Join host Chrysandra Brunson on The Calling, as we journey into the remarkable life and mission of Wanji from Kenya. Faced with numerous challenges, Wanji pursued education against all odds, igniting a passion for helping her village, Gitombo. Hear how her experiences, from her barefoot journeys to school to gaining education in Russia, have culminated in a heart-driven vision to transform lives through the power of divine calling.
Welcome, everyone, to The Calling’s radio show to all the dreamers. I’m your radio host, Chrysandra Brunson, founder and CEO of The Calling. It is such an honor to be with all of you today. You know, at The Calling, we have realized that so many people are afraid to go after Jesus’s calling on their lives. because they are afraid to fail. And that is just plain wrong, because if God has given us a dream and we’re not living it out, we are wasting it. And we do not want you or any of us to die with regret. That’s why at The Calling, we love to inspire, empower, and equip people to, after Jesus’ calling on their lives, to reap the best kind of eternal legacy possible, to have immediate impact on ourselves and our families. We love to do this through so many different avenues from custom tools, programs, workshops, even global conferences, but especially through this radio show where we bring on world renowned guests to be able to share about their God-given dreams and how you can do the same. Today, as no exception, all the way from Kenya, we have Wanji. And Wanji, welcome to the show and being in studio with us today.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
And I say asante, which means thank you.
CHRYSANDRA :
Oh, we love that. Thank you so much, Wanji. And will you just help introduce who’s also in studio with us?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
I have my brother, Peter. Yes. And his wife, my sister, Karen. Yes. From Colorado. So I call them my dugu and dada.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, I think that is the most endearing thing. And for you to be able to say brother and sister, just I know it means the world to them. And they they also are on your board for the incredible organization that we’re going to hear about today. And Peter and Karen Bodie, welcome to the show.
PETER BODDIE :
Thank you. Thank you for having us.
CHRYSANDRA :
Thank you very much. Yes. And so you guys sit on Wanji’s board. Wanji, why don’t you tell us what board are they sitting on?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
They are sitting on this board. Initially, it used to be called Project Adopt a Village, PAAV, International Ministries. But we’ve changed it to Hope Getombo. Because PAV took care of or takes care of this small village in Kenya called Gitombo, where I grew up. And then I came to the United States to go to Denver Seminary. Wow. Where I graduated. But around 2003, while I was at the seminary, God… called me to start this project because Compassion International came to the seminary to a chapel and they talked about adopting a child. And I laughed and I wondered, adopt a child in my village, which one? And I thought you’d have to adopt the whole village. So I just wrote that down in my journal, but little did I know That years later, I would start project adopt a village. So Peter is in the board and both of them have been my friends. So it feels it’s not just Peter in the board as the chair, even Karen is part of it in the background.
CHRYSANDRA :
That is so special. Yes. And Peter and Karen, how did you guys, so jumping on board with WANJI, what was your, what’s been your background on jumping into this incredible organization?
CARYN BODDIE :
Well, WANJI was a chaplain at Christian Living Communities where my parents were and I was helping take care of my parents. So I met WANJI there. And that was way back in, 2008 to 2015 and we had been to kenya peter had been twice and then we met wanji and got to be friends and and uh really were intrigued with her vision for her village yeah and i like to say she helped my village greenwood village so i wanted to help her village oh
CHRYSANDRA :
That’s a great way to put it. Well, we need each other. And we just cannot wait to hear, Wanji, of your story. So we love to hear about the beginnings of someone’s God-given dreams and their calling. So just take us back when you were a child. What did that look like? And what kind of seeds did the Lord start planting in your heart to be doing what you are today?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
I come from a big family. We are four girls, four boys. So my mom had eight children. Both my parents did not go to school. But amazingly, they were interested in education. So they made sure that we all went to school. But I like to look back to when I was growing up, growing up in Kenya. And you would remember Kenya was a British colony. And as a colony, all the schools belonged to, were established by missionaries. So I used to go to a primary school, a Presbyterian primary school, which was very far from home. I had to walk long distances. So you can imagine all of us eight children running to school early in the morning, no shoes. It’s cold like this morning. And you get to school, a class would be packed by maybe like 60 children with one teacher, no textbooks. You’re going home, you’re hungry. You thirsty on the way, you cross the creek, you drink some water. But somehow we never used to get sick. So I did finish school, primary school. And then after that, I went to secondary school. My parents made sure that we all get educated. So I went to a boarding school and I finished. But I like to say something. Well, my parents were able to take us to school because they believed in education and they believed in God. The rest of the village did not. So somehow we were privileged in that way. Not because we had more, but because my parents had a vision. So I finished primary school and so did my siblings. And I look back and I see like some of the people that I went to school with, they did not finish. They got married when they were 16, 18, but I continued with school. I look back and I see, like, God walking and walking through all that, even if I did not know it. Because he made sure that I got educated. After high school, I got a scholarship to go to Russia. And I started to become… In Russia? In Russia.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
If you like to know, my college was near the hermitage.
