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BY MALCOM FRAZIER

“What is God calling you to do?”

This question shaped the itinerary, activities, discussion, reflection and prayers of 17 young adults, nine from Howard University and eight from area United Methodist churches, as we traveled for two weeks in mission in South Africa.

Many of them, like Jennifer Bonsall of Mt. Vernon Place UMC, admitted bringing “lots of doubt and questions” with them. However, among each other and those they met in South Africa, they discovered people that “acknowledged God with almost every breath they took.”

Jennifer was especially moved by Bishop Paul Verryn at Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg, “who had such faith and trust in God that he opened the doors of his church to allow 3,000 Zimbabwean refugees to find a safe place to lay their head at night;” and pastor Cecil Begbie in Cape Town, “who had no doubt God would provide when he felt called to start a soup kitchen out of his garage that now serves thousands.”

The sights we saw and the people we met evoked strong emotions. Visiting the Zimbabwean refugees was an illuminating moment for Zahara Mitchell, a student who just graduated from Howard University.

“As we stepped over people sleeping on stairs and a swaddled newborn lying on the floor as his mother washed clothes in a basin, many of us couldn’t hold back tears,” she said.

Zaharra said she knew God’s will was always in her best interest, but “feared God would require too much.” On the trip, she expected to be stunned by sick, hungry and poorly clothed children. “However,” she said, “I was overwhelmed by their unflinching joy.” The trip challenged her worldview and helped her discover a deeper relationship with God, opening a path she now “sees more clearly.”

Traveling with the students on the trip were my co-leaders the Revs. Constance Smith and Herbert Brisbon, and Beth Ludlum, a ministry candidate from Mt. Vernon Place UMC who facilitated the reflection times.

The primary mission was a partnership with Bryanston Methodist Church with their Akani Project, a child enrichment outreach program in Diepsloot, a black settlement outside of Johannesburg. Many of the children are orphans as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The trip also included a visit to Soweto, the Apartheid Museum and Central Methodist Church where we met with Bishop Verryn. Our mission also included a trip to Cape Town where we participated in the ministry of HELP (Healing, Evangelism and Leadership Program) under the leadership of the Rev. Cecil Begbie. While in Cape Town we went to Robben Island and also met with Rev. Alan Storey who pastors Central Methodist Mission Church.

But Adam Bridell, a member of Mt. Vernon Place UMC who will begin his studies at Wesley Seminary this year, found meaning in a side trip to Regina Mundi, one of the largest Catholic churches in the country.

“Above one of the doorways of the church was a stone statue of Jesus, with his arms outstretched in welcome. But either by the passage of time or vandalism, the hands of the statue had been broken off,” Bridell said.

“This was a powerful image for 17 young adults on a mission trip, all listening for how God is calling them. An image of Jesus missing one thing – his hands,” said Bridell. “What an invitation to us to be the hands of Christ in this world.”

One of the students, Christopher Crutchfield, a young adult from the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, was so moved by the presence of God that he witnessed during this two-week pilgrimage, that he has decided to pursue the ministry and intends to attend seminary at Wesley Seminary.

Most of the experiences of the group can be summed up by the words of Kevin E. Huff, a member of Asbury UMC in Washington, who thanks God for breaking his heart in South Africa this summer.

“My life has been changed forever,” Kevin said. “No longer can I claim to be a Christian and not actively pursue a life of service, love, humility and gratitude.”

Kevin shared with the group how the things he was exposed to on the trip compelled him to re-assess the priorities in his life.

“With the first-hand knowledge that millions of people, who look, laugh, hurt and smile just like me, are living in poverty makes those things that were once very important to me seem shallow and superficial. God got my attention,” he said. “I’m listening now. I’m watching now.”

This vocational discernment trip opened a lot of eyes. People are looking at the world, and God’s place for them in it, differently. With our eyes wide-open, we might wish to join these young adults: What is God calling you to do?

The Rev. Malcolm Frazier is the United Methodist campus minister at Howard University in Washington, D.C.