While you were sleeping...

Jessen Video January update!

2012-01-26T16:17:00.000+07:00

Wow January 26th already!!! Thanks for tuning in to see just a glimpse of the work in Thailand.

Compass 31 Freedom project

2012-01-25T08:53:00.000+07:00

Photo by Jay Milbrandt.

Illegally crossing the border on a moonless night with only what she could carry on her back, she ran for her life. Many things were left behind including a crying two year old son. She quickly integrated into her new culture. She went to work in a factory. She was safe but nothing could comfort the ache she felt for the child she left behind. Hope came dressed in black. A man offered to bring her son to her. For a small fee, of course, the child could find his way “safely” again into her arms. Though, her heart warned against trust, temptation won the day. The man kept his end of the bargain and two weeks later a two year old boy-child was again in the familiar embrace of his mother. But then, the “too good to be true,” became a living nightmare. The agreed upon fee was doubled, tripled, interest was added and then multiplied. An ultimatum was given and the mother faced an unthinkable choice. In three weeks the debt would be paid, one way or another. On the last day of December either she had to pay the debt in full ($267.00 USD), or she would be taken to work off the debt in a brothel, or she would have to surrender her child to the slave traders. She had no way out, no money to pay her debt and nowhere to go. It was in this place that God decided to intervene.

Compass 31 has many goals and objectives, but they can all be summed up in our desire that God be glorified by captives finding freedom in Christ. When we heard of this woman’s situation we were moved to tears and we were driven to our knees on her behalf. While wrestling with the right thing to do here in Thailand, God raised up some modern day abolitionist half way around the globe. From the safety of their suburban homes, with passion for justice burning hotly within them, they raised the money to ransom this woman and her son. But the one email, the one announcement and the many prayers resulted in more than just physical freedom. God did what only God can do. Our project administrator, armed with prayer and money in hand, went to meet the woman and her son. She explained to the woman that there is a Most High God, One True God and that He cares deeply for her. She explained that the Most High God had provided for her debt to be paid and gave her the money that would pay for her and her son’s freedom. But that was only the beginning of their hour long discussion. Our administrator was able to use the woman’s experience to help her understand that we are all held captive, living in darkness. She explained that we all have a debt that we cannot ever, ever repay but that the Most High God sent his one and only Son to walk on the earth, to suffer the same ways we suffer, to live a perfect life, to pay our debt…to buy our freedom. The light bulb went on…the woman’s heart cracked opened to faith…she understood. A foreign message in a foreign world often gets lost in translation. Unfortunately that is how the gospel is usually received in Thailand. But this, THIS was different…this was no foreign story…this was the woman’s own story. She knew her role and she knew God’s role. Our administrator, who has 12 years of ministry experience, said she had never, ever seen anyone respond to the gospel so openly the first time that they heard it. Make no mistakes about that God is determined to set the captives free. Despite the pervasive darkness, despite the struggle and the loss, God wins. He wins EVERY time…and every once in a while He lets us have ring side seats to the action.

Making of a Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T17:23:00.002+07:00

It’s been SOME year let me tell ya but through the good and the bad, the successes and the challenges, God has showered His grace on our family. You can also tell from the video that…we still love each other! As we look ahead at 2012 it looks like a long hard road from here but we are not alone and we have His strength to help us along. Thank you for your prayers.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Team provides many opportunities for Truth in Thailand

2011-11-11T15:16:00.000+07:00

Dark and impoverished, the village is carved into a lush green mountain. Got Pa Bong, and many like it, is a visual reminder that God’s grace surrounds us, even in the most remote places. With 75 homes totaling over 500 people, they have many needs. There is a small remnant in the church that is faithful but religious legalism, drugs, alcoholism and lack of direction keep this village in bondage. The pastor reports that 60 of the 75 households are either addicted to or sell drugs. The issues of poverty, lack of education and drugs addictions puts the village children at an extremely high risk of being trafficked.

One muggy afternoon our team spread out to go to homes where they were to encourage and disciple local believers. I entered a typical home in northern Thailand which was raised on stilts with bamboo floors and walls. Twelve people gathered where the pastor had asked me to teach on prayer. After a great interactive time of teaching I opened it up for any other general questions. The head of the household asked about when Jesus turned water in to wine. I thought that was an interesting choice and in my mind I began to wonder if he was looking for ammunition to judge those around him since alcohol addiction is such a rampant problem in this area. After digging into that passage together, he then asked what sin was. I laid out the Biblical definition and examples of sin in hopes that he would relate that knowledge to the others he had in mind with a humble and loving heart. Then he asked one final question and at that point I began to catch on, realizing that he wasn’t pointing the gun of condemnation at someone else but the barrel of conviction was pointing right at him. Head hanging low he asked if you can sin too much that God wouldn’t love you anymore. With all the pieces of the puzzle sliding into place the man shared he drank too much and needed Jesus’ help. He wanted to be a good husband, father and witness and that day he decided it was time to change. As we finished praying for him and his family he raised his head with a look of determination that he was now on the road to restoration, and he wasn’t walking alone.

The team from America had many conversations of truth in home after home in four different villages with believers and pre-believers alike. Over the trip, 285 people heard the full Good News of Jesus and 61 decided to begin their new journey with him. The pastors or leaders in the communities are now ready to begin the real work of helping them to learn and obey the commands of Christ.

The follow up work now will include continued encouragement and discipleship approaches for oral learners. We will be working with each village to facilitate ownership, empowerment and training as they begin to trust in their Creator to begin to transform their village. It is an incredible privilege to watch them move from bondage and into the light. Pray for wisdom and discernment as we attempt to guide them along that path for His glory.

*Thanks Jo for the great photos!

Territory Expanding in Thailand

2011-09-02T09:09:00.000+07:00

For several years we have prayed that God would be glorified in enlarging our borders. It has been stunning to see how He has been faithful in answering those prayers. Over the past two months so many things have been happening that we sometimes find it difficult to catch our breath. We usually like to keep our video updates shorter than this but there is much to tell…we tried to cram it all into the following 7 min 24 sec video. Watch and see how good God is!

Thank you for joining us on this wild ride with your hearts, prayers and support.

For more frequently updates or ways to join our support team, check out the following websites.

www.jessenfamily.info

jennisuejessen.wordpress.com/category/thailand/

In His grip,

The Jessen family

Compass 31—A new ministry born

2011-07-28T09:59:00.002+07:00

The trafficking of women and children is reaching epidemic proportions around the world and especially in SE. Asia. Thailand, aptly named “The Land of Smiles,” hides a sinister market of sexual slavery. Deceived and hopeless, young women are huddled in dirty shacks or chained behind bars while they await being forced to do things they shouldn’t even know about. Many of those held captive are between the ages of 12-16. They don’t think of the future because they don’t think they are worth it, their only value is what the customer is willing to pay. They don’t know they were created in God’s image, they don’t know you can’t put a value on life, they don’t know they are priceless.

God is passionate about the broken, and because we too have been broken, we are humbled to follow Him to the darkest corners of the world in pursuit of those whom He loves. Over the past two months God has laid it on our hearts to provide a residential program to young mothers and their children who have been living in or rescued from sexually exploitive situations. On June 15th, 3 girls and their 3 babies moved into our hearts and home. As they live in our family we seek to love them in a way that provides protection, restoration and empowerment.

In praying about this project we sought His will as to a name that could sum up the immensity of the work before us. He directed us to the following passage in Jeremiah 31.

“See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn.” Jeremiah 31:6-8 (emphasis added)

Webster’s dictionary gives the following 2 definitions for “compass”:

n. An instrument for determining directions upon the earth's surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and southerly direction.

v. To stretch round; to extend so as to embrace the whole; hence, to enclose, encircle, grasp or seize; as, to compass within the arms.

It is our desire to embrace those in our care and guide them on a path that will lead to their own personal discovery of the Creator who loves them and the purpose He created them for. Thus, the name for the new ministry Compass 31 was born.

For more information about our family’s work with Compass 31 check out http://jennisuejessen.wordpress.com/category/thailand/

Thank you Laura Parker for the great photos.

East Asia trip

2011-06-17T14:21:00.001+07:00

We are back in Thailand after two weeks in East Asia. We could so feel your prayers while we were in that country. Thank you so much for your support. Check out the video for sights, sounds and stories from the trip.

In His grip,
The Jessens

Community Transformation

2011-05-27T10:47:00.004+07:00

Regardless of size or resources, local churches are the people through whom God desires to redeem the world. Every church is unique. Every church shares the same redemptive purpose. And, when churches learn to apply their talents and resources to share God’s love with the world, something amazing happens. The world changes. The blind see. The oppressed go free. The hungry are fed. The weak are defended. And most importantly, people and communities are reconciled to God.

In God’s perfect timing, right when we hit the ground 7 months ago, e3 Partners began rolling out a new strategy on community transformation. At e3 Partners, we know our greatest impact will come by supporting the greatest institution the world has ever known: the Church. It is for this reason that e3 has developed tools designed to empower churches to transform communities for the glory of God.

These tools are biblically based and incorporate best practices in church planting and community development. Three months ago we began piloting the process here in Thailand, helping local churches in three villages take its spiritual and social impact to another level. Promoting justice. Improving education. Providing water. Caring for the sick. Feeding the hungry. Sharing the love of Christ. Building strong communities. The possibilities are endless when a church discovers its unique vision for community transformation and we look forward to watching God work in these villages.

If you are interested in joining us here in Thailand through an e3 Partners short-term mission trip this October, we would love to have you come and work with us. For more information check out the Chiang Mai trip at http://www.e3partners.org/Page.aspx?pid=1939.

Training along the old Silk Roads

2011-05-27T10:42:00.000+07:00

Asia and the Middle East are worlds both dark and enchanting. Mysterious in their worship, severe in their beliefs the people who live in this region of the world remain some of the least reached in the world. Although the southern Silk Road has made trade possible in the region for more than 2,000 years, ideas of faith do not trade as easily as spices and silks.

Our family landed in this upside-down world nearly seven months ago buoyed up by excitement and encouragement of you at home. We had God’s call and were sure of His plan. It was our desire and vision to train up nationals from Ch*na to follow Jesus on the Silk Road, making disciples, strategically placing them in city after city all the way Back to Jerusalem. What a vision! How can one, NOT want to be a part of that? Seven months in, this still remains our greatest desire.

The old Silk Roads cut right through the heart of the 10/40 window.

The Back to Jerusalem (BTJ) movement was born out of God’s grace and brutal persecution. The Ch*nese house church has been prepared to face persecution in ways that are only learned by surviving the fire. They can go into places that westerners are not permitted and willingly trade all they have and all they have ever know in exchange for His glory. They are gracious in their losses, heroic in their submission. We eagerly anticipate our first group of students. However, after seven months of fervently praying for that first class, we have found that perhaps our vision was just a little…TOO little. Our plan was to work in one training center here in Chiang Mai and by God’s grace equip up to 60 students a year to follow their hearts, and follow our God into the darkness for His glory. This is a good plan, but sometimes good can be the enemy of great. How much more can the Master of the Universe accomplish with willing lumps of clay?

In the recent weeks, God has opened doors that we could have never foreseen had we not been living on the ground here. Kelly has been asked to teach the e3 curriculum in other BTJ training centers located in Bangkok and NE India. He has also been invited to work with e3 in strategically training nationals in Bangladesh. As such, instead of only working in one training center with students from one country, he will be privileged to be working with 3 BTJ training centers as well as training nationals from Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Burma and Thailand. All of these students, in each of these locations, will be trained to reach the unreached living along the southern silk road, setting up future training centers, multiplying church planters and laying the foundation for church planting movements. As we consider the possibilities and implications of this we are so humbled at our own “little-ness.” Even so as I write this update, I can almost hear Jesus whispering through his laughter, “Oh, you of little faith!”

