Team Bios!

Hi everyone,

We only have about two weeks until the trip! We're all so excited as we meet and prepare for what God is going to do during this great opportunity that we've been blessed with.

This entry is all about letting you get to know who we are as a missions team. Each one of us wrote a small blurb to share with you a few things about who we are. We hope that you enjoy learning about us, and please be in prayer for us!

God Bless,
- Greg

The Team:

Alicia ~

This past fall, I was in a Bible Study where we talked about God's calling in our lives. The topic was very difficult for me because I have always had a very difficult time deciding what I wanted to do with my life. As I spent more time praying about it, however, I heard a consistent message from God. I feel like God has a need-to-know basis with His followers: He only tells us what we need to effectively follow Him right then. For the past few years, I have felt extremely passionate about the importance of serving others in a Christian's life. I believe that the Christians should dominate the community volunteer scene, but so often I fear this is not what ends up happening. So many times we get "too busy." This past semester, I really tried to act on this conviction and as a part of that and the lessons I learned from my Bible study, God spoke to me. What I heard, over and over again, was "Walk with my feet to the hurting." I don't know what that statement is going to mean in my future, but i have become focused on acting upon it in the here and now. I have also never had the opportunity to go on a mission trip, so I have been asking Jennifer for months about the possibility of going on a trip with Chi Alpha. She didn't know how things were going to come together, but something told me to keep my spring break open, even though I had a few opportunities to do other things. When the trip came together, I knew I had to go. To me, going on a mission trip is really the deepest form of service because salvation is the most important something someone can be given. I love to share my faith and I am very excited about the opportunities I will have on this trip!

Carter ~

My name's Carter Abney. I'm 24 years old and a first year graduate student in the chemistry department at the University of North Carolina. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin (Go Badgers!) in 2007 with degrees in chemistry and mathematics. My interests tend to draw me to the outdoors, as my favorite hobbies include skiing, cycling, running, horseback riding, climbing and camping.

While having been a Christian for the majority of my life, it wasn't until much more recently that God has unveiled His boldness within me.

After looking into this mission trip to Scotland, I could see how God had been preparing me and I am excited to offer my skills and experience. I look forward to seeing God move through us to bless the students and residents of Aberdeen, and how He will refine us through this mission.

Favorite verses: Phillipians 1:6, Isaiah 40:31, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Corinthians 15:57, Psalm 144:1-2

Caitlin ~

Bio is on the way!

Cassandra ~

As the ever-evolving Christian, I have found myself in a point in life where God commands that I glorify him and I am honored to do so. My name is Cassandra Montelongo but if you get to know me, you will find that Cassie suits me much better. My brothers are a huge facet of my life that I adore. Along with being a sister, I am a female, nineteen year-old first year student at the University of North Carolina along with being an active member in the Chi Alpha fellowship. My current academic ambition is a Bachelor’s in English on a Pre-Med course of study along with a Cognitive Science Minor. With all the basics said, I hope that this Missions experience, with it being my first, will be something for God’s praise.

Christie ~

Hi, my name is Christie. I’m eighteen, have an incredible younger sister, and I’m a freshman at UNC. I plan to major in Child Development and Family Studies Education. I recently realized I want to become a preschool or kindergarten teacher, and love volunteering with children and teaching Sunday school to preschoolers. I also enjoy my religious studies classes, and haven chosen to minor in that area. Since I’ve come to college, instead of fading, my faith has grown exponentially much due to my experience through Chi Alpha and all the wonderful people God has planted in my life. I’m so excited to share the love and peace I have found in my growing relationship with Christ with those around me, and especially through this amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in Scotland, and in each of us on the team, but I know it will be amazing.

Christina ~

My name is Christina and I am originally from Mooresville, North Carolina. I am a sophomore at UNC and a Political Science and Religious Studies double major. I am coming up on my second year of leadership with Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship; currently I am a Life Group leader and in the past I have been part of our General Leadership team. The aspect I am looking forward to the most about our upcoming trip to Aberdeen, Scotland is being able to connect with other Christians and non-Christians from a different culture and seeing what God in store for us. My hope is that when we leave both our missions team as well as the college students of Aberdeen would see just how big and good God is. My prayer for this trip comes from Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." I pray that we all find the mercy and love of Christ not just on our trip but every day of our lives.

The Staff Leaders:

Jennifer ~

I'm a staff member with UNC-Chapel Hill Chi Alpha. I graduated from UNC in May 2007 with a degree in Journalism, and love working for the ministry that changed my life as a student. I studied abroad in the UK and have a heart to see Europe transformed by the love of Christ. I'm excited about the opportunity to help lead a trip that will change the lives of students at UNC and in Scotland.

Greg ~

Hi everyone, my name is Greg, and I'm on staff with Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship at UNC. I just graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in December with a degree in Biology and Spanish. I have been on Chi Alpha staff since August 2007 and I have to say, I love my job!

At this past year’s southeast area SALT conference, a Chi Alpha student conference that takes place each December, a speaker referenced a quote by Mother Teresa that I'd love to share with you. It says: “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." I couldn’t find a better way of wording my hopes for this missions trip. It is my prayer that each of us will be able to convey God’s love powerfully to the students we get to interact with in Aberdeen. This will be my first time in Europe, so I don’t know what to expect exactly. What I do know is that we serve a powerful God, so I can’t wait to see what He’s going to do during this trip!