Faith Without Borders
In May, University of Jamestown students traveled abroad to Chogoria, Kenya, immersing themselves in African culture through one of UJ’s most unique experiential education opportunities. Students were assigned areas of service correlating to their program of study, which included working alongside healthcare workers at Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Chogoria Hospital and ministers in the PCEA local parishes. UJ students—12 in total—and accompanying faculty/staff spent nearly four weeks in Africa. These are their personal stories.
The following is an excerpt from Alumni & Friends Magazine Summer 2025 issue. Read the full issue here.
I have traveled to both Chogoria, Kenya and Nkhoma, Malawi many times over the past 14 years, and the feelings of gratitude, love, and appreciation I leave with after each visit continue to fill my heart. Leaving Chogoria and Nkhoma is like leaving a second family that I have so grown to love, admire, and respect.
As I reflect on those first trips, I remember the feelings of overwhelming sadness that engulfed me almost daily and even more so as we left the country. I left wondering “why?” and “how?” can there be such poverty, starvation, sickness, and unnecessary loss of life. I have since come to intimately know and accept the privilege of simply being born here in America. Born to family born in America. And because of this, I am privileged. My friends, born in Kenya and Nkhoma, were not born into this same privilege. Yet, they continue to give thanks to the Lord for all they do have.
I no longer leave and focus on what is “missing” and “what I feel they don’t have;” instead, because of the example they live by, I continue to give
thanks for all they have and pray for the Lord to continue to surround and protect them.
My far away friends rejoice in the Lord ~ always. They pray and give thanks to the Lord for all their blessings. They live as a community. They are cheerful. They are kind. They open their hearts and homes to us. They welcome us and make us feel like family.
They always tell me how much joy we bring to them when we visit ~ but the truth is, they bring me joy. I would like to think I am a better person and more thankful because of them. And because of my experiences in Kenya and Nkhoma, my life is richer ~ tenfold.
Kim Ash DNP, MS, RN
BSN Program Director & Professor of Nursing at the University of Jamestown
My mission trip to Chogoria, Kenya changed my life in ways I didn’t expect. Despite witnessing hard things such as poverty, illness, and heartbreak up close, I was in awe of the resilience, kindness, and unwavering faith within the community. Despite having so little, they gave so freely, welcomed us like family, and worshiped with a joy that gave me chills. Their trust in God through every season was truly inspiring.
I went expecting to serve the people of Chogoria but instead left with a changed heart because of the connections I made and the hard things I saw. I will hold this experience close to my heart forever.
Lexus Page ’25
UJ Nursing
My trip to Kenya deeply impacted me and transformed my perspective on life. During my final semester in school, I took a class that introduced us to Kenyan culture and daily life. This helped me develop a foundational understanding before traveling there.
From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with incredible warmth. The people I met made me feel truly at home, even though I was far from it. One of my favorite memories was being invited to a team-building excursion with some of the hospital staff. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it also gave me a chance to bond with the nurses I’d be working alongside for the next two weeks. Their joy—for life, for each other, and for their work—was something I hadn’t seen in a long time.
As a nurse, I learned so much from them. One of the most valuable lessons was how to make the most of what I have. Despite limited resources, they delivered excellent care with love and compassion. Going forward, I want to ensure that everything I have—whether in my nursing practice or personal life—is used with purpose and gratitude.
This experience also opened my eyes to how much I take for granted. I left Kenya with a new outlook and a sense of purpose: to live boldly in my faith, love others deeply, and be truly thankful for what I have. That’s how they live every day—and for three and a half weeks, I had the privilege of witnessing it.
Kaylee Panchot ’25
UJ Nursing
Hannah Hynek: Sometimes we have moments and experiences in our lives that we never forget. Not just because of the things we do and see, but because of the way that these moments made us feel.
For me, experiencing Kenya was one of these moments. I truly felt every emotion, but left with one prominent feeling: gratitude. Gratitude for the people who do a little more than they have to. Gratitude for the small things that bring the greatest laughs. And gratitude for the people of Kenya who welcomed us into their community, homes, and lives without even blinking an eye.
