Category: 2023, Cyprus

The separation anxiety has begun. Even before our plane touched the ground in Grand Rapids, the conversations of how to get back to Cyprus had begun. As we picked up our luggage from baggage claim and hugged our families who came to great us, the group lingered. Many of the youth had been waking up at 5:30am every morning to watch the sun rise and do devotions together. What does that look like tomorrow? And the day after? There was already a group text sent out before many of us even arrived home from the airport. During our debrief time, we threw out words that immediately came to mind about this week, and the word “family” was mentioned. Because each member of the trip had already accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we were already brothers and sisters in Christ before the trip started. But we became family in…

It’s amazing how refreshed we look on the seventh day! Truthfully…we didn’t look this fresh. We don’t smell so fresh either. This photo was taken on Sunday, and I think everyone would tell you that Sunday seems like a lifetime ago, but in the very best way possible. Thank you for your faithful prayers this week! We anticipated that God would be present during Holiday Club/VBS. Many of us have served or attended VBS before and thought we knew what to expect, but we would agree that this experience has surpassed our expectations. There’s always an element of connecting with the children in attendance, but it was harder saying goodbye to them than normal. Over 80% of the children in attendance do not attend Larnaca Community Church, who hosted this week. Yes, we wanted to pass out from the exhaustion of this week, but we still felt the urgency for…

Have you wondered what the gospel would look like spelled out in vegetables? I know…we have, too, but we no longer have to wonder! This week, we have been leading up to the gospel and good news of Jesus Christ, and we were praying for the Josh and other leaders as they shared the most important story these kids would hear in their entire lives. But it was delightful to see the snack team carry the theme of the gospel in their presentation. It has not gone unnoticed by the kids. One little girl thanked the snack team for the time they took making the snacks not only taste good, but look good, and she let us know she looks forward to seeing how the day’s theme will be incorporated into the food! It is precious to know that they feel loved even through this simple gesture.  The volunteers have…

“You look sad. Did you lose something? And this little boy looked up at me with as though he were carrying the weight of the world and answered, “I know how to shine Jesus’ light, but there are so many people that don’t know Jesus. And they’re going to hell. And I want them to be with Jesus in heaven. How do I shine the light of Jesus big enough for all of them? This conversation occurred during the first 30 minutes of VBS if it gives you an idea of how God was going to reveal himself today. Wednesday is is usually the most challenging day in terms of exhaustion, and Josh had asked that we all engage as though it were the first day. There were so many moments when our team demonstrated the love of Christ to these kids and other volunteers that were tangibly felt: -Drew…

“Where’s Dan?” Haha…like any other family trips, there are a series of quotable quotes and inside jokes, and “Where’s Dan?” has been a rallying cry for our youth this week. As we do buddy checks to ensure no one has been left behind, group leader Dan has often been the last to join. But as many of us have learned this week, it is often because Dan is praying or engaging in discussion with someone. It seems fitting that he shared the story of Mary and Martha with the group this week in team devotion. Dan has modeled what it means to sit at the feet of Christ and keep our focus on our relationship with Him. Today started with a celebration of Ethan’s 17th birthday. Cake supplies are not easy to secure in Cyprus, but how many of us get to celebrate with a leaning tower of French toast??…

Sometimes, plans don’t work out as expected. And sometimes…they work out better than you imagine them in your head. That’s what happened with Holiday Club/VBS today. This was the first year Larnaca Community Church has been able to host Holiday Club for the community since Covid. They no longer have their own church building, and had to sell many of their children’s ministry supplies. How would it go? The director shared that we should be tremendously proud of our youth and that they were a wonderful testament to Calvary and Christ. We may be biased, but as group leaders, we had the opportunity to stand back and watch each of out youth use the gifts the Lord has given them, and we were so pleased by their enthusiasm for Christ and their joy in serving with their Cypriot counterparts and these kids. After a busy morning, we turned around and…

“Shine your light for the world to see…shine, shine Jesus’ light…” Our youth are singing and practicing their VBS dance moves for tomorrow as I write this, and it’s humbling to see them prioritize time at the end of a very long day to go through it one more time when they could be relaxing. It’s been a full day from the rooster crowing nearby at 3:30 am to worshipping in community with Larnaca Community Church to visiting the VBS venue and praying for the children who will arrive tomorrow. We’ve been told that most of the children are unknown to the church, which provides us all with an incredible opportunity to show them what it means to shine the light of Christ. During our devotion time tonight, we prayed for a little boy in one of our groups that has special needs and we’re praying that he is able…

“Are you Mormons?” This was the question asked by someone on the plane when we shared that our team was on missions to Cyprus. Isn’t that interesting? Travel days can be often be seen as the “throw-away” days where the goal is just reaching the destination. But our goal and destination is to embody Christ and glorify Him through our actions and words.  Our prayer is that we  demonstrated this today-from our group prayer during check-in at the Grand Rapids airport to our conversations with a missionary couple from MS heading back to Macedonia in Germany to this individual asking if we were Mormons. Not such a bad travel day. The Lord certainly cleared the path for smooth travels from airport to airport. You would never guess from the photos that we were bleary-eyed, sleep-deprived, and a little nauseated at times.  But we made it to Cyprus and were welcomed…

As we prepare to set out for Cyprus tomorrow… (Even writing that is awe-inspiring when we think about others God sent out to Cyprus before us to proclaim the gospel!) As the feelings and emotions are pouring out from the team today: “I’m feeling excited!!” “I’m so nervous…” “…equally freaking out.” God Almighty has prepared the way for each and every youth and leader He has chosen for this trip. He knows our innermost thoughts. He has placed it in the hearts and minds of many to pray for us and support us from around the world. From a ministry leader in Seoul, South Korea…to a missionary family in Kampala, Uganda…to a body of Christ in Diamondhead, MS. One sister in Christ, Val Shepherd, feels so honored to be praying for this Cyprus group, and says, “I know the Lord will bless them as they serve. God is greater and stronger…