Thirty-eight middle school and high school students served as the hands and feet of Jesus during three missions trips over Easter Break in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, the Bahamas, and South Africa. A number of the students and chaperones talked about their experiences and showed videos highlighting their trips during Upper School Chapel on May 25.

Several of the students who spoke described their experiences as “eye-opening,” including 7th grader Grace Lushina, who was one of 19 students who served in Coatesville. The team worked with underprivileged children who attend the Bridge Academy, an after-school program that meets in the Providence Church. They helped students with their homework, played with them, did some light cleaning, and helped cook dinner.

“The kids were so easy to work with and they always had smiles on their faces,” Lushina said. “I felt so blessed to be there and I hope to go back next year.”

A team of four high school students spent time in South Africa at an orphanage in Kwa Kwa founded by ACS parents Scott and Michelle Johnson. 12th graders Tommy Ellison, Moges Johnson, and Cruz Lewis went on the trip as part of their Senior Project, and also took with them 27 bags of clothes and supplies that they had collected for the orphans.

Tommy had the opportunity to play the guitar and lead worship with the children during daily chapel time at the orphanage’s school, including the song “Waymaker,” which he said was a favorite with the children, who joyously sang along with him. The team also performed skits about different Bible stories, including about Jesus’ death and resurrection. His parents, Tom and Polly Ellison, also traveled with the team to South Africa, serving as chaperones.

Cruz enjoyed playing with the children. “All they wanted was to be loved and it really touched my heart,” Cruz said. “I really encourage all of you to go on any missions trip that ACS offers — it will change your life.” Cruz admitted that being on stage to act in the skits pushed him out of his comfort zone, “but I did it because I wanted them to see Jesus through us.”

10th grader Sophia Johnson, who also went on the South Africa trip, shared the good news that during the trip 48 men, women, and children were baptized in a nearby river and that 200 children at the orphanage gave their life to Christ. Sophia also said her family is now allowing children to be adopted from the orphanage and that her family is adopting a five-year-old girl that will hopefully be coming to ACS next year.

12th grader Hunter Jorgenson was one of 19 students who served in the Bahamas, supporting the efforts of missionary Bob Mastin of the Caribbean Youth Network. Some of the team’s activities included helping with a youth soccer clinic, reading books and doing crafts with residents at a camp for the handicapped, picking up litter on a beach, and leading a Vacation Bible School at a Haitian church.

“I was really impacted by the people at the handicapped camp — seeing their joy in God alone when they had nothing else,” Hunter said. 11th grader Haven Sanchez talked about how the experience taught her an important lesson about contentment. “I saw people living in shacks with no air conditioning or plumbing, and yet everyone had a smile on their face even though they had very little,” Haven said. “I want to be as content in my life as they were and keep my focus on walking closer with the Lord.”

Missions Club Advisor Dave Genter closed out the chapel and encouraged ACS students to consider going on a missions trip next year. “As Christians, we are told to go into the world and preach the gospel and show God’s love to everyone we meet,” Genter said. “That’s what missions is all about.”

Since 2008, close to 390 students have now gone on ACS missions trips and learned first-hand about the joy of serving God by serving others.