-Breanne Coe
Orphans… Precious little children of God who think that they are unloved. Kids who think that the two most important people in their lives just left them and that they have nothing… My heart beats for those babies, to love them, and to promise them that they have the best DAD in the whole wide world who wants to love them and take care of them forever! God is calling me to big places, to places where babies are waiting to be loved, and to be known.
-Allegra Forwith
My passion is mission work, bringing light to the nations. I come alive in the face of adventure, going out into the bush, bringing the gospel to those still living in darkness. I loved living with the tribes, visiting unreached people with the gospel and claiming hearts for Christ. There's nothing quite like being the first person to tell someone about Jesus or being surrounded by the sounds of worship in a different language and culture. Nothing like entering a place darkened by sin and leaving with the darkness vanquished. There are still so many people unreached by the gospel, people who are precious in God's eyes and mine. I am owned by Christ, so I owe it to Christ to reach His people. My heart beats for bringing light to the nations, and God has made this my life-long mission!
-Ashlee Paul
Photography is a huge part of who I am, and I love being able to capture those hidden moments. Whether its through the beauty of an African child, or the smiles that paint team Kenya's faces as we discover the inner humor from one another, being able to capture those special moments is something I will strive to be apart of for the rest of my life.
-Paulina Reimer
Mennonite….. that is my background and my culture. I know God is calling me to minister to them.
-Emily Chambers
Among the many things I have learned on this trip, I have realized that you need to have a passion in life. It's not enough to settle for what makes other people happy, if it's not what you love. It's really important to do what the Lord calls you to do, and ultimately it will make you happier. So whatever your heart beats for, do it! Be passionate about life, and in life!
NIKKI HIERS
— 1 Thessalonians 2:8. Paul talks about care and love for others. He places the emphasis on it being more and better than you have for yourself. The gospel and the life of a disciple is for others. God is captivated by his people; why shouldn't his servants be the same.
-Dorothy Keiper
Teeth. Weird? Yeah… it relates a lot to what God has revealed to me about my future. I was originally planning on going to school in January for Hospitality and Tourism Management. But over the course of the trip God has altered that for me. One of the first things I noticed while living through the tribes was their lack of oral and personal hygiene. I so badly just wanted to give them a bar of soap, toothbrush and toothpaste! While in Kijabe I saw the Dental Clinic and it finally clicked… there are so many mission opportunities with dentistry! My dream is to come back to Africa and work as a dentist and have a mobile clinic… traveling to tribes to do dental work and hygiene courses for free for the people. Regardless of what I want or dream for my future, I know God's plans are better and I cannot wait!
-Emily Gaudian
The Lord has given me a special love and passion for those who have no voice-those who have speech and language difficulties (whom I will work with as a future Speech Language Therapist), but also those whose voices are not heard. My heart aches for abused women living in fear of speaking out, children who are alone, vulnerable, and helpless, unable to speak out their fears, and for those with special needs who can't communicate what they need. The Lord has been speaking to me about being an advocate for those who are living in bondage and whose voices are not heard. My heard beats for being able to enable those people to find their identity in the Lord and to find their voice where they can freely speak out about the love and truth that they have found in Him!
-Taylore Lantz
God has broken my heart for the hurting and broken. He has placed a desire in my heart to want to tell people that there is hope and healing in the Father's hands. Here in Kenya, I have had so many great opportunities to bring this to the people that I have met. Whether it is loving on the kids at the IDP camp or just talking to the patients in the hospital and bringing them comfort and hope with a warm smile!
-Kirsten Vlasic
The Lord has really instilled in me a desire to help the helpless, especially on this trip. He has given me and abundance of love that I've been able to pour out on others and blessed me with a new passion for the sick and hurting. I have discovered a new direction for my life… to bring hope to the helpless and pour out the love of Christ onto everyone I meet.
-Kristin Ivaldi
My heart beats for our generation. I believe that there is something different about the time that we live in and the impact that we have on the people around us. We have something to offer: something of value and worth; something that has been hidden or lost for far too long. I have a passion for calling our generation into greatness, into the glory that God has created us to live in. Our generation has so much to offer, and I love speaking that life and purpose into the people around me 🙂 <3
