27

Wow. Another birthday, another year older... 27. This is my Golden Birthday (27 on the 27th...) They say this only happens once in your life... (Thank you mom for bringing me into this world.)

What a year it has been, too. As I reflect on what last year was for me, I realize that it was one of the hardest years of my life and one of the most amazing years of my life. I cried, I grew, I loved, I laughed, I cried some more. And through it all, God was with me each step of the way, never forsaking me, never leaving me. I love Him.

I have a good feeling about 27. I think this year will bring more refining to my life. More joy, more love, more laughter. I think it will be a year of greater heights with God.

During the year of 26, I got to travel to Switzerland, India, and Kenya. I got to go to New York, Colorado, Virginia, DC, Maryland, Indiana. I said goodbye to my sister who moved to Switzerland, which was bittersweet. She is living her dream, and I miss her terribly.

I like to fly. I even like airports, even when I'm in them for too long. I have learned that I can be as happy in India or Kenya as I am in America. I am grateful for the favor and grace God has given me in other countries, in other cultures. I can be happy anywhere, and that is a choice I make.

I fell in love. Again. With Jesus.

I made some incredible friends here in Pennsylvania, and got what I wanted so badly. Friends who understand missions and have a heart for those who have not heard the Good News. Some relationships with friends from the past have become stronger and more beautiful. I am incredibly grateful.

I still don't have a home church. And I still feel like a foreigner in this land. But I know who I am and I am learning to be made into the likeness of God. So home is irrelevant. Feeling like I belong is irrelevant. Home is wherever I am with Jesus.

I'm comfortable in my skin. It's not perfect, but it is beautiful because it is what God gave to me and I choose to rejoice in the imperfections because they are made perfect in Him. I am learning to love myself, forgive myself, be more courageous. I am learning to think things through before I talk, to be more caring, to be more loving. I am learning what being selfless looks like. I am learning how to love others. Ah, but I have so far to go...

I sometimes want to pinch myself. I love that God has blessed me with how I get to serve Him, and the wonderful people in my life. I cannot imagine a life more wonderful than the one He has given to me.

So this year, I am blessed once again to be called His daughter.

On My Way Home

On my way home!
I can't actually believe I'm on my way home. I'm sitting in Nairobi feeling so sad to be leaving the wonderful people I've met, this place of beauty. But oh, so excited to be home and see some familiar faces. I have missed so many people. I look forward to calling my mom and talking to her and telling her my heart...
Moses dropped me off at the airport, and I almost cried. It was hard to say goodbye to my last Nairobi contact... He gave me a sweet tour of the city on the way to the airport. It is a cool city. I wasn't sure if I had a flight (long story) and he couldn't come into the airport with me, so he stood outside, to make sure I was safe. We were hoping I wouldn't get on the plane, and I could stay and go on more Safaris... Hee hee.
I stayed at my coworker Solo's house with his family. I finally got to meet his sweet wife and hang out with his oldest daughter. We slept in bunk beds, and talked late into the night. I felt like I was at summer camp. (bunk beds, long talks, and oh, yeah. HEAT)
I have fallen in love with this place, these people. I went to church today at Christian Church International in Thika (outside of Nairobi). What a fun church! The pastor introduced me and had me stand up and wave to the congregation and I was shocked at the number of people who were there when I turned around!
I apparently don't move like a white girl, or so I've been told by the Africans! I did get to dance, just a little at the church. Very cool!
After church I got to connect with Bishop Mulandi's wife (mama Moses) and talk to her. I used to work with her husband at Global. I shared lunch with the Get It! team from Switzerland, and said goodbye to them. I got to know a bit more about the new director for ISOM, which was good. He seems like a very solid young man, and is very focused on the call for his life. We walked quite far, visiting people, going places. So many places I went, the little kids (so cute!!!) would run up and say "Mazungu, mazungu" (white person) and grab my hands. At one point, I was being escorted down the street by about 10 little kids all wanting to hold my hands, and many of them holding my hands for quite a distance (picture 7-10 kids holding your hands walking down the street). So cute.
OH! I went on Safari yesterday with my friend Moses Mulandi (mama Moses' son...), Mark, Lynda, Mosa, and John. It was the most relaxing and exciting day I've had in a long time. So relaxing... I didn't have to pay for any of it! (Thanks Mulandi family and Luke!!!) It rocks having friends who are so good to you! I have had some incredible conversations with people here. They have stretched me!
I have found out many things about myself on this trip.
1. God has given me favor.
2. God has called me to do exactly what I'm doing. I'm more convinced of it every day!
3. He is also going to stretch me and ask me to do things for Him that I never imagined.
4. I am so blessed. I can't believe I get to live this life. I seriously work hard and ENJOY what I get to do. I am blessed.
5. I am more in love with Jesus than I could have imagined. I can't believe He wants to know me. I am amazed He wants to know all about me and that God wants to use me to share His love!
6. Kenya + Jenny = great friends for life :)
7. I am broken for this place, this continent...I will never be the same again...
8. Even with sunscreen, the equator's sun is hard on a mazungu :)
9. Some mamas in Africa want me to marry their sons. Others probably do not... Hee hee.
10. I am worth 80 cows in Kenya (according to Bishop) and less (according to Moses), 6 in Tanzania, and my mom could eat beef for life if I married the right man (just kidding, just kidding!!!!)
So many stories, so many pictures...
God is good, all the time!
My flight lands Monday afternoon US time... I look forward to seeing you/talking with you!

