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

I am so Ready!

I am about to embark on a journey back home. Mombasa, has become a home that lives in my heart year round and every time I get prepared to go back, the butterflies come back. I am excited to see familiar faces, to hold the kids and just be able to bring my love that the Lord has given me to give back to these people.

This trip looks a little different because I am not just a team member, and I am not just going alone, but I am leading 11 wonderful individuals to my Home. Through training and preparation for this trip, they have all gotten to witness my excitement for the trip, but I do not believe they know how close Mombasa is to my heart. I am ready to smell the Kenya air, I am ready to see the sunset and sunrise, I am ready to eat fresh mangos, I am ready to graze my hand in the Kenyan dirt, I am ready to whisper in a childs ear mimi nakupenda rafiki(I Love you, my friend), I am ready to walk the trails and share Christ love and unending joy, and in the words of David and Kim Hayes and Chris and Lisa Moore, I am ready to portray that "I AM REAL!" (real = reaching east african lives)

The Lord has given me a peace about traveling far, a peace about leading and a peace about the unknown. He has complete control and I am blessed to know He knows my plans and I do not have to worry.

I ask that you pray for our team and each one individually. I have listed the team names below.

I thank you for all of you support and everything you all have done for me. God Bless each one of you!

We leave in 8 days!

Mission Mombasa July 2011 Team:

Jenny Jenkins
Rachel Driskell
Jaylyn Gramer
Allison Stroud
Elyse DeBuck
Stephanie Box
Cayla Newkirk
Kaylene Ullom
Whitney Cloud
Austin Lewis
Tyler Hayes
Matthew Schilling

In Him,
Jenny Jenkins

2 weeks til I go home to Mombasa!

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to let you know that it is exactly two weeks and I will be back in Mombasa, Kenya with my team! I am super excited about what all the Lord is doing in my life and it makes me excited that I get to share it with you!

First, please follow the team at missionmombasa2011.blogspot.com and see all the amazing things we are doing in Kenya!

Second, if you haven't checked out the newly founded non-profit Imani Tumaini Upendo, please visit the website and read about what we are doing and our story of how we got started at www.imani-africa.com. You can also visit our facebook at www.facebook.com/imaniafrica.

Also, in the midst of training my team and encouraging them to get donations and get money raised, I seemed to overlook myself a little. As of now, we have received many donations to fill our ministry bags to go to Kenya. What I am lacking is a few financial needs. For instance, I need to still pay for my malaria meds, few extra expenses for the team and also Real4Christ. If you have been wanting to donate, here is your chance! I love all of you and again can not thank you enough for all the support you have given me over the years.

If you want to donate, you can donate through person and contacting me at (210)421-4416, or you can donate through paypal, just follow the link to my blog and click the donate button:

http://myloveformombasa.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for everything!

Imani Tumaini Upendo: A new adventure has begun!

Today, I was flipping through my bible. Yes, that is exactly what I was doing flipping through it like a magazine trying to find some bright picture to feast my eyes on.

Obviously, I was not going to find a picture, but the Lord is pretty funny because He knows everything. He knows that I have a lot on my mind and there is a lot going on with the semester wrapping up and other exciting things occurring (I will go into detail later in the email). So as I was flipping through my bible, He brought me to the first page. This was not the first page of Genesis, but literally the first page in my bible before the table of contents and on that page I had written two phrases.

“Earning the right to be heard” and “are you a crowd follower or a disciple?”

I have no idea why I wrote these, but the Lord knew that I would find them today and it would hit hard.

I then flipped a couple pages over to Genesis 1:27 and it simply says: “So God created human beings in His own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

How glorious is that! I have to be reminded everyday that we are made in the image of God. So I ask you, Do you reflect the character of God?

Actions speak louder than words, so have you earned the right to be heard?

I pray for each one of you that you do not give up on the Lord, for He is our Almighty Father who is worthy of all our praise!

I want to update you on the wonderful vision the Lord presented to me a little over a month ago. It was the vision of helping small ministries in Africa and providing them financial backing. I woke up in the middle of the night with the word boutique in my head! The lord had presented the answer with so much clarity. I presented the idea to my friend Rachel about creating an online boutique where we could sell things from Africa (Kenya, Uganda, etc.) to help financially back different ministries in Africa. She was excited and joined the team! I then met a new precious friend, Kaylene on my Haiti trip in March. I shared the vision and she explained to me the Lord had been leading her to non-profit work. The Lord brought affirmation after affirmation to this ministry. So, we decided that us three girls would pull together and with the Lord’s strength and wisdom create a non-profit organization.

On April 8, 2011, Imani Tumaini Upendo (Faith-Hope-Love in Swahili) became an official corporation of the state! As of now we are in the process of filing our 501(c) 3 with IRS and are moving quickly.

I am still in the process of building our website, but would love for you to visit it!

The website is: imani-africa.com

You can also find us on facebook under Imani Tumaini Upendo.

Or twitter @imaniministries

Our mission is to support ministries who are living with, loving on, and caring for the children of Africa. In support of those wholeheartedly serving, our primary goal is to ignite a passion in individuals to join us in our vision.

If you would like to donate or become a monthly donor, all donations are tax deductible through Imani. You can donate on our webpage: imani-africa.com.

So again, as I was flipping through my bible the Lord reminded me that I am a disciple of the Lord and should live a life glorifying to Him!

Reflect God’s character and remember you are forgiven because HE IS RISEN!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and God Bless!

In Him,

Jenny

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “it is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

- John 19:30

Prayer is like taking a breath of fresh air

It has been three weeks since I went to Carrfour, Haiti and life has been moving at record speed.
I have four weeks left of school, test, projects and everything you can imagine is needing to be turned in. Can you beat the Heat 5k that Run4Change is hosting is on May 1st, so I am in the process of getting all those details together. On top of that, I have got 91 days to finalize the details for the mission team in July and I am in the process of beginning a non-profit! Everything that is happening is such a blessing in my life and coming together flawlessly, but sometimes I feel as if I do not breathe!
So, this week I have been reflecting on my trip and trying not to get caught up in this fast moving American life. I was remember flying into Port-au-Prince Haiti and seeing the sea of tarps and tents. We were surrounded by destruction, but at the same time surrounded by individuals filled with joy. The Haitians have so much love and happiness even with the worst circumstances. Me and you can leave a place of destruction and come back to this life of comfort, but they are stuck in it everyday and they still have a smile on their face. I was amazed by their great faith.

One of the days, we went for a walk to get to know our neighbors, hear their stories and learn exactly how we could pray for them. One of the houses we came to was a home of this elderly woman. Her name was Ms. Lavell and she spoke so many words of wisdom. One thing that she said that I will never forget is she spoke so highly of the importance of prayer. She said, "Prayer is like the air we breath. You can not live without Prayer."
I was in awe of these words because as Christians I believe we all struggle in this area and this is the easiest thing to overlook. I left her house and was in such peace.

I encourage you all to spend more time in prayer and to be bold in your faith. Go to your friends, family, co-workers, strangers and just ask the simple question: "How can I pray for you today?"
They might look at you and just ignore you, or they might share with you concerns on their heart. Take the chance and be strong for the Lord. Jesus died for us, so why can't we kill our pride and live everyday for Him.

God Bless
In Him,

Jenny

"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ"
- Colossians 2:2