Join us as we dive deep into the heart of Hope Gitombo, a beacon of hope and education in Kenya. Wanji shares the remarkable growth of the school and how it serves as an island of belief and love for over 230 students. Alongside Peter and Caryn Boddie, we discuss the challenges and triumphs of creating lasting change and the spiritual strength that powers this vital community. Be inspired to make a difference, one child at a time.
Welcome everyone to The Calling’s radio show to all the dreamers. I’m your radio host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson, and 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 is 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, conferences. but especially through this radio show where we bring on world-renowned guests to share about how they’re going after god’s dream on their lives and how you can do the same you guys today is no exception hopefully you were able to tune in yesterday we have in our studio from kenya all the way here live with us wanji welcome to the show we’re so honored to have you asante Thank you. Yes. Thank you. And you are teaching us some of these key phrases and we want to keep learning them, Wanji. So we welcome it throughout the show because that would be pretty fun to be able to, you know, go to our loved ones and share some new vocabulary with them. And can you just share, Wanji, who’s also with us in studio?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
With me, my brother and my sister, my brother, Peter Boddie. He is the chair of our board and his wife, Caryn, works right behind him.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes, Peter and Caryn Boddie. We’re so honored to have both of you guys in studio live with us as well. Thank you for bringing this world shaker in from Kenya all the way to be with us in Kenya. This last show was so impactful. We are so honored that we were able to have your guys’ time for a little bit longer to share more of your story, your involvement. First off, for those that didn’t hear yesterday, could you just share with us what you started, Wanji, the name of your organization, and then we’re just gonna dive in briefly, Peter and Caryn, of how you guys got involved. But Wanji, why don’t you share about the organization?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
The organization was initially called a project, Adopt a Village, PAAV, International Ministries. But there’s so many PAAV in the world, so we had to change the name. And now it is Hope Gittombo. I have a board and Peter is the chair. and uh with the project adopt a village is because the villages get humble where i grew up and uh it’s all in much impoverished no school there is nothing there no no there are no stores so you have to go for long distances for everything and uh upon the death of my father in 2008 like i said i went back home and when i went back home is when god opened my eyes to see the hopelessness and helplessness. And because of that, God was very clear that he needed that to be changed. And through that, he made a way for me to go back. And we started a school. And Hope Getombo is doing very well. We started a school with three children, one teacher. And with God’s help, now we have 231 children. And we have children from pre-primary to grade nine junior school.
CHRYSANDRA :
And I just want to emphasize what you just shared with us, Wanji, is that you went from three children to over 200 children. And 30. 230 and every single one of them count. Talk about acceleration and walking in obedience to the Lord. And what really captured my heart as well, Wanji, is that you said that your heart wasn’t just for one child. How could you pick one child when you have a whole village and your heart was for all of them? And I think that that’s… Jesus’ heart as well. And he loves just having one, but he doesn’t want anyone to be excluded. So I love Peter and Caryn that you guys saw this and wanted to jump on board. Tell us from your perspective, what happened?
PETER BODDIE :
Well, we knew Wanji before she started the organization. We’d both been to Kenya with Church World Service. And so she came. One of the first people she talked to was me about this vision she had. And so we kind of encouraged her and introduced her to some other people and then kind of backed out for a while. You know, it would help at times. But the thing that is so amazing about this ministry is that Wanji trusts in God. She gets downloaded a vision. She has a heart for her village and her community and these kids.
CHRYSANDRA :
Mm-hmm.
PETER BODDIE :
And she trusts in God. God gives her something. She just does it.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes.
PETER BODDIE :
And and that was, you know, how you go from three students to 230. You can’t do that logically.
CHRYSANDRA :
Right.
PETER BODDIE :
You only can do it through God’s grace.
CHRYSANDRA :
Right.
PETER BODDIE :
And that’s what we see in Wanji. And that’s why we want to support her in this winter. I get a phone call from Kenya and I had run for office previously and was like, OK, that didn’t work. What am I going to do next? And well… that’s what I found out I’m supposed to do next is to help this ministry.
CHRYSANDRA :
And this was this last winter?
PETER BODDIE :
Yes. And we have been friends with WANJI for probably 19 years or something. It’s quite a while. And so Caryn supported that I would do this, take on the board. And so we’re just so blessed to be part of this, I guess.