The Breaking

John 16:24 says, ...ask anything in My name and it will be given to you.

I asked God to show me His heart for Africa. No answer.

I asked again for 10 days. I asked God to remove anything in me that keeps me from fully surrendering to and experiencing Him. I repented. I asked for forgiveness. I asked to be more like Him. I asked for His heart. I asked for Him to show me.

The sweetest thing happened last night.

He answered my prayers.

I can't say too much right now, but there is a call to do something about a nasty four letter word. AIDS. It is destroying a people, countries, a continent.

Hope

Mercy

Dignity

Replacing flowing tears with shouts of Joy

Truth

We have the key. His name is Jesus.

What if there came a time when young people knew the love of God and stopped

selling out to counterfeit love?

What if they said, I'm just not going there?

What if people stopped searching for the wrong kind of affection?

What if we shared Jesus with those who are shunned?

If you know me, you know I cry. A lot. But I don't think I have ever cried like I did last night. God let me feel His pain. I cried a little. Then I wept. Then I sobbed.

And sobbed. And sobbed.

Then I cried some more. Minutes, then hours passed. Still no relief. I asked God to show me His heart for Africa. He did.

Tears of weeping and brokenness put me to sleep last night, when I finally asked God to have mercy on me and just let me rest.

I got a glimpse into His heart for Africa, for India, for China. People are dying and they don't even know the TRUTH.

There are roses in Africa.

That is what God is doing in me. What does this mean? I don't know for sure, but I know I am changed. I am called to do something. Until I know more, I will pray. I will fast. I will weep with my Jesus.

Closing Celebration in Kenya

Closing Celebration in Kenya
If you wanna worship and party with the Lord, Kenya is the place to do it.
I have never in my whole life seen a giving celebration like we had last night. Dancing, cheering for the Lord, and some of the poorest (monetarily speaking) people I have ever met giving with great joy to the Lord to help other discipleship mission training programs begin around the world. If only we could all be so happy to give back to God! Seriously. I was in awe. God is so awesome!
I don't think I can sum up the day yesterday. I really can't. I can tell you that there are literally NO words to describe what happened as we celebrated, prayed, and joined together in worshiping the Lord.
I broke my good sleeping habits last night, working very late into the night on expense reimbursements for the leaders who I met with at 4:45am to say goodbye to. 2.5 hours of sleep. And we have meetings today, so I'm sleepy, but once again full of joy and energy for this job God has entrusted to me. I really do pray that in all you do, God will give you great joy for it!
I was given a Kamba name last night by a pastor (Simon) and discipleship training leader (John) of "Mwende". That means "loved one". Cool. Elijah from Sudan, where it is customary to name people cow names named me "Yar" which means "white cow". In America, I would be offended if someone called me a cow, but not in Kenya by a Sudanese brother :)
I have to run back to our meeting now. We are planning and preparing for what we think God is leading us to. Growth, joy, serving and loving.
Godfrey Chiundah from Malawi (director of the program AFORTH = Awake for the Harvest) is sitting next to me and asks for you to pray for the trainings and that God would use the trainings to impact the lives of the young. Pray for the programs that are just starting, for more experiences and God's direction and guidance.
Thanks for your continued prayers. We need and covet them.
From Africa with Love,
Jenny

