NEWS ABOUT HOME

We try to a few times per month blog about our journey.    The last 16 months have been ones that have taught us that heaven is truly home and everything else is temporary.    Through God’s grace there are friendships, experiences, and physical places that temporarily feed the hunger for an eternal home.

We wanted to make sure you were aware of a couple blogs we’ve done about “home.”

First, a few weeks ago People Magazine ran an article that misrepresented our Rwandan home as “war-torn,” and that Kigali had “refugee camps.”    Some of our friends, former students, and Christ’s Church in Rwanda members drew our attention to the article; and asked for us to respond.   We honored their request as the Rwanda is peace filled, Kigali has no refugee camps, and Rwanda has shown the compassion of our Lord by receiving thousands of refugees from Congo.    If you would like to read the blog it is at http://www.hekimagreatlakesmessenger.blogspot.com/2013/10/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html.

Second, as we began the journey of starting a new multi-cultural church in Chicago we followed the nurture our mentors to practice old missionary disciplines.    One of those disciplines of “home” is to be a good neighbor.   Practically our years in Uganda and Rwanda taught us the discipline of getting our kids involved in good soccer programs.      Though taking on a multi-cultural church plant in Chicago is the biggest risk of our lives we continue to have divine appointments that remind us of “home.”   Through soccer disciplines Ethan became his high school team captain as a junior and was selected to the All-Conference second team.    Through soccer disciplines Timothy was fortunate to enroll in a magnet school.   God is guiding us “home.” If you would like to read more check out http://jenkinsinrwanda.blogspot.com/2013/10/soccer-is-life-or-everything-i-needed.html.

Third, Jana has done a magnificent job of developing a sense of “home” as we start afresh.     In

our mid-40’s we should be more “established.”   Yet, we’re living like most do in their mid-20’s.   This is our vocation and calling.   In many ways we are like the Levitical priests.    Jana has furnished a “home” beautifully through “picking,” garage sales, and re-sale shops.   Now, our “home” is filled with young children that Ruth and Jana baby sit plus many visitors.   These are the disciplines of “home” that start churches.    Our support is down and we’re praying for 20 new partners.   Jana masterfully explains this calling of “home” at http://jana-joyinthejourney.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-have-heard-levitical-call.html.

Enjoy the reads, and feel free to dialogue with us.

Mungu akubariki (May God bless you),

Dave

ANNOUNCING THANK YOU TOUR

Our family running in our new post of Wheaton, Chicago

Dear Family and Friends,

Two commands fill God’s word when His people are in seasons of transition.  Those words are “Remember (150 references),” and “Thanks (100 references).”  (References counted by www.biblegateway.com.)

Our family last week finished getting the kids in five different educational institutions (Lowell Elementary, Franklin Middle School, Wheaton North High School, College of DuPage, and Wheaton College in Chicago.)   This past Sunday at Willow Creek Dupage we heard Shauna Niequist remark, “Enrolling a child in kindergarten is like getting a job in the CIA.”  We concur it is thorough and exhausting.

Christmas 2011 with foster child, Gabriel Mugisha Jacobs

This week we are beginning the process of organizing 19 years of memories.  We must remember.   God was, is, and is to come “Faithful.”  He used many family, friends, churches, and organizations to share this journey.  Here are some highlights:

• Of 21 years of marriage, 19 happened in Africa’s Great Lakes
• 2 nations of day by day labor (Uganda and Rwanda)
• Raised 5 great kids (Sophia, Caleb, Ethan, Ruth, and Timothy)
•   Fostered 1 pre-mature baby through weight gain, colick, and at one point 3 seizure clusters per day until he was adopted (Gabriel Mugisha Jacobs)
• 177 churches developed and 55 missionary families entered Uganda through New Testament Churches of Christ (1993 – 2004)
•   2 urban church plants (Kampala Church of Christ and Christ’s Church of Rwanda)
•  1 School Start (Kigali International Community School)
•    3 ½ years doing a weekly prime time radio show with Monitor FM (now KFM)
•    Volunteering at Kampala Kids League
•    6 years writing a column for The Rwanda Focus
•    200 children sponsored to attend school through Christian Relief Fund
•   1 library developed (Better Living Resource Center)
•  1 ministry to university students and young professionals (UP)
•   Over 300 of Rwanda’s brightest studying at USA universities through the Presidential Scholars program
•   Over 2,000 university students in Ethics lectures (School of Finance and Banking, and Kigali Institute of Science and Technology)
•   10 adoptions facilitated
•   5 houses serving as earthly homes and guesthouses frequently filled with delightful visitors
•   Daily morning walks, runs, swims, and bike rides that occasionally became community endeavors (NTCC Bikathon, Kigali Peace Marathon, and Kumbya 3 Hump Island Swim)
•   More baptisms, baby dedications, weddings, and funerals than we could count
•   Countless friends made and experiences shared
•   ONE SOVEREIGN, PROVIDENTIAL, AND MYSTERIOUS GOD

We sense as the Lord transitions us to a new season as missionaries in the United States He asks us to thank many of you face to face for your participation in this journey.   We’re a little scattered, but starting to put a pencil to a calendar.   

Would you like to see us and share some of these memories?   We’d love to visit.   Please drop us a note and we’ll start planning to share the thanksgiving memories.

Mungu akubariki (God bless you),

Dave and Jana