Over the past couple of weeks, I attended my very first mission trip to South Africa. To say it was life-changing would be an understatement. It was overwhelming, inspiring, faith-building, and humbling all at once. I went with the hope of imparting the gospel into the lives of others, but the truth is it transformed mine in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

From the moment our group boarded the plane, I felt the love of family, friends, and even strangers who sent prayers and well wishes. That alone reminded me that this trip would be special. But nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced in Johannesburg.

We visited different townships where people had come in search of jobs to support their families back home, only to find themselves stuck, living in shacks with little to no running water, and minimal electricity. Walking through, you could feel the weight of hopelessness and despair. And yet, in the midst of that, the people welcomed us with open hearts. They invited us into their homes, gave us their time, and honored us with their presence.

I was humbled to see how God used us to bring a glimpse of hope through prayer, through conversation, through His Word. Time and again, we entered homes where people were weary and heavy-hearted, and we left seeing smiles, joy, and even salvation. It was a reminder that sometimes the simplest acts, listening, caring, showing love, pointing people to Jesus, are what change everything.

And I witnessed miracles. I saw a swollen knee shrink under prayer. I watched a fever leave my roommate’s body the moment hands were laid on her. These moments were living proof of God’s healing power, the kind that strengthens faith not just in the one being healed, but in every witness to it.

But perhaps the greatest change happened inside me. At first, I thought the peace I felt on this trip came from the surroundings, the stillness of nature, the beauty of sunrise and sunset, the quiet broken only by sounds of animals. But as I reflected, I realized the peace wasn’t from the environment. It was from God.

On this trip, my focus was fully on Him. Every day was filled with prayer, worship, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. There was no constant pressure of deadlines, no endless list of responsibilities. Just God’s work, front and center.

This trip gave me clarity in a way I hadn’t experienced before. When I first started this blog, I wrote about God being our source, and I thought I understood what that meant. I believed I knew it intellectually, but I wasn’t practicing it. It was one thing to write about God as the center of my life, and another thing entirely to live it, to truly allow Him to be the foundation for every thought, every action, every moment. On this trip, I finally saw what it looks like to put that belief into practice.

For so long, I had been building my own life and trying to fit God into it. But He was never meant to be an addition. He is the foundation. He is the Source. Psalm 1:3 says, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”  On the trip, no matter how tired I was or how much pain I felt, I still had strength to keep going because my Source was God.

Peace doesn’t come from escaping your environment. It comes from anchoring yourself in Him.

Another lesson that became so clear to me was the importance of community. The people in the townships looked out for one another with a level of care that was deeply inspiring. And within our own mission group, I experienced constant prayer, encouragement, and fellowship. We laughed together, worshiped together, and served side by side.

I am forever changed by this assignment. It taught me that peace isn’t found in perfect circumstances but in putting God at the center. It showed me that miracles still happen, and that the simplest acts of love can shift someone’s entire day. And it reminded me that while we often chase after more, more money, more things, more comfort, what people truly need, and what we truly need, is Jesus.

This trip would not have been possible without the organizations we partnered with. They ensured we had everything we needed, from travel to food, to schedules, to prayer, making the entire process seamless. If it’s on your heart to support them, I’ll include links below. They are led by servant-hearted individuals faithfully doing the work of God with love and dedication. 

Support Impact Africa

Support Act 4 The Nations

My prayer is that you, too, would experience the kind of peace that only comes when God is your Source, your center, and your reason.