The gospel is being carried forth, light shining out of cracked clay pots…the ultimate proof of Christ’s death and resurrection!

Attention Sunday School teachers!!!

2011-05-27T10:37:00.000+07:00

Attention Sunday School teachers!!! Scarlet and Maverek received many questions from kids back in the USA wanting information about Thailand. Check out their latest Kid Questions video at www.youtube.com/kjessen1094 and feel free to share it with your classes.

Video update from Thailand

2011-04-03T23:12:00.000+07:00

Wow last month went fast!!! Many things are kicking off so here is a quick video to get you up to speed.

If the video does not display then you may watching it directly at http://www.youtube.com/user/kjessen1094

For more frequent updates stay tuned to this blog or our website at http://www.jessenfamily.info/.

Parade of homes in northern Thailand

2011-03-21T21:15:00.001+07:00

A couple weeks ago I surveyed 13 different villages representing 6 different people groups in northern Thailand to get a feel for how we could serve them. Needs ranged from water, medical, HIV/AIDS awareness, education, agricultural training and various degrees of economic poverty. This perfect storm can lead to children being swept out of the villages and into the trafficking epidemic. Pray for us as I revisit the highest priority villages next week to equip and empower the local churches which will hopefully begin the journey of walking alongside them to transform their villages.

Let the equipping begin!

2011-03-21T21:02:00.000+07:00

Last week several students from Ch1na arrived who will be staying at our training center for a couple weeks. While they are here we will be providing as much training as we can.

Today I started a two day Leadership Conference with a church staff here in Chiang Mai. This will be the main church we'll be partnering with as we reach out into the Hill Tribes.

Both groups need prayer for wisdom and boldness.

March update from Thailand

2011-03-06T23:17:00.002+07:00

Hello Dear Ones,

It would be better if we could just sit down and share with you in person what is going on in Thailand. But since time and space prevents that, we have included a link to a quick video update from our home to yours. We love and miss you all. Enjoy!

If the video does not display then you may watching it directly at http://www.youtube.com/user/kjessen1094.

For more frequent updates stay tuned to this blog or our website at http://www.jessenfamily.info/.

The Power of Multiplication!

2011-02-19T18:12:00.008+07:00

There is still a clear picture in my mind of the day I began to learn how to multiply. I remember the first day, learning the 1’s, with the nervous anticipation that comes from learning something new. One times anything equals that number. Ok, that’s easy. This isn’t so hard. We move on to the two’s. Hold on a second 2+2 equals 4 and 2x2 equals 4. This is silly, what’s the difference here. Over the next several weeks my eyes began to open. 8+8 is 16 but 8x8 is 64, 12+12 is 24 but 12x12 is 144!!! The numbers got big in a hurry.

Over the past several years of training and serving with e3 Partners our eyes have once again been opened to the power of multiplication. Even through the power and strength of the Holy Spirit there are only so many people I, by myself, can share the gospel with. Those efforts are equivalent to addition. But what if I spend my time teaching, training and discipling others to do evangelism, disciple making and church planting? If I go out and share the gospel with one person, then one person would hear the Good News. If that is my process then every time I do evangelism, one new person will hear each time. But if every time I share the gospel, I also teach THEM how to do evangelism through disciple making, then…multiplication! Watch this from our e3 training.
Addition:
I share with one: 1 + 1 = 2; then I share with one more: + 1 = 3; and so on, sharing with one more each time + 1 = 4; + 1 = 5; + 1 = 6; + 1 = 7; + 1 = 8.

Multiplication:
I share with one and then teach that person to share: 1 + 1 = 2; then we BOTH share with another x 2 = 4; then 4 of us ALL share x 2=8; if then that 8 ALL shares with another, the group doubles again x 2=16; and 16 each reaching another x 2 =32; and so on 32 x 2=64; 64 x 2=128!

What does this multiplication example show us? Evangelism is a ministry of addition. Disciple making is a ministry of multiplication. Changes in the first few generations are not very different. The difference grows greater and greater with each additional generation. Our family wants a ministry of multiplication, not addition.
As we look as Jesus’ time here on earth, yes many times he spoke to the masses, but He invested most of his time teaching the disciples. Paul did the same thing. That is Jenni’s and my heart here in Thailand. If we are teaching Chinese students, we are teaching them to multiply the Good News and make disciples throughout Asia. If we are teaching Thai pastors and leaders, we are teaching them to multiply throughout every village and town in Thailand. If we are discipling prostitutes, may word spread through every brothel until every girl hears the hope of Jesus Christ. In all of these, may God’s passion to reconcile the lost to Himself spread like wildfire so worship will rise up out of the darkness and bring glory to Him from every corner of the world.

So will we continue doing evangelism, disciple making and church planting? Yes. But at the same time we will be teaching others to do the same. So if you are a numbers person or a results person, you may need to adjust the measure of success. You may not hear from us, this many people made decisions or this many churches were planted that we actually had our hands in, but you’ll hear this many people were trained. And by training them we believe that our efforts will be multiplied for God’s glory. We may never know the impact of those we’ve trained until we are sitting around in Heaven and I’m OK with that. Because, after all, it’s not about me, it’s about God.

For the latest updates stay tuned to http://www.jessenfamily.info/

December video update from the field

2011-01-04T17:16:00.011+07:00

If you do not see the video above the click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1uL4S6q-cU&feature=player_embedded

A New Year…New Challenges!

Dearest Ones,
May God richly bless you each with His presence and His in the upcoming year. We are learning how to “do life,” here in this upside down world day-by-day, and are seeing His hand at work in all the details. Thank you for your faithful prayers.

Praises:
• Praise God that Scarlet had a better week with much more peace.
• Praise God that we are adjusting to an Asian way of life.
• Oh, and in case you missed it last week, we got our WORK PERMIT!!! This will allow us to work here legally and get visas a year at a time.

Prayer:
• Pray for the “Catamount” people of East Asia still unreached with His grace and peace. Pray for what role each of us has in reaching them.
• We continue to search for a safe and reasonably priced vehicle.
• 2 out of 3 of our computers crashed over Christmas break and both have to have new hard drives. Pray for Kelly as he wrestles with fixing them.
• For wisdom and guidance as we research and survey the Chinese refugees in northern Thailand and how we can serve them
• Lastly, please continue to pray for our students. We hope to see them before the end of the month.

As always, you all are in our hearts and prayers.
In His Grip,
Jenni for the family

Stay tuned to http://www.jessenfamily.info/ for more updates and videos.

Video update from the field for November

2010-12-01T19:51:00.008+07:00

Click the video to play, then click it again to see the wide screen version.

For more information about our work or how to join our team please check out http://www.jessenfamily.info/

The first 10 days in Thailand have been days of contrasts and extremes

2010-11-07T13:46:00.014+07:00

The first 10 days in Thailand have been days of contrasts and extremes. Here are just a few of the things we have…

found: the training center where we will be working, the famous Night Bazaar (several blocks of street vendors selling everything from home décor to fried bamboo worms) , the “Wal-mart” of Chiang Mai, the emergency room where Jenni was treated for a kidney infection, an English speaking church, a home school group, a home to rent and a scooter to ride.

eaten: traditional Thai food in the night market and traditional happy meals at McDonalds, a variety of exotic fresh fruit smoothies, authentic Indian food and less authentic Pizza Hut. (No, we haven’t gone so far as to try the fried worms yet…perhaps I’ll send an update on that in a few weeks)

seen: God’s hand at work in explicit ways of protection and provision, friends from Woodland Park here in Thailand and friends from Woodland Park on Skype, a baby elephant walking down the street with its trainer, people worshipping devoutly at Buddhist temples, as many as 5 people riding on a moped and more lizards that Maverek can count.

experienced: excitement about the exotic things we are seeing and grief over those we long to see, pulling away from the comforts of our home and pulling into the comfort of one another, public transportation in many various forms, beautiful days of mild temperatures and beautiful people with mild tempers, uncontrollable laughter at fish eating the dead skin off our feet at a “fish spa” and the sometimes overwhelming exhaustion of jet-lag.

Next week we will celebrate KJ’s 40th birthday, hopefully move into our rental home, begin language learning in earnest and navigate the shadowy waters of obtaining visas that will allow us to stay in country, work legally, and have a bank account.

Most fun you can have for 3 bucks.

Stay tuned at http://www.jessenfamily.info/ for more frequent updates, photos and life with us on the field in Thailand.

How God used the Jessens in 2010

2010-09-11T04:18:00.004+07:00

Can you believe our transition to Thailand is only 48 days away! When God laid this transition on our heart less than 5 months ago, we were scratching our heads. So much to do, so many places to go, before the move! Well, God has done some pretty cool things in the past few months and we just want to take a moment to share some of those with you with this short video.

Through your prayers, support and God knitting it all together:
3022 people heard of Jesus,
970 made Him their Lord and Savior,
18 churches were started,
11 churches were built up,
493 believers were discipled and trained.

All for His fame and glory.

In His grip,
the Jessen family

for more information on our work check out www.jessenfamily.info.

Closing a chapter in Peru

2010-08-25T05:00:00.001+07:00

This last campaign returning Huancayo, Peru was difficult for many reasons. For one, it was backed up to my campaign in India and I travelled directly from India, over the North Pole to Chicago, then to Miami before on down to Lima. Secondly, as the Lord has called us on to Asia, we have no idea when and if we’ll return. It was hard to see pastors and leaders we’ve taught, prayed with and walked alongside process the news we won’t be returning. Now of course the work there will continue. The work has been handed off to someone else who will help to equip and serve those brothers. But still, of all the South America, that is one of our favorite places.
As the Lord has changed and moved our focus after six years of using sports to build relationships, play ball and share Jesus it was a little sad to “officially” use sports for the last time. Oh, sports are still a great tool, and we’ll teach and use it in Thailand, but it won’t be our main focus. But God in His provision allowed one last opportunity for me. As I was travelling to each mission point checking on the work we visited the sports team over lunch. Noticing some young men shooting the ball around, a pickup game was started. Let me tell you, a full court game at 11, 000 will always take your breath away. But a good time to shooting, passing and laughing provided the opportunity for us to get to know these guys. After the game, over a 3 liter bottle of Coke, I told them of the story of Jesus. Where those guys were once strangers, just players on the court, they are now my new brothers in Christ. God is so cool to allow us to use our gifts and skills to further His Kingdom. Those six men are now being plugged into a local church where they can continue to learn, grow and maybe one day they’ll use a basketball game to win souls.
What a week to see 32 North American partner with 6 mother churches to start 6 new works and strengthen 2 others. Amazing to see 599 hear the Good News and 398 trusting in Jesus. Even more exciting was the focus on discipleship as 127 home follow up visits were made and 247 people came to evening cell group meetings. Oh what a privilege to see God at work.

I Am Second in Peru

2010-08-24T05:02:00.000+07:00

If you are on the web at all you may have heard of it www.iamsecond.com. Powered by e3 Partners, I am Second is a movement that is impacting lives around the world. Using an innovative marketing campaign promoting iamsecond.com, visitors to the website are presented with inspirational videos and opportunities to learn about a relationship with Christ, grow in their spiritual walk and/or get involved in their local community. The I Am Second Expedition to Peru was about us as North American believers stepping out to take the Gospel to those who are still lost in their sin, encouraging Peruvian believers and putting Jesus first in our lives. Oh the lessons God had in store of us.
During the evening time of sharing stories from the day and during the morning team times, team member after team member came to the realization that they are nothing without Christ. That they can do nothing on their own. That even though they were believers, they still put their wants, their comforts, their plans above Jesus’. During this trip of seeing God move in mighty ways, even INSPITE of them, they realized that they are second, and Jesus is first in their lives.
So in the spirit of I Am Second where personal stories are key, check out this link where you can hear their stories, in their own words at http://sportreach.blogspot.com/.

