Casting our Bread

Take your toddler to work day

2011-06-19T09:09:00.001-07:00

Isaac had a blast exploring the inside of the tower. Its always fun visiting Daddy at the job site.
But where is your hard-hat young man?

Our new Tongan families

2011-04-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

There is a large community of Tongan immigrants living in Dallas and Houston. They have been so loving, welcoming us into the family. It feels like we're back home in the village again!
We eat Tongan food together, sing, joke, and speak Tongan obviously. Then on weekends the men get together for their traditional kava ceremony. Isaac was invited to this one. As you can see he is wearing his lavalava while drinking from a coconut shell.
'Osi is thankful to be able to play his guitar with the guys and sing Tongan songs again. He's even learning how to play the eukelele!

Darth Vader?

2011-02-10T15:54:00.000-08:00

That is one scary looking workin' man!

'Osi loves his new job sandblasting and painting water towers. It is a whole new set of skills to learn and challenges to take on. It is also extremely hazardous so please pray for him!!

On any given day you'll see him swinging around like a jungle monkey from one of these 300 ft. water towers.

Houston here we come!

2011-02-08T15:48:00.000-08:00

'Osi was offered a great job working for his new friend Pulete's company in Houston, Texas. So now that the mobile home is stable and our parents found permanent replacements to take over our job, we are free to take this new opportunity!

Isaac's new friends

2011-01-15T15:12:00.000-08:00

All our sweet little neighbor girls keep coming over to play with Isaac, and they all take turns giving each other rides in the pink car.
Little ladies man =)

Daily duties

2011-01-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

The boys are doing a fantastic job fixing the door jam and installing a new door!

Jen wrestles with the icy brush, as we clear the land for more mobile homes!

Mom and Dad come to visit

2011-01-05T09:17:00.000-08:00

We are so thankful Mom and Dad come up to visit every month and we have a fun work weekend. They have taught us so much.
Plus it gives Isaac time to bond with Grandpa and Grandma =)

Grandma's Christmas star

2010-12-25T18:24:00.000-08:00

My Grandparents live in Georgia, just 2 hours south of our trailer park. So we packed up the truck and drove down here to spend Christmas with them. Grandma an amazing cook and we enjoyed a beautiful candle light service at their church last night.

Grandma says there is a special star that she notices every Christmas, it only comes out once a year. She says people call her crazy, but still she believes it is Gods special gift for her every Christmas.
I agree.
Thank you for that star Jesus. We love you.

Hi ya'all from South Carolina

2010-12-23T08:52:00.000-08:00

Hi ya'all and Merry Christmas from South Carolina!

Everythin's peachy keen down here in the south land, our neighbors is fine folk. Momma's been keepin' us real busy workin' round the trailer park. We been rustlin' up the garbage, cuttin' down them trees, and makin' a might purty road down both sides of the trailer park.

Our neighbors is really gonna 'preciate the beautification
Momma and Daddy been started round these parts. N'fact we best make our way over to Miss MaryAnne's trailer for some sweet tea and biscuits. Bring these cookies to the neighbors fore Isaac eats them all!

But we'll keep in touch ya'all! If'n yer fixin' to come out here for a visit let us know and we'll kill the hog and have us some supper.
And ya'all have yerself a right good Christmas, ya hear?

Alaska!

2010-09-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
For example, while waiting for 'Osi's greencard his Dad flew us up to Alaska, so we can finish building his mountain cabin. In exchange he promised to help us build our own cabin in Tonga possibly next year. This sounded like a freezing, but great opportunity, so we flew up here this week.
Alaska is breathtaking! We’re livin’ in this ramshackle shack in the middle of the woods, with no plumbing, and its great! We’re on a rather large, yet scarcely populated island called Prince of Whales. Our neighbors are all old hunters, fishermen, loggers, and gypsies like us.
So everyday after working on the cabin we go visiting, and they teach us how to skin mountain goats and pick wild mushrooms. It looks like this winter we’ll be wearing homemade beaver shoes and canning everything. Sure didn’t see that coming last month. I guess this is just a reminder that God works in mysterious ways and its best to look for the blessings and adventure He has in all of it!

Returning to America to work

2010-09-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

This is the beautiful one acre piece of land God has blessed us with in our village. We have been clearing the trees and brush for awhile, to make room for a little house. But we can't seem to save enough money to start building. God is so good in providing our daily bread, and has given 'Osi part-time work to buy more food for the youth coming over for our daily programs. But as our ministry/family grows, we feel we need to have our own house.

So we had been praying for awhile about what to do, when my parents offered to fly us home for our Uncle's funeral.
Our dear Uncle Adrian passed away, and Jen's parents adopted his son Alex. After much prayer, consulting family and ministry partners we decided to apply for 'Osi's greencard to work temporarily.

We were a little ashamed to be leaving the ministry when it had been so fruitful, but 'Osi is a good man and his priority is taking care of his family, making sure we are living in a healthy sane environment. Then we can be free to show hospitality to others.

Praise Dance!

2010-08-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

'Osi sometimes teaches praise dances to youth groups in local churches.
They love performing these praise dances for their congregation and usually we join in too. It is a great way to engage the cultural while encouraging kids to join in church activities.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 There is "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance".

Those pesky mosquitoes!

2010-08-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know of a natural mosquito repellent that is safe for babies? Because Isaac gets eaten up all day, and we've tried all kinds of things: Listerine, garlic, lemon mixtures....those pesky bugs love to get him as soon as we turn our back!
Our little cutie's skin looks like a solar system right now. So any advice you have is most welcome. (Yes, we always sleep under mosquito nets at night, but we don't yet have him in a mosquito net bubble during the day =)

Farming!