Kenya opened my eyes and transformed me in far greater ways then what I did for anyone in Kenya. One of the most common questions I get is, “How is Kenya different from here?” The more and more I have reflected and thought about this answer, the more it becomes clear. As far as materialistic things, especially in the hospital, we have more technology and access to supplies. However, the more I think about differences on a deeper level, the more I realize how similar we actually are. The value of love, connection, and belonging doesn’t change just because we live somewhere else. It is something we as humans search for, no matter our culture, financial status, or country of origin.
With all that being said, I hope to move forward with life full of gratitude and always remember that at our core, we are far more alike than we are different.
Hannah Hynek ’26
UJ Nursing
When I first arrived in Chogoria, Kenya, I was overwhelmed by culture shock. I couldn’t help but notice the poverty and the lack of resources compared to life in America. Everything felt so different and unfamiliar.
But after a few days, everything began to change.
As I worked at the hospital and spent time with people in the community, my perspective shifted. It stopped being about what they didn’t have and became about what they did have: an unshakable faith in Jesus.
Their faith wasn’t just something they talked about—it was something they lived. I saw it in their words, their actions, and their joyful spirits. The children radiated a happiness that was contagious. Even without many material resources, people were healing in the hospital, and their kindness and generosity were unlike anything I had ever experienced. God was providing in ways I had never seen before.
I felt God’s presence everywhere—in the mountains, in the wildlife, and especially in the people. Worshiping next to believers halfway across the world was a powerful reminder that God’s love knows no borders. He’s omnipresent.
This trip transformed my heart and my understanding of what it means to trust and follow Jesus. It’s an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Brenna Held ’26
UJ Nursing
My three-week medical mission trip to Chogoria, Kenya, was one of the most challenging and inspiring experiences of my life. After flying into Nairobi, we journeyed to Chogoria, where we served at PCEA Hospital and Kenya Connection Kids, an orphanage. We also immersed ourselves deeply in both the local culture and the stunning natural surroundings. One memorable highlight was hiking Mugi Hill, a beautiful trail nestled near the foothills of Mount Kenya. Then, we ended our trip with a breathtaking safari in the Maasai Mara—a moment of wonder and reflection amid our hard work.
At the hospital, I witnessed the incredible resourcefulness of local healthcare workers. I saw a nurse carefully use a nitrile glove as a makeshift tourniquet—out of necessity due to limited supplies. Nothing was wasted, yet every patient received compassionate care. One of the most striking things about Kenya was the abundant joy woven into daily life. Despite the challenges people faced, the Kenyans we met greeted us with warm smiles and open hearts, making us feel at home as strangers. Their happiness wasn’t dependent on circumstance; it was grounded in gratitude and community.
One afternoon, we were invited into a family’s home for tea. They served tea or coffee with a biscuit, offering it with genuine kindness and care. It wasn’t about impressing us—it was about making connections. Sitting shoulder to shoulder in their modest living room, sipping from beautiful ceramic mugs and sharing quiet conversation, I realized how powerful hospitality can be. It’s not the setting that matters but the heart behind it. That simple tea time taught me that joy and connection often grow in the humblest places. Meaningful relationships begin in the smallest, most intentional moments.
Though I witnessed heartbreaking challenges—patients facing serious illness with limited resources, and children growing up without parents—I left Kenya feeling fuller than when I arrived. Instead of being drained by the weight of need, I was uplifted by the strength, joy, and resilience of the people I met. Their faith was not only spoken; it was embodied and lived out, even in the face of hardship. Their gratitude was steady, not situational. There was a quiet confidence rooted not in possessions or achievements but in belonging—to their family, community, and faith.
That perspective has stayed with me. It reminded me that fulfillment often springs not from comfort or ease but from connection, humility, and presence. I went to serve and give, but I received just as much—if not more. Kenya changed me, not because of what I did, but because of who I met along the way.
Megan Oswald ’25
UJ Nursing