Pray for India

2010-08-23T04:06:00.003+07:00

In wrapping up some of the highlights about the new work in India, let me just give all the glory to God for all the great things He has done. Even in the remotest of places He is building His church (Matt 16:18), calling people to Himself. What an incredible privilege to be a part of it. To see men stopping their work in a storefront, gathering around to hear the name of Jesus for the first time. To see them marvel at the Bible in their language as they take their first peek into His story. To see a young man run from that storefront to gather his family, bring them to the road and wait for us to pass by, gladly welcoming us in. To see a man from the Indian army walk out to greet us, buy us a soda then invite us to his home. All ready to hear the Good News. But also glory to God for the times we were rejected for His namesake, homes that closed their doors, the villages that said we were not welcome or the hostile crowd that threatened to beat our national workers. When serving our Lord it’s all good…the bumpy roads, the hard, the hot, the rejection, the rejoicing, the praying, the encouraging, the singing and laughing. All good. All for His glory.
Through your support and prayers, doors were opened for 1607 to hear the true story of Jesus Christ. 363 baby believers are now in the hands of local pastors and leaders. Pray for them as they develop deep roots and learn to obey the commands of Christ. Pray for what God is doing in the state of Assam for the unreached Hindus and Muslims. For the unreached tribals like the Boros, Karbis, Deori, Kocharis and Rabhas. Pray that a church planting movement would sweep through each of these people groups so that, as promised each tribe, tongue and nation will be represented before the throne, all for His glory.

Husbands, love your wives

2010-08-22T01:00:00.005+07:00

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

At the end of a long day, a rain storm began to pound us with large, warm drops of rain. In order to find shelter we entered into the home of one of the local believers we’d been working with all day. As we settled in to wait out the storm I began speaking with the owner “John”. The Lord had blessed “John” with a good job, nice home and a wonderful wife and two daughters. However, you could see the burden he was carrying as he shared with us that even though he had been a Christ follower for four years, his wife was still a Hindu. He told us, how for all that time, he’d been praying that his wife would come to know Jesus. Praying for four years!Realizing that the Lord had placed us in the home for a purpose, I asked him to call his wife so two ladies on our team could share with her. It was a sweet time as the thunder crashed outside and rain thumped the metal roof, the Lord removed the blinders from his wife’s eyes and she prayed to receive Christ. Oh, I wish you could have seen “John’s” face as his smile beamed with joy. With his arm around his wife he said, “Before today we had two gods in our home, now we both serve one God.” As time came to leave I challenged him with the verses above, that his love for his wife would be a testimony in their village. After sharing their plans to seek baptism and destroy the idols in their home, they stood on the porch, waving goodbye, a changed family. A family united by God and saved by His redeeming grace.

For more information about the work God is doing in and through us check out http://www.jessenfamily.info/.

"We all have darkness in our hearts"

2010-08-21T05:00:00.000+07:00

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (Rom 2:14-16)

Why is it wrong to steal, lie, murder or the many other things we know are bad? Why do we have the innate knowledge of these things? Yes, of course, our parents (should) teach us these things but where do they come from? This is a very important question because as we share the Good News of Jesus, a major part of the “good” is that our sins can be forgiven. Ok, what is sin? Well, just the things I mentioned, those things that are wrong, and we know it. They are wrong because the offend God and His nature. This is the reason Jesus died on the cross, to pay the penalty for our sins. To truly understand the grace we have been given through Jesus, we have to understand that we have broken God’s laws and need forgiveness. Romans 2:15 tells us that God has written His law on our hearts, and when we do something that we know is not right…we get that little feeling inside that tells us this isn’t right. Ok, ok, enough of that, get on with the story.
Well, it was another hot, sunny and humid day as we approached an unreached village. Our presence in the village drew a large crowd right off the bat and we spread good seed while handing out many Bibles in their language. There seemed to be a potential here in the village but the doors weren’t quite open yet. As we walked deeper into the village, an older lady was sitting on a bench along the path, and she loudly slapped the wood and said sit down. “I want to hear why you are here.” She was an animated and boisterous woman who commanded the villagers’ attention. Two of the ladies in our group jumped at the chance to sit and share. The first shared her personal story and the other began to tell about Jesus. Now remember, this village is unreached, having never heard of Jesus or what sin is. As the story unfolded and the North American shared the “problem” that separates us from God, she brought up sin and what it meant. You could see this usually smiley and loud lady process the words she had just heard. As these words sank in she said, “Oh yes, everyone has darkness in their heart.” Exactly, because God had written His law upon her heart! Knowing her sin and the need for forgiveness she intently listened to the remainder of the story then in front of everyone confessed with her mouth that Jesus was Lord and her Savior. Amen. As that happened the key to that village was unlocked. We refer to what Jesus called the “person of peace” in Luke 10:1-6 as we instruct teams to pray before entering villages. The lady was open to the Gospel, had a reputation in the village, had a circle of influence and was helpful to open doors in the community. Once this woman came to Jesus, doors and hearts were open throughout the village resulting in many coming to Christ.
So, even in the remotest villages in the far corners of the world, over bumpy and dirty roads, down narrow paths, hearts are being prepared, fields are being plowed. They are ready to hear about the saving grace of Jesus. Will you go?

For more on the work God is doing in and through us check out http://www.jessenfamily.info/.

"I want to follow Jesus"

2010-08-20T06:59:00.007+07:00

The state of Assam in northeast India is rural, humid and hot. Just as the weather climate is hot, so are the political and spiritual climates. Many different people groups are all vigorously fighting for their own rule and their own state. Deadly battles with police are daily occurrences. Persecution among the believers is also a large problem with converts from Islam and Hinduism being beaten or kicked out of their villages. But even in the midst of these tremulous times God is on the move in Assam.

In late July the team we took to India was focusing on reaching out into villages to share the Gospel of Christ. Many people had never heard of Jesus and were excited to hear of a God who came down to earth to save them. In one Muslim village a team member told the true story of Christ to a small crowd and while no one publically responded, in the crowd was a young man that felt God touch his heart. We’ll call him “David”.
Several months earlier another man in that same village had accepted Christ and had not hidden it from the villagers. “Jake” was a restaurant owner in the village and persecution had already begun through people no longer visiting his business. He remained strong in the faith as the only village believer. Knowing “Jake” was a believer; “David” visited him to seek counsel on how to respond to the Good News he had heard. They prayed together and decided to find the local pastor and North American team the next day.
After an exciting morning out in the villages we gathered as a team for lunch. Upon arriving I was informed that two men had walked five miles to find us and the pastor was speaking with them. After being brought up to speed I spent the next hour talking, discipling and praying with the men. What a special time as we discussed God’s faithfulness, our security in Christ and that He’d always be with us. As we concluded the time the pastor said he would follow-up with them in a couple days and they’d discuss baptism. Curious to know more, “David” asked how that works. After hearing he said, “I have made up my mind, I want to follow Jesus. I’d like to be baptized today!” Wow! How exciting….and actually a little bittersweet. In America when someone wants to be baptized to show obedience to Christ, it is an exciting time. Family and friends gather to celebrate the event. In persecuted countries like India, it is a celebration but at the same time it makes a HUGE statement. Once you are baptized that is the point of no return. Family will disown you, friends may beat you, neighbors will run you out of your home, jobs are lost, all they know can change. For what? For obedience to their Savior.
Now we Americans don’t really know how to process that, we are free to make choices and have rights and we’ve put those rights into our American Christianity so we can feel safe and comfortable. But the Bible never promised those things. This type of persecution is no surprise to Jesus. The Bible tells us that we will be persecuted, families will be divided, and we will be hated for His namesake. Are we willing to give up everything to follow Jesus? “David” knew all this and was ready to follow Christ no matter the cost.
We hopped in the vehicles and went to a local school where there was a concrete cistern. We used buckets from the local well to fill up the make-shift baptismal one gallon at a time. We climbed in as excitement built and after a few words I baptized my brother “David”. What a privilege to share the celebration and symbolism of new birth and then to challenge the local pastor and his friend “Jake” to help “David” become a disciple of Jesus, teaching him to obey the commands of Christ.
Throughout the rest of the week I was able to see and pray with these men several more times. As you can imagine their determined faces are etched in my mind and I continue to pray for them regularly. As I was leaving I told them that the Bible tells us we are a part of a family, the family of God. And if in God’s will we never see each other again on earth, we will rejoice the day we meet again in Heaven. What a cool day that will be.
Got a note from the local pastor just yesterday saying “Jake” now hosts a prayer and worship time in his small hut. “David” and “Jake’s” daughter also attend. Please pray for this small church that it would develop deep roots and change the entire village for Christ.

For more on our work check out www.jessenfamily.info.

Working with unreached people in Asia

2010-07-08T06:46:00.009+07:00

For the past four years Jenni and I have been praying for a work among an unreached people group (UPG) and the Lord answered those prayers this past month. After many months of prayer, training and planning a team of 10 set out for East Asia (Feel free to email me for the specific country if you don’t know, but for security reasons we just use East Asia). The “Catamount” are an unreached people group living in remote mountain villages. There are just over 100,000 registered in the minority group and there are currently only around 80 known believers. The “Catamount” have combined Buddhism, ancestor worship and animism into their primary form of worship. As part of a strategy of “Meeting needs and Sharing Christ” our team took on several project in the villages.

Water project
The local school had a water cistern that had a sagging top with no access to the water and a drain that was 12 inches above the bottom not allowing the cistern to be cleaned out which led to stale and stagnant water. Our team worked to remove the old top, pour concrete for a new top and filled in the bottom with a foot of concrete to allow for proper drainage. This opportunity led to sharing with a lead teacher and a couple students but also spread news of goodwill to every home.

Greenhouse project
Due to the high elevation of the village, during the winter time vegetables are hard to grow. The use of a greenhouse allows for families to produce fresh food to supplement their regular diet of pig fat or to sell the products at market for income. The team built two greenhouses. One was built for a crippled man and another for an elderly woman and her daughter. Both raised the profile of our meeting the needs in the village and provided opportunities to share with the new owners and their families.

Eye Glasses
Two teams took reading glasses and went home to home asking if there was any one who needed glasses. If so, they would give them the appropriate strength of reading glasses, then stay in the home to visit. Many times even if no one needed glasses they were still invited into the home. This approach also made for a very natural follow up visit about their previous conversations and glasses.

One of our contacts on the field was a Journeyman who had been working in this village for the past three years. She said that she had never seen this village so open. In the past, once a conversation moved to the things of God they either got up and left or changed the topic. Through prayer and our awesome Savior who desires this UPG to be reached, 95 people heard the story of Jesus Christ. 24 times our team returned to homes to follow up of those gospel presentations and go deeper.

Since I’ve been home the Lord has reminded me of Romans 10:13-15,17
For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!""...So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. "
Please join us in praying for the “Catamount” people and maybe the Lord is calling you to Go and tell.

Pastors conference in Peru

2010-05-24T06:39:00.002+07:00

In May KJ had the privilege to travel to Peru to teach a Leadership Development conference. During this time 9 pastors and their congregations were taught a Biblical model for prayer, evangelism, making disciples, gathering new believers, developing leaders and multiplying. After the two day conference each pastor responded to the challenge to spend the next two months praying, preparing and planning to start a new church in an area that currently doesn’t have one. A team of North Americans will arrive in late July to walk side-by-side with these Peruvian brothers and sisters to walk the streets, visit homes and share the Good News. Please pray for the harvest in Peru and for these pastors as they lead in their area to make disciples.