CHRYSANDRA :
Really?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
Yes, it was called Institute of Culture. And I studied library science. And then I came back to the country in 1981. And I work for the government. I work for non-governmental organization as a librarian. And finally, 1990, I gave my life to Christ. I knew God was there, but I did not know him at a personal level. But in 1990, I gave my life to Christ. Once I got to know him through Jeremiah 29, 11. And I knew that God has a plan and a purpose for my life. And after I gave my life to Christ, all I wanted was to serve God. So I did serve God in the church where I used to go. But then I became more of a counselor. I taught a lot of discipleship to new believers. And very soon, all I wanted was to go on with counseling, applied to come to Denver Seminary. And that’s how I ended up there.
CHRYSANDRA :
Oh, my goodness. I think all of us are. I mean, when it comes to world travels and world influence, the Lord has really had you in the peak of economies and societies to see. the lowest of lows of just sharing that you had to run to school with bare feet and to these economies with socialists and just the whole variety. Take us back real quick, Wanji. How did you come to know Jesus?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
I will tell you what. I was sitting on a public bus called Matatus. Some people who’ve been to Kenya know what are Matatus. They are these packed small buses which are so packed that That I always used to walk long distances where I would get into Amatatu, which will be going the opposite direction. So that when I’m coming back, I can get a seat at the back and take a novel and read. But one day I was so engrossed reading my novel. And then a gentleman sat next to me and he passed me a truck called, I can’t remember, but I remember the name of the truck. But he gave me this truck and he said, instead of reading that book, why don’t you read this? He always called Quest for God. Quest for God. Instead of reading that book, why don’t you read this one? And of course, I took that little truck home. And that’s why I always carry trucks with me whenever I travel, because you never know. Right. I went home and I read it and I just hang on Jeremiah 29, 11. So one morning, I just knelt down by my bed and I cried to God. And I felt like everything inside me just came out and I felt a peace I had never known. Then I would go to church the following Sunday and I would go and confess before people that I am now a born-again Christian. And through my becoming a Christian, the whole family, including my own dad, became a Christian.
CHRYSANDRA :
All of us have our mouths just wide open, including your dad.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
Including my dad, yes.
CHRYSANDRA :
And Wanji, what was your family’s religious background prior to that?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
You know, just like most people, they are nominal Christians. But they don’t have that personal relationship. In Kenya, when someone asks you, who are you, a Christian or what’s your religion? Everybody says Christian because you’re not Muslim.
CHRYSANDRA :
Right.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
You’re not Buddhist. And you don’t have that close relationship with God.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, Wange, we have so many more questions to be able to ask you. We cannot wait to hear just this whole full story, even going to seminary and being able to be an entrepreneur to create an incredible organization that we all want to be a part of. You guys, we are in studio. We have Wange in from Kenya. We have Peter and Karen Bodie on with us. We are so honored to have all of them. Stay tuned. Hi guys, this is Chrysandra Brunson, host of To All The Dreamers. I am so happy to introduce personal training, nutritional guidance, and behavioral change coaching. Healthy, happy, and heavenly for your wellness, spirit, soul, and body. Contact Mimi Kroger at healthyhappyandheavenly.com.
