This past spring break, I was able to join “The Friendship Team,” ––a group of 10 individuals from the Andrews University community––on a mission trip to Lebanon. I sat down with one of the other team members, Adriana DePalma (senior, public health), to get her perspective on the experience.
Where did you go for spring break this year?
I went with a group called “The Friendship Team” to Beirut, Lebanon. We stayed at the Middle Eastern University (MEU)––a Seventh-day Adventist institution located within the city. The whole trip was led and organized by Dr. Glenn Russell––the chair of the Department of Religion & Biblical Languages.
Could you tell me about The Friendship Team? And what were your goals for this mission trip?
Our team prepared a series of programs we planned to show at a few local Seventh-day Adventist schools. We called it a Week of Spiritual Emphasis––very similar to a Week of Prayer. We hosted a whole week at MEU for the college students and the Adventist School of Bouchrieh (ASB)––a K-12 school.
What about preparations? How long had you and the team been preparing for this trip?
The students of the Friendship Team oversaw what would be said and done during our programs. We had been meeting on Monday evenings for 1-3 hours of work time as we tried to focus on the messages we wanted to share and our overall theme for the week, which was “Habits.” We talked about improving our relationships with God, having more focused prayer lives, and even reading Scripture.
Honestly, the preparation for this trip was one of the most difficult parts. I am sure it was incredibly stressful for Dr. Russell, who had to plan and communicate with so many staff members to orchestrate this program and our travel plans. This was his 20th year bringing a team to Beirut, but there were a lot of elements to clarify.
How did you hear about this mission trip, and what made you decide to join the team?
When I first came to Andrews, I heard a lot about mission trip opportunities, and I had always wanted to go on one. My sister used to go to Andrews, and she had taken a few classes from Dr. Russell before, so she was the one who told me about him. She also mentioned how he goes on an annual mission trip to Lebanon, so I thought that sounded interesting. Eventually, when I was able to take a class from Dr. Russell, he mentioned the trip again to me and asked if it would be something I'd be interested in joining. At first, I thought it just sounded interesting. But the more I heard about it, I realized this could be an incredible experience, and it was.
Did you have any opportunities to do anything else outside of leading the Week of Spiritual Emphasis?
We also held evening worship services––more chill experiences where the MEU students and staff could come together as a community. These were different from how regular meetings are typically done since we would read Scripture together and then have time to journal our thoughts and opinions. Besides these services, we also spent time with the students at the different schools. We were also able to travel to Tyre and Sidon to visit historical sites mentioned in the Bible!
Did everything go as planned in terms of what you were expecting to do or see on the trip?
Dr. Russell and our other chaperone, Kelly Gabriel, worked hard to prevent any hiccups from happening. They made sure to cover all the bases with the needed Covid-19 regulations, travel documents––every detail to ensure everything went as smoothly as possible. However, of course, there were a few hiccups. We couldn't do all the programs for ASB as we had hoped, but this also allowed us to find other ways to minister. For example, we were able to visit the Adventist Learning Center (ALC) for Syrian refugees, which we weren’t planning to do. So, although we weren’t able to do everything we had planned, we still had some outstanding outreach and ministry experiences.
Is there anything that you found particularly notable about the culture in Lebanon?
I think the main thing that amazed our team was the hospitality we were greeted with. Everyone was just so kind! We met such encouraging and supportive people, both on-campus and off-campus. This constant hospitality showed the Christlike characteristics of so many good people.
Are there any memories or experiences from the trip that especially stick out to you?
I feel like the connections we made with the students at MEU were much more significant than any of us expected. When I thought about making friends with them, I thought it would be a little tricky. I thought: They have their own friends, schoolwork, and busy lives. If a mission group came to Andrews and tried to make friends with us, I could see that as a weird experience––having a random person coming up to you and trying to get to know you.
But the friendships we ended up making were so great! We played a lot of games together––like Dutch Blitz (with twelve people at once, I have to add), Uno, and even some drawing games. We were also invited to have meals with different families and hosts from the Beirut community. One of the schools we visited, Adventist School Mouseitbeh (ASM), even hosted a dinner for us. Eating together with such a friendly, wholehearted community was so special.
Were there any life lessons you took away from this experience?
One thing that surprised me about this experience was how much I learned about myself, as well as my relationship with God. When people think about mission work, I feel like most tend to focus on how they will serve others. But in reality, you’re also taking vital steps in your relationship with God and your own personal growth. It’s a mutually beneficial experience.
Is the Friendship Team planning on returning to Lebanon in the future? Or do you see yourself returning for more experiences?
Absolutely! This was a very eye-opening experience for me. I had always known that I wanted to go on some mission trips, but whenever I explored different mission opportunities, I never felt called to any of them. Yet after this experience, I know this is something that I want to do and will try to continue in the future. I know the Friendship Team tries to go to Lebanon every year, so I would love to be a part of this team again if possible.
After visiting MEU, I became interested in their offered college courses, so I could also see myself attending the school for a semester and possibly volunteering at the local refugee center. I would love to learn more about the culture in Lebanon, but I also love how diverse the university is. There aren’t just Lebanese students who attend, but also Brazilians, Egyptians, and many other people from around the world. Andrews is also a very diverse school, but because MEU is so much smaller, I feel like people make more connections with each other while getting a unique experience in another country.
Is there anything you’d like to share specifically with the AU students, perhaps those thinking about exploring mission work?
If you’re thinking about going on a mission trip, I think joining the Friendship Team would be an excellent start. The length of the journey varies between years––sometimes only lasting a week or two––but it’s a perfect way to connect with others. You don’t have to be an outgoing person. If you’re someone who truly wants to serve others and make connections, I think this is an experience that you should honestly look into. Before going on this trip, I expected that I’d find the work to be fulfilling, but not like a leisurely vacation experience. But I realize this has been far better than any vacation I've been on. The experiences I've had on this trip have been the best of my entire life, so I would definitely recommend looking into this or any of the other mission trips that Andrews provides.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.