| While packing with a friend for Serving in Jesus’ Name’s next shipment to Kenya, I almost had to dock her “pay” since she stopped numerous times to delight in some darling little dress or adorable toy a dear child in a Kenyan orphanage would receive. I understood, however, since thinking of the encouragement of heart each item gives to those with so little of the world’s goods fills me with the same sense of wonder at God’s goodness in allowing us to send such treasures to His precious children. I love accumulating stray Legos until there are enough to build something, holding out a lone caboose knowing more of the train set will eventually come my way, and especially matching storybook dolls and toys to their books. I was excited when I could put Charlie Brown, a small herd of My Little Ponies, and a whole cast of Sesame Street characters together with their picture books. While anticipating the children’s delight in their gifts gives us true joy, our investment in time and resources has a holy purpose, for all we do is for the glory of God and to advance His Kingdom on earth (1 Corinthians 10:31). |
Other Activities at Serving in Jesus’ Name in November:
- We accomplished our vision of ensuring all the facilities in our network have a supply of clean, fresh water in the dry season by completing the “final” three rainwater catchment systems in November.
- Keylia and Angie, the nurses from Tazewell, VA, are on their way home after spending 9 days in Kenya ministering with Immaculate to the children and women in many orphanages. More to come next month on how the Lord used them. Fun moments included watching the children swoon over a small bag of candy and the absolute delight of the younger girls in getting the pretty, colorful dresses donated by Dress a Girl Around the World. For many the panties donated with the dresses were the first pair they had ever received.
- Our Appalachia outreach was awesome. We served over 100 households/individuals, each going away with bags of food, a Bible, stuffed animals, toys, games, household products and their pick of coats, hats, gloves, scarves, shoes, boots, and other clothing items. We had nine ministries participate. The talented His Love Band from Kingsport, Tennessee, played throughout the event, and Pastor Mike Simpson from Gate City shared the Good News with each group before they “shopped.”
- OneVoice, a local ministry that works with students and a teacher sponsor to start and run Jesus Clubs in high schools expanded into two additional schools this year. In November, Serving in Jesus’ Name provided OneVoice with another 200 Bibles, which the OneVoice leaders will put into the hands of students eager for the things of God. Our prayer is for the divinely-inspired, living, active Word of God to pierce the hearts of these teenagers to draw each ever closer to the Lord (Hebrews 4:12).
- Devotionals and journals continue to come in. Praise the Lord – we have over 1000 devotionals and 1250 journals of the 1300 needed to give one to each adult and child in our Kenyan network.
- We have packed over 320 boxes of varying sizes to go into the container we hope to ship in the early spring. Including what is still in my attics to be packed, we are approaching 60%.