Closing Day in Kenya

It is the closing day of the Annual Meeting today, so sad... So exciting. We get to send these wonderful folks out to the mission field, hopefully rejuvenated and ready for the work...
I spoke with a man last night named Benson, who God has called to reach out to the Turkana people, an unreached people group (less than 2% reached with the Gospel) in the Turkana desert of Kenya. Some of you have seen his video. His stories are incredible. He showed me his Cobra bites, told of Scorpion stings, the bullet hole that is really, literally over his heart. God has called him to do amazing things and he has been saved from so much. He walks hundreds of kilometers to meet with his churches, disciple people. His goal is to plant 100 churches among his people, and he has planted 48 now. You should hear his heart for God! He invited me to a graduation service when they begin their discipleship training program. I asked him if scorpions (the size of your hand) are involved in this trip and he said, "Jenny, you should not fear anything. God is always with you". So there. That was humbling :)
We had our day of prayer and fasting yesterday. It was a sobering time of prayer and one of the big topics we felt God leading us to pray for was family and purity. I have committed to praying more fervently for my brothers. I forget sometimes the struggles that men (and some women) go through. Leaders are especially under attack with thought life and purity. Galen and John from India both shared some incredible testimonies and some very serious challenges. I am blessed to be surrounded by men who are fighting against the temptations that destroy so many people. We were also called to return to family. I am not married, but it was a great reminder for me that when I do become married, that it is my first ministry, my first priority, and from that, God will work. There are so many leaders here who were crying out for the ways the haven't loved their spouses and children first. They have been so busy with ministry, that they forget to love those they are called to first. I was also struck by what a huge gift marriage is. Adam didn't ask for a wife, but God blessed Him with one anyway. That's pretty cool.
One of the ways God really spoke to me was in the area of really dwelling in the Lord. And becoming a place He wants to dwell... Ephesians 3:14-19 says, For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its nae. I pray that out of His glroious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray taht ayou, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and hight and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that suprasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. I pray that I will understand that dwelling. Ephesians 2:22 says, In Him you too are bing built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.
We prayed for peace and healing in Sudan, Barundi, Rwanda, Congo. Many of these leaders come from war-torn places. Facing things I cannot even remotely imagine. May God show me His heart for these people. We gathered around the leaders and asked God for peace and favor and healing. Many have lost their families to war. It is incredibly sad.
We also had a time of praying for healing and to have no more hatred for those who have hurt us, terrorists, etc. Galen said, "we must learn to love our enemies more than they hate us" and I think he's so right. That's what Jesus did. I pray God will give us grace.
We closed the day with sharing of the Lord's supper. We praised God and what a sweet time it was. These folks really know how to press in. Communion is not something that should be taken lightly and I appreciate the fellowship last night.
We have been having Assessment meetings with each of the programs who are here, and it has been a great experience to learn about the leaders more fully, to learn about the programs, to dream with them in the things God has called them to, and to pray for and encourage them.
I am so tired, very tired, but God is giving us all strength to smile, laugh, and love in the ways He wants us to. I wish there was a hundred more years to be with these people. To listen to them, to pray with them.
I am sleeping more here than in Mexico last year or even in India (I'm getting six or seven hours a night!!!).
We will have our closing celebration tonight, learning songs from around the world, celebrating together what the Lord is doing and has done. We have a lot to finish today, and the day seems so short, but time is not ours to make... I have met a couple of american women here, who I will be friends with I hope when I return to PA. One is close to my age and really cool :)
The Get It! Team who is on outreach here from Switzerland (who I spent time with in Liestal Switzerland in November) has been doing a wonderful job. They have been ready and willing to jump in whenever asked, which is very helpful!
We will begin our facilitator team meetings tomorrow, and have so much to go over. Please pray that as Galen leads that time, we will get far in planning, etc. I will be giving some direction to some teaching, etc., so please pray for me... There are such joys and challenges in working cross-culturally and in offices spread throughout the world.
I get to go on Safari on Saturday, hopefully with my coworkers from Ch. Afterwards I will go to International School of Missions to meet the participants and do some teaching (eep). I don't know why I keep getting these opportunities to teach, I feel so unworthy of that role, but God keeps giving it to me.
On Sunday, I think I will spend some time with the Massai tribal people of Kenya and perhaps get into some of the poor and remote areas... That is the rough plan right now, who knows what will really happen :) Missions = flexibility. I am still praying I will be useful to God in this whole time I am here, that I would not waste any moment, but that I will also take the time to fully experience Him and the blessings around me.
I am more convinced day by day of the calling God has for my life. I pray He will allow me to be in missions for the rest of the time He gives me on earth. I am also more convinced that my role in serving these brothers and sisters and giving them the opportunity to fulfill God's call in their lives is one of the coolest things I can do! They know the context, the culture, the language. As they travel to places a white person cannot go, I am blessed to hear their stories.
I will be so sad to leave this place, called Kenya, but am so excited to return home to see many of you. To continue the work God has called me to in supporting and encouraging these leaders from around the world, until the whole world knows.
Love to you all,
Jenny

