Deborah Nganga is looking to spice up her Spanish and step up her leadership through serving at New Hope Fellowship as a summer service worker through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).
Eighteen-year-old Deborah has attended New Hope in Alexandria, VA for about seven years and is looking to learn leadership skills while serving at her church in the 10-week MCC Summer Service Program from June 8th to August 17th. She is working under the direction of New Hope’s pastor Kirk Hanger and his wife Marilyn. New Hope meets for Sunday worship at Bethany Lutheran Church.
As an MCC service worker, Deborah is helping New Hope in whatever way needed. Some of her staple work is helping the church secretary with office work. Another assignment is interviewing church members and writing articles on them. She also assisted with New Hope’s Vacation Bible Schools (VBS). In addition, Deborah will also be going on a service trip to Mexico for two weeks, as a part of her summer work.
“Overall, I think it’s an opportunity for her to be involved in her local church and to experience a variety of ministry opportunities,” Pastor Kirk said. “She’s helping us, but I think in the process she’s growing, stepping out of her comfort zone.”
For VBS, Deborah helped teach and supervise the kids. Her main responsibility was leading arts and crafts. Furthermore, she created a puppet show series to teach lessons about the Bible.
New Hope also ran a shorter VBS at one member’s apartment complex for the kids of the community. Deborah found it somewhat challenging, because most of the kids spoke Spanish. Deborah said although uncertain at first, she was glad to see the kids participate in singing.
“It was actually very good, the kids were actually very interested and asked a lot of questions,” Deborah said.
Just as she is teaching, she has also been learning some Spanish for the two-week Mexico trip. Part of her service program is equipping her by expanding her reach to people by learning Spanish. She has been required to complete online Spanish programs. The first week of her Mexico trip involves medical service. Her second week she will work at an orphanage.
In past summers Deborah worked at an animal clinic. In her free time, she likes to read, watch movies and go swimming. Deborah plans to study accounting at the University of Mary Washington as she starts her freshman year in August.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.