This summer, Life Pacific University students traveled to Romania and Egypt through LPU Global Engagement, serving alongside Foursquare Missions International missionaries, local ministry leaders, and nonprofit partners. Through practical service, worship, prayer, testimonies, and relationship-building, students contributed to ongoing ministry while experiencing meaningful spiritual and personal growth.

Building Hope in Romania

In Romania, the LPU team served alongside Tim and Dhana Wimberly, LPU alumni and Foursquare Missions International missionaries, supporting their ongoing work in the region.

Students helped complete a home for a local family, working alongside the family before participating in the dedication of the finished home and presentation of the keys. The team also served with Rise Together, a nonprofit supporting young adults who have aged out of Romania’s foster care system and encouraged a recently planted house church.

“They helped represent us so well to the communities that we are ministering in on an ongoing basis,” Tim and Dhana Wimberly said. They described the team’s presence as “an infusion of LIFE” for their recent house church plant.

The work required flexibility, perseverance, and a willingness to serve wherever needed.

It was “a lot of hard work and grit,” said Makenzie Tullius, an LPU student who served on the Romania team, but it was “so incredibly worth it to see the smiles and joy in the family” when the home was completed.

Beyond the construction itself, students formed meaningful relationships with the family and community. They shared meals, stories, and prayer, spent time with the family’s children, and worked through language barriers to communicate care and encouragement.

“We spent many nights in community with them sharing meals, stories and just being able to have quality time,” said Alexis Whipple, an LPU student who served on the Romania team.

Whipple described the trip as “tough and stretching,” but also “an opportunity to witness lives change.”

Hosts observed students growing in unity, resilience, servant leadership, and compassion as they served together. The experience also demonstrated the lasting impact of LPU alumni who continue creating opportunities for current students to participate in God’s work around the world.

Serving Alongside Ministry Partners in Egypt

In Egypt, LPU students served alongside Foursquare Missions International and trusted local leaders. To honor the ministry context and the safety of local partners, LPU is sharing the team’s work in broad terms.

Students participated in worship, prayer, testimonies, and ministry with young adults. The team helped serve more than 100 young adults during a multi-day gathering, leading worship in Arabic, English, and Spanish. They also visited an orphanage and children’s hospitals, where they spent time with children, prayed, and distributed small gifts.

“We are still seeing the fruit,” said Diana Assad, a Foursquare Missions International missionary and ministry host.

Assad described the students’ “humble and flexible stance and commitment to serve” as inspiring and noted that their testimonies encouraged greater honesty and openness among those to whom they ministered.

Hosts reported that the students’ testimonies encouraged participants to respond with greater honesty and openness about their own lives and faith. They also shared that there were meaningful spiritual responses and decisions for Christ during the team’s time of ministry.

Clarissa Macias, an LPU student who served on the Egypt team, said the team supported the local Christian community through “preaching, worship, and prayer,” while helping young people encounter Jesus through the students’ testimonies.

“My faith has grown exponentially because seeing God move in another culture reminded me that He is the same everywhere,” Macias said.

The trip showed David Ruarte, an LPU student who served on the Egypt team, “what it truly looks like to trust God and serve people with whatever you have.”

Ruarte described the experience as deeply impactful because it challenged his faith, broadened his perspective, and reminded him “that God can use ordinary people to make an eternal difference.”

The trip also strengthened LPU student David Sanchez III’s understanding of his own calling and gifts.

“It helped me understand the importance of my gifts and how God can use them to impact others,” Sanchez said.

Through the students’ willingness to listen, adapt, and serve, the team was able to support ministry already taking place while learning from leaders with long-term relationships in the community.

Students Serving With Excellence

Feedback from the Romania and Egypt hosts reflected the strength and impact of both teams. Hosts gave LPU students the highest ratings for their attitude, humility, professionalism, ministry preparedness, adaptability, and communication. They also expressed enthusiasm about welcoming LPU teams again in the future.

The impact extended beyond what students accomplished during the trips. Students returned with a greater awareness of other cultures, deeper confidence in their spiritual gifts, and a stronger understanding of what it means to serve alongside established ministry partners.

These teams were not simply visiting another country or completing short-term projects. They were joining the work of missionaries, alumni, nonprofit leaders, churches, and local partners whose investment continues throughout the year.

Life Pacific University is grateful for Tim and Dhana Wimberly, Hany and Diana Assad, Rise Together, local ministry leaders, team leaders, donors, and the many partners who made these opportunities possible. Through Global Engagement, LPU students are learning to serve with humility, lead with courage, and faithfully participate in God’s work around the world.