Youth Missions

Dominican Republic 2025

Know God. Be Present. Love Others.

West Side Youth Ministry believes mission experiences are an important part of faith development, and we strive to give students a variety of opportunities to learn, serve and grow during their years in the youth program. We rotate our mission experiences every three years: an evangelism training conference, a regional trip and a cross-cultural experience to the Dominican Republic which is where we are going this summer.

“…All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor…”
—Galatians 2:10

During our two-week trip (June 27-July 13, 2025) to Dominican Republic, we will be living and working in the town of Caraballo, a poor, mostly Haitian community located in the sugarcane fields on the north coast of the DR. This community is truly the poorest of the poor in the DR. In this impoverished setting Kids Alive is working to meet the needs of children who are growing up with very few opportunities.

Our team of 22 (17 students and 5 adults) will be working with Kids Alive International doing primarily construction on the school, which has become too small for the children it serves. Opportunities to interact with the children during the summer program and in the Barrios (neighborhoods) will also be part of our experience. This will be the seventh West Side trip to DR to work with Kids Alive and alongside West Side supported missionaries and former members, Vic & Leslie Trautwein. Our trip will conclude with a quick visit to the coastal town of Puerto Plata.

—Stacy
Associate Director of Ministry

Meet the Team

Between now and when we leave at the end of June, we want to introduce you to our amazing team of students and leaders who will be going on the Dominican Republic Mission Trip.

Serena Ablin

Sophomore, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

A few months ago, I remember hearing stories about how my mom went on mission trips and learning about some of her experiences through her friends. I remember praying and asking God for an opportunity like that. Lo and behold, the next day Stacy reached out and asked if I would like to go on the mission trip. I jumped at the opportunity.

First of all, I want to learn what real humility looks like. I’ve heard many stories about how joy-filled the Dominicans are, and I’m excited to learn from them spiritually. I’m also reminded of the verse: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.” (John 13:14)

As Christians, we are called to serve one another humbly, and I’m excited to serve with the DR team and get to know the people of the Dominican Republic. Above all, I pray that I will grow closer to God through all of this and learn to lean on Him in every circumstance.

What is your understanding of discipleship (being a Christ-follower) and its relationship/connection to mission?

Discipleship to me is becoming like little children and loving each other despite our differences. Also learning to trust the Lord blindly despite what the stormy waters underneath look like. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3–4) In terms of the DR trip, discipleship is serving and growing from a selfless perspective.

Jack Dillard

2024 Graduate, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

To be able to have an opportunity to actually go and be a mouthpiece for God’s Word in an environment totally different than my own is incredible and I want to treat this not as just a fun trip with my friends, but as a time to get out there, get vulnerable, and get closer to the loving Father and the people He created. I hope that this trip helps me to anchor myself deeper in The Lord, lean on Him and trust in Him as I spread His love.

Describe when Jesus Christ became real to you as your Lord and Savior.

There was never a point in my life where I didn’t identify as a Christian. That’s not to say I’ve been super faithful my whole life. It wasn’t until around Junior or Senior year that I really got serious with my faith. I realized that this wasn’t my parents faith or my friends faith but my faith. So I started to treat it as such and from that time I have been pretty rooted in The Lord, trusting in Him and following him despite the ups and downs that life throws at me.

Atticus Blum

Junior, Kennedy Catholic High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I’m excited to be part of something bigger than myself and actually make a difference in the lives of the kids we’ll be serving. It’s a chance to step away from my usual routine, connect with others in a meaningful way, and hopefully leave a lasting impact.

What areas of your life would you like to grow during this trip?

I want to grow in empathy and just be more present with the people around me. I’m also hoping this trip helps me take a step forward in my faith journey towards some clarity and seeing how faith shows up in others’ lives, while figuring out what it really means for me.

Gabe Birnie

2024 Graduate, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

At church one Sunday morning I felt the Holy Spirit inviting me to commit to the trip because I need to let go of other things that have a hold on my heart more than Jesus. Saying yes to this trip didn’t fit with how I viewed myself at first. I'm not a person to expand my comfort zone. But I'm taking the opportunity to refine my passion for pursuing the power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus without distraction.

Describe when Jesus Christ became real to you as your Lord and Savior.

I took my first communion on Easter when I was younger. Confronting my sinfulness and receiving the comfort and hope from God made his presence in my life feel real. I always looked at myself and the wrong things I did. I realized at this time that God looked at me with patience and love.

Sam Juby

Junior, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I want to participate in this trip because I would like to be of service to the Lord and those around me. With that being said, this is one of the best places to do so, and I’m looking forward to any personal growth I may experience during this trip.

Describe when Jesus Christ became real to you as your Lord and Savior.

Jesus became real to me when I was at the Memorial Day retreat during my 8th-grade year. While I was there, I realized that everything that happens in life ultimately leads to Him, and everything began to make sense to me.

