Holly Craggs and some of her many fans. (Holly Craggs photos)
Brandon Kelley fires up his guitar.
Sophia Nilsen plays soccer with a young boy.
Ben Etzell, piggyback ride operator.
The king of the neighborhood.
Spreading love and joy.
Spreading love and hope was the goal.
A group of teenagers associated with the Living Hope Foursquare Church in Coupeville — many of them Coupeville High School athletes — recently went to Mexico on a missionary trip. For some, it was a transforming journey.
Led by Gretchen Thorn and Kat Dale, the group included Brett Arnold, Holly Craggs, Beaumann Davis, Brandon Kelly, Ben Etzell, Aaron Thorn, Kirsten Pelroy, Sylvia Hurlburt, Marisa Etzell, Shelby Hansen, Cameron Boyd Eck, Rosie Sawatzki and Sophia Nilsen.
The following is a first-hand account from Craggs, who was a cheerleader and tennis player for the Wolves prior to her graduation in June:
Going to Mexico literally changed my life. The things I did and saw were unforgettable.
This was my first time out of the country and I had no idea what God had in store for me and my friends. God is good and he did amazing things in all of our lives during our time there.
One of the biggest things that touched my heart was visiting a rehab house for teenage girls. All the girls on our mission team were able to meet the girls that were living there, and they were all there for different reasons.
I was able to share my testimony to them, along with two other girls, and tell them about the things God has done in my life.
One of the girls, who spoke English very well, was able to respond and relate to my story, which really touched my heart. Some of them were asking questions and telling their stories to us and we were all able to give them answers and advice about God which opened most of the girls hearts.
After spending time with them, four of the girls had accepted Christ into their lives.
There is no greater feeling in the world than knowing you’ve made such an important impact on someone’s life like that, at least for me. Which is something God has deeply touched my heart about.
This year I graduated from high school with no huge plan in my life. My plan was to work for a year, then attend Ecola Bible College for a year and that was it.
I was still praying and waiting to see what God was calling me to do.
When we went to Mexico, we met Johnathon Dobernecki, who told us about his testimony and the amazing things God had done for him as he was growing up and all the mission trips that he went on.
While I was listening, I was starting to get this feeling I’ve never had before and I didn’t know what it was about. I just knew I felt a little strange and wasn’t sure how to handle it.
So after Johnathon gave his testimony, he grabbed his guitar and started singing “Set a Fire” and the lyrics to that go “No place I would rather be, than here in your love. Start a fire in my soul, that I can’t contain and I can’t control. I want more of you God, I want more of you.”
I didn’t sing it, I was just listening and praying; it opened my heart.
So God came into my heart and told me what I was feeling. I felt in my heart that he said “I love you and I know you love me. Go tell others about our love.”
I knew he was telling me to be a missionary.
I trust God with all my heart and if this is what he wants me to do, then I’m going to do it for him.
I finally know what I’m supposed to do for the rest of my life and this is it. I have never been so excited to live my life and do what God wants me to do. God has touched my heart in so many ways that I can’t describe.
So bible college is where I’m headed after Ecola. I’m ready for God to be my main drive and total focus for the rest of my life.
Things will never be the same for me because of God’s love for me and what he wants me to do.
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