CARYN BODDIE :
And I would agree and just say, emphasize, it’s amazing, amazing what God has done over the past 15 years. And the children of Gitombo are so beautiful. And I would just also say that the school employs moms, single moms. from the village and they get to be part of the community and then the school does bible studies right for all these different groups and waji can tell you more about that but it’s just amazing right and i have friends who in colorado who have i’ve had one friend who said to me there’s just so much need in the world why even try yes that was her attitude and i think that we hear that a lot Caryn so i’m glad you’re so what did you tell her well Matthew 25, 40. The Lord says, Jesus told us, whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me. And he doesn’t let us throw up our hands. Right. We have to look and see. And this Hope Ketombo is a really good organization that is making a difference, lifting up children and in a Christian context. Right. So it’s just a wonderful thing to be part of.
CHRYSANDRA :
And when did you guys, did you guys go down just recently? Or you’ve been down there a few times?
PETER BODDIE :
Well, no, I went with Church World Service in 2006 to Kenya and Uganda. Visited many different projects. Then Caryn and I went back in 2007. And we were so tired from traveling, we did not make it to Gitumbo, but we met Wanji’s sister in Nairobi. But that was before the school. And G.
CHRYSANDRA :
Geographically, Peter, can you just describe real quick? Because I think we’re familiar with some names, but how far of a distance is that? Where is that in Kenya?
PETER BODDIE :
I’m guessing that it’s probably, is it 30 miles north? Something like that.
PETER BODDIE :
33 miles north. And you fly into it usually. You fly into Nairobi. But we’ve been all over. I’ve been to schools and other places. And the thing that’s unique is I say that this… is an island of hope. It’s not that, for the most part, Kenya is a Christian nation, but as Wanji described in the last episode… Not everyone, and that’s true here. Many people say they’re Christian, but they’re not really living it completely or walking in it or being filled with it. And so what these kids get is not just the education that Wanji wanted that was part of the vision. They get a good education. I mean, these kids, they have a tribal language. And then they learn Swahili, which is one of the national languages. And they learn English. So these kids have three languages. I don’t know that there’s that many schools around anywhere where kids are learning three. And we get letters from them. They write well. And they’re succeeding, but they’re also loved.
CHRYSANDRA :
Right.
PETER BODDIE :
It’s just incredible when you see the kids, because all kids, you put up a camera, they’re all going to do funny stuff. But there’s just this, they sing hymns and things. And it’s just, they are well loved. Right. So that’s why I say it’s an island of hope.
CHRYSANDRA :
Oh, I love it. Well, and we want to hear towards the end of the show, Peter and Caryn, just your experience, how we can all get involved. Maybe hopefully go. I would know that I want to go. And I know so many others that would also love to and participate and be part of what Holy Spirit is doing there. I think, Wanji, what I love about this is that Jesus used you as an example of what could happen with education and being able to be brave enough to continue in that. Can we just see or share a little bit more, Wanji, of how the Lord started building your heart for more? Because you went from your village and then you even traveled to Russia for further education and employment. What did you learn in Russia that was your biggest takeaway?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
It was learning to live with people from different cultures and different thinking. And I look back that even while I was there, God did not leave me. God was with me. Yes. And I went there for knowledge. And I came back home with knowledge. Because of that, I was able to get employment. And here I am now in this school. And we are also getting people from other counties. And other counties means people with different cultures. They may be from Kenya. Right. But they have different cultural ideas and ways of doing things. But one thing I would like to say is what Caryn said. Whatever you did for the least of my brothers, the need is overwhelming. But if people know about the story of the starfish, that there’s so many which have been washed into the shore and all of them will die. But this person walks by and picks one and says, I can save this one and puts it back into the water.
CHRYSANDRA :
The story of the starfish. Of the starfish. I’ve never heard that before. And I think that now we need to share it with everyone.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
Yes. You want the story? It’s a person walking on the shore. And then there are all these starfish and they are dying. Right. And then he starts putting them into the water. And there walks someone who says… What a foolish thing you’re doing. You can’t help them. And then he looks at one and he throws it back into the water and says, I can’t save that one. And like Peter was saying, you see these children now? They are very good. They are cheerful. They are well-learned. Some of them want to become cardiologists. They want to become engineers. They want to become. And just that encourages my life. Yes, we have many challenges, but God is with us. He who has called me is faithful. Amen. And I know he will complete what he started.
