Carry 117 Trip
July 31, 2025 - August 10, 2025
December 27, 2025 — January 7, 2026
Have you ever wanted to drink a cup of coffee in the country where it was first discovered? Are you curious about other cultures? Do you have a desire to learn more about yourself, God, and the world?
Then THIS 117 trip EXPERIENCE is for you.
If you're ready for the adventure of a lifetime that will not just change your life but the lives of many others, join us for an incredible journey of exploration and service. Sign up today - space is limited and opportunities like these don't come often!
Trip Dates:
July 31, 2025 - Aug 10, 2025
DEC 27, 2025 - JAN 7, 2026
(Give or take a day or two on each end depending on flights. So the actual trip will only 9ish days sometime in this window. We will not leave on Christmas Day)
Topen to adults and families with kids ages 13 & older.
These trips will be led by CEO and Founder of Carry 117, Henok Berhanu, along with one of our USA Carry 117 Trip Leaders.
We will take between 12-15 people on each trip.
How long is the trip? A total of 8-10 days including travel days. (the window of time is larger in order for us to select the best travel days)
Where will we stay? The Light House Guest House
Commitment:
We will have four Zoom meetings leading up to the trip. The meetings will be Sunday evenings from 7-9pm(EST). Dates: TBD
You will be added to a private group where we will have ongoing conversations about preparing for the experience. Participation in the discussion is required.
You will be sent recommended readings, podcasts, and video clips that will prepare you to have the best experience possible. Micro-learning on your timeline—it’s the best, and most current way to learn anyway.
$250 non-refundable deposit when you submit your application (this will be applied towards your trip).
50% of your funds need to be raised 6 months before takeoff.
75% of your funds need to be raised 4 months before takeoff.
100% of your funds need to be raised 1 month before takeoff.
Cost: $4000 (estimated)
NOTE: We announce our trips incredibly far in advance in hopes that we can be the first thing on your schedule, and to give people enough time to fundraise. That being said, we have no idea what the economy will look like this far ahead, so the cost of the trip may increase.
This cost includes the following:
A personal fundraising dashboard through Managed Missions for online donations
Fundraising coaching (Don’t let the cost scare you! God is not broke! People WANT to give to this type of thing!)
Roundtrip flight from USA to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Travel insurance
Tourist Visa
Translators in Ethiopia
Transportation in Ethiopia
Guest House in Ethiopia
All food and bottled water in Ethiopia
This does not include the following:
Passport fees
Souvenirs
Food and drink at domestic airports
Roundtrip airfare from your closest major airport to either Washington D.C. or Atlanta, Georgia.
Please Note: We will fly out of either Atlanta, Georgia or Washington D.C. (Dulles). You will be responsible to get yourself to the Atlanta or Dulles Airport by a certain time/day & we will take over from there (put your companion pass, miles, or points to good use).
What makes this trip different than other service trips?
Each trip is custom built. No two trips are the same. Each team will spend time in the village of Korah at the Carry 117 compound, and time with a few of our other ministry partners. Before we travel, we ask the people on the ground in Ethiopia how we can best serve them at that specific time in the year. Mix that with the age, interest, and skill set of each team member, and that is how the team schedule is created. We believe the best way to serve is in your sweet spot mixed with an actual need.
People will always matter more than the projects. Will we have some sort of project? Yes! But the people in the process are the focus, not the end result. Which means we always pause for conversation (and coffee). It will be these relationships that challenge us and change us.
A large component of this experience will be educational. We believe the first step in helping is exposure and understanding. In addition to serving, we want to help our team members appreciate another culture and denomination, while understanding healthy helping strategies. We will process daily what we see, hear, feel, and experience together, so we don’t miss out on what God is doing in us through this experience.
The Ethiopian ministry leaders, translators, and drivers are part of the team. These team members are not people who work for our team, rather, they are part of the team. We will serve with them shoulder to shoulder. This is where the life-changing, eye-opening, challenging conversations happen.
We are coaching toward advocacy. Our goal is to equip and empower you to raise awareness, advocate for, and apply the things God is teaching you. The 1 week you spend on this trip has the potential to change the way you spend the other 51 weeks of time in your own context. We want to help.
Application deadline:
Jan 19, 2024 for the July 2025 trip
Feb 1, 2025 for the Dec 2025 trip
OR earlier if the trip fills! First come first serve!
** each person must make their own Managed Missions account and fill out their own application **
**Although unlikely, all trips are subject to change or cancellation.**
Questions? Contact us
“I went to serve, but I feel like I got so much more out of it than I was able to offer. I am humbled by this experience. I feel like I came in with the mindset that I was going to help fix their situation, but as it turns out, I feel like they fixed some of what was broken in me.”
“This trip was different than any other mission trip I have been on. It was relationship-focused, which was beautiful in the fact that we were able to just love on these women and the rest of the staff and encourage them. Seeing how Carry117 has helped women provide for their families and sustain themselves was encouraging to me to see. God loves these women, this country, and is taking care of them. These women are so strong and so generous. ”
“Before I went on the trip, I carried my Korah tote knowing that Carry 117 was a good cause. But now that I have been to Ethiopia and sat next to the women of Carry 117 and played with their children, my bag has a whole new meaning. It connects me to women I care deeply about. Now, every time I use it, I see their faces, their smiles and think of how much they have been transformed. Not only that, I want everyone I know to buy one so the cause of Carry 117 can be broadened - so more women and children can be empowered. Traveling to Ethiopia with Carry 117 re-awakened in me the desire to be involved in something outside of myself. It gave me such a bigger picture of God and His love for people. ”
“If you are on the fence about traveling with Carry 117, it’s time to go. This is an organization that needs YOU. Specifically, YOU. Your skills and background uniquely qualify you to provide Carry 117 with things they need to continue empowering women, preserving families, and preventing orphans. The trip is not a one-size-fits-all experience, it is a deeply personalized journey where God will use YOU to change lives.”
“God used this experience on the 117 Trip to change my life and my life goals. He taught me that short-term missions isn’t about checking off boxes on a bucket list or about going to new places (although this is thrilling). He reminded me that He can use me in both big and small ways if I just remain open and willing. On the 117 Trip, I got to see firsthand that God is using Carry 117 to do amazing things in Korah. And I want to be part of it.”
“I have been on a lot of mission trips in my lifetime. This one was different. There was such a focus on educating us about culture and healthy helping compared to other trips I have been on. There was also an emphasis on processing what we were experiencing. It really made a huge difference in how I was able to connect with and understand another culture.”
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
