24 Day Challenge: Day 4

Hey Everyone!

So, the challenge has been going great... I have been going through the herbal cleanse with advocare right now, started the book of John and now am on chapter 3 and have been in my journal every minute I can be, but where have a epically failed and struggled with??! THE BLOG! I know everyone does not like excuses, but here is mine. I have been in the process of moving, I started moving on Friday and well I will not have internet until Tuesday. BUT, I am going to get better at this.

Anyways, I wanted to share this with you all on Saturday..

In John 1:16-17 it says

"Out of fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given... grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

We have received grace through Christ and what is better than that. You will hear me say this a lot but I am going to say it again, Let us Rejoice in this day, for this is the day the Lord has made!

Also, this morning I read John chapter 2 and the last verse in the chapter says,

John 2:25

"He did not need human testimony about them, for He knew what was in them."

Our testimony is used to glorify the Lord in this world. We can use our struggles and sins that we have been forgiven for to show to the world that we are redeemed through Christ. What we have to remember though is that Christ already knows what is and is to come, so we can not hide from Christ. He knows our hearts and what is IN us. I believe testimony is used to help plant a seed in this world to bring others closer to HIM. We plant, the Lord grows that seed and the Lord SAVES.

God is good, all the time, all the time, God is good.

Until tomorrow,

Jenny

24 DAY CHALLENGE. Day 1

So today starts my 24 day challenge.
At first, I was just simply doing a physical challenge by doing the 24 day challenge with advocare, but then I decided to add a little twist and challenge myself even more. (I tend to push myself to the limit at times) So, I decided that in the next 24 days I am going to embark on a journey of not only physical growth, but emotionally and spiritually as well.

Along with the 24 day advocare challenge (which if you are interested, you can check online at advocare.com), I am also going to be walking through Jesus' life in the perspective of the book of John. In 24 days, I will complete the book of John and hopefully fall even more in love with Christ and grow my faith stronger. Then on challenging myself emotionally, I have decided to dig into my journal at every moment. Every time I have a thought, passion, complaint, to do list, anything I will write and document in my journal. I believe I overlook the little things of everyday and want to not take for granted these little thoughts in my head or little to do's because in the end, they make a BIG impact in my life or other lives as well. On top of journaling, I want to refocus my blog. For 24 days, I will blog everyday and maybe sometimes you will get lucky and hear from me twice a day!
So, for my blog there is a NEW voice. I started this blog in 2009, before I left for my first mission trip to Mombasa, Kenya. I was focused on raising support and keeping people connected while I was gone.
I have now changed my blog title to My love for Missions. This blog is not only going to focus on missions, but is going to focus on the newly founded non-profit Imani Tumaini Upendo. Myself, Rachel Driskell and Kaylene Ullom started Imani on April 8, 2011 and have been completely in love with what the Lord is doing with our organization. Together we are a wonderful team. Rachel is the business manager, Kaylene is the social media director and I am the missions coordinator. Together we are the founders of Imani and together we are awesome!

As missions coordinator, I want my personal blog to reflect the insight of Imani from the missions perspective. You will get to know the ends and outs of Imani Tumaini Upendo and my prayer is that you will fall in love with who we are and what we are trying to do. We want you to be a part of this family and join us in our vision!
On the side of my page their is a link to the Imani website and also the Imani Facebook, I hope you get plugged in with this ministry. Any donation that you now make through paypal on my personal site, will go directly to Imani. If at anytime you want to become a sponsor, whether for a one-time purpose, monthly, or an in-kind sponsor. Please let me know!

So, back to my challenge. In the next 24 days, I will physically, emotionally and spiritually be challenging myself. My hopes for this challenge is to reach my goals I have set and to have learned way more than I could have expected. I pray that not only my relationship with Christ grows stronger, but also my relationships with my friends and family!

Here we go!
Wish me luck!

Jenny

Off to Mombasa!

Today is the day that my little heart has been so patiently waiting for! I am very excited to be going home to Mombasa! After a crazy eventful weekend, my emotions were all over the place, but the Lord did not let me get distracted and I kept moving. I am moving forward to do His work and complete His mission for me and all of His children!