Update 2 from Kenya

Update 2 from Kenya
> Greetings from Kenya! How are you all doing? I am sorry for the lack of > communication, but it is difficult to get online here... It is mid-day here and > I am once again in awe of our God... There are now 76 people here at this > meeting, and it is SOOOO hard to remember everyone's names! But their faces, > their stories, their testimonies are being etched in my heart. I am more and > more convinced of God's love for His children and for the lost. Please pray for > these leaders. This is one of the only times during their year that they are > served and get to rest. I am hearing story after story of transformed lives, of > God's mercy and love. We went to different churches around Nairobi and the > surrounding areas yesterday. I spent the day at Christian Church International, > at Juja, also known as Joy Fellowship. Mark from Ch. preached a message that was > such a good reminder to forget the things the world tells us and just follow > Jesus. It was a radical message for Africa, because degrees, doctorates, etc. > are a big deal here. Mark got everyone pretty fired up! Afterwards we met with > the bishop and had juice and biscuits in his office. I think that was a great > honor here, so am grateful for that... We shared lunch with my coworker Mary's > family. Cutest kids in the world, and immediately their two girls wanted to play > with my hair. They made it look more unique than anything I've ever seen before. > What fun! We were in a rural area, but it was nice, though not like anything > I've seen before. Have I told you how truly beautiful this place is and the > people! They are so sweet and dear. Luke, I did not get to dance really at > church, just a bit of swaying and clapping, but I did dance last night around a > bon-fire. It was sweet! There are pictures... The conference center had a huge > BBQ, cake, bon-fire, praise and worship time for us. It was so fun. A few of the > pastors and bishops who are here, led us all in dancing. I love African dancing! > I cannot, however, figure out how they move the way they do! This morning I am > busy meeting with Jorge from Latin AMerica to plan the meetings that will take > place in Bolivia in March. I am tired, with meetings going all day, mentor > meetings, assessments, etc., and so rejuvenated, and so in love with what God > has called me to! Praise God that I am pretty close to 100% healthy from my > India cold! And I have not experienced any problems with food, stomach... My > former coworker Lori from Colorado who is here in Kenya with her sister came out > to the center we are at last night and visited with us! So she got to meet the > people I work with! She kept remarking how sweet they are, and she is so right! > Alright, so that is what I have to say for now, without typing for the rest of > the day... I will send more updates hopefully soon. Please continue to pray for > discernment in this continent where there is so much growth, so many programs > who want to begin. We are more aware we need to be so careful with those we > allow to join us. Please pray for continued unity. It's been fun to see folks > praying together from around the world, around Africa. We have our day of prayer > and fasting tomorrow, please join us in praying. We expect God to show up in big > ways, as He has in the past. Tim and the team are teaching on local > sustainability right now, and so many of the leaders are already doing business > and mission, but many probably think this is very radical... Pray that our > creative God will impart creativity into them all! Thank you again for your > friendship and love to me and to us! Jenny

Kenya Update 1

Kenya!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, this is my first chance to write!
I can now add Kenya as a foreign country I have driven in! (Kenya, India, Germany :))
Hmm... Where to begin? We arrived just 48 hours ago, but it seems like much longer. It is easy to feel completely at home here. Like this is where I've been forever.
We had some issues with the place we are holding the conference, but it is all ironed out and feels like a retreat. I will take pictures. I walk outside to see green around me and many flowers, trees, etc. and thank God for the beauty He allows my eyes to see...
The people. Ah, the people of Kenya. Truly wonderful. We are 72 in number now at the meeting, with more arriving tomorrow. What a joy!!! It has been great so far, and as I sit and stand looking at the beautiful, humble, wonderful peoiple I am surrounded by, I am in awe once again that God has called me to serve Him in this way. I am hearing stories of miracles, praying, asking God to release resources in this land.
I miss my family and friends, but am so very busy, too.
Thank you for your prayers. It doesn't seem like I could do justice with mere words the things I am experiencing and it would take too long, especially with this internet. I need to get return flights to America (some tickets for Steve, Stephen and I got cancelled) and will arrive back in the states sometime the 12 or 13.
I am grateful for the unity we have experienced, and we hope for much more. The leaders have been very comfortable with the serious teaching, please pray that as we move to more informal times together, that we can still experience that same unity. For them it might be hard to be chill...
We are working long hours and I have been doing a lot of organizational things, trying to straighten things out, and feel this meeting is going much more smoothly than India... As we sit with programs to assess how they are doing and dreaming with them, it is such a humbling experience that God would use me. So young, so inadequate to do this work. But I am so grateful!
Oh, I must go now, but I trust you are all well. Please email/write if you have a chance. You have no idea the life your words and prayers bring to me as I pour myself out.
Love you,
Jenny
PS - Still no jetlag and I'm feeling almost 100% now!!! Praise God!