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CHRYSANDRA :
We are back. Thank you for listening to all the Dreamers radio show. I’m your host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson, founder and CEO of The Calling. And we are so honored to have in studio with us the one and only Wanji flying in from Kenya to be with us and her board and chair, Peter Bodie, and incredible another board member, Karen Bodie. You guys, we are just so honored to have all of you. And Wanji, you were just sharing how you came to know Jesus through a track and that the Lord just allowed you to be able to hear the gospel in a way to receive it. And it led your whole family to come to know the Lord. So take us into, so you came to know Jesus and you had been in all of these roles all around the world, including Russia. What happened after that?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
I came to Denver Seminary.
CHRYSANDRA :
And how did you pick Denver Seminary? Out of all the places?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
Through the internet. And you want to know where I was working by then? Yes. I was working with the Rockefeller Foundation. You were? Yes. And they gave me enough finances to come to school. So that’s how I managed to come to the Denver Seminary. It was called the Severance Fund. When I retired, they gave me money and then I invested that money in coming to school. And in Denver Seminary, of course, they gave me, I paid half as a scholarship for international students. And I thought I was coming to do a counseling degree, but along the way, God said no. I’ve called you to be a spiritual caregiver. So I switched my studies from counseling to a master’s in divinity. And then when just before I finished, one of my professors introduced me to chaplaincy. I just see the work of God. So I did chaplaincy. And when I finished, I did a residency at Swedish hospital. And then while I was working at Swedish hospital, there was an opening with Christian Living Communities. I applied and they employed me and I served as a chaplain for almost 12 years. But it was during that time that God would change my life and take me back to Getombo. So what happened was in 2008, when God started to talk to me and tell me, you must do something about your village. And why was God saying that? Because my life was good. I had bought a house, I had bought a car, I have a job, and I was settled in the U.S. But God taps me and says, you need to go back. But before I did that.
CHRYSANDRA :
Were you thinking, Monji, like, I don’t want to go back.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
I don’t want to go back, yeah. Because I was settled.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yeah.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
But 2008, my dad died. And when he died, it was very hard for me. So my employers gave me time off to go home for about like two months. And it’s when I was at home. I lived with my mom in the village and God started to open my eyes. to look at the plight of the residents in my village, Getombo, to look at the lives of the children. And I remember the first thing that I did was to call the children together for a Christmas party. And when they came, they behaved and misbehaved very, very badly. And I remember going to bed and saying to God, never. I don’t want to be here and I don’t want to work with people like this. I’m going back to the U.S., But that night, God gave it to me and said, what do you think is the difference between you and these children? The difference which even today I know is the major difference is that I am traveled and I’m educated. And God was like, whom do you think did that for you? It’s all by grace you’ve been saved. It’s all by grace that you are where you are. Given the same opportunity, it might even be better than you. So I was humbled and I came back to the U.S., And I called people together and I think by then I had met Peter and Carrie and some other people and we all got together and we formed a non-profit organization.
CHRYSANDRA :
You became an entrepreneur, Wanji, for this dream that you didn’t want to be able to receive, which I think is a common thread for God’s calling on our lives. But for him to continue to show you that it really was his will for you. What do you think, Wanji, was like the final thread in your heart that the Lord, you know, I think because… because it is such a familiar tune. So many times we just have to have that final little push to enter into walking in our God-given calling. For you, was there a simple whisper or a tug or confirmation that kind of keeps you a God fingerprint that led you to fully confirm and move forward?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
I think it was just that. It is by grace that you are where you are. And if I’ve done this for you, you need to do it for the list of my brothers.
CHRYSANDRA :
Right.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
So because of wanting to heed the call of God and wanting also to honor my dad, because my dad was for education and Christianity, he had become a very good believer and also loving the village. So I also felt that tug to do something for my dad, to do something for the village, but ultimately to give back to God.
