A Summer of Soccer in Tanzania!
Thank you, Nathan, for serving the kids At CITY OF HOPE!
Nathan Parker recently returned from a six-week internship in Tanzania. During his time at City of Hope, Nathan served as a soccer coach and with a variety of other tasks and made a great impact on the children that he invested in.
Nathan grew up on the mission field in Beirut, Lebanon, where his family served as missionaries in a ministry similar to City of Hope - caring for vulnerable children through residential care, schools, and family empowerment. Nathan spent his early years living on the campus of a children’s home and reflects on how “I’ve always had a passion for this kind of work. When I heard about all that HopeCo is doing in Tanzania, it just clicked for me. I’ve been to Kenya once before, but I knew Tanzania would be a new adventure and experience. I loved serving in a different culture and environment this summer.”
This fall, Nathan will be entering his senior year of college, where he plays on the men’s soccer team. His experience, talent, and soccer skills were evident as he coached the children at City of Hope. Nathan was able to connect strongly with many of the older boys. They would train for multiple hours each day before ending the evening with some friendly soccer games. In addition to coaching soccer, Nathan also participated in a running program with some of the boys where they would run and sing worship songs in Swahili at 5:00 am!
Throughout his six-week internship, Nathan also assisted with devotionals, helped with construction projects, and participated in activities alongside mission teams serving at City of Hope. One memory that stuck out to Nathan was when the new school bus arrived: “The kids went crazy with excitement, and they were dancing, singing, and running around. It was so special to see their genuine joy and be a part of dedicating the bus with prayer and praise!”
Nathan was incredibly impressed with HopeCo’s staff at City of Hope and how they are wholeheartedly committed to caring for these children. He interviewed several staff members and was inspired by the stories that they shared with him about their ministry and the kids they serve.
We are deeply grateful for Nathan’s service this summer - and the children and staff at City of Hope are too!
“To all who donated toward my trip, thank you for your generous giving! I started fundraising a little late and was really worried about raising the money. I prayed about it and knew that God would provide. God used you to show His faithfulness to me. I was really blessed by this experience and trip, and I was so encouraged by all of the gifts, prayers, and support.”
Are you interested in serving as an intern with HopeCo in East Africa? We have a brand-new program that will be perfect for you.
Learn more about our internship program and the various service opportunities here!
