The summer of 2006 was filled with many new experiences. I participated in my first political protest against poverty. I attended a lobbyist meeting at the Senate. And I learned about grants. But what impacted me most was my trip to Kenya.
Emotionally, I was ready to see poverty face to face. What I wasn’t prepared for was the active demonstration of hope by those we visited – men, women and children who are in desperate need of help. The children at the orphanage often go without food; they have no parents, no television, no car. Yet, their faces glow with smiles, laughter and love. I could feel that their joy was based on that one important thing that is so often missing in my life: complete trust in God. I was humbled by the sight of children passionately praising God and desiring to know Him more. Through this experience, God reminded me of the power of hope, joy and a thankful spirit.
God used this trip to help me realize that trusting Him means that I should be willing to help the least of my neighbors. God taught me that I can only experience the real joy of servanthood if I have a deep concern for the welfare of others.
In the past, whenever people asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, my vague response had always been, “I want to help others.” Often, people would give me funny looks and they would change the topic. But thanks to the internship, after seeing what poverty looks like in some of the remotest communities in Kenya, I now have a better understanding of what “helping others” really means.
I do not know what my future profession is going to be. But this I know: I have a better idea of what it means to live a life of humble service, motivated by God’s love. Kristyn Schomp is a sophomore at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, majoring in public policy. She is passionate about serving God and the less privileged, both here and abroad.
