HYC Nairobi, Kenya: Natalie Boger

"Joseph B. Wirthlin once said, “A testimony of the truth of the Gospel does not come the same way to all people. Some receive it in a unique, life-changing experience. Others gain a testimony slowly, almost imperceptibly until, one day, they simply know.”

My experience with HOPE worldwide over the last four years is captured by this quote. Each trip has brought about life-changing moments. At the same time, the trips have slowly but surely instilled in me a new perspective, a new purpose, a new heart. I wouldn’t change my experiences for the world. They have changed my view of people, of God, and of my dreams for my future.

Specifically in the summer of 2015, I had the incredible opportunity to return to Kenya on HOPE Youth Corps (I had previously gone as part of a smaller mission trip in 2012). Kenya embraced me as one of its own. Our team of 12 international disciples was joined by 10 locals. At the end of day one, you couldn’t differentiate between us. We became one cohesive unit. My soul was refreshed as I saw a glimpse of what heaven may be like one day – living in perfect unity. We laughed so hard we fell on the ground in tears. We danced like there was no tomorrow. We also cried, as we heard and saw stories that you would only believe if you were there to hear and see them for yourselves.

Tragedy. Poverty. Hardship. Heartache. But right alongside them, we saw strength. Humility. Gratitude. Joy. Too often, we think that hardship and joy are mutually exclusive. We think that suffering leads only to tears. We believe that good times are the ones without any pain. But, as I witnessed again in Kenya, this is not true in the stories we see unfold. As is often the case with the God we serve, life turns out to be a paradox. Even Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered (cf. Hebrews 5:8).

In Kenya, I saw what suffering had the potential to produce. The hearts of the disciples there once again blew me away. They weren’t there to seek their own glory. They woke up early to travel far to meet us, and returned home late. They gave their hearts, their time, their energy, their love. It is so true that we often go to a place to serve, only to be given to in a way that is more than we could ever pay back. This trip was no exception to that.

During our morning devos, we got to hear the testimony of one international disciple, and one Kenyan disciple. My heart was deeply impacted, as I saw the sovereignty of God perfectly align with the God who loves us individually. Each person, regardless of background or culture or family, was reached out to by our incredible God. At a time in my life where circumstances are difficult and I can easily think that God does not have a good plan for my life, I was quickly corrected and challenged on my view of God. He is not a God that quickly forgets us. He sees us, even when no one else does. And he pursues us with a relentless love.

I was able to have so many deep, powerful conversations with disciples on the trip. I was able to sit at the feet of incredibly faithful men and women. I heard of their all night prayer times they have once a month, where disciples gather around Friday night and don’t leave until 5 am on Saturday. I was challenged in my trust in the power of the Almighty God. I was inspired by the blind faith that so many had. To step out into the unknown, fully relying on God as their rock and foundation.

It came at a perfect time. My faith has been strengthened in ways that will have an eternal impact. Instead of praying for God to take away my pain, I now pray for the strength to stand in the midst of it. I pray for his name to be glorified, instead of praying for my life to be easier. As was proven during my time in Kenya, in more ways than one, the best way to learn about the gospel of Jesus is to live it out. “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31)"