Cedar Soley

Junior, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I want to participate in this trip because I think It will seriously change my perspective on how I value the life that I live on this earth. Additionally it will be a way for me to see how some of those who are less fortunate go about their lives. However the main reason I want to go is because I want to see the extent or impact I can have on these kids in such a short time.

What areas of your life would you like to grow during this trip?

I would like to grow closer to God as I'm in the Dominican Republic doing his work, and I want to be able to grow as a person in general. I specifically want to become a more empathetic and patient person as I work with kids where there will be a language barrier and a cultural barrier. A side effect of this trip is giving up my phone, which will hopefully help my attention span by not receiving the rewarding dopamine hits from phone notifications.

Cooper Guidry

Leader

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

4 years ago I was a junior at West Seattle High School. Before I could even ponder what ridiculous shenanigans I would do that next summer I heard rumors of a mission trip through Westside Presbyterian. I felt God calling me and it definitely helped that all my friends were going. I went had an amazing time, grew in my relationship with the lord, but most importantly my community grew. As the experience went by I felt God extending our community through nurturing relationships. He planted seeds in ways that broke any language or cultural barrier. I left with a growing gratefulness for community in Christ. God filled my heart to go back and in 2024 I went back to the DR thanks to West Side as well as Vic and Leslie. I spent a good chunk of time back in Caraballo. The school there that our congregation has spent years nurturing relationships with was beautiful. It is described by many as an oasis in a desert. A place where God extends the gift of education, sustenance, and love to his children. With an opportunity to return it would be foolish of me not to go back.

What areas of your life would you like to grow during this trip?

I love growth through community. Whether it be something small like a basketball team, a youth group or a Bible study. Having others that you regularly check in with and learn from is a great gift. God has given us a great gift of a community across this hemisphere in Caraballo. He has given us a gift of showcasing his great works when communities come together and work toward a beautiful goal. I know God will place his hands on our team and cause us to grow. I believe this trip will be filled with inspiring moments where I see team members grow in their faith and open up to Gods cross cultural community.

Solveig DeFant

Leader

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I am so excited to be part of the mission trip to the Dominican Republic because serving God and sharing His love in all that I do is something I’m passionate about. I had the opportunity to go as a student three years ago, and it was truly beautiful to experience the way the people in the DR reflected Jesus’ love. This year, I’m excited about the chance to return as a leader. I hope to continue growing in my faith, not only through the people we’ll meet in the DR, but also alongside the team we’re bringing. I’m looking forward to learning, serving, and showing God’s love in every step of this journey. And of course, I’m so excited to continue to build the relationships I made the first time I was there!

What areas of your life would you like to grow during this trip?

During this trip, I would love to grow spiritually by deepening my understanding of God’s love and presence through the culture and people of the Dominican Republic. I want to remain open to how He might use me to serve others, build relationships, and share His love in meaningful ways. I also hope to learn more about the impact of mission trips and how to continue serving faithfully when I return home.

Lois Barton

Junior, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I want to participate in this trip for a multitude of reasons. I want to help improve people’s quality of life and bring them joy, especially kids. I also hope that my faith will grow, and I will become closer to Jesus. Additionally, I am excited to experience a culture that is very different from my own.

What areas of your life would you like to grow during this trip?

I would like to grow in my relationship with God and my empathy and kindness. I would also like to grow my independence and confidence. I want to grow in my friendships and meet new people. Lastly, I would like to broaden my perspective of the world and become more grateful for what I have.

Kristie Jacobs

Leader

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

Serving on trips like this helps change my focus from 'me' to 'others.' Jesus encourages us to serve others and my hope is to be an obedient servant to Jesus and others. I look forward to doing this trip with this great group of students and leaders.

Describe when Jesus Christ became real to you as your Lord and Savior.

I was raised in a Christian, Christ serving home. At age 9 I asked Jesus to be my savior. It hasn't been a perfect journey but I wouldn't want to live this life without Jesus. I'm praying this trip helps my relationship with Jesus and continues to deepen it.

Jeremy O'Keefe

Junior, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I want to deepen my relationship with God and also help spread his word, I believe that by spending time in this trip will not only strengthen my personal relationship with God, but also with the people around me (youth group).

What areas of your life would you like to grow during this trip?

I would love to deepen my friendship with the Lord and also educate myself on other cultures and traditions.

Jackson Fediw

Junior, Evergreen High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I want to participate in this trip because it is a chance for me to go somewhere new and to also meet new and interesting people. By going to the DR I will be able to learn from people who have a much deeper relationship with God, and to help me deepen my own relationship with God as well. I also want to serve people down in the DR in any way that I can and that is needed as well.

Describe when Jesus Christ became real to you as your Lord and Savior.

