Edmonton Elks player Eugene Lewis says recent trip to Africa changed his life

The Edmonton Elks receiver was among six CFL players who spent a week on a mission in Africa last month.

It was a life-changing experience for Eugene Lewis.

The Edmonton Elks receiver was among six CFL players who spent a week on a mission in Africa last month. Like many, Lewis had seen the commercials that request support for the less fortunate there but they didn’t come close to preparing Lewis for his up-close-and-personal visit.

“It opened up my eyes to seeing a different part of the world and understanding what being grateful really, really is,” Lewis said. “You just understand that in North America we have so many options.

“We can decide, ‘Do I want to go to work today? Do I feel sick?’ In Kenya and other places in Africa, you don’t have a choice but to get up. You need to have a purpose each and every day to help your family live and survive and be successful.”

Lewis was among nine CFL players who served as World Vision ambassadors. Montreal Alouettes safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy, receivers Tim White (Hamilton Tiger-Cats), Reggie Begelton (Calgary Stampeders) and Nic Demski (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) were involved on a mission to the Philippines.

Lewis, linebackers Bo Lokombo (B.C. Lions) and Henoc Muamba (retired Toronto Argonaut), receiver Dominique Rhymes and linebacker Tyron Vrede (both Ottawa Redblacks) and defensive lineman Miles Brown (Saskatchewan Roughriders) all participated in the mission to Africa.

The players flew into Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, and visited Mathare, which is a collection of settlements/slums that roughly 500,000 people call home. Afterwards, they flew to Lodwar then drove approximately 120 kilometres north to Kakuma, which is where they spent most of their time at refugee camps as well as with local people.

Lewis, a native of Norristown, Pa., said he saw poverty growing up but it was unlike what he viewed in Africa.