He could have take a vacation. He went to Zimbabwe instead.
When Andrew Dickerson—a university professor with a rare break between semesters—looked at his calendar, he had options. He could rest. He could travel. He could take a well-earned vacation.
Instead, he chose Zimbabwe.
After a personally difficult yet deeply formative year, Andrew wanted to mark the season with something meaningful. A mission trip offered more than a change of scenery—it offered a reset for the soul and a chance to keep growing while serving God’s Kingdom.
Once on the ground, there was no such thing as a “normal” day.
Some days were spent at the Emthunzini Wethemba Children’s Home—repairing broken windows, hanging swings, grilling food, and laughing with the boys who live there. Other days included hospital visits, home visits, and playing with children at an orphanage for kids five and under. Thanks to the leadership of Pastor Mangwende, Andrew experienced a wide range of ministry moments that showed him just how much God can do through simple obedience.
One moment that stuck with him? Watching the boys play endlessly on the swings he helped hang.
“It goes to show how the simple things that enable play can bring so much joy,” Andrew shared.
Another unforgettable moment came during a hospital visit, where the team met a woman named Caroline who had been without vital medication for months due to lack of funding. The solution wasn’t complicated—they went to the pharmacy, bought the medicine, prayed with her, shared the gospel, and reminded her she was deeply loved by people she had never met.
Throughout the trip, Andrew’s practical skills came in handy—but God was also doing quieter work. Each day required patience, openness, and trust.
“Trips like these aren’t fun in the same way vacations are,” Andrew reflected, “but they are equally memorable—and more beneficial.”
As he heads home, Andrew is carrying two things with him: generosity and gratitude. And when asked how he’d encourage others to serve, his answer was simple and honest: “Get outside your comfort zone—even for just a moment. The first step is the hardest.”
Maybe that first step is yours.
Whether you gather a group of friends, students, coworkers, or go solo as a Global Ambassador, mission trips create space for God to move—in the world and in you.
When Jennifer Weaver first heard about Christ For the City International in 2010, she had no idea how deeply it would shape her life—or how God would use that connection to impact more than a thousand women around the world.
“I love the way CFCI shows up all over the world to be the hands and feet of Christ,” she says. “They don’t just talk about serving communities—they actually do the work. They listen. They partner. They bring solutions that come from the heart of the people who live there.”
“Go,” she says. “Just go.”
In Zimbabwe, God is opening doors that no one expected — even behind prison walls. Through CFCI’s ministry in partnership with Abundant Life program, inmates are discovering freedom in Christ.
It all started with a prayer.
One unforgettable moment happened in Tirrases. While the team walked the streets, one student felt the Spirit urging him to stop and pray with a young mom caring for three children. She gave her life to Christ on the spot. Days later, her mother passed away. The team attended the wake, where Enrique, a CFCI leader, shared the news of her decision to follow Jesus. Because one student obeyed, the gospel was proclaimed to an entire family in the middle of their grief.
“The grief was devastating,” Jordan said. “But because of what we had just experienced in Costa Rica, our faith was stronger, our unity was deeper, and our hope in Christ was unshaken. God poured into us there so we could pour His love out here, even in the midst of grief.”
When Adalee first heard about Christ For the City International’s Global Ambassador program, she knew it was the right next step. Having grown up connected to CFCI—her parents serve with the ministry, and she herself is involved with Urban Plunge—Adalee longed to serve on a mission trip that went deeper than just one week. The 
Through this season, Adalee discovered newfound confidence in living independently and gained clarity on the path God is leading her into. She also witnessed the contagious joy of children who, despite difficult circumstances, overflowed with laughter, play, and love.
When John walked across the graduation stage at Texas A&M, he knew exactly what he wanted to do before stepping into his professional career: serve the Lord internationally.
Susan Grosser first came to Costa Rica in 1970 to study Spanish. At the time, she had no intention of staying long-term—certainly not a lifetime.
Today, 80-year-old Susan still serves in Carpio, a community of over 40,000 people. Mornings find her at the local clinic offering care, prayer, and a listening ear. Afternoons are for tutoring children, encouraging young mothers, and mentoring women through WhatsApp devotionals. She writes daily Scripture reflections for over 100 women in her “Amigas de Nicaragua” chat group.
“It’s beautiful to see how God sustains people. Now she teaches Sunday school and runs our clothing ministry,” Susan said. “Her daughter is one of the most spiritually sensitive kids I’ve ever met.”
Carsen is only 12-years-old—but already, he’s learning what it means to say yes to God.
