This past July, fifteen young adults from Canada, California, Ohio, and New York traded the comforts of home for twelve days in Manfalot, Assiut, as part of Care for Needy Copts’ Serve & Shine 2026 mission trip. Armed with 992 pounds of gifts, months of preparation, and a shared mission to spread joy, they spent their days playing, singing, and learning alongside fifty Coptic children, and their evenings visiting families facing real hardship. What they brought home wasn’t just memories, but a reminder of what happens when young people choose service over comfort. Here’s a look at their journey.