Corey Givens Jr. traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa, on a mission trip with The First Presbyterian Church of Tampa and Young Life Tampa to share the good news of the gospel.
BY COREY GIVENS JR., Contributor
Mission trips allow us to make a difference in the lives of others and create a more compassionate world. Through service, we learn the value of empathy, understanding and working together for the greater good.
Mission trips allow us to step outside our comfort zones, immerse ourselves in different cultures and gain a broader perspective on global issues. We embody the spirit of unity, equality, and love by engaging in mission trips.
Although his trip only lasted for eight days, Corey Givens Jr. and the group were able to fellowship at a local church, donate personal hygiene items, serve children at two different orphanages and provide entertainment to Young Life Camp attendees from across Eastern Ethiopia.
Mission trips are the perfect opportunity to see God at work and learn what needs exist beyond our everyday reality. My most recent mission trip to the Motherland, or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa, was no exception.
So often, we see church “mission” work reduced to Habitat for Humanity-style building projects, food drives or even children’s vacation Bible school programs. Those are all great things, but this was not one of those trips.
I journeyed 21 hours by plane overseas with members from The First Presbyterian Church of Tampa and Young Life Tampa to share the “good news” of the gospel with our African brothers and sisters. Although our trip only lasted for eight days, our group was able to fellowship at a local church, donate personal hygiene items, serve children at two different orphanages and provide entertainment to Young Life Camp attendees from across Eastern Ethiopia.
Many of the orphans suffered from leprosy, polio, cancer, AIDS and other debilitating diseases.
I must admit, before departing for Africa, I was unsure how it would all work out, but I had one goal: to serve God.
This trip wasn’t all work and no play. Our Young Life students spent time with local Ethiopian children fellowshipping, playing basketball, making jewelry and singing songs. Most of our time was spent between the two orphanages, where we produced a biblical skit about Adam and Eve.
We spent time doing arts and crafts projects with the children, who were so eager to meet American westerners, many for the very first time. Our missionaries also got their hands dirty – literally — spending a day working on the orphanage property. We dug a hole for their new irrigation system, fixed broken fixtures, served meals, trimmed overgrown trees and cleared debris.
Many of the orphans suffered from leprosy, polio, cancer, AIDS and other debilitating diseases. Several children had been thrown in trash dumps or abandoned on the streets by their birth parents, who were unwilling to care for them due to their disabilities. While many of the orphans’ ailments could be alleviated by medications, most needed a shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold.
We refused to let their physical disabilities prevent us from showing love and affection to each child. Our group left both orphanages with a large donation of children’s medication and clothing.
Resources were limited and scarce, and we often had to make do with what was available. That included running water and electricity. I’ve never witnessed or felt such unbridled enthusiasm in serving.
‘I consider myself tremendously blessed to have taken part in this humble, life-altering mission trip,’ said Corey Givens Jr.
Disconnecting from cell phones reduced interruptions and increased the willingness to be there and interact with the crowd and the demanding workload. Each adolescent shared at our weekly small group Bible studies on the kindness and grace they had encountered all week, the infectious joy and love of the kids and the unexpected ways God had provided.
When visiting a foreign country, especially one with a different culture than your own, it’s strange how sometimes your expectations aren’t satisfied. But you may be sure that your expectations are surpassed — tenfold. When you leave your comfort zone, there is so much life to enjoy, joy to discover and life-changing transformation.
I consider myself tremendously blessed to have taken part in this humble, life-altering mission trip. God used my trip to the Motherland to reveal my true calling, pique my interest in volunteer work and youth ministry, forge innumerable strong connections based on faith and to make it clear that life with Jesus is superior.
I no longer only believed in Jesus; I now believe him as a result of this mission trip. This mission trip also taught me that people can sense your level of love even if they don’t understand your language.
