Willing Hearts, Meaningful Service A Mission Trip Reflection by Tony Abdelmaseeh

Dear Friends, We have just returned from our mission trip in May, and our hearts are still full as we try to put into words what we experienced.

A group of 12 adults, including the trip coordinator, two cameramen, and the driver journeyed through the hustle and bustle of Egypt’s streets with open hearts, stepping into a time of service, learning, and deep personal transformation.

We set out hoping to bless others, but we came back realizing how deeply we were the ones who were blessed. In giving, we received. In serving, we were changed. Through every moment of service, hope was shared and grace returned to us in ways we will never forget.

From the beating heart of Shubra to the vast beauty of Upper Egypt, where green farmland meets golden desert, we witnessed lives shaped by resilience, faith, and quiet strength. Our visits to senior living homes and special needs schools left a lasting imprint on us far beyond what words can capture.

We packed and hand-distributed meals to under-resourced families in Ezbet El Nasr, and in those simple moments of giving, we witnessed something profound: dignity, gratitude, and human connection that transcended circumstance.

In Beni Suef and Minya, as we served special needs children and vulnerable seniors, we found ourselves deeply moved. Every smile we encountered felt sacred. Every small moment of joy reminded us of why we came—and who we are called to be. To bring even a single smile to one of Christ’s little ones was a moment we will carry forever.

Between our moments of service, God also met us in joy. We laughed together, shared stories, and discovered the beauty of Egypt in ways that filled our hearts. We visited churches rich in history and iconography, including Archangel Michael Church in Kafr El Samiri and the Church of the 21 Martyrs in “Oor City” near Samalut. We shared meals overlooking peaceful riverside views and experienced the quiet wonder of a Nile River cruise moments of rest that felt like gifts of grace.

In the spirit of 2 Corinthians 8:4, we came to understand more deeply the privilege of sharing in the ministry of service to God’s people, becoming part of something far greater than ourselves.

And in 2 Corinthians 8:12, we were reminded: “For if the willingness is there, the gift is accepted according to what one has.” Like the widow’s two coins, we were reminded that it is not the size of the offering, but the love behind it that matters. Even the smallest act, given with a willing heart, carries eternal weight.

We return home changed grateful, humbled, and deeply aware that we went to serve, but were served in return in ways we never expected.

We invite you to join AMAG and become part of this journey of service, love, and transformation. And if this message speaks to you, we encourage you to share it with those around you.