CHRYSANDRA :
Wanji, there’s so much more. We have to take a short break. Thank you for listening to all the Dreamers radio show. 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. You guys were having so much fun. I just don’t want this to end. And we have Peter and Caryn Bodie on with us. And we have Wanji all the way in from Kenya. And it is such an honor to truly just sit down with all of you guys and to hear. We just heard this parable, I would say, about the starfish. And I just think that… You just emphasized the importance of not being overwhelmed by how much change we need to see in the world, but starting step by step, walking by faith and helping out that one starfish and letting God take care of the whole pieces, but do what we can. And Wanda, your background and the beauty of your heart where… You continue to dream and believe for more and have this heart for education. What would be, if you could summarize what you learned in your educational studies, what was your biggest takeaway? Because you went all the way to seminary, Denver Seminary. What was your golden nugget, would you say, from all of your education?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
From my education is that you both you need both education and Salvation without God you can do anything I’ve just celebrated my seventh birthday 70 years last week. And as I was reflecting on that, I saw that again, that here you are, you are faced with obstacles, many needs, but you can overcome them. And I was thinking about the story of Caleb. Right. Caleb, who was sent by Joshua, in Joshua chapter 14. And Caleb looks back, just like I look back, and he says, I was 45 when I started this, when I was sent out. And here I am 80 and I can do it again because God is with me. Give me this mountain. So what I have learned from all this is that nothing is impossible with God.
CHRYSANDRA :
I mean, hallelujah. And that childlike faith. And I think that we’re, you know, we talk about this often because this is a show of faith. And for each one of you to be walking by faith, wholehearted faith, when plans change and being able to step into. I mean, they change all the time and the Lord keeps us on our toes and we can never dream of the beautiful things that he has in store for us. Wanji, take us to this favorite moment of a miracle that it did seem completely impossible, but Jesus came through. What happened?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
The first one was when we started the school. We started on iron sheets shack with the three children. Iron sheets shack. A metal shack. Then we had 25 children. We needed to transition them. And God provided a property which had a big home, which belonged to a polygamous man. But all that had changed and the house had been left like a ghost house. God enabled us to buy that home and we renovated it and it became a school. Now we are being faced with another big challenge. We have 231 children. 16 of them need to transition to senior school. Is that high school? Senior high school. Oh, senior high school. Okay. We need more than $200,000. And I look back. If God moved us from the shack to where we are, he is more than able. more than able to call people. I always say, God, I’m not asking you for money. I’m just asking you for this to get done. It is your business to get money from people’s pockets and give cheerfully and happily so that we may put up this building. We have a piece of land where we can put up the building and everybody says, this is impossible. And I go, this is possible because God will do it. Amen. So we’ll put up the senior school for these children. The government says you cannot put the school in the primary school. It needs to be isolated by itself. So we need to start from scratch and build.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, I know that we’re all tuning in for a reason, Wanji, and this is being heard by eyes and ears and hearts that are yearning to be part of God’s plan. And so we just say yes and amen to that provision and those resources. And I love that you said that you look back on the shack and then the new spot that he, it was a drastic shift of provision. And so to look back on these pillars of faith and to move forward, they they are the the best way to move forward so thank you for that huge chunk of wisdom now spiritually in in the country of kenya we’ll just say it as a whole what would you say kenya has that the world needs to know about
WANJI MUKUNGA :
Kenya has over 65% of Kenyans are Christians. And these are Christians who are very serious. They wake up early in the morning. They intercede for the nation. They even pray for America.
CHRYSANDRA :
We need it.
WANJI MUKUNGA :
Say that again. They pray for America. They pray for America. I have not heard many people pray for Kenya. But we do pray for America. Even when you have small settings, even in the countryside, people will pray for these nations. People will go for overnight meetings and at some time they will say, now it’s time to pray for other nations. So I am so thankful for my nation because of the community life. Even in the countryside, in the villages, people come together and they hold hands and they pray. At school. We have the Sunday school now for the children. Our children are now in junior school. So we have the youth ministry. These older children coming together and studying the Bible and praying together. Right. Then we have the, we started with the men. And we call them the pillars of the village. And they come every Sunday and they study the Bible. This year, some women have joined them. So we have a Bible study now for the parents.
CHRYSANDRA :
Whoa, you do?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
So on Sunday afternoon, it’s a wonderful afternoon because the children are meeting, the youth is meeting, and then the pillars are meeting and we are all praying together and worshiping God. Wow.