I am so blessed to have a wonderful family and gracious friends and I thank God everyday for them. I want to share with you the email my mama sent me this morning. She might be embarrassed that I am sharing this, but it was so sweet! And, after I read this message I started belting out "I hope you dance" in my car. It was priceless. Anyways, take a look of how blessed I am:

Sweetie – I could write a book to you (as you know), but sometimes less is more. I just want you to know that I always pray for you. When you were growing up one of my biggest concerns is that you would “settle” and take the path of least resistance like so many people do. I used to always sing this to you – I hope you Dance. This is just a quick email to let you know that I am so very proud of how you Dance! May your trip to Africa be just another Dance as you reach for the Stars. You are my happiness and joy that the Lord has blessed me with and I will be forever grateful for His blessings on me. Dance my Baby girl – I don’t have to hope you will anymore, all I have to say is I am proud of how proudly you Dance!

I love you with all my heart! I’ll miss you. God Speed.

Mama

I HOPE YOU DANCE

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

OH HOW SWEET! I would say I cried, but I am not much of a crier, but it definitely brought a smile to my face.

Thank you all for everything and keep up with the blog! Pictures and updates will be posted!

In Him,

Jenny!

I ask for many prayers

Hey Everyone,

Today was a beautiful day that the Lord has made, but some unexpected events happened that turned my world upside down. First, I got a call from my dad telling me that my step-mom Cindy had to go to the emergency room for immediate surgery because her appendix burst. She had been feeling sick the past couple days and they had no idea why. A little in shock, that Cindy was about to have surgery, I walked to my car after having dinner with my mom and Gregg and my car had been broken into. Since, I was visiting home this weekend before I leave for my trip next week, I had a lot of valuables in my car.
They managed to take my gps, laptop, camera, five finger running shoes, all my rock climbing equipment, my northface luggage bag that I take on missions with me, all my clothes (many of the clothes I wear on the missions field), my glasses, my pocket knife, my school books, and the list could go on.

My first reaction, I went numb and was in disbelief that items that I use everyday was just taken away from me so quickly. I lost my breath and just began to cry because I was so overwhelmed with the shock. I kept thinking of the wonderful conversation I had with my pops (gregg) and my mom in the restaurant about all the Lord is doing in my life and what amazing things He is doing with Imani, His ministry that He has provided me the vision for and to think that while I was passionately sharing my love for the Lord and talking about the trip I am about to take back to Mombasa next week, that Satan was right outside standing along with the individual(s) who took my possessions.

I felt disgusted and felt violated. That was MY stuff, not theirs. In the midst of my mental breakdown, I began to pray for strength and wisdom. Throughout tonight, I have been reminded to count my blessings. First good thing is that I had my purse, ID, debit/credit cards and passport all on me. They did not take anything of that. They did not take donations I had in my back seat for the mission trip coming up. They did not take my nalgene, lunch box and box of oatmeal :) and they did not take my vehicle. They took a lot, but I am not physically hurt, and I am okay. I have a family that loves me and friends who care for me as well.

I share this with you because I ask for prayer. The Lord is doing amazing things in not only my life, but the ministries I work with as well. Satan is not happy, he sees good and he tries to rip that from me, but he will not. Yes, I hurt, but my heart aches for the individual(s) who do not know Christ, my heart aches for our society that thinks it is okay to take what is not theirs, and my heart aches for individuals who turn to worldly possessions to fill their so called "void" in life.

I ask that you first please pray for Cindy and her surgery and that the recovery goes well. Then I ask you to pray for whoever decided to take everything from my vehicle. I ask that we pray for their health, family, and guidance that they will find Christ. I pray that they open my bag and find my mission shirt that shares scripture and has a heart where Africa is. I pray that they find the Imani Tumaini Upendo brochures in my school bag and read about our ministry and that sparks a fire in their heart to want to do better and no more about Christ. Of course, I pray that things are returned, but if I see nothing again, I pray that wherever these "worldy" possessions land, that they help someone. Maybe someone who needs clothes, a bag to travel with, or even all my toiletries.

I also ask that you pray for me. There is a lot going on with my "to do" list for the mission trip and now that this has occurred, I have another list of things added on top of that. I pray that I stay focused on the Lord and keep standing strong in my blessings and to not let Satan get me upset. I pray that I listen to the Lord and do his will, and in this terrible instance, I pray that the Lord is glorified and His name reigns.

Again, thank you for all of your support and thank you for many prayers.

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they prolong your life many years and bring peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and humankind. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
-Proverbs 3:1-6

In Him,

Jenny Jenkins
Founder/Missions Coordinator of Imani Tumaini Upendo
www.imani-africa.com