Washington DC mission trip to Africa

It is not everyday a group of 20 Egyptian-Americans hand over their passports and credit cards to travel half way across the world in the depths of African nations preaching the Word of God. But it has become an annual trip for the youth of St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Washington, D.C. Each year, the sign-up sheets and waiting lists for the Africa Mission Trip grows and grows. Yet, by the time Easter rolls around, God has already hand picked His group of missionaries: opening doors of financial donations and freeing up their schedules. Some take their seats on the plane and wonder, “What in the world am I doing here? I’M GOING TO AFRICA!”

      But time and time again, God has proven Himself to His nervous missionaries. He says, “Of course you belong on this trip. I’ll prove it to you.” And through the various Bible studies and activities assigned to us, we realize why God has brought each individual. On this year’s mission to Zambia and Congo, we were asked to visit the in-patient ward in the Coptic Hospital in Zambia. We visited each room as if they were our own brothers or sisters recuperating: finding out how they are, sharing an uplifting verse from the Bible, and praying with them. We also visited a nearby orphanage, where there are over 300 orphans.  We sang praises, prayed and enjoyed a wonderful time with the children. These children showed us strangers more honest and overflowing love than we do with our fellow church members back home.

      Another exciting experience for our group was visiting different compounds surrounding our Coptic Churches. In there, we visit different houses to share the Word of God and even preach in various markets. That is where we feel the strongest sensation of being a vessel for God. Imagine being surrounded by a throng of people, many who are intoxicated, many who require a translation of your preaching, many who look at you and wonder why a foreigner would be walking around their town. Now imagine your priest tapping your shoulder and saying, “You’re up next.” One person cannot logically think up a story or a lesson that can reach every single person in the crowd. So in the few seconds before we go up there, we pray that God speaks, not us, and that we may become empty vessels for Him to fill. That is when miracles happen. Each person goes in front of the crowd having nothing prepared, and yet, God overflows us with a message for each one.

      On a final note, I’m sure many of you are reading this article thinking, “I wish I could be a part of this mission.” But then our reasoning gets in the way… I wouldn’t be able to take off work. I can’t afford a trip half way across the world. I’m not spiritually ready. All these doubts get in the way of doing God’s will. For example, a friend approached me on the last day of an Easter retreat. I had been telling him and others stories from the first Africa mission I went on—reliving the miracles I saw and how God delivered us from danger. He pulled me aside and told me that my stories made him fall in love with Africa, but he wouldn’t be able to afford going on the mission. I told him to pray about it and see what God wants him to do. If God wants you there, nothing will stop you from going. Not even an empty bank account. He constantly prayed about it and suddenly the barriers diminished. His parents were fine with him going. He received enough donations to pay for his entire trip. So I beg you, if you feel that God is putting this mission in your heart, don’t drive it away by logic and reasoning. Ask God what He wants you to do. If you are persistent, I assure you God will make His answer very clear.