Photo SpecialJessica's African Journey

On a charity mission, Simpson joins up with a medical team working to help children with facial deformities

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WORTH IT ALL

Toward the end of the trip – which "Simpson and her group paid for themselves," says an Operation Smile executive – she fell ill for a day. Simpson, who left Nov. 1 (but not before seeing some African wildlife), says, "It wasn't a big deal, just a high fever." In the end, the journey was worth it. "It's crazy, to go there to bring blessings to these kids," she says, "and they end up blessing you more."

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