Humbly serving our Lord in Thailand

2010-04-25T01:02:00.023+07:00

What drew us to e3 Partners was the focus on training nationals, establishing churches and connections to opportunities in unreached areas. Since joining e3 God has graciously continued to grow us, teach us and give us experience on the field in these areas. Immediately upon getting involved, I felt called to the unreached people in Asia but didn’t have a specific people group in mind, however during times of prayer and meditation Thailand kept coming up. In sitting in on the Asia group discussions at the 2009 E3 World Conference, someone suggested that I read Back to Jerusalem (afterword referred to as B2J). Immediately the B2J vision resonated with Jenni and me. Last year the Lord began to put a call on my heart for a longer term stay in Asia and after we returned from 3 months in South America last summer I felt more and more drawn to Chiang Mai, Thailand but for no specific reason. My faithful and loving wife was not prepared to discuss such an assignment so since then I’ve prayed that God would either prepare her heart or remove this burden from mine. Three weeks ago during a trip to China, the Lord did a work on my wife’s heart and she knew that He was confirming this monumental step for our family. With fear and trembling, we prayed and awaited further direction.

The Connection
Two months ago I was, at last minute, pulled into a meeting in Colorado Springs with a Chinese pastor who I had heard of before. His church in East Asia has grown to approximately 20 million members today. This pastor has been imprisoned for years at a time on several occasions, tortured and slandered more than any other Christian leader in China, yet he remains a faithful and humble man of God.
During the meeting, this pastor laid out the vision of B2J and the importance of training Chinese missionaries and developing leaders. He shared of his vision of a project in Chiang Mai, Thailand. My heart jumped as he explained that they were working to develop a training center to train B2J field missionaries who would be sent along the southern Silk Road. When asked, I shared who e3 Partners were and what our mission was. This pastor was immediately interested as he had often trained on the same things that e3 emphasizes. Several weeks later, after reviewing the e3 materials he mentioned he really liked our training material. Upon returning home from a recent trip to East Asia, this pastor contacted us and asked to meet regarding an urgent matter.

The Project
Wednesday, April 7, 2010, Jenni and I met with our Chinese brother and his translator. The pastor shared in more detail his plans for training missionaries outside China including the project in Chiang Mai. His goal is to develop a training center there that would begin with training 20 missionaries, for 3 months, 3 times a year. His ultimate goal is to continue to create these training centers along the Silk Road until 100 to 200,000 Chinese missionaries have been trained and are on their way back to Jerusalem. He asked us if we’d be able to help. We, in return, shared how the Lord has been preparing our hearts. We rejoiced and prayed that God would continue to guide us in next steps.

The Proposal
Jenni and I have been assigned by e3 Partners to partner with Back to Jerusalem for two years in Chiang Mai, Thailand with the following goals in mind:
* Help to develop B2J missionary training
* We would teach various courses
* Coordinate other teachers in various topics
*Assign and/or lead B2J missionaries in on the job training (i.e. short term mission trips) to the Chinese refuges in northern Thailand with the goal of establishing churches and raising up more workers to be trained
* Help to develop a training center prototype that could be reproduced by national leaders along the Silk Road
* Be available to receive short-term mission teams in Thailand and other East/Southeast Asian countries

Summary
If you are like ourselves you may be asking, why the Jessens? That has continued to run through our minds many times over the past few weeks. As we have confronted this question and our own inadequacies with tears and prayer, the only thing in which we can boast is in our weakness. We don’t have the most experience, we are not the best teachers or trainers, we are not the best missionaries. But we are willing. We are willing to give God our small offering of loaves and fish and wait to watch Him do great things. What we do know is that Jenni is a prayer warrior. I have the gift of administration. We are faithful and obedient and feel God is leading our family in this direction and look forward to seeing God use our inadequacies for His opportunities. We are excited to be involved in laying the foundation for equipping national missionaries to reach the lost between China and Jerusalem and be a part of Christ establishing His church for His fame and glory.

For His Glory, The Jessens

How can we help you get to Thailand?
We are so glad you asked!

We need prayer as there is lots to do to move the other side of the world. Prayer for unity and collaboration in developing a training center. For health and protection for our family. To be on our newsletter/prayer list you can email join-jessen-ministry-partners@lyris.e3partners.org to receive our updates.

Would you be willing to pray about a one-time gift to help us get to the field in Thailand?

God has so clearly led throughout this process, with things dramatically falling into place on after another. We have no doubt that He has arranged for the necessary funds to be provided as well. If God is putting into your heart giving toward our transition to Thailand, for setting up a home, training, a new laptop, supplies and other necessities, then feel free to head on over to www.e3partners.org/jessen-support to find out how to partner with us on this amazing journey.

Visiting an unreached village in East Asia*

2010-04-15T07:11:00.006+07:00

Heading out from base to a different village we went northwest and were quickly overwhelmed by the majesty of the Himalayas. The shear steepness of the mountains was breathtaking as we switched back and forth down 5000 feet to the Yangtze River below. Once we reached the bottom we crossed a 200 foot high bridge and then began the ascent up the other side. Paved road soon changed to cobblestone, with no guardrails and plunging drop-offs.

Travelling with us this day was Missy*, a 21 year old “Catamount”* who has a violent history of abuse. She gave her life to the Lord several years ago and cannot get enough of learning the Word. Her heart is to learn so she can reach her family and her people. On the way there she told of a dream she'd recently had where she saw her father, presently not a Christian, taking a stand for Jesus.

After four hours of travel we arrived at Missy’s village which is a large “Catamount” village with a couple believers. A water project completed by North American believers has given access to visit and work in this village. Walking into her parent’s home we found ourselves sitting around the typical “Catamount” kitchen with a fire and tea being poured. They were very happy to have us there. The “Catamount” people are very welcoming and are honored to have guests. When people visit, tea, sunflower seeds and other snacks are a must. If they are glad you are there they might butcher a chicken and feed you dinner. If they consider you an honored guest then they will butcher a pig. Both are very generous and costly gifts; a chicken is the equivalent of one week’s wages and a pig, the equivalent of 6 week’s wages. After sipping on tea and catching up I heard the sound of a squealing pig outside. Yep, they considered us honored. Very honored.

Out in the courtyard we saw the entire process from squealing to ready to cook. Back around the fire, we, the honored guests were served the best parts...like the feet and the liver. Glad it was dark. Ham and beans followed as conversation picked up.

With dinner finished and tea still flowing we were joined at the fire by the village chief, the village shaman, the local area communist leader and Missy’s parents. The communist leader was an older man who had served in the army and fought many battles and lost an eye in the service of chairman Mao. With his face glowing in the fire light, he began to slyly attempt to discredit Americans, Christians and Jesus. The conversation was in a different language so we were getting updates on what was happening on the side but I was overwhelmed with God’s presence and the need to pray. I began praying God would do something big, reveal Himself and hard hearts would be pierced. As the communist’s propaganda increased, Missy’s father spoke up. In a calm, quite, yet strong voice he began to defend Jesus. He said he had been reading the Bible and believed Jesus did exist, did live on earth and did die. Our American contact jumped in and shared the gospel of Jesus. What an amazing privilege to see Missy’s dream come true and to see God glorified. I believe and pray it will only be a matter of time when Missy’s father begins a personal relationship with the Jesus whom he defended.

Villages of unreached people are scattered all over the mountains of East Asia. Many are friendly, many are open but they have not yet heard.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"Romans 10:14-15

Please consider praying, giving or going to take the Good News to the unreached.

*(Names, location and people group have been changed for security)

Working in the Jungles of Peru

2010-03-24T10:00:00.002+07:00

After a long cold winter heading to the jungle of Peru was a breath of fresh air. Okay, maybe fresh is an exaggeration... more like 90 degree 100% humidity air. Our sports team of 10 joined a medical team to work with four mother churches to help each begin a new church. The four areas were in squatter villages where living conditions were very poor but the people were friendly and welcoming.

A typical day was to go home to home in the mornings sharing Christ alongside a local church member. For many people the news of Jesus Christ was new as they had never heard the whole story before and for those who had heard of Christ had a desire to know more and more about Him. Many times our team would spend and hour or more talking with and discipling families. After lunch our team would set up for a time of sports which drew people of all ages. In the evenings we would have an evening service or training time.

One of my favorite moments on the trip was our second location, where during our time of sports, a massive downpour started. That didn't stop the young men playing soccer which turned out to be a hilarious slip fest. However due to the large amount of rain the roads were flooded and that meant only the faithful showed up to the evening service. The delight was that the 12 that were there were hungry to learn how to use the Evangecube so I had the precious privilege of teaching how to do evangelism. After the end of the time the very humble pastor asked the group to stay later to begin to strategize how to use their new evangelism tools to reach their neighborhood during the upcoming Holy week.

As a leader of many short-term mission trips I always like to say that the trip is usually just as much about the people that go as the people we reach. It was very cool to see a mom and two teenage sons be stretched into obedience and by the end of the week serving boldly. Or the young married couple on their first mission trip who wanted to serve together. Or the young man who is pursuing a career in missions. God is always at work in each of us so that ultimately He'll be glorified.

In the end our sports team did 361 in home visits where 145 people gave their lives to Christ. We also had a great time building relationships, sharing Christ and beginning discipleship in our sports clinics with 510 people in attendance. With the Holy Spirit guiding us we were privileged to see Jesus build four new churches who are now well on their way to making disciples and reaching their neighborhoods.

Working ourselves out of a job...

2010-03-09T03:44:00.000+07:00

That is certainly not the mindset of many people these days but as missionaries that is what we are called to do. The Lord has given us the privilege to train and equip national pastors and their churches. Through Leadership Development Conferences (LDC) we, by God’s grace, train them in prayer, evangelism, making disciples, developing leaders and multiplying new churches. Shortly after an LDC our short-term teams arrive to provide on the job training and walk alongside our national brothers and sisters as these activities are MODELED. As the week moves along we slowly begin to turn it over to them by ASSISTING them as they do the work of disciple making. Then we step a little further back and WATCH providing praise and suggestions afterwards. As they embrace the Great Commission and begin to personally get involved in reaching the lost in the community we then LEAVE them to continue the work while we move on to start the process all over again in a different location.

When we are in Lima, Peru our home church is Eterna Roca. We have been in relationship with this church for the past 4 years. We worked in their local area, they’ve come with us when our North American teams have come, we’ve prayed with them as they moved to a cell group model and we’ve helped train them in evangelism and making disciples. We love this body of believers. As we were returning home this past August, the pastor said he appreciated the heart we’ve shown to reach the lost and they were going to begin praying about going on mission to reach their country….on their own. Not without Christ of course, but without the assistance of North Americans. They began praying. A couple months later I got an email and the pastor mentioned that they had been praying and the Lord had led them to a location in the jungle that would take a 30 hour bus ride each way. So they began raising funds for the project as they continued to pray. Then the day came to ask who will go? Of this small church of 100 people 30 members raised their hands and committed to going. 30! Almost a third of the church! They continued to pray as they prepared, made plans and trained. Last week Eterna Roca took that mission trip to the jungle where they did evangelism, made disciples, encouraged the local believers and made a difference for the Kingdom in that area by helping to start 6 new cell groups! You see that’s the goal, train and equip then let them go. Following Paul's model we do stay in touch, provide additional training when needed, encourage them, but we’ve removed the mindset that it takes North American involvement to do missions work. We love Peru, we hope the Lord allows us to continue to work in other areas, but He has also allowed doors to open where we can begin working among unreached people groups in Asia. Once we, the Church, reach all nations then Christ will call us home and we’ll be out of a job. I’m good with that.

