Two weeks after graduating from Viterbo with a degree in nursing, Denise Runge left for Colorado in her little Ford Fiesta. It has been the pattern of her life since then to enjoy exploring the world.

It was a time of a nursing “glut”; too many graduates and not enough nursing jobs, can you imagine that? She was fortunate to be offered one of two new graduate positions at Denver General Hospital because she had a degree from Viterbo. The nursing supervisor at the time was familiar with the quality and education standards of Viterbo and knew Runge would catch on quickly to the fast-paced environment at this inner-city hospital, nicknamed at the time, “The Knife and Gun Club.”

Fast forward several years, and she worked on the Navajo Reservation as a home-health nurse.

“Those sociology classes came into use as it was a huge cultural shift from life in Denver to life on the ‘Rez’,” Runge said. “It was during this time two major life changing events occurred. I injured my back quite badly and retired from nursing, and God called me to the foreign mission field.”

In the mid-2000s, the HIV and AIDS crisis in Africa was at its peak. “I felt the Lord calling me to use my nursing skills to assist in the care of AIDS patients,” she said. “I moved to Kenya in 2008 and began to train people in home-based health care. I became a community health education trainer and taught classes under mango trees and in half-built churches miles from the nearest town. I made home health visits to patients dying from AIDS and was able to comfort them with the Gospel before they died. I thank Viterbo for the emphasis on holistic health care and teaching us to share our knowledge. I was able to train several Kenyans and pass the baton to the local staff who continue to care for HIV-affected people in Kenya.”

As she prayed about her next steps as a missionary in Kenya, a man spoke at the church she attended. He asked the congregation why they were sitting in the church when there are so many people living in Kenya who have never heard the Gospel. Her heart stirred as he read the Bible passage from Matthew, chapter 28, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”

“As a Christian, isn’t this what we are supposed to be about, doing my Father’s business?” she asked herself.

In 2016, a group began planning how to effectively carry the Gospel to the unreached people in Kenya and east Africa. This is how Let Love Lead Kenya Trust was established in 2017. Their mission is to glorify God by sharing the Gospel with neighbors. Their emphasis is on relationship building, trust, and mutual respect. Runge is the founder and director of the organization, and she said it is her privilege to help her brothers and sisters in Christ learn and grow in their faith.

“I have had many experiences through the years, and I am always thankful for my education at Viterbo,” Runge said. “From the Bible classes to the nursing courses, the love of learning and caring for the hurting and dying was fostered in my heart, mind, and spirit. Reach out, take chances, and explore the world.”

This story was published in the Fall 2019 edition of Strides, Viterbo's alumni magazine.