CENTER for STUDENT MISSIONS

Rachel Christensen

Rachel is from Madison, NJ, where it sometimes hails. She is studying International Politics at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. She will finish her undergraduate degree next spring, but, as she is an education junkie, thinks it is not the end of school for her. Mission trips have brought Rachel into intimate contact with interesting and inspiring people and frightening questions about my own responsibility to the world in places like Philadelphia, Cochabamba (Bolivia), Mzuzu (Malawi), and Harlem. She travels monthly to Tijuana, Mexico to work with various non-profits and churches. She also just returned from four months in Bahia, Brazi. Rachel has participated in 5 CSM trips in 3 different cities. For her, there is little better than getting to new a new city climate, context and culture. Rachel loves to volunteer at Juvenile Hall, with youth group, as a elementary school tutor and tends to think that Middle Schoolers get her humor more often, and on a deeper level than people her own age, so she is grateful for that. Rachel enjoys collecting earrings and loves the point when she is talking to a stranger and their eyes change, their look softens, and the human connection has been made. Skype is her favorite tool, blogs are her favorite time-wasters and when she sits out in the sun, her mood automatically lightens. “Working in Los Angeles this summer makes me so happy, because I can be on the leadership side of a CSM trip, I can spend my days doing things that make me smile, and have my path cross with really lovely people daily.”

Emily Harris

Emily Harris is from Flagstaff, AZ. She just finished my first semester in the Nursing program at Northern Arizona University and absolutely loved it. She had the incredible opportunity to work with CSM LA last summer (2010) and fell in love with the sights, smells, and the people in the city, the ministries, and all of the wonderful groups that she was able to host! “I am so excited to be able to come back for a second summer! After my first summer with CSM I felt that God was asking me to work in an inner city or impoverished mission field with my nursing degree (whether that be in the States or overseas), and He has been continuing to grow that love for and heart for missions. I’m extremely passionate about the work that CSM does and I love every minute of every single day that I get to serve with them. I can’t wait to meet my groups and spend a week serving with them, getting closer to God’s heart for His people!”

Krista Newman

Krista is from a fairly small town in Texas called Rowlett. She just finished her junior year of school, and is majoring in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with a not-for-profit organization called All Peoples Christian Center in Los Angeles, and has done hurricane relief in New Orleans twice. Krista also spent an amazing 5 weeks in Uganda last summer, working with an orphanage. God has blessed her with a great group of high school girls who she has met with every other month since summer 2009. Krista also help slead the youth band at the church she attends. Some of her favorite things to do are bike ride, kite-fly, read, and paint. She loves serving and building community with those around her, roller coasters, and eating. “I am extremely excited about working and serving with CSM this summer. I look forward to being a part of what God is already doing in L.A. My hope for this summer (and for the rest of my life!) is to live out a gospel-driven life. ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ Ephesians 2:10”

James Paul

More info coming soon!

Kevin Wong

Kevin was born and raised in San Gabriel Valley, CA. He currently attends Cal State Fullerton University, majoring in Communications. He has attended two CSM weekend trips in the past two years and fell in love with the ministry. Kevin has spent the last two summers working at sports camps with kids and during the school year he co-leads a collegian Bible study with First Chinese Baptist Church, LA. During his free time he likes to play basketball and bike around town, especially in Los Angeles. “I love this opportunity that God has placed for me this summer at CSM as He has given me a passion for. My goals are just to continue to be obedient and serve with a heart of love.”

Nenji Yilpet - super host

Nenji was born in Chicago, IL. At the age of nine, she moved with her family to Nigeria, West Africa where her family does mission work. She grew up in Jos, Nigeria at Hillcrest American International School for nine years then returned to the United States. She currently is a junior Communication Studies/Journalism major at Azusa Pacific University. As a missionary kid, she lived a life of continual travelling between Africa, Europe and the United States. She has worked as a lead volunteer at S.A.Y Yes! (Save America’s Youth), a non-profit in south central LA, where she tutors and mentors youth. Nenji loves to write and spend quality time with people. Nenji has served with CSM Los Angeles as a City Host the Summer of 2008. We are excited to have her back! “This summer, I am excited to walk alongside others as they begin to experience the realities of life in LA, while allowing God to continually teach me to value all people as He does.”

Sarah Zirbes

Sarah is from Reno, NV. She has been on two mission trips with CSM (Los Angeles and San Francisco) and one to Mexico. She has worked with the Middle School youth group at her church since 2006, and has been a summer camp counselor every year since 2007. Sarah loves people, to go on adventures and try new things. She also likes camping, baking, painting, arts and crafts, going to the animal shelter to play with all the kitties there. She also loves Disneyland so, so much. Sarah loved doing mission trips with CSM when she was in High School. They changed her in so many ways. “It’s a great opportunity for me to come back as staff, I get to serve all summer long and hopefully have some sort of impact on the students. I want to love people and serve them, and I hope I can show others how important it is to spread God’s love.”