Praising what we saw in 2009

2010-01-19T10:40:00.000+07:00

As we looked back at 2009 over the past couple weeks we were completely amazed. Here’s what we are praising the Lord for as we look back at 2009:

Equip.
With your help, we saw 263 national leaders equipped in 2009 with the training, materials, Bibles and sports equipment to reach their own communities with the love of Christ.

Evangelize.
Your support allowed us to work with teams in 6 locations in Peru and Ecuador, seeing 7354 hear the amazing good news of the Gospel.

Establish.
We became first hand witnesses as Matthew 16:18 came to life. Truly, Jesus built his church! In 2009 we saw 32 new churches spring to life. Thank you for being a part of reaching the lost for our Father’s glory!

Can't wait to see what He does in 2010!

Jessens on the road in December

2009-12-09T01:58:00.006+07:00

Midwest tour

It’s that time of year when we gather with friends and family to celebrate the birth of Jesus, look back at the blessings of the past year and anticipate the year ahead. As you know, this often requires travel. That is no different for us as we will be traveling to spend time with friends, family and many of our ministry partners. Please pray for us as we visit a new supporting church in Minnesota then travel to visit other supporters and potential supporters in Kansas and Missouri. You can pray specifically:

-That the weather will be good or at least we won’t be surprised by it

-That our current ministry partners will be excited about what God did in 2009

-That God would go ahead of us to prepare the way for new partners to join with us in what God is doing through the E3 Sportreach ministry

-That our time with family will be timeless

-That we will not have any vehicle problems

Quick note: e3 Partners is in the process of completely redesigning our web presence. I’ve forwarded our family link to the our new e3 family page. Check it out. http://www.jessenfamily.info/

Thanks for your prayers and Merry Christmas

KJ for the family

Pray for Nepal

2009-11-18T03:40:00.002+07:00

Due to the severity of increased security issues in Nepal it unfortunately means I won’t be able to take a team there next month. Two separate Maoists factions are battling over issues that are leading to protests, blockades and the taking over of public transportation. Due to these issues and several others, parents are pulling their kids off the trip. Even though I am still willing to go, I of course understand what the parents are thinking. As you can imagine I am very disappointed as many pastors have already been trained and were waiting for a team to come help them reach villages that have never heard the name of Jesus. God’s plans are bigger than mine and I cannot even begin to understand His ways so I trust He will be glorified through this situation. Please pray for our brothers and sisters there who are willing and trying to reach the lost in their country.

Recounting changes that are eternal

2009-09-09T01:20:00.008+07:00

The bags are unpacked, routines reestablished, numbers tallied, memories fading but the lives that were changed will last for an eternity.

Please enjoy this video as we recount what the Lord accomplished this summer.

Closing a chapter

2009-08-18T08:56:00.018+07:00

As we pulled into the airport in Lima where our journey together had begun, I don't think anyone could believe it had been a week already. I guess it may be a glimpse of eternity because when you are in the presence of the Lord time passes quickly and there's no other place you'd rather be. So, I (Kelly) would like to close out this trip with some memories from the team and then I'll share the numbers from the week.

I had the same national with me each day. She was from a town called Pilcomayo and her name was Esmerelda. I have never been around a young believer that was so hungry to learn God’s word and he taught to share the Gospel. Each time I used a scripture while sharing the Gospel she would write it down. She was very eager to share the Evangecube and God used her to bring at least 10 people to Christ. My most memorable moment occurred on Wednesday. I was having an off day. while sharing the Gospel there was two occasions that day when I forgot a scripture that I was trying to use. Esmerelda jumped right in and quoted the verses that I had forgotten because she had memorized them. I had much fun sharing the Gospel this week, but my best memory will be the disciple that I was able to make in Esmerelda. We were able to plant a new church in that area and I can’t wait to come again next year and see how Esmerelda and the church have grown. All glory to God.

Jeff T.

I think my most memorable time was after a soccer game when I was able to share the Gospel with a group of guys we were playing with. Some other curious onlookers came over to listen too. I shared with them then I challenged them that it was a big commitment, and that Jesus asks us to do difficult things so don’t make decisions unless they truly meant it. I asked them to be bold in front of their friends. Three guys indicated that they had chosen to follow Christ. It gave me great joy because they seemed to be genuinely authentic. We talked some more and got them connected with the new church.

Josh L.

It was the middle of the week, and I was teamed up with my translator and a national woman, Lina. We were going door to door sharing our testimonies and the Evangecube. We were going past a bar and met a man named Edgar. At first he seemed like he was a little drunk and he was making comments about wanting to marry one of us. We ended up sitting down and talking with him. He wanted to know how to have the hope we had. I shared the Gospel with him and he told us he wanted us to come to his house and share it with his mother. After spending some time with them they shared that he struggled with drinking but wanted to change. They bothe prayed to receive Christ as their Savior and as they prayed both weeping. The national stood over Edgar and continued to pray, her voice raised till she was almost shouting. Each of us was praying over them and they were crying and even thought I had no idea what anyone else was praying, I could just feel the power of the Holy Spirit’s presence.

Mary K.

My favorite memory on this trip was my follow up visit in Huancayo. I knew ahead of time that I wouldn’t see many of my prior contacts. Most were kids and people off the streets. So I along with my interpreter hit the streets to do more discipleship. While concluding prayer with a young couple a man named Antonio came yelling down the street, “my friend Londa”, it was then that I knew I had made a connection with the people and what I was doing. Gods work touches everyone. Antonio might have been on the street the first day and my chances of finding him were slim. God was accepted into Antonio’s heart and grace brought us back together for an amazing follow up. Thanks be to God.

Laurie J.

On Tuesday evening at the local cell group meeting we encouraged the group to consider that they were the start of a new church. At first they kept saying we need leaders and pastors. Yet after God’s Word was exposed to them and after they did the evangelizing, they began to realize that they could do this. When the light came on in their hearts and they realized they were chosen, what a great joy it was. A new church was born and I was allowed by God to partake of this blessing. May Jesus Christ be praised!

Tim M.

Working with Pastor Louis from one of the new church plants in Huancayo was an amazing and memorable experience! On one of our door-to-door evangelism days Pastor Louis knew exactly where he wanted to go. When we asked the Pastor where we were headed, he boldly expressed that he wanted to go to a specific area to speak to some terrorists! As we walked Pastor Louis informed my translator and me that the areas we were in was once very dangerous. Years ago, he had been a part of a team of 9 missionaries evangelizing in this community. 8 of these team members were killed during the campaign. Pastor Louis was the only survivor from the group. I was in awe to see his passion to return to this area to continue to bring the Good News to the very remnant of a group that murdered his friends.

Julie C.

Well, those are just a few of the stories and the rest we will all recount together in Heaven. As for the numbers, which please understand it is just part of the job, not our focus. This week through door-to-door, on the street, in the markets, in cell group meetings, on the courts and on the fields, we shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with 1675 people. Of those people 806 decided to begin following Christ. Now for some other cool numbers, 391 discipleship/follow-up appointments were completed. Also as a way of continueing the work in Huancayo 83 nationals were trained, 7 churches were started and 2 were strengthened. Please continue to pray for this work.

Nine months of work and prayer has gone into this week and the Lord has blessed our efforts by showing off and bringing fame to His name. So what now? So many more need to hear, is the Lord calling you?

Tomorrow we begin our journey home as we close this chapter of our lives. It will be a happy - sad day as we leave our family and friends here to reunite with our family and friends at home.

May God be gloried in all we do as we continually remind people, that anything good you see in us, comes from above. Thank you for everything.

The Jessens

God is moving in Huancayo

2009-08-12T10:31:00.003+07:00

Our days are going from 6:30 to 11:30 so we are going to let our team updates provide some insights to what is happening this week. We can't even count the God stories we've been hearing from the team. Here are just a few.

http://sportreach.blogspot.com/

Family Camp

2009-08-05T07:02:00.013+07:00

During our time in Peru we have enjoyed reconnecting with our favorite church in Lima. Our brothers and sisters at Roca Eterna Community Church have welcomed us warmly whenever we’ve been in Lima. Last week they invited us to join them for their annual family camp so we gladly accepted. The location for the event was Camp Kawai located on the beach 2 hours south of Lima. I teased Jenni that I was taking her back to the place where we were married (actually we were married on the island of Kauai, HI but they pronounce it the same here). During the 3 days we spent time playing games, worshiping and enjoying Peruvian food. It was a wonderful time being together as a family….but sleeping in separate dorms. The girls on one side of the camp, Mav and I on the other. I also, had the opportunity to teach two workshops on evangelism and the benefits of cell group discipleship.

We are also excited to announce that this church will be sending a short-term mission team to go with us to Huancayo next week. Jenni and I will be training them how to work as an all-national team and partner with a church in Huancayo to help start a new church. This is very exciting as our goal is to train nationals how to establish new churches without North Americans!

Please pray for our family, the North American team and all the Peruvians that will be working together next week to spread the Kingdom of the one true God by making disciples all throughout the valley of Huancayo.

P.S. In case you didn’t see our Facebook post, our feet were in a recent Keen ad. Click here to see it!

And the blind will see

2009-07-31T00:57:00.002+07:00

Well, technically she was not completely blind. More in the category of “I can see people like trees walking around.” And even though we are on a mission trip, I am ashamed to say that praying for healing was not anyone’s first impulse. After all, WE were holding a medical clinic.
So anyway, the woman came for glasses. In reality she needed some pretty powerful bi-focals but due to the set-up and what we have to offer, she had to choose. Glasses to see distance or glasses to read and see close up. Without hesitation, she chose reading glasses. She explained, “I am a Christian, but for many years I have not been able to read the Bible. If I have to choose, I choose to read God’s word.” The eye doctor gave her the strongest reading glasses he had, which improved her vision enough that if she was in direct sunlight, and held the Bible very close she could make out the words. She then went to the spiritual counseling area. As the counselor began to talk to her she felt led by the Holy Spirit to pray for the woman’s eyes. Nothing wild or loud or flashy, just a simple quiet prayer for God to be glorified and the woman to be able to read freely the Word of God. When she opened her eyes, she began to cry. She could see clearly. She could see the donkeys at the far end of the field. She could count the children playing in the shade of a tree 100 yards away. And of course, she could read her Bible. She opened it, she held it close and read, she held it at arms distance and read, the counselor took the Bible 10 feet away and still she read. The woman marched promptly back to the eye clinic and handed her glasses back. “I don’t need these anymore. I can see.”

