusty roads and constant spiritual mountaintops—but what she experienced was far deeper, and far more life-changing.

From the very beginning, God began surprising her. At a small school in the mountains, Jenna and her team were greeted by over a hundred children whose joy and affection overflowed before the first game even began.

“They just started bouncing around giving us all hugs, and my heart exploded,” Jenna recalls.

That moment, and so many others, became an unforgettable reminder of God’s love breaking through in simple yet powerful ways.

But it was on a small island off the coast of El Salvador where Jenna’s heart was changed forever. As the team delivered bags of food and prayed for families living in houses made of dirt floors and tin roofs, she saw something unexpected: joy.

“I thought they were missing out on things I had in life,” Jenna said. “But I realized they had something I didn’t fully have—unshakable faith and joy that transcended circumstances.”

That realization shifted her perspective. These families, though lacking clean water or electricity, overflowed with gratitude—not just for food, but for the prayers and presence of people they had never met. Their lives displayed what it means to depend completely on God, and their eyes shined with a light that Jenna says she will never forget.

Of course, the trip also came with challenges—long days, little sleep, last-minute changes, even racing through thunderstorms and nearly missing flights. But through it all, Jenna says, Jesus was present, moving, and teaching her to listen to His voice in new ways.

Her biggest takeaway? Expect the unexpected.

“God used the people of El Salvador to touch my heart as much as He used me to touch theirs,” Jenna said. “He was with us in every moment, and He was leading us.”

FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE MISSION

candid-seal-platinum-2026
2023-top-rated-awards-badge-embed

PLEASE NOTE: Per IRS guidelines all contributions to Christ for the City International are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law and made with the understanding that Christ for the City International has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds.

Copyright © 2022 Christ For the City International. All Rights Reserved.


Join our Mailing list!

Get all latest news from CFCI




  • contact a Missions director

Call us at 888-526-7551

  • Contact Us
Call us at 402-592-8332
5855 North 90th Street | Omaha, NE 68134