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Student trip to Kenya part of Judson U. global outreach mission

Jenna Hopphan's mission in life is to learn about cultural differences and similarities among people.

"Each culture has a lot to offer in terms of their way of life, their origins, and just who they are," said the 20-year-old from Batavia, who will accompany a team from Judson University on a two-week mission trip to the east African nation of Kenya during the holidays.

"I'm looking forward to getting to explore that firsthand rather than just reading about it from a textbook," said Hopphan, who is majoring in intercultural studies and English at Judson.

Architecture professor David Mwale Ogoli and his wife, Iris, will lead the group of six Judson students on the mission to Nakuru, Kenya - about 100 miles northwest of the capital, Nairobi. The Ogolis have led six trips to the region.

"We have been planning this for more than a year so that (students) have time to gather the funds they need," Ogoli said.

The team leaves Dec. 9 and will work alongside Christ Chapel Ministries in Kenya and the global Organization of Christian Ministries, engaging in one-on-one evangelism, participating in a church youth convention, visiting and feeding children at a local orphanage, and working on a small construction project.

Global outreach is a big part of Judson's mission, said Ogoli, a U.S. citizen born in Western Kenya near Lake Victoria, who has been teaching at the Elgin university since 2001.

"This is probably the farthest of all the missions that we take," Ogoli said.

Judson's Global Outreach program this year also will be sending teams of 10 to 15 students on weeklong mission trips to Belize, the Bahamas, Peru, Mississippi, and East St. Louis.

Kenya has been a frequent destination because of students' interest in Africa. Being from the region, Ogoli serves as their guide.

The goal is to have cross-cultural exchange and give students a chance to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, he said.

"It is an eye-opener for the students," Ogoli said. Experiencing a new culture, people, food, climate and language takes students out of "their comfort zone," he said.

Several former Judson mission participants have returned to work in those countries - including Ghana, India, Peru, Sierra Leone, South Korea, and Zambia - on a longer-term basis after graduation, he said.

Ogoli said it's in line with Judson's mission to create more responsible global citizens fulfilling their religious calling.

"It's just the joy and the fulfillment of being able to help somebody else," he said.

This is Hopphan's first mission trip abroad.

"I am a little nervous with everything that's going on with Paris and Europe right now," she said adding, "but I'm definitely more excited than nervous."

Organizers are being extra careful in light of heightened security due to global terror events in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

"Common sense and just using good judgment is the key," Ogoli said. "Danger could be anywhere. It could be in a theater, shopping mall or museum anywhere in the world. We will do every due diligence to be safe and avoid places of danger."

Judson University students sing with orphans at Jamii Children's Home in Nakuru, Kenya, during a December 2012 mission trip. Pictured from left are student Andrew Moment, Kenyan native Linda Kalia, and Judson students Karlee Westra, McKenna Haas, Rachael Hodges, Alisa Zimmerman, Mark Jacobi, and Matthew Johnson. Courtesy of Judson University
Judson University student Alisa Zimmerman reads Bible stories with orphans at Jamii Children's Home in Nakuru, Kenya, during a December 2012 mission trip. Courtesy of Judson University
Judson University students share refreshments with orphans at the Jamii Children's Home in Nakuru, Kenya. From left are, Karlee Westra, Kiran Stoddard, Alisa Zimmerman, Mark Jacobi, Rachael Hodges, and Andrew Moment. Guiding the children into a line is orphanage program director Maryanne Nyambura Njeri. Courtesy of Judson University
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