No Longer in Darkness - John 1:1-12

2009-07-23T09:46:00.004+07:00

Today was one of those days when you know that if not a single other person was impacted with the gospel of Christ, this ONE was worth the cost, the effort and the challenges of the whole trip. Today we, (Jenni and Scarlet) were working in “suburb” of Chincha, Peru named Alto Laran. By Peruvian standards it is middle class. The homes are built from concrete, dirt floors and several have running water until 3 p.m. In the central park sat a little old man. By appearance I would have guessed him to be at least 75 years old. But the years have worn heavily on him and in reality he is 58. From under a small blue and white ball cap, bushy black and white hair escaped in every direction, including from his ears and eye brows. His skin a rich leathery brown and back bent from hard long years harvesting mandarins in the fields of Peru. One finger of his left hand was lost too many years back to recall. Rolfino prayed to accept Christ today in that central plaza, but really that is only part of the story. He came an hour later to the cell group meeting and eagerly devoured the first discipleship lesson. Learning how to find chapters and verses in the Bible and upon finding them, soaking them into his very soul as if rain quenching parched ground. As he stood to leave a few silent tears began to slip down his cheeks and he began to explain.
“For many years I have lived alone. My house is dark, I have no light. My house is cold, I have no heat. For many years I have been afraid of the dark, afraid of being alone. At one time, I fell and was alone calling for help for three days. A dog came and slept beside me. Every morning at 5 a.m. I get up and leave my house; I go out into the streets because I am afraid to be alone. Every night I go to bed when it gets dark and I cry because I am afraid. I feed the little dog when I can and leave water for her, but I never know when I leave if she will be there when I return. I have been alone for so long.” He wiped the tears from his darkened skin with the four fingers he had on his crippled left hand and began to sob. “Con alegria, con alegria.” He sobbed openly. “With joy, with joy,” he repeated over and over again. For 58 hard lonely years this man has lived in darkness, this evening for the very first time, he found that he is not alone. He is safely in the hand of the God that loves him so passionately that He died for him. That Jesus Christ is Life, Truth and Light. After a lifetime of living in darkness, he stepped into the Light and wept with joy...so did I. Please pray for our brother, Rolfino.

A rumble on the field in Sullana, Peru

2009-07-20T11:13:00.003+07:00

Violence, theft and destruction weigh heavily on communities in bondage to gangs. Fear hangs over the people like a cloud over a rain forest. As if life wasn’t hard enough, this was the case south of Sullana, Peru. The night before SportReach was to come to a particular area, the local pastor wanted to speak with me, (Kelly). As we sat down, he began telling me of the gang influence in the area and how he had been praying for them for over a year. He continued telling me a story that had happened the day before. He said the e3 team member assigned to that area for the week was training the local church members how to use the evangecube so he wanted to give them a live example. He stepped outside to grab the first person he saw. He invited a middle-aged man who looked pretty rough to come inside and he proceeded to tell him the story of Jesus. At the end the man didn’t respond but pulled the e3 campaigner aside and said, “I want you to come to my house this afternoon and tell my mother this story. I think this is the most important decision in my life.” That afternoon the man, the local “god-father” figure of the gang and his mother became new believers in Christ. Now, of course, I was moved by this story and I appreciated the pastor sharing it with me but I still didn’t see how it applied to my team coming the next day, so he continued. The leader of the gang wanted everyone in his group to have the opportunity to hear about Jesus so he had arranged a soccer match with my team and his gang. The pastor had offered to pay to use a camp that had a nice grass soccer field. After we played, they wanted me to share the Gospel with them. Many, many things ran through my mind on how this whole thing could go down but how could you pass up an opportunity like this.
The next morning our team met for breakfast and then a time of prayer. We prayed for strength, humility, good sportsmanship and the opportunity to serve and share our Lord. We headed to the field with spirits high, cautious joking and with a little wonder of what was to come. As we were warming up the gang members began to arrive, most of them ranging from 16 to 23. Playing on grass was a rarity so they too took the field to warm up. The clouds cleared quickly and the temperature rose as the game began and quickly things looked bad. They scored three goals right off the bat. Heads hanging low our team reached deep in order to represent our Lord well. By the time the game ended on this 90 degree “winter” day we had made a comeback. There was no celebration over our 5-4 win as we shook hands and walked over to the shaded benches. Chugging down water we confirmed with the gang leader that now was the time. “Give me the words, oh Lord,” I prayed.
How do you break through the hardness? How do you break through the pride of self? How do you open someone up to hear the truth? I don’t, but God’s word can. Romans 7:7 says “…Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet.”” Galatians 3:24 says “So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.” I began by asking them if they were a good person. Blank stares came back as if to say, “Are you serious?” Well, let me ask you a few questions to find out. Have you ever told a lie? Few hands came up, then I told them I sure had. Smiles broke out and everyone raised their hands. Have you ever stolen anything? Hands shot up in the air with one guy commenting that it was his job. Have you ever hated any one? Jesus says in Matthew 5:22 “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” Last one, has anyone here ever lusted after a woman? Oops was the response as hands raised and eyes darted. Then I told them that Jesus says in Matthew 5:28 “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Hands slowly came down, smiles faded and seriousness fell over the young men. If God was to judge you based on the laws you just admitted that you broke, would you be found guilty or innocent. “Guilty” was the response. If He finds you guilty, do you think you’d be sent to Heaven or hell? “Hell” was the response. Now, the moment of truth, are they ready? You see, if they continue to justify themselves and their sins then they are not ready to hear the Good News. “Does that concern you?” I asked. Heads nodded. So I continued on to share the Good News with them that there was an answer to the problem of sin. Jesus paid the penalty for their sins, for the times they lied, stole or hated. At the end I gave them an opportunity to make a decision to follow Christ and start a new life. Heads were bowed and eyes were closed. Hearts were changed and I pray, so was a community.
Over the next hour and a half we played more soccer, chatted, laughed and just hung out. Every one of the members individually, quietly asked for a Bible. I had a great talk with the “god-father” about being a lifelong learning and follower to Christ and continuing to encourage the guys. The local pastor assured me he would continue to pray for these guys and disciple them in their homes whenever they wanted. As we closed our time together my team took off their shirts and gave them to the gang so there would always be a remembrance of what God did that day.

(For more information of this method of evangelism see http://www.wayofthemaster.com/)

The Book of Acts comes alive in Sullana, Peru

2009-07-19T08:33:00.010+07:00

The church we were working with on Monday morning wanted to start a new work in an outlying village. The week before, the pastors had identified the biggest and nicest home in the area and prayed to be able to use it for the cell group meetings even though the family living there were all unbelievers. This home was about 1,000 square feet and built out of concrete block instead of grass mats. In it lived 8 adult family members and all of their subsequent children. When we arrived we were warmly greeted and welcomed by the family. We needed to wait for the rest of the team to arrive before we could really start the day, but not wanting to waste the time just staring at one another, we prayerfully proceeded. One of our team members shared a testimony and the gospel with the family and we watched breathlessly as all 8 adults surrendered their lives to Christ. Hamilton, the head of this family, immediately became our biggest asset. He helped set up our sports equipment, carried and poured dirt of a different color to mark out lines on the dirt field, paid a local to watch over our equipment and belongings while we worked and arranged for the SportReach event to be announced over the community loud speaker system. He then advocated and arranged a soccer match with the local men so that they too would come and hear the gospel. How did the soccer match go? Well, we humbly lost a soccer ball but we had a great turn out, over 40 adults heard the gospel in this location and 14 of them came to Hamilton’s house that night to begin being discipled in the word of God.
P.S. Wednesday morning when we went to work in a neighboring village, Hamilton had already told the men, “If the Americans come to your village go play against them, you will win a ball!” Not knowing this in advance, we were stunned to find a group of adult men, in their matching jerseys waiting for us when we arrived. Praise the Lord we did get to keep our ball from this match with a 7-4 victory, but even better, another 11 men heard the gospel.

Scarlet´s 12th Birthday

2009-07-08T22:59:00.009+07:00

What a delight to be able to celebrate the 12th birthday of our beautiful girl in a beautiful place. If you have ever seen pictures of Machu Pichu, Peru, you will see the ruins nestled in the crook of two mountains. A smaller one on the left and a higher one on the right. Knowing us, as you all do, we could not resist the challenge of climbing the bigger of the two. The trail is limited to 400 hikers per day, so to be one of the lucky ones, we had to get up at 4:30 in the morning and be at the bus station by 5.

The day started early and a little ¨iffy¨ when Maverek complained of a tummy ache and wouldn´t eat breakfast. My initial professional assessment was that he was just not awake yet. He quickly disproved this theory by promptly throwing up on the 25 minute bus ride to the ruins. Yep, ON the bus, as in ON himself...in the aisle, while other passengers dodged vehemently. After sufficiently purging for the time being, he recovered a bit and laughed at what a memorable trip he had to Machu Pichu. As we waited in line, to be some of the chosen few to climb the Peruvian equivalent of the ´Manitou Incline´he continued to deteriorate. But it was Scarlet´s birthday afterall, and how could we come all this way and NOT climb THE mountain in every photo of the 7th wonder of the world? We made the cut and were numbers 166, 167, 168, and 169 of 400. So while we awaited our privileged ascent, I made a quick run back to the medical clinic on site (1/2 mile) where the doctor proceeded to give me enough dramamine to knock out a horse. I confirmed that I could give my 60 lb. son THIS much, really? The doctor assured me it was good, it is fine. So Maverek dutiful swallowed the pill and tried to muster a smile for his worried sissy. He then climbed feebly onto KJ´s back for a piggy back ride up the mountain of Waynapichu. Yep, you Colorado hikers out there, imagine doing the Incline with an extra 60 pounds of dead weight on your back. By God´s grace and I think KJ would attest through God´s strength, together Daddy and boy made the ascent. Only stopping once for Maverek to throw up the prescribed dramamine. Scarlet led all the way to the top, with me bringing up the rear...struggling under a 15 lb. backpack of water and snacks. We made it to the top in one hour, where KJ invited all the other hikers there to join in singing happy birthday to the Princess. There on top of Waynapichu, she heard ¨Happy Birthday¨sung in four languages which took a little of the sting out of her disappointment and worry about her baby brother. Maverek on the other hand laid on the ground, only sitting up to smile weakly for pictures. KJ and Scarlet explored the peak overlooking the ruins while Mav napped in my lap, then after an hour of rest we began our descent. Again, KJ had to carry his little guy the entire way down a trail that many grown men were descending by scooting on their bottoms. After making it to the bottom, KJ took Maverek to the clinic and Scarlet and I took the guided tour of the ruins.

We learned many interesting things about the Quechuan people and the 14 Inca kings that ruled over them during the 400 year Incan Empire. Two redemptive analogies struck me in their religious beliefs. One, they believed sin had to be atoned for with blood and they, not knowing the gospel of Jesus Christ, tragically tried to accomplish this through human sacrifice. Two, they believed they had to be born again to have eternal life, and for this reason were mummified in the fetal position. It astounds me to know and see how God has revealed himself in one way or another through every culture and time and place. We spent 2 hours on our tour, where I photographed Scarlet in every location putting on a fake smile trying to hide her worry and disappointment.

At the end of our tour we found KJ waiting patiently outside the one room medical clinic. Food poisoning was diagnosed after Maverek hurled all over the clinic and the doctor´s shoes...twice. He couldn´t take any liquids or medicines by mouth so they started his first I.V. It took three hours to give him enough fluid and meds to stabalize him and send him home, to which he now thinks is really ¨COOOOOL!¨ Two days out now he is continuing to recover and gain strength. This morning he ate his first solid food, about 1/2 of a scrambled egg, and it has stayed down for 2 whole hours. Praise the Lord.

There is currently a country wide strike affecting transportation. We are scheduled to fly to Lima out of Cusco tomorrow, Thursday and then on to Sullana on Friday for a week of working. Pray for travel, safety, health and continued recovery for the little guy.