CHRYSANDRA :
How holy and sacred. I think that is so powerful. What have you, Peter and Caryn, what’s been your biggest takeaway from Gitombo as well as Kenya as a whole? What we need to learn from them.
CARYN BODDIE :
Well, I’ll just say that yesterday I was reminded, it must have been Holy Spirit reminded me That after we pray for what is needed, we need to believe we will receive it. We can’t just pray and then just go, oh, I doubt this is going to happen. No, we need to pray and believe.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. And expect it. That’s so good. Because I think we pray, but we don’t really have the expectancy. And oftentimes the situation where we really do need a miracle because it’s very uncomfortable to need a miracle. But to believe that we serve a great God and that he always provides above and beyond.
PETER BODDIE :
I think one of the biggest takeaways from having been to Kenya and Uganda also, and then being involved in this ministry, is that in America, we have many material things. And we ask, when we pray, sometimes we ask, we ask, you know, cure cancer of… your relative or something like that everywhere i went from the cities to the smallest villages to the community centers in these villages where the community center is a shade tree everywhere without fail the first words from the kenyans and ugandans and it was always thank you lord There were people, they didn’t even have toys for their children, but they said, thank you. And so one of my takeaways is that there are these great needs and you think, well, how can I, how can I do this? Well, your church may be involved in a different ministry or something. It doesn’t matter. Do just pray and do something. Yeah. And this ministry I can see is making a great difference to those people. And you don’t know what one of those kids is not going to go out in the world like Wange did and change the world or change Kenya.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes.
PETER BODDIE :
One of these kids. And they’re going to do it because God was with them. Amen. And you can be part of that, too.
CHRYSANDRA :
We love it, Peter. We are coming up towards the end of our show. It goes by so fast. But Wanchi, we want to know, you did share such beautiful, each one of you has shared great wisdom, but there’s someone tuning in that they’re afraid to go after God’s calling on their lives today. What would be your piece of wisdom to them to be able to go after Jesus’s calling on their lives and why it’s so important?
WANJI MUKUNGA :
God is faithful. He who is calling you or talking to you is faithful. And all he needs from you is to humble yourself and allow him to use you. If you don’t, he will give it to you so that you are the one who will do it. And Americans are great givers. That is a given. Americans are great givers. So wherever you are, just know that God is faithful. And that which you will give him, he will use it to bless very many children. sometimes it might just be a cup of coffee right for you but that those two three dollars five dollars would do will educate a child for a whole time so just denying yourself just a little bit of comfort yes would uh educate a child bless a family bless a whole classroom and uh We are in need of many material things. We are in need of stationery. We are in need of computers, of printers, whatever it is that people would help us with. Just to be reminded, God is faithful and He will do that which has to be done, which He Himself has started.
CHRYSANDRA :
amen amen and waji how and peter and Caryn how can you guys all uh be able to get involved within hope getondo and to be able to be a part of this what can they do for next steps i’ll just say a couple things um you can donate through cover gives for give us that website peter
PETER BODDIE :
I don’t, it’s, it’s on our website.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yeah. Just go to Google.
PETER BODDIE :
That’s the link. Yep. But also you can pray for this ministry.
CHRYSANDRA :
And tell us that, can you spell out the ministry, Peter, for people just typing it into their phones and onto their laptops?
PETER BODDIE :
It’s called Hope Gitombo, G-I-T-O-M-B-O. And it’s a Colorado-based charity bringing Christ-centered education and transformational ministries to the community of Gitombo, Kenya, through the PAVE Gitombo Community School. If you go to Hope Gitombo, you’ll also be able to go to the school website and see all those wonderful children. And it’s just Hope Gitombo. get tumbo.org and then the colorado gives is there there’s many ways but i will add one other thing if you people go on safari yeah go to visit places like kenya you can take an extra couple days you’re going to fly into nairobi anyway and arrange to go visit the school yes just plan on doing things like that
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, we love it and we want to go and we want to be participants in this global movement, Wanji, of your wholehearted yes and being able to say yes to Jesus and your influence in countries and nations around the world. We are just so thankful for you. We can’t wait to have you back. Maybe we’ll have to do an off-site studio recording in Gitombo in Kenya. That would be quite fun, all of us. We should do that. You guys, pull over if you’re driving. If you’re at your phone, please go look up Wanji and be able to see the great work that she has been doing and invites you to be a part of whatever you can give financially, technically, financially. Educationally, it just invites all of these different attributes to be part of it. Till next time, dreamers. Keep dreaming big.
