Andrew's Mission Trip Reflection

By Andrew Carlson ('26)

My name is Andrew and I went to Kiskoros, Hungary. The leaders on the trip were Mr. and Mrs. Hannan, Mr. and Mrs. Rairdon, and Nimrod. While there, we worked with the local high school, UCB, an old and disabled persons home, and a church planting ministry from a neighboring city.

When looking back on my trip I feel that the overarching theme was hospitality. Everywhere we went we were treated well and our host families were very good at making us feel like we were at home. I found it very difficult to leave as I had grown close to my host family and felt that the week had gone by too fast. I have talked to many others that went on the trip and they have shared the same sentiment. Another highlight of the trip was how well our group got along. Our community with one another was already strong so our relationship building with the strangers in Hungary was much easier than I anticipated.

Two takeaways I have from Hungary is the importance of building relations in the church and Christian hospitality. My first two mission trips in Detroit and San Antonio were very worked based, but this trip showed me how to be a missionary apart from physical labor. While we had one day where we had to work with our hands, the rest of the work was through talking and worship.

Without Nimrod, a former student of Jesse, this trip would not have been possible. He did so many things for us that made our lives much easier. Also throughout the entire trip he translated for us and for those that we were serving. A second person that I want to thank is Mr. Hannan, in particular his great planning. Well before the trip we all knew for the most part what we would be doing and at what times.

A way that I can continue living a mission minded life here at home is by loving those around me as I was loved while in Hungary. I have talked a lot about the hospitality there and I think that was the biggest takeaway for me. The way they not only treated those who they knew but also complete strangers that they may never see again.