CHRYSANDRA :
Incredible, Wanji. So the vision, tell us what this vision is for the foundation and what you see for not only for your country, but how it can inspire people around the world.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
I think it’s for everybody to know that when you’re put in this world, God has a plan. God has a purpose for your life. And yours is just to humble yourself and obey. Even if you don’t, someone else will do it. But you miss the opportunity. So mine is to encourage everybody to know whoever you are, whatever you have, it’s all God given. Yes. And it’s all by grace. It’s not because you are better than any other person. And also to be reminded, we are all God’s children. The only difference is the righteousness which you take in, whether you have taken in the righteousness of Christ or you want to live according to your own ways, your own traditional ways, your kind of beliefs. But once we know that we all got created, we created in the image of God, ours is to love one another, to care for one another and to want the best for people.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes, yes. Well, Wange, we’re coming up towards the end of our show, but we’re so glad that you actually are coming back with us to hear even more of your story and the way that we can get involved. There are a few things, though, that we do want to tackle and just be able to hear your heart. And we just want to know how you’ve been able to overcome the giants in one of the, you know, just in the different seasons of pursuing this dream. Take us into one scenario and how you were able to fight back.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
One of the scenarios is the education of girls. There are many people who by tradition don’t believe that girls should be educated. When I was growing up, we used to have a place for women and a place for children. And women and girls are not taken like they are equal to the men. Mine has been to encourage girls to go to school and actually they do much, much better than boys. And then more than that is helping them to know in this world without the word of God, without God, you cannot go far. So just getting these little children from, especially from parents who don’t care about education. And I have many of them in school. The other one is the government regulations. So we started the school. And as you start the school, they want the school with so many acres of land, land that which you do not have. So to get the government to allow us to put up a school in a small plot, that has been a real challenge. But through prayer, conversing, and just going and presenting our case, somehow we have succeeded. But I see the hand of God, not the hand of man.
CHRYSANDRA :
So much favor, so much favor, Wanji, in knowing that this is what God has called you to. And we’re just so honored. Before we end, we love just being able to, you know, know that there’s so many people tuning in, listening, that they’re afraid this very day and stepping out in what God has called them to. What would be each of your personal pieces of wisdom? So Wanji, Karen, Peter, what would be your favorite verse, favorite quote and tip and wisdom for them to be able to leap out?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
Okay. Mine is always Ephesians 3.20.
CHRYSANDRA :
Say it for us.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
That God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can pray or imagine. Because God has done that through this ministry. Doing exceedingly abundantly above all, I envisioned that it continues to encourage me that even the giants ahead of us, God will do it. And God is faithful.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
Because he says, he who has called you is faithful and he will do it. God is faithful.
CHRYSANDRA :
Amen. And we want to talk. We’re going to dive into that in the second portion. So those tuning in, listen to this tomorrow and we’ll have you. And real quick, Peter and Karen, what would be your guys’s quick tips?
PETER BODDIE :
Well, I just love people. And to see the joy of the children at the school in Gatumbo, it just fills me up. And so my favorite verse is the Holy Spirit. I love when I just talk to people. I campaigned for office once. I just love talking to people. And so my favorite verse is Romans 15, 13. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
CHRYSANDRA :
So powerful. And real quick, Karen.
CARYN BODDIE :
I would say Philippians 4.13. I could do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
CHRYSANDRA :
Couldn’t say it better. You guys, I am so glad that we get to have each one of them back in studio with us. Remember to go after God’s calling on their lives. And Wanji, real quick, give us the website where people can find you and to support your incredible foundation.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
Hope Gitombo. And Gitombo is G-I-T-O-M-B-O. Hope Gitombo.
CHRYSANDRA :
Thank you. Thank you, Wanji. You guys, I challenge everyone, get involved, say a prayer, see how you can be involved on a missions trip, financially, prayerfully support this incredible ministry. We will be sharing more about it. Till next time, dreamers, keep dreaming big.
