I’m Becca Reid, and in November I served with a medical missions team at the Ethiopia ACT clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The clinic provides love and care for some of the country’s most neglected people. Here’s how God’s been using that trip to teach me to live deeply. 

From the moment I arrived, I knew this would be an experience unlike any other. I’d asked God to work in the lives of the people we would meet- and in my own heart as well. Little did I know how profoundly those prayers would be answered. I’m an ER nurse, so my main tasks were doing intake, checking patients’ vitals, whatever was needed to help the doctors and pharmacists. I’d expected all that. But one of the most unexpected, memorable parts of the trip was working with my translator, Goldie. She wasn’t just a translator, but a partner in ministry. Goldie has a deep faith and an incredible gift for prayer. She often shared Scripture that God had placed on her heart specifically for the people we were ministering to- and even for me. One verse she gave me, Jeremiah 17:7-8, became an anchor for me: ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord… he will not be anxious in a year of drought.’ I clung to those words as we faced challenging situations. I met one patient who had been married for seven years and was struggling with infertility. Her story moved me deeply. In the United States, we have so many resources for addressing infertility, but in Ethiopia, options are limited. I felt completely inadequate, but Goldie and I decided to do the one thing we could: pray. We laid hands on her and prayed boldly for Jesus to open her womb. Later that day, her husband returned for further evaluation, and we had the chance to pray with him as well. The gratitude and hope they expressed were humbling. I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I trust God is at work in their lives. This trip wasn’t just about meeting medical needs; it was about showing people the love of Christ. I learned that even when I don’t have all the answers, I can rely on God to work through my prayers and my willingness to serve. And in that, I found a deeper boldness and trust in Him than I’d ever known.

One of the biggest lessons I also learned in Ethiopia was the power of bold prayer. Before this trip, my prayers often felt routine- focused on immediate needs or comfort. But working alongside Goldie challenged me to pray with greater boldness and intention. Goldie never prayed without invoking the name of Jesus. She reminded me that our prayers are powerful because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Why wouldn’t I always pray in His name, acknowledging His sacrifice and power? Goldie’s example transformed the way I pray, especially for others. One of the most impactful moments came when Goldie prayed Scripture over my life (Jeremiah 17:7-8, as I’ve already shared). It was such a powerful reminder that Scripture isn’t just for reading- it’s for proclaiming and living out. Since returning home, I’ve started praying Scripture over my family and friends, asking God to work in their lives in specific, tangible ways. That boldness in prayer extended to my own life, too. Before the trip, I had torn my hamstring and was scheduled for surgery just days after returning home. That seemed like a big challenge to face. But in Ethiopia, I met people who had lived with debilitating conditions for years simply because they didn’t have access to medical care. And because only the elite in Ethiopia own cars, the patients had to walk to the clinic- many left metal, wood and tarp shacks, then journeyed across cobblestone streets and down dirt alleyways. One of the clinic buildings itself had dirt floors (in the nurses’ room), corrugated walls, and a ceiling of tin & torque. These patients had such tough lives, even as they were getting the care they needed! Seeing their resilience and faith gave me a new perspective. By the time my surgery came, my prayers were filled with gratitude: for the opportunity to heal, for the resources available to me, and for the chance to continue serving God with a healthy body. Prayer isn’t just a way to ask for things; it’s a way to align our hearts with God’s will and invite His power into every situation. I’m so grateful for the way this trip deepened my relationship with Him and gave me a renewed passion for prayer.

Once I got home from Ethiopia, I carried the lessons I learned about prayer into some difficult situations almost immediately. The hardest of those was the illness and passing of my dear friend Brandy Painter. She was only 46- diagnosed with ovarian cancer and getting to the point where she needed to enter hospice care. Walking through that season with Brandy was both heartbreaking and deeply meaningful. I had the honor of praying with her as she approached the end of her life. Those moments were holy. In Ethiopia, I had learned the importance of touch in prayer- placing a hand on someone as you lift them up to the Lord. I’d carried that practice into my prayers with Brandy, laying a hand on her as we talked to Jesus together. We prayed for peace, for joy, and for the promise of eternal life. There was sadness, of course, but also a profound sense of hope and trust in God’s promises. Later, after her passing in mid-December, when her husband Taz asked me to give the opening prayer at Brandy’s funeral, I felt a mix of emotions. I was honored but also nervous about finding the right words. Then I remembered the verse Goldie had shared with me: ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord… he will not be anxious in a year of drought.’ I was still a little anxious that I was going to cry and people weren’t going to be able to understand me, but I wasn’t anxious about what to say because I knew God had prepared me for this moment. I spoke about Jesus- because that’s who Brandy would want us to focus on. She’s with Him now, experiencing the fullness of His love and joy, and that truth is what gave me the strength to speak.

Reflecting on my time in Ethiopia and everything God has done since, one message stands out: Don’t sit! That’s what Goldie said to me during our last meeting. She shared a story from Genesis about Isaac moving to new places, digging wells, and trusting God to provide. Her words were a challenge and an encouragement: ‘Don’t sit, Becca. Don’t get comfortable. Keep listening to the Lord and following His lead.’ That advice has stayed with me. It’s easy to settle into routines and get comfortable, but God calls us to step out in faith. Serving in Ethiopia was a reminder that He often works most powerfully when we’re outside our comfort zones. Whether it’s praying boldly, serving others, or sharing the gospel, He asks us to trust Him and to take action. The team I served with in Ethiopia was another reminder of this truth. We came from different backgrounds and had never met before, but God knit us together into a family. We encouraged each other, laughed together, and supported one another through every challenge. That sense of unity gave me the courage to pour myself fully into the work we were doing. It was a beautiful picture of the body of Christ in action. If you’ve ever felt a nudge to go on a missions trip or step into a new area of ministry, I encourage you to take that step. God will meet you there, just like He met me in Ethiopia. He’ll stretch you, challenge you, and bless you in ways you can’t even imagine. So don’t sit- go where He leads. You won’t regret it.”