Members of the trip pose with the Georgia Bulldog statue. Photo courtesy of Beckett Newton.
I initially didn’t think this trip was for me. Spring break was arriving fast, and class deadlines had to be met. But as the time drew near, I got asked one last time if I was going before the prices went up. That night I reconsidered, so I looked over my schedule, considered my priorities, and realized that I had both the time and the funds to go. As part of my local church and fellowship, that’s how I found myself heading down South on a mission trip to evangelize this past Spring Break.
Over the course of the trip, I learned and experienced many things, met a variety of people, and even went to the largest aquarium in the United States. But one thing that stuck out the most was that, despite trying to adjust to talking to others, the biggest takeaway was learning to truly listen and understand them.
To start off, this mission trip was organized by my local church, Walnut Creek, in downtown Des Moines, in connection with local churches in South Carolina and Georgia. Altogether, around 160 of us participated, hailing from various metro colleges, including Iowa State, Drake, and Simpson.
As part of the DMACC group, we set off for Georgia on March 15, driving all throughout the night. After a long journey that made us exhausted with aching knees, we finally arrived. Becoming familiar with our host Five Points Church later that evening, which was only about a year old in the heart of the “Bible Belt,” it was here that we would start our mission during a warm, clear week in the sun.
Renting a few Airbnbs nearby, our group went out onto the University of Georgia campus for four days in pairs of two. Going into this, I felt that I would have to be doing a lot of talking. It initially became a big deal trying to figure out what to say, how to say it, and especially how to do it regarding faith and beliefs in a meaningful and respectful manner. There was also the challenge of getting turned down when trying to converse, which quickly became the norm and overall part of the experience.
However, when the opportunities arose, they were rewarding. For every person too busy to talk, there were others who had time. After introducing ourselves and explaining what we were doing, conversations began to flow naturally. I thought it important, along with sharing our faith, to get to know the people we spoke with, whether on why they attended UGA, their backgrounds, and what led them to their beliefs. Listening to their perspectives became just as valuable as sharing my own.
For example, my partner Beckett and I struck up a conversation with a guy named Ethan. After we had introduced ourselves, he mentioned that he had to walk to a meeting but graciously allowed us to join him on his mile-long walk off campus. Along the way, he shared that he grew up Catholic but wasn’t as involved as he’d liked to due to college and work. We explained some of our beliefs while he shared his own, and he expressed appreciation for what we were doing. The conversation remained respectful and engaging, making it a meaningful exchange, not just in sharing our message but in gaining a better understanding of each other’s perspectives.
During the trip, I even had the chance to go on a group trip to the Georgia Aquarium, the largest one in the United States, where I saw whale sharks, huge manta rays, and sea dragons. Looking back now, I see that this mission trip (hopefully) impacted others’ lives but has also made a lasting impact on my own. I initially thought this experience would be about correctly sharing how to speak and share my faith effectively, but it taught me that and more. I understood that listening to others, hearing their perspectives, and engaging in those meaningful conversations made this mission trip truly life-changing.
For anyone considering a similar experience, I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and, if possible, travel. You can always work to get your money back, but these kinds of experiences are once-in-a-lifetime. Whether it’s through mission work, local community service, or simply engaging in deeper conversations, there is always an opportunity to grow, connect, and make an impact.
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