THE STORY BEHIND THE MISSION
We were invited by a new missionary couple to travel to North Africa to build relationship, see their ministry in action, and look at ways we could partner with them. They have lived and worked in Northern Africa for over ten years, intentionally choosing a economically challenged coastal town as the place to invest their lives. Rather than operating as a traditional NGO, they founded a manufacturing, business. This model was chosen to ensure long-term sustainability and credibility in a country where NGOs have increasingly faced government restrictions and closures. After years of external funding, the business has only become fully self-sustaining this year, allowing the team greater freedom to serve their community through relationships, generosity, and quiet acts of care. Through this business they are able to employ and share the gospel with 30 employees and be a true light to the community.
OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES:
Participants will spend the first portion of the trip in the capital, acclimating through historical and cultural exploration, including visits to early Christian sites and vibrant Mediterranean markets. The team will then travel to the ministry partners home town, staying with the hosts and engaging daily life alongside the local community. Activities include visiting the manufacturing company, shopping in local markets, distributing food bags to families in need, and spending time with the expat team and their friends. This trip serves as a scouting visit to explore future partnership opportunities, including community projects and missionary care initiatives.
What To Expect
Expect warmth, generosity, and hospitality that often defy common stereotypes about Muslim communities. Life moves at a different pace, with less structure and more unpredictability than most Western contexts. Language barriers are real, but kindness bridges gaps quickly. Participants will experience both beauty and hardship—economic strain, visible frustration, and deep resilience—while being welcomed into homes, shared meals, and everyday rhythms of life. Tourist activities are not only appropriate but beneficial, contributing to the local economy and restoring a sense of dignity and normalcy.
What to Bring
General rule: modest, comfortable, functional. Nothing flashy.
For Men
Lightweight pants (no shorts in community settings)
Collared shirts or clean t-shirts (no graphic slogans)
Light jacket or fleece (cool evenings)
Comfortable walking shoes
Sandals (optional, around the house)
For Women
Loose-fitting pants or long skirts
Tops covering shoulders and midsection
Light scarf (not required but helpful culturally)
Comfortable walking shoes
Sandals (optional)
Both
Sleepwear (modest if staying with hosts)
Undergarments
Socks
