Serving in the Dominican Republic

For Mansfield Christian School senior Carlie Geiger, missions is not just something she experienced on one spring trip. It is something the Lord has continued to grow in her heart.

This past March, Carlie traveled to the Dominican Republic to serve at Fountain of Life Christian School. During that trip, she had the opportunity to serve students, build relationships, and share the love of Jesus Christ. But when she returned home, she felt that her work in the Dominican Republic was not finished.

“I felt I could do a lot more for the Kingdom of God if only I had more time,” Carlie shared.

That opportunity came through Partners in Christ, a mission-based organization in Ashland that serves specifically in the Dominican Republic. Carlie received an email about a four-week, hands-on mission internship that includes teaching, church activities, and one-on-one mentorship.

Carlie will leave on June 24 and return on July 24. During her first two weeks, she will help with Haitian English camps for children who have come from Haiti and are learning English. During the second two weeks, she will work with Dominican teenagers, also helping teach English.

For Carlie, this trip is about more than travel or service hours. It is about obedience, discipleship, and sharing the love of Christ with the people God places in front of her.

“The Lord has given me a heart for His people,” Carlie said. “I am blessed with the ability to meet people where they are at and the ability to adjust to different cultures.”

Carlie has been a student at Mansfield Christian School since second grade. Now, as she prepares to enter her senior year, she is stepping into a mission opportunity that reflects years of spiritual formation, classroom discipleship, and a growing desire to serve others for Christ.

“My faith has been my own, but it started in the classrooms of Mansfield Christian,” Carlie said. “MCS has taught me what it means to love Jesus and how to share that love with others. I give all the glory to Jesus, and He has been the One giving me these opportunities to serve Him and others.”

That is also the heart behind Mansfield Christian School’s MCCAP Ministry and Missions Program. MCCAP helps students explore God’s calling through classroom learning, mentoring, leadership, and real ministry experience. Students grow in faith, character, and confidence as they learn how their God-given gifts can be used to serve others in Mansfield, Ohio, and beyond.

Through opportunities like chapel leadership, local outreach, mentorships, guest speakers, ministry internships, and the senior CAPstone Project, MCS students are encouraged to see their lives as part of something bigger than themselves. The goal is not simply to prepare students for a career. It is to train students to influence the world for Christ.

Carlie’s story is one example of what that mission can look like in the life of a student. She saw a need, responded to God’s leading, and chose to use her gifts to serve others.

This summer, Carlie will be helping with camps, teaching English, building relationships, and serving alongside the staff and administrators at Fountain of Life Christian School. Her prayer is that the trip would draw her closer to Jesus and help others see His love more clearly.

“I look forward to going and being the hands and feet of Jesus,” Carlie said, “and I cannot wait to see how the Lord uses me in the Dominican Republic this summer.”

Carlie is asking the MCS community to partner with her in prayer as she prepares to leave. Please pray for safe travel, strength, wisdom, humility, and open doors to share the love of Christ. She is also praying for the finances needed for the trip. Those who feel led to support her may give through Venmo at @Carlie-Geiger-1.

We are grateful for the way God is working in Carlie’s life and excited to see how He uses her in the Dominican Republic this summer.