The summer of 2024 was different for Mackenzie Weirich as she embarked on a trip to Africa for a humanitarian mission trip. Her journey led her to the countries of Zimbabwe and Kenya where she and her group worked effortlessly to serve the local communities. The trip was both mentally and physically challenging for Weirich as she went with a group called HXP (Humanitarian Experience) composed of 16-19 year olds who she “met for the first time at the JFK airport,” she said. Meeting all new people for the first time on the trip was a little overwhelming, but Weirich said that she “created life long friendships with the people in her group.” The group’s tight friendship was important as they worked together to build a total of three classrooms for children in Africa. Weirich said the most fulfilling part about being in Africa was “watching the kids look so excited about this new addition. They would have a chance to go to school, but saying goodbye to these kids was the saddest thing ever.” As they drove through the towns in their bus, they would say“Makadi!”, which means “hi” or “how are you” in the local language, to spread cheer. Weirich loved the trip so much, she plans on attending another similar trip soon. “I am planning on going [on a mission trip] next summer. I can’t decide if I want to go back to Africa or somewhere in the Pacific like Fiji, Samoa, or the Philippines,” Weirich said. At 21, group members can become trip leaders for HXP. This happens to be one of Weirich’s goals for herself when she gets older. Werich also had many memorable experiences with local residents while she was in Zimbabwe and Kenya. One of the more out-of-the-ordinary experiences she had was when she was “proposed to by a tribe member… [who offered] to build [her] a “house” (it was a little mud hut)” Weirich said. She was caught off guard by this offer, and needless to say, they did not get married. She met a local kid named Lighten who was eight years old. Lighten was not in school, but Weirich “walked over to Lighten and introduced [herself].” The bond created between the pair was instant, and they spent everyday together. “We would always draw things in the dirt or practice writing his name in the dirt while [he sat] in my lap,” Weirich said. On the last day when they had to say goodbye, both of them cried because they knew that they would not see each other again. Mackenzie Weirich does not have one bad thing to say about her time in Africa, as she enjoyed the memorable moments she spent with the local kids and the friends she made in her group. Mission trips are a great way to both serve underprivileged communities and create lifelong memories.