Before about a year ago, I never really tried to follow Jesus Christ I think, even though I called myself a Christian. But because of friend, I decided to actually start learning how to follow Jesus. It has taken a while, but with this trip, I believe that I can learn more how to follow him, as well as how to deepen my relationship with Him.

Jubilee Blum

Freshman, Kennedy Catholic High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I want to be part of this trip because I feel called to serve and show God’s love to others in a new way. I’m also learning Spanish and I’m excited for the opportunity to use it while connecting with people in the Dominican Republic. I think this trip will help me grow in my relationship with God and with the people around me.

What areas of your life would you like to grow during this trip?

I want to grow in my faith and learn to trust God more in unfamiliar situations. I also hope to become more compassionate, confident, and open to new experiences. I think using my Spanish will stretch me, and I’m excited to see how God can use even my learning to build relationships.

Josh Kutz

Leader

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I believe God calls us to serve others with compassion and humility. As a student, I never had the chance to go on a trip like this due to competing summer commitments (especially sports)… but the desire to go never left me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to finally step into this experience and support students in a leadership capacity as they serve. I’m excited to witness how God works in and through our team and hope to encourage others while also exercising my own faith in new ways.

In what areas of your life would you like to grow during this trip?

Like many of you all, I am accustomed to hearing the stories from the students (and also adults) who served with Kids Alive. Every “DR Report” I am struck by the humility and sense of “other” that being “on mission” elicits/fosters. So I would say I want to grow in humility. I want to listen more, love more, and be attentive to what God is doing around and through me. “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” I had to look this C.S. Lewis quote back up because I think it encapsulates well how I hope to experience both (a) the missional work we go to do AND (b) how I exit from the trip.

Olivia Rutledge

Sophomore, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I want to participate in the mission trip to the Dominican Republic because I feel called to share God’s love with kids who need it. From my previous experiences at MDR and VBS, by the end I always feel so much more “on fire for God.” So, I hope that through this trip I will learn from and connect with these kids and Jesus to better the lives in the DR. I feel so grateful for all the blessing that I have so I want to share them with these kids and help their communities. I know that this trip will inspire me to make lifelong connections with Jesus and serving His communities.

What is your understanding of discipleship (being a Christ-follower) and its relationship/connection to mission?

My understanding of discipleship is doing what God has called us to do. All throughout the Bible we see examples of how we can help our communities and spread the good news of Jesus Christ, and to me that’s the best thing a Christ-follower can do. 1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in it’s various forms.” In the case of our mission trip, discipleship is consistent prayer, being filled and guided by the Holy Spirit, and following our callings to these kids.

Isaac Gawthrop

Freshman, West Seattle High School

Why do I want to participate in this trip?

I want to participate in this trip to spread the Gospel and expand my own understanding of the world. I want to put the Word of God into action through what I do.

What areas of your life would you like to grow through this trip?

I would like to grow my understanding of my place in the world, knowing how blessed I am for the life I have. I also want to grow in how I can show others the grace of God through me. I want to grow my empathy for others and my will to make a difference in the world while giving to others. I also want to see the wonderful places in this world like the DR.

Arthur Johnston

Junior, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I want to participate in the mission trip to the Dominican Republic because I feel called to serve others and share God’s love in a meaningful, hands-on way. I believe that stepping out of my comfort zone to help communities in need is a way of living out the Gospel. I’m excited to build relationships, support local ministries, and grow spiritually by seeing God at work in a different culture. This trip offers an opportunity not only to help others but also to deepen my faith and gain a better understanding of what it means to be a servant-leader in Christ.

Describe when Jesus Christ became real to you as your Lord and Savior.

Jesus Christ became real to me when I faced a season of personal doubt and uncertainty. I had grown up knowing about Him, but it wasn’t until my freshman year that I experienced His presence and peace in a deep and personal way. Through reading Scripture and talking with mentors in my church, I came to understand His sacrifice and love for me, not just as a general truth, but as something deeply personal. Since then, I’ve trusted Him deeply, and I’ve seen His faithfulness guide me every step of the way.

Stacy Kutz

Leader

In what areas of your life would you like to grow during this trip?

As I get ready to lead this next team with Kids Alive International, my hope is to keep growing as a leader who points people to Jesus with humility and love. I really want to build a sense of teamwork and unity, helping each student find their place and feel encouraged in the gifts God’s given them. I’m also praying that we’ll stay grounded in prayer and remember that it’s God’s power—not ours—that makes a real difference. Most of all, I’m excited to invest not only in the kids we’re serving but also in our team, trusting that God will use this experience to grow all of us in faith and purpose.

Why do you want to participate in the mission trip?

