For Students

We are excited that you are visiting our site. We are sure that you are e-savvy enough to get around and figure out exactly what trip to go on, but if you aren’t or you can’t, please feel free to call us at 417-781-2273 or email us at .

The 411

Here’s the deal, there are a lot of different ideas about what a mission trip is or should be. Some think of building a house south of the border, others think of orphanages in Africa, and others think about going to local nursing homes to help out widows and the sick. Those are all good things, and we believe that as followers of Jesus we are called and compelled to do such acts of service. With all of the options out there, we just want you to know what to expect and not expect on a CIY mission trip.

Urban – these trips are 10 days long. You will join a local church or ministry leader and serve them and their ministry. You will have the opportunity to see how to meet the specific needs of people within urban settings. Some, but not all acts might be: VBS for children, helping out in soup kitchens, homeless facilities, working one-on-one with urban poor, etc… People are predicting that in the next 15 years there will be a large return to our nation’s cities. Will you be ready to minister to them?

International – these trips are generally16 days long and are focused on an overseas missionary. We want to serve them and their ministry. It makes sense, right? They live there, sleep there, eat there, and minister there. They know what they are doing. So, we help them in any way they need it – from street evangelism projects to physical work on houses, churches, and neighborhoods, to Christian education and working with the poor. As you can see, there are generally a large range of acts of service the missionary needs. The exciting part of these trips is an opportunity to live alongside of the missionary for our time there. You get to see what it is like for them to live in another place and culture for the sake of God’s kingdom. Is He calling you to do the same?

Specialty – these trips are “specialty” because they have a specific focus. That is, these trips are centered in on specific tasks that generally need specific skills. For instance, a medical trip will focus on meeting the physical needs of people. A business trip focuses on business initiatives for the sake of the Kingdom in that specific area. Many of these opportunities are only open to college students who are pursuing these degrees; however, there may be several different needs on one trip so just give us a holler and we will let you know.

Our hope and prayer is that you might join the God of mission in his relentless pursuit not only for you but in all people. Listen to what others are saying about their experiences with CIY Missions…

“The main thing I received from Ecuador was just to change the way I evangelize. I noticed that the Ecuadorians were so bold and calm about how they told people about God. They just all had that desire to tell everyone about his good news, and just seeing that made me want to be like them in that way.” – Sarah Wright

“Before my mission trip to New York I was on a path with Christ, but seemed to sometimes steer away due to certain people I put myself around. I never had a relationship with Christ, but always called myself a Christian. Going on this mission trip allowed me to see through God’s eyes. I saw different things I didn’t know existed and I felt in my heart things I never felt before. I went on this mission trip not knowing a single person, but I knew I could accomplish it because God would be with me and would watch over me. I met so many great people on the trip that I still keep in contact with every week. The mission trip totally changed my heart for Jesus and made me want to stay focused on my path with Christ. I can’t wait to travel on another mission trip and I hope it can be an international one.” – Shanda Techau

“I really learned the true meaning of servanthood. I really didn’t understand it until I met Sandra and Marcelo. All of the Ecuadorians were just so giving and knew how to put others before them. It really changed how I approach people here in the good old Estados Unidos.” – Kelsey Harriman

“Probably the most memorable part of my trip to Cambodia was had in one short rainy afternoon. Our primary objective: prayer walk. Before we departed, [an adult leader] spoke a few interesting words. She said that when we venture into new cultures, we often view the new people along with viewing the new landscape. It’s as though the faces get lost in the scenery. We don’t consciously do it, but we are taking so much in… we can’t help it. Her challenge… look into the eyes of the people, then say a prayer for them. What a remarkable difference it makes in our view of people when we stop to look into their eyes. That rainy afternoon, as I began this prayer walk, God reminded me of a verse. Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Americans are not the only ones loved by God. But often times, I forget that God took time to “knit together” every single person in this world. The sad part is, so many people don’t even realize it. As I looked into the eyes of the Khmer and prayed for them, I knew God had created each one for a purpose. How heartbreaking it is to know that so many of them will never know what that purpose is. However, God is in control, and ministries like Rapha House and people like Sath Theara are being used to change that.” – Kevin Bujarski

“I learned through this trip to put all faith in God. Prayer is a very powerful thing. Seeing the importance that the people from Ecuador put on prayer was mind blowing. I never thought to praying for everything, no matter how small and seemingly unimportant it is. This trip really changed my life. Trusting God was very hard for me because I like to rely on myself, but now I know that it is impossible to take care of everything.” – Brian Smith

“Seeing God everywhere we went was the most powerful part of the trip for me. I was able to see Him through the giving nature of the people we met, the love shown for God when they CONSTANTLY turn to Christ in every part of their day, and finally through feeling God next to me in the most rural area. I have been changed by the mission trip to Ecuador because I have accepted that I need God to lead the way for me through all the events in my life, big or small.” – Anne Flynn

“Sath Theara was our translator. She is an amazing girl with a huge heart for the Lord and is the director of Friends of Jesus Kids Club in Phnom Penh. She works to make sure the less fortunate children in her neighborhood have a fun place to play, while still teaching them about Jesus. Theara was able to give us a tour of the neighborhood. It was very sad to see how the kids we had been hanging out with lived. The kids who had so much energy and joy were living in dirt and trash. That was amazing to me…my eyes were definitely opened to how blessed I truly am and how selfish Americans can be. We have so much and yet we are still not happy sometimes. The kids I was with have almost nothing, but they laughed and smiled and played like they were very happy.” – Lyndi Speak

“I learned God really is everywhere. I think we’re constantly trapped in our own world thinking there isn’t anything out in the world bigger than where we are. God is absolutely everywhere, all the time. Being in a completely new environment made me realize to think more outside of myself and that the world is way bigger than any of us expected. It was a very eye opening experience and very life changing.” – Moriah Ziese

“I learned how to show love. Here in the U.S. we like our space and don’t go out of our way to get to know someone. It’s the total opposite in Ecuador and I loved it! The simplest gestures meant so much to them. I also learned that love isn’t something you say, it’s something you show. The people of Ecuador are definitely living out God’s plan for us to show love to everyone, not just everyone who’s a Christian. I’m forever grateful for ALL of the lessons I learned in Ecuador!” – Brittany Mockbee

“God really opened my eyes up to the true compassion and dedication he calls us as disciples of Christ to have and live out. Pastor Louis’ story continues to come to mind whenever I think about the trip. He went out into the country, (which he didn’t like very much compared to the city), and went to the people in the name of the Lord. When they had an event and they received prayer requests from someone, he made sure to go back and visit with them again and again, getting involved in their lives and really caring about them and showing it. He wouldn’t get discouraged if someone didn’t claim Jesus Christ as their savior the first or second time he went. He also wouldn’t wait for people to come to him and ask about God, or what it means to be a Christian. We might think that actions like his would bring enough attention to where people would just flock to us, questioning why we acted so different. He didn’t rely on this mentality, instead he kept going to more people, expanding and building new churches closer to the people in the countryside. Because of his impact on my life, I want to strive to meet people where they are, wherever that is, whatever that means.” – Hannah Baker

“I learned to follow my passion and use it wherever God leads me. [The missionary] told us his story and I had talked with him earlier about how he and his wife are going to go open that place in Egypt. I think it’s awesome and it helped me see that maybe Bible college isn’t what I need. Maybe God wants me to go with my passion.” – Michael Abrams