A Leap of Faith: My Return to Missions in Tanzania

By Jeremy Smith • Nexus Global Missions • Park Valley Church

At fifteen, my dad pulled me out of school for two weeks and took me to Central America on my very first mission trip. He wanted me to learn that caring for strangers and giving generously isn’t optional—it’s who we are as a family. Those dusty roads and smiling kids planted a seed I didn’t fully recognize until thirty years later.

Last year that seed finally broke open. I took a deep breath, said yes, and joined fourteen others from Park Valley Church on a Nexus Global Mission trip to Arusha, Tanzania—my first time ever in Africa. The night before departure I stood over my suitcase second-guessing everything: Do I have the right shoes? Enough medicine? Will I actually be useful, or just in the way?

We turned a small cinder-block church into a full-care village: pharmacy clinic, medical exams, dental chairs, physical-therapy mats and of course Biblical conversations. In four intense days, we treated roughly 950 patients, shared the gospel in 350–400 conversations, built church furniture, played endless soccer with laughing kids, and watched more than 100 people quietly say yes to Jesus for the first time.

The deepest privilege was a private tour into Maasai villages. Two Maasai men who had grown up herding cattle were now saved and training others to be pastors. They led us into local village homes—tiny, smoky, hand-built huts—and translated as we told elders they are infinitely valuable because they bear God’s image. One elder nodded slowly as if someone had finally spoken the truth he had always carried in his heart.

Evenings were sacred. We played ridiculous ice-breaker games, laughed until we couldn’t breathe, then shared testimonies. One night a young man stood. His mother had cooked every meal for us that week. He said, “I was drowning in drugs and alcohol, almost died more than once. Today I’m sober and serve at the Bible College because Jesus reached down and pulled me out.” His mom wiped tears with her headscarf and smiled like the sunrise.

We left behind supplies, cash for ongoing medical work, and a promise: this is not a one-time photo op. Sam, the Bible College director, didn’t say “thank you.” He said, “Come back soon.” as he offered a meaningful embrace as you would expect a family member to do!

I flew home with dusty shoes, a lighter heart, and the unshakable knowledge that God has no favorites—just one big, beautiful, scattered family.

If you’ve ever felt that quiet tug, the next trip has an empty seat with your name on it. All it takes is a suitcase, an open heart, and one brave yes.

You won’t just change lives out there.

You’ll remember who you were made to be.

Want to join the next team? Contact Nexus Global Missions at Park Valley Church—we’d love to have you.