Amazing time in Camana, Peru

2009-07-03T00:55:00.004+07:00

56 hours in 4 days is a lot to expect of anyone, much more so of little people. Nevertheless, that is what was required of Scarlet and Maverek this week, as they are our children and have to go where ever Kelly and I go. Our days began with breakfast at 7 a.m. and ended with dinner being served at 9:00 p.m. We found it amazing what all could be crammed into that span of time.
One highlight this week came when we got to see the coordination of two lives saved. A man in his late twenties came to the park where we were holding our sports clinics on Monday afternoon. He held in his arms a small trembling dog with golden shaggy hair. Both dog and man seemed cloaked in sadness. His name was John and we began to talk. I took the dog into my arms as he began to explain that his grandmother could no longer care for the dog, so sent him out to kill it. In the midst of the conversation, Maverek’s keen animal awareness led him into our circle. Taking the dog into his arms, Maverek calmed her immediately. I, attempting to hide my wavering doubt, assured both John and Maverek that we would find a home for the dog. Knowing that God cares for every sparrow that falls and seeing that Maverek had already affectionately named the dog “Chicha,” what else could I do? Maverek carried Chicha the rest of the afternoon, until she was adopted by a family involved in the clinics. I, with the help of a national church leader, proceeded to have an hour long conversation with John about his search for truth amidst a life of struggle and tragedy. His quest for ended as he chose to surrender his life to Christ. That evening, Chicha began her new life as a family pet, and John began his journey walking with Jesus by coming to the first cell group meeting and learning how to study the Bible for himself.
The second highlight was Wednesday working in an area more impoverished than we had ever seen. The houses are made of grass mats, there is no running water, no bathrooms, no refrigeration, electricity is highjacked and sporadic, clothespins are a luxury. Impoverished. The only thing abundant was the number of kisses the children showered us with before we left. This area was very skeptical and stand-offish at first, not accustomed to seeing “white” people in the area because, in reality, no one comes here on purpose. After a couple of hours playing however, doubts were cast off and new friendships forged. The work to plant a new church in this area began on Monday morning and by Monday night they had constructed the new church building. You will see some photos of the black tarp roofs and cane pole rafters. You might see two light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, but those only work if and when the electricity does, rarely. So, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening, 11 hours into our 3rd day of work, we came to the cell group meeting to serve in whatever way was needed. We were surprised to see Scripture come to life right before our very eyes.
14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
On this particular day, there was no electricity and the sunset at 5:30, by 6:00 it was plain dark! Our family got to be the light on a stand, giving light to all in the house. For one and a half hours, Scarlet and Maverek on tired feet with patience straight from heaven, stood still and without complaint, holding candles with Kelly and I to light the evening service. It is amazing how creative God is and how he chooses to use us. We tend to think, “Well, I am not a preacher, so I can’t minister to anyone.” But tonight we learned, through experience, that God uses the little acts of obedience, those small sacrifices of our own will and comfort, to bring His light into the darkness. What a privilege!
For you number people out there, Wednesday we saw 64 people engaged in our sports clinics and hearing the gospel in small groups, while the newly trained nationals built relationships and shared the gospel with 23 other bystanders.

Our daily bread

2009-06-24T00:15:00.002+07:00

Bread is a huge part of daily life in Peru. Most meals, especially breakfast and dinner, include bread of some sort. Now, my family is perfectly fine with this. We all love bread of many kids. Even outside of meals we’ll snack on cinnamon or chocolate bread. One major difference is the timing of the purchase of the bread, it’s daily…sometimes even by the meal. This is fresh in my mind as I walked one mile round trip both before breakfast and before dinner to buy the bread for the meal. So during my evening walk I began thinking about the implications of this…am I wasting time? Shouldn’t I just buy enough bread to last for a couple days? It would be much easier. I’d save time, we’d have bread when we wanted it, I wouldn’t have to walk so much. Oh, but then it wouldn’t be as fresh, I’d miss out on walking with my son who thinks going for the bread is an awesome event. I’d miss the opportunity to thank the Lord for this day’s bread. So in pondering my daily walks to the bread store, I think in many ways they’ve got it right here in Peru. We often get too busy, and in our prosperity we often overlook the Lord’s daily provision of our needs. Many times when we really want something, we ask where is the Lord? Did you have a meal today, how about yesterday? Then the Lord was there and you may or may not have acknowledged Him as providing for your daily needs. Hmm. So I’ll walk for bread, as many times as my family needs. I’ll hold my son’s hand as we play “Frogger” crossing the busy streets. And I’ll get the ‘fresh’ bread. Can’t you smell it? Don’t you love fresh bread, isn’t God cool in wanting that for us, everyday.

KJ

Another Thursday...

2009-06-18T23:14:00.007+07:00

Friends,

We have been busy this past week, by God's grace, encouraging and equipping our Peruvian friends. We had the opportunity to visit Pastor Tony and his church, Roca Eterna, where we have enjoyed a growing partnership over the past 3 years. We attended 2 cell group meetings and equipped 8 others with evangecubes for reaching their communities. KJ was priviliged to meet with, and be encouraged by, another brother whose ambition to plant churches in Peru is inspiring and humbling.

I have been working in the manner of Titus 2:3-5, instructing the younger women to love their husbands and families by teaching tips on preserving food, cooking, the discipline of children and of course, knitting! I am having a ball doing what I do best, talking, teaching and hanging out with the girls...except here it is ALL in spanish!

We experienced our first earthquake of this visit, although, in all fairness, I can't overdramatize it. KJ, Scarlet and Maverek all slept through it! Also, we are watching closely the growing violence in the Andahualays region. The riots are expanding, and while they are some distance from where we are, they currently have completely shut down access to one of the areas where we are going in 2 weeks.

Current prayer requests: 1) wisdom, safety as we travel 2) today is the 5th day of Scarlet having a head ache 3) I, Jenni, have some on going tummy issues (3+ weeks) that despite high powered Peruvian antibiotics, still are not completely resolved.

Check out the following video clip of Scarlet and Maverek (all throughout the background) at a laser/water show we saw last night! They are having a grand adventure.

Exploring Huancayo

2009-06-12T01:28:00.005+07:00

This update comes written from a pillow covered seat, where I sit quite gingerly after a three hour horse ride yesterday afternoon. We decided to remain in the Huancayo valley this week and what an adventure we are having! We have used our time to explore further opportunities for our team coming in August, relax and even play before our summer shifts into high gear. Yesterday was a bit of all three...as we explored, we hiked up a mountain where we could see snow covered peaks. We learned about a pre-Incan civilization as we walked through ruins from 1200 A.D. learning more about the synchronistic traditions of the descended Quechua people. And yes, we spent three wonderful, exhilarating hours on strong-willed horses that had agendas of their own. Some highlights include one of our guides having to dismount and chase Maverek and his horse on foot, when they apparently had collectively decided to conquer a narrow and steep mountain trail. The horse objected strongly and Maverek laughed and hooted vigorously at having to be led back down the precipitous trail by hand. Another highlight was when the horses, tired from carrying their burdens, decided to race through the cobblestone streets of the village back to camp. Seriously… hang-on-for-dear-life, hair flying in the wind, galloping…no exaggeration here, we have the bruised bottoms to show for it, not that we will show you such embarrassing proof. Of course, Maverek won the race, KJ was a close 2nd, Scarlet 3rd, and I, clinging with white knuckles, brought up the rear, if there was any doubt in your minds.

Tomorrow morning, Friday June 12th, we will board a bus for the precarious, curvy, six hour ride back down to Lima. I will miss the views from the highest mountain pass at 16,000 feet because I will be in a Dramamine induced coma, but I am sure the family can fill you in on the details. Thank you for your love and prayers we are anxiously waiting to see Him glorified in our work here this summer.

With Love,
Jenni for the family

Huancayo LDC wraps up

2009-06-07T06:30:00.005+07:00

We had a great finish to our Leadership Development Conference here in Huancayo. We had some great comments from the pastors including, "This is going to change the way we do ministry", "Hopefully this will begin the process of unifying the denominations to focus on reaching the lost and planting new churches". They are also very excited about our team that will be coming to work with them in August. We'll remain here for a week or so continuing to work with the pastors to prepare for the campaign. I'll also be sharing at two churches tomorrow.

Now here are some updates from the kids:

Helados is icecream. How about that gum?

LDC starts in Huancayo! PTL!

2009-06-06T06:13:00.006+07:00

Today began our very first Leadership Development Conference (LDC). We were astounded and nearly speechless when 55 people showed up to be trained. Speechless is not a good thing when you are the one teaching! We did catch our breath and dove into an amazing day. KJ shared the E3 vision and I taught about methods, purposes and priorities of prayer. Today’s training also included evangelism and making disciples taught by two of our Peruvian brothers, Alexis and Danny. Scarlet and Maverek had the opportunity to be servants and practice their Spanish as the pastor’s wife, who speaks only Spanish, gave them various jobs helping to prepare lunch for all in attendance. Earning a well deserved break after their morning of service, Scarlet and Maverek vegged out watching cartoons in Spanish arguing if the story was about Lazarus or a leper. (Their Spanish still has a way to go.) After naps and showers we are headed out to a late dinner in the main square.

Family reunion in Lima, Peru

2009-06-05T06:01:00.005+07:00

The little people and I left home at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3rd. After 19 hours of flying, lay-over’s and driving we found KJ anxiously waiting and beds lovingly prepared for us in Lima, Peru. What a beautiful thing family is; and beds, how easily we take them for granted. We had 6 very short but wonderful hours to sleep before beginning the next leg of travel. 8 ½ hours later we found our exhausted but happy selves coming to a stop in the Huancayo Valley in the Andes Mountains of Peru. We all had sore bottoms, tired necks and shoulders, hungry, motion-sick tummies and could all, without question or doubt say that the trip was entirely worth it! What a beautiful place that God has carved out of the Andes Mountains and what a love He has carved into our hearts for this place. It felt like we were coming home, and on some levels wished in fact it were our home. Don’t panic Grannies, we are NOT moving! We are just loving the place God has allowed us to be.
Pastor Augusto and his wife served us grilled chicken breasts and white rice for dinner, we walked to a little tienda for helados (ice cream) and were in bed by 7:30 p.m. Just in case you were wondering, 7:30 was none too soon.

Lord, where would you have us go!

2009-06-03T10:30:00.003+07:00

Today we surveyed two different areas for future church planting work. One area was in the Sacred Valley in the town of Urubama. There are 8 pastors there that would like to reach outside their town into the surrounding villages to start new churches. The other will require a more extreme attitude as a team will hike in and then camp on the other side of the mountain from Cusco. I’ll actually go take a closer look at that village in July.

It would be a great place for future work but we probably won’t rehire our driver who thinks he is a descendent of the Petty family. Check out how fast we were going on this one-way road with a 200 foot drop off on the right. But you know when you are where God wants you to be there’s really not much to worry about, so we just sat back and enjoyed the theme park like ride.

LDC in Cusco

2009-06-02T11:33:00.002+07:00

Ok, Cusco is pretty nice. I’ve always had some idea that it was a big, busy, tourist place and that is true to some extent, but it still has that Andes’ mountain feel. Our time here is short so there won’t be doing any sightseeing but from what I’ve seen it’s pretty cool. They’d call it winter now but it feels like a nice Colorado day to me.
All day today was our LDC here and we had a pretty good showing for this town. 30 pastors and leaders showed up and we had a good conference. I taught prayer, making disciples and multiplying churches. What I’ve learned from the LDC’s in Sullana and Cusco will allow Jenni and me to hold our first one ourselves this Friday and Saturday in Huancayo. More on that later.

First Leadership Development Conference

2009-05-31T04:15:00.002+07:00

It was a great privilege to be a part of my first Leadership Development Conference (LDC) last night and this morning where we had 70 people attend. These conferences are where we teach pastors and people from their congregations about prayer, evangelism, discipleship, gathering, developing leaders. After the conference they have the tools needed to prepare for when our North American teams come down to work this them so they will be ready to plant a new church. I taught evangelism and leadership develop while another church planter, Dan, and the e3 National Director, Danny, taught the other portions. I have been studying these materials for the past several months so it was great to see the conference in action and how excited our national brothers are to receive the training.

Heading for the border, Peru border that is.

