From Intern to Author

It is an all too common scenario. A participant goes on a short-term mission project. The participant returns changed and vows to do something, anything to help the lives of those they left behind in the country grew to love. Then they return home. Their day-to-day lives take over and they just do not find the time to do anything more.

Not so for Allison Gnuse. Allison participated in an Internship with NMSI in Narok, Kenya in 2011 and worked closely with Nasha Ministries International, a ministry of NMSI missionaries, Elijah and Ellen Ombati. Nasha is involved in church leadership and community development projects, feeding and sheltering children, school sponsorship and a craft business for women to care for their families.

After her summer, Allison felt strongly that God was asking her to do more, yet not return to Kenya full-time. She returned again the following summer and still sensed God was still moving her heart to help in other ways. As an Early Start Teacher in her home of Springfield, Illinois, a vision to tell the story of those she was leaving behind formed on her return flight after her second project. Allison penned and published My African Home, a beautifully illustrated children's book that takes readers on a journey through Kenya. Half of the proceeds from the book are going directly to Nasha. Allison continues to raise awareness and child sponserships to benefit the lives of those who touched her heart on her internship, almost 3 years ago.

Read the article in the Illinois Times published about Allison and her book.

Buy Allison's book, My African Home, on Smile.Amazon.com.

*Photo used by permission by Patrick Yeagle, Illinois Times.