Legal mission trip meant I had to step outside of my comfort zone

Esther Afflu visited Uganda last year and partnered with the Ugandan Christian Lawyers Fraternity

When I first found out I had a place on a legal mission trip to Uganda with Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, I was both excited and nervous. It meant stepping outside my comfort zone, travelling to a new country with people I had only met on Zoom and trusting God to use me in ways I hadn’t yet imagined.

Before the trip, I started to experience feelings of imposter syndrome because I was the youngest on the team and also the only person not yet working as a lawyer. I felt God was calling me to step out in faith though, as I knew this was an opportunity to grow in courage as well as in my understanding of what it truly means to serve in the workplace.

We travelled to Uganda in September, partnering with Ugandan Christian Lawyers Fraternity, who do incredible work in the community. We visited police stations, prisons and juvenile remand centres among other places, hearing humbling stories of endurance and hope.

It was such an inspiration to see how passionate and engaged people were about justice and how they are using their gifts to make a difference. We were often asked to bring words of encouragement during these visits and at times I felt out of my depth, but I learned to invite the Holy Spirit to just speak through me. Each time I was reminded that God equips those He calls.

One particular moment that stretched me was when I was asked to speak to law students at a Christian retreat. Before this trip, I probably would have said I couldn’t do it, yet as I prepared I felt God’s presence reassuring me that my own experiences had prepared me for such a time as this.

Beyond the work, it was the people we met who touched my heart. From the inmates who worshipped joyfully during prison fellowship to the lawyers who began their careers after being falsely incarcerated for years, I witnessed a faith that was audacious, resilient and consuming. Their generosity, often sacrificing opportunities to be obedient to God’s will, challenged me to reflect on how I live out my own faith back home.

Coming home, I realised that mission isn’t confined to trips abroad but it’s about saying “yes” when God calls us to step out in faith. When you feel that gentle nudge to go, whether it’s to serve overseas, volunteer locally, or even just start a conversation, take that step. You don’t necessarily need to have it all figured out or have the qualifications because God delights in using willing hearts, not perfect plans.

This mission was one of the most transformative experiences of my life and reminded me that courage isn’t about being fearless but moving forward anyway and trusting that God will make a way.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.