REACH intern explores future calling while serving at MOHI

Amanda Epperson’s REACH internship at Missions of Hope International in Kenya is helping her explore her future calling while giving her hands-on opportunities to serve MOHI students every day right now!

“Since I was quite young, I have been set on working in the field of special education,” she said. “But during the pandemic, I began to feel God stirring my heart with new passions. Since coming to Kenya, I have been praying diligently for clarity in my calling after graduation.”

During her first two weeks with REACH in Kenya, Amanda worked in the special education classroom at MOHI’s Pangani school under the supervision of Cate, a teacher in the Resource Center.

“Cate works with students K-8 who have learning disabilities,” said Amanda. “And Cate, like other MOHI teachers, is very intentional in her involvement with the students’ lives. This level of concern is so different from anything I’ve seen; it’s so beautiful and relays the heart of God so well.

“One of our students, M., has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and a rough home life,” she explained.  “Her mom often takes M. to the city to beg for money so she can buy alcohol. When M. stopped coming to school, Cate and I and a MOHI case worker went out into the community to find M’s mom and ask that she return. The next Monday, M. returned to school.”

For her next assignment, Amanda will go to the Joska boarding school in a rural area.

“At Joska, I will work with middle and high school girls to get a sense of what working with that age group would be like,” said Amanda. “Please pray for opportunities to share the gospel with the Joska girls as well as for clarity in my next steps when I return home from Kenya.”

Top photo: Amanda Epperson and her REACH teammates are serving with Missions of Hope International in Kenya this summer. On Saturdays, they explore the beautiful countryside on outdoor adventures.