2009-05-30T11:18:00.003+07:00

When you expect an 8 hour bus ride and it turns into 12…well that just a long time on a bus. But it was nice and I did arrive safely, after many encouraging word from my Ecuadorian friends like, "Are you going alone?" or "That is very dangerous." Thanks alot!

The Panama America Highway uses the term highway very loosely let me tell ya. I live on a dirt road and most of the time it was better that this. Anyway, it allowed for lot’s of study and prayer time. More soon.

May 27 - What road will he travel?

2009-05-28T05:03:00.003+07:00

Back at sports, back out in the heat, back with rowdy kids. Oh, my goodness we had 150 very active kids. Both girls and boys were so excited we were there they just couldn’t contain themselves. One boy in particular was Julio. I could tell other coaches were having troubles with him as well and making matters worse. At 13 he was setting the tone and example for the rest of the kids. He was bouncing between sports, cutting in line, shouting and not listening. When he came to my sport I watched him very closely and could tell the others looked up to him. He had natural leadership skills even at the age of 13. When it came time to teach the kids about Jesus, my translator and I pulled Julio aside to share with him individually. We talked about his behavior which led into other discussions about sin and how we’ve all done it. Continuing to talk with him we related the story of Jesus paying the penalty of our sin, about what repentance was and how the Bible was God’s letter to us and how he wanted us to live. He was still, he was attentive, he was sorry. Then the Lord prompted him and Julio quietly, far from the other kids prayed to be friend of Jesus. Afterwards we snuck him in to the medical clinic through a side door so the doctors could look at the sty in his eye. We gathered his home information and introduced him to one of the men at the church. Lastly, I sat him and gave him the gift of God’s Word. I told him the natural leadership skills God had given him could be used to lead people down a good or bad road. I asked him do you know what you class needs, do you know what your country needs, do you know what this world needs more of?... Good men. If he reads God’s word it would it would instruct him how to be like Christ and how to lead people down the good and narrow path. He tucked the Bible in his backpack, we high-fived, he walked home. I know I won’t see him again till Heaven but I expect to hear good things from him when we meet again.

May 26 - sandels instead of tennis shoes

2009-05-28T05:02:00.001+07:00

Laying our sports equipment down today, the sports team headed out into the field to focus on sharing Christ in homes. Along with my interpreter and me we were joined by the pastor of the church (Richard) and another church member (Javier). Javier had been a believer for some time but had never shared his faith. In the morning we went to several homes and I shared my testimony and used the Evangecube to relate the story of Jesus. Javier watched closely and after lunch he was ready to go. We had time to go to two homes where we was able to lead 2 men to Christ. He was excited. Later during a session on how to disciple new believers, Javier spoke out. He said, “As I am here today I feel that by this training (in Evangelism and Discipleship) God is raising me up (and he stood) to go out and share more about Jesus Christ”. Wow, that’s it! We have to be training our national brother and sisters to do the work year around.

CONVICTION ALERT! Several of the houses that I spoke in seemed to have a common issue with taking the step to put their faith in Jesus and it wasn’t what you’d think. It was us, Christians. Many people said they had known people who said they were Christians but they lived no different than anyone else so what should they bother to become a Christians if that is the way Christians live. Ouch! As believers we need to be very careful of our witness and take Jesus’ word to heart when he said it is better to be hot or cold than to be luke warm.

May 25 - Working in Babahoya

2009-05-26T08:48:00.000+07:00

The drive to the mission point wasn’t too long this morning as we travelled along the river, passing by homes build to iffy looking stilts out over the water. Again we were in a school facility and we were a bit relieved when we saw there wasn’t a giant line waiting. Little did we know however that the parents were inside and there were over 500 kids in the school. Taking it in stride we laid out a plan were all the kids would get to enjoy a time of sports and then go through a small group time of learning about the story of Jesus Christ.

May 24 - First day of minstry in Ecuador!

2009-05-26T08:47:00.002+07:00

After leaving our home base of Babahoya and driving through miles and miles and miles of banana fields, we arrived at our first mission point in Vinces. Two new national church planters had been trained a couple months earlier and were ready for our sports and medical teams to help them start their new churches. We were working inside a school facility and when our bus arrived there was a line extending around the block. Both teams quickly began setting up equipment. Our sports team was able to minister to the children while their parents stood in the long lines and waited for hours. Throughout the day we had 100 come through the sports clinic and when it was time to share the Gospel, 65 kids heard the Good News around 49 made decisions to follow Christ.

After lunch I was able to sit down with 10 younger boys and begin to teach them the importance as new followers of Christ to pray, read God’s word and attend the new church in their area. I was also able to teach them the importance of sharing their new faith as well as how to do it. It was a sweet time of discipleship.

Working on the mainland in the city of Guayaquil

2009-03-08T05:52:00.007+07:00

After spending over a week working in the tourist area of the Galapagos, it took a few moments this morning as we adjusted to the way most of this country lives. Today we partnered with an existing church in a very poor part of town. As we arrived at this small church we were greeted by 9 national church members! It was great to see them so excited. Since none of them had ever used the Evangecube, we spent the first hour training them how to use the cube. They were very attentive and learned fast. After many questions and some practice rounds we were off into the streets. I had four nationals with me and after a couple times watching me and another American share, they were ready to give it a try. They did great as all four shared their faith to their community.

After lunch we closed off both sides of the street (well, it was gravel) in front of the church and had a time of playing soccer. Actually I call it tetanus soccer because of all the rusty bars on the windows, sheet metal fences and debris lying around. The game attracted many kids and youth and we were able to share with them.

It was a hot but good day. We equipped a church with tools, trained 9 nationals in evangelism, shared the Good News with 82 people and 44 prayed to receive Christ. As I was leaving I challenged the pastor and his church to continue the work they started today by doing more evangelism. Just as a hammer lying on the floor won’t build a building, evangelism tools won’t save people if they are sitting on a shelf. They need to pray against the misleading teachings of the Jehovah’s Witness’ that are in the area. They will need to also follow up with the new believers and shepherd them in their new walk with Christ.

I will be heading back to the USA tomorrow and arrive back in Colorado Monday morning. Thank you to everyone who battled for this team in prayer.

Santa Cruz

2009-03-06T10:03:00.001+07:00

It was a smooth ride as we headed back from San Cristobal to the main island of Santa Cruz. Since it was so nice we were able to briefly pull into a bay on one of the uninhabited islands. The bay was clam and crystal clear. As we stood on the bow of the boat looking down we saw many colorful fish, sea lions, birds call Blue boobies because of their bright blue feet, and also a shark cruising the bottom. It was an amazing site and a location I’m sure God hangs out frequently.

After we arrived on the island we quickly got back to work. The church on this island is the mother church of all the work that we’ve been doing. They are the ones sending and supporting the pastors on the other islands. After a couple hours of door-to-door evangelism, we gathered for a sports outreach at a brand new Astroturf soccer field. Many people were interested in playing on the field so we had a large group with a wide age range. The 50 people there were from 5 to 50. It was a neat sight. After two separate soccer matches, depending on age, we found a shaded spot on the field and I shared what Christ did on the cross for us. The response was very positive and 34 gave their life to Christ. Afterwards the pastor was very grateful that we helped to strengthen his church and looked forward to continuing to disciple the new believers.

The Cruise to San Cristobel

2009-03-06T09:54:00.002+07:00

After a mildly later start we hopped on the boat, of yahtish flavor, and set out on a 3 hour tour, a 3 hour tour. Wait, that didn’t end well for them. (This was a joking reference to all of those who do not remember Gilligan’s island reruns.) Anyway, San Cristobel has around 4000 people living on the island and we are going to strengthen a church that was started two years ago.

Sunday in the main town on San Cristobal can look a little deserted. We found that most people like to head up to the only other town that is located in the mountains to hang out and play soccer. So after the morning sports session, where we only meet six kids, we headed up the mountain to find the people. There was a local soccer tournament taking place so we just set up shop right there. We invited kids to come play and before you know it we had about 20 kids playing. After a time of sports we shared the Good News with them and they were excited to hear the whole story of Jesus Christ. Afterwards we played another game on the big field and used that time to disciple the older kids in good sportsmanship.

The ride back down the hill was interesting to say the least. Our team of 12 was unable to find any taxi’s because the town folks had taken them, so we were left standing there. Finally a farmer came driving by and we stopped him and told him we would pay him if he took us down the hill. He agreed. So the 12 of us hopped in the truck which was personally given to this man by Henry Ford (it was very old) and we shared a team bonding experience.

One of the favorite memories on this island was the opportunity to disciple four of the teenage boys we had met the day before. I invited them to join me for a Coke in the afternoon time. Since they had only accepted Christ the day before I led them through step one in our discipleship program which guides them through what it means to be saved. Having seen a Bible but never reading one, we had a good time explaining how to get around in the Bible and find books, chapters and verses. They were very eager to please in rapidly finding the verses we were discussing. They had many good questions and enjoyed answering the questions about the verses. In closing, I prayed for them and challenged them to get involved in the young church there and learn everything they can from the pastor as they continue to grow in Christ.

Found the man of peace

2009-03-01T05:52:00.004+07:00

Our team sailed for one and a half hours through early morning of February 28th, as the brilliant and vivid sunrise shouted God’s glory. Waking before dawn is not one of my strong suits, but watching light break into darkness as God gently coaxed the sun over the black horizon of the South Pacific left me speechless and made the effort worthwhile. It was a quiet, wind swept time to pray and meditate, preparing ourselves and our hearts for what only God could accomplish on the Galapagos Island of Floreanna. The journey, and His display of grandeur left no doubt in my mind that His light would break forth as powerfully on this previously unchurched island as it had that morning.

Floreanna has two hundred residents who live within a governmentally protected national park. People are not allowed to move onto the island without special permission and as such it is fairly isolated. Soon after we dispersed into the community and began sharing the gospel, we met the president of the island. This man, after hearing the gospel, became our “man of peace.” Through the power and persuasion of the Holy Spirit, this leader in the community provided us free transportation, approved the request for a pastor from the mother church of Santa Cruz to relocate with his family to the island, and gave permission for an existing building to be used for future church services. We know that the angels in heaven rejoice over each new believer. That day in heaven must have been glorious as we had the privilege of welcoming 36 new brothers and sisters into the family of God and from that body of believers a new church was born.

Heading back to Santa Cruz against the current was a mighty bumpy ride but was made bearable when the Lord blessed us this a school, pack, herd, whatever…of dolphins swimming and jumping alongside our boat. It was fantastic.

Made it!

2009-03-01T05:45:00.002+07:00

Two flights to LA, a red eye to Panama, another flight to the mainland of Ecuador. The next day the final flight to the islands. A bus ride, then a canal crossing by ferry, then another even longer bus ride till we finally made it our base for the first two nights. Wow, God must really love these people to get this team all the way out here. Thank you for praying for our safe travel.

Heading to Ecuador!

2009-02-19T06:54:00.004+07:00

This is a new approach to keeping our friends and family updated while we are on the field. We'll see how it goes and make changes as needed. So here were go...

The Galapagos Islands is an island chain that gave birth to Darwin’s theory of evolution. There are 14 islands, 4 of which are inhabited with 40,000 people. From February 24th to March 9, I (Kelly) will be working on the islands to plant new churches. One of the main goals of this trip is to work with a mother church from Santa Cruz to start a new church on a small island that currently does not have a church. We will be doing door-to-door evangelism as means of sharing the Gospel with the adults as well as I’ll be leading sporting events to help reach out to the children. We’d appreciate your prayers during this time.

Hopefully I'll be able to provide more timely updates while I'm on the field so hang on and keep checking back.

Until all the nets are full,

KJ