This will be my third time leading a team of high school students to serve with Kids Alive in the Dominican Republic, and I feel so grateful for the opportunity to return. Each trip has deepened my love for the children and families we serve, and it’s such a gift to come alongside them with open hands and hearts. I’ve also watched how these trips stretch and grow the students’ faith, opening their eyes to God’s work around the world. At the same time, I always remind our team that we don’t have to go to another country to make a difference—there are people in need right in our own communities. My hope is that what we experience together in the DR inspires a lifelong heart for service, both globally and right in our own backyards.

Abby Gawthrop

Junior, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I would like to participate in the mission trip to the Dominican Republic so that I can be immersed in a community of people that are strong in their faith. Throughout my life as a Christian, I am closest with the Lord when I have a community around me that I can share my belief’s with, like my experiences with MDR.

The trip to the Dominican Republic is not only going to provide a deeper relationship between myself and the church/the people that I am going with, but also will expose me to a very faithful community down in the Dominican Republic. Moreover, I think it is important for me to use the blessings that I have been given to help others. This trip is an opportunity for me to take the generosity of the Lord and pay it forward, while also strengthening my relationship with God at the same time.

What is your understanding of discipleship (being a Christ-follower) and its relationship/connection to mission?

To me, discipleship is to follow the paths and examples that Jesus has given us. The trip to the Dominican Republic is an opportunity for me to follow Jesus’s example of laying down my comfort- in Seattle’s temperatures, the culture i’m used to, the food i’m used to, and admittedly, my phone! - in order to love and serve His people. It will also be a way for me to work on following Jesus’s example, for example, practicing patience.

Nathan Lee

Senior, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I believe that visiting the Dominican Republic will be an eye-opening experience that will widen my perspective, especially on the economic disparities that exist in this world; knowing something in thought, and seeing it with your own eyes are two completely different things. In addition, I believe that being immersed in a culture other than my own will be a great learning experience and a great opportunity to connect with and learn from other humans made in God’s image that speak a different language, look different, and live out of different circumstances.

In what areas of your life would you like to grow on this trip?

The biggest area in my life that I would like to see grow is being tested on this trip is the solidity of my Faith in a different environment. Am I holding fast to Jesus? Or when circumstances change, will I let go? I'm looking forward to processing this with leaders and other students during the trip. I believe this experience will be informative; I hope to come back with with a better sense on where I am at in my faith journey, and what next steps I need to take.

James Ko

Junior, West Seattle High School

Why do you want to participate in this trip?

I want to participate in the trip for a couple of reasons. First, I have a lot of friends going on the trip, and I knew it would be a great opportunity to get closer to them. Additionally, the frequent service projects, discipleship groups and more have really kept me in a rhythm with growing my faith. Furthermore, the trip as a whole has brought me closer to God and helped me be a better follower of Christ.

In what areas of your life would you like to grow on this trip?

I would like to grow in a few areas of my life, namely perspective and devotion. I feel this trip will grant me a better ability to follow God in my own right, after interacting with some who are devoted followers of Christ but have had a much different experience on this earth than me. Experiencing such a different perspective and way of life should helpfully aid me in growing my devotion.

Eleanor Needham

Freshman, Homeschool

Describe when Jesus Christ became real to you as your Lord and Savior.

Jesus became real to me when I first went to MDR (Memorial Day Retreat). It was still my first year in the youth group, and until that point I had not really connected with the other people. Seeing and knowing people my age who had a really strong faith in Jesus, and who helped me understand the doubt I was going through, let Jesus become real to me.

In what areas of your life would you like to grow on this trip?

I would like to grow in my faith, and I would like to learn how to share it with other people. I would also like to learn how to receive what people share with me. I also hope to grow spiritually, and to gain some more understanding of another culture as well.

Know God. Be Present. Love Others.

Meet the Team

Serena Ablin

Sophomore, West Seattle High School

Jack Dillard

2024 Graduate, West Seattle High School

Atticus Blum

Junior, Kennedy Catholic High School

Gabe Birnie

2024 Graduate, West Seattle High School

Sam Juby

Junior, West Seattle High School

Cedar Soley

Junior, West Seattle High School

Cooper Guidry

Leader

Solveig DeFant

Leader

Lois Barton

Junior, West Seattle High School

Kristie Jacobs

Leader

Jeremy O'Keefe

Junior, West Seattle High School

Jackson Fediw

Junior, Evergreen High School

Jubilee Blum

Freshman, Kennedy Catholic High School

Josh Kutz

Leader

Olivia Rutledge

Sophomore, West Seattle High School

Isaac Gawthrop

Freshman, West Seattle High School

Arthur Johnston

Junior, West Seattle High School

Stacy Kutz

Leader

Abby Gawthrop

Junior, West Seattle High School

Nathan Lee

Senior, West Seattle High School

James Ko

Junior, West Seattle High School

Eleanor Needham

Freshman, Homeschool

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