What did you do in Africa?

As the end of the trip rapidly approaches, I catch myself trying to figure out how in the world I am going to explain my experience in South Africa.

I was often asked before coming on the trip, “What will you be doing in Africa?” I truly didn’t have an answer to this question. Experience Mission does an incredible job at keeping members from having little to no expectations of exactly what we will be doing. For this I am thankful because it made my experience that much better. I learned to not ask questions, trust my leaders, and live in the moment. But now I am on the other end of the trip. Now I know exactly what happens on South Africa IMMERSION. The challenge is finding a way to sum up with words what my team, my new friends, and God did.

When going on a mission trip, particularly to another country, doubts are bound to cloud your mind at one point or another. Will these people like me? Are we making a difference? Am I really supposed to be here? God, are you sure this is the right path for me? What am I even doing here? All of these questions have crossed my mind at least once throughout the last few months.

On IMMERSION, we shy away from your stereotypical mission work. We didn’t paint buildings, build schools, give money and clothes, or stay for just a short period of time. Not completing work where you can physically see progress makes you ask yourself those questions above. I can’t send pictures back home of a new church we built or all of the kids holding gifts. However, what I can send home is pictures of the new friends I have made. I can write down their stories and share them with my family. I can pray for the people I have met because I have learned their names and their stories. I have built relationships; relationships that will have a long-term effect on myself and my new friends. Much more of an effect than a new building they could have built themselves or gifts that give kids the wrong idea about why missionaries visit them.

I wish I could express in words the difference it makes when you become friends with someone and do life their way.

They become important to you and you to them. I have had countless wonderful conversations with men, women, and children, and in each one, I have learned something new. We are kind to one another, we help each other out, and we give thanks whenever necessary. That is friendship. Friendships that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

What does being friends with someone do? Why did I fly halfway around the world to make new friends? It is because of the Kingdom. "Bringing the Kingdom" is a concept I couldn’t understand until I came to South Africa.

Romans 14:17-19 tells us, “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”

If we do this, if we love everyone the way Christ loves us, then we’re bringing His Kingdom down from heaven to earth. That is what my team tried to do. That is what IMMERSION does! We make friends, we laugh, we talk about Jesus, and we listen. I love my friends here and I have learned so much about myself, life, and culture from them.

Explore upcoming IMMERSION programs in Africa and around the world!

You must have a group size of at least 6 members to join this trip. Please view the Small Team trips or call our Servicing Department for more options at 888-475-6414.

View Small Team Trips

For most trips, you must have a group size of at least 6 members. Please view the Small Teams tab on each Community page or call our Servicing Department for more options at 888-475-6414.