2010-08-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

Most of the families in our village are subsistence farmers. Meaning most of the food we eat are root vegetables we grow ourselves. So here we are planting kasava for our family. Usually our cousins, friends, and Mom Kelela is with us too. She has biceps and endurance that can put any other farmer to shame, plus a cheerful spirit to keep us all laughing. 'Osi is pretty amazing too, but I'm biased =)
Isaac and I are just the "water boys" right now. On account of Isaac being too young to tote a hoe, and me being too busy holding an umbrella so he doesn't get sunstroke. It gets up in the 90's some days, and those are the days 'Osi asks if we can bring him coffee!? Whatever keeps you plowing through the fields honey!
The wonderful thing is during their breaks one of the guys will climb up a nearby coconut and cut down "Nui mata" (green coconuts) for us all. We chop the tops of with a machete and drink the sweet, sparkling coconut water inside. It is so amazing how God made the coconut water as a perfect electrolyte balancer. Everything God makes is perfect though, and its great to be on the farm together.

Family life

2010-07-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

For now we are still living with 'Osi's family while we prepare to build our own little house. They keep passing new laws for land surveying and building in Tonga so we are still jumping through some hoops while saving some pa'anga's =)

So for now we live with'Osi's lovely Mom, pictured here with Isaac and his cousin Vena. As well as 'Osi's older married sister and her 2 babies, his younger sister, a cousin, occasionally our 82 year old Aunt and her only son, along with any number of random family members or village youth who sleep over and eat with us too everyday.

So we have a very full house.
We are all learning alot about sharing. Sharing space, food, clothes, one toilet. Its funny people always told 'Osi and I we would realize how selfish we were after we were married. And we did. Then they said we would REALLY realize how selfish we are once we have a baby. And...we did. But no one warned us how we would REALLY REALLY realize how selfish we are when living together as newlyweds with the baby and the whole extended family in a little house. Wow, God has a great sense of humor. It has been an exponential growth year for all of us. We appreciate your prayers for our house to be filled with peace, harmony, and unselfishness =)

My favorite fruit

2010-07-24T15:26:00.001-07:00

It looks like a dragon from the outside, but inside is filled with a sweet lemony custard fruit. Yummmmmm
Just goes to show you can't judge a fruit by its cover.

Baptized!

2010-07-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

Sione, the young man 'Osi has been discipling over the past 6 months decided to be baptized. He wanted to show the world his commitment to Jesus, which was a big step for him because Wesleyan church members are baptized as infants and don't see the need to be baptized as an adult after receiving Christ. But Sione took the plunge in symbolically dying to his old life and being reborn in Christ. The wonderful things is he keeps asking us everyday if we can see the change in his life, because he "feels" totally reborn. It is so exciting to see the butterfly emerge from the cocoon. Praise Jesus!

One in Christ

2010-06-22T01:45:00.000-07:00

This year after returning to Vava’u we knew God was calling us to work with the youth in the area of evangelism. While fellowshipping with the youth in our village—who happen to come from various Christian denominations—we started a Bible study and evangelism group. They call our group “To God be the Glory” and anywhere from 3 to 10guys show up. We have a lot of fun together, and they are really eager to grow in God.
(Here they are leading a program for a local school)

Our prayer has been that the true Christians in various denominations in Tonga will come together in unity. As Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17:24 “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent me, and have loved them even as You have loved me.”

Childrens Day/ Fakame!

2010-06-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

May is a very special month in Tonga to celebrate the family. Childrens Day, then Mothers Day, then Fathers Day all in a row - they like to do it all in one month.

So we start celebrating on the first Sunday of May with "Fakame" the childrens special day. Children go to church dressed in white and all kinds of special cultural decorations. Their Mothers busily prepare these decorations throughout the year, and it is breathtaking to see what their loving hands can sew.

When the kids come to the curch they do a special program for the church,and they all sing songs and recite verses. It is the most adorable day of the year.

Hosting a YWAM team from the mainland

2010-06-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

We had such a wonderful surprise this month when our previous YWAM leaders from Tonga asked us to host one of their DTS outreach teams.
Here we are sitting in our living room to have a meal together. This team went on to do community service/cleanup projects in neighboring villages, door-to-door evangelism, and ran evangelism programs with dancing, skits, and preaching....
This team was a great influence on the small group of guys we have been discipling. Now instead of just Bible studies, our guys want to start going out to local schools to run evangelism programs too!
Praise the Lord!

Lessons from the piglet

2010-04-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

In Tongan culture pigs are a very valuable animal because we need to roast one for every feast and celebration...sometimes for funerals we will roast a couple of giant male pigs to feed 200 people. If a family doesn't have a pig of their own to sacrifice for the occasion they must buy one and baby pigs start at $60 each. After a couple of years this baby pig can be worth $1,000.

'Osi decided we should start a small pig farm as an investment for building our house. So we bought a pregnant Mommy pig for a great deal. Much to our delight she gave birth to 10 babies!
Every day we have been feeding them coconuts and cooing at the babies as they romp around after their Mom. But then the unthinkable happened, we're not sure how, but the hefty Momma pig must have fallen on one of her babies and broken its back. Then the poor little helpless guy drug his feet and lower back behind him everyday, struggling to keep up with the others.
I cried, openly, several times watching helplessly as this small animal struggled to survive. And I began to pray for it. Everyday.
To make a long story short, several weeks later God had mercy on him and he healed right up. Today he is a perfectly strong, healthy little piglet, in every way comparable to his peers.
Then my baby Isaac came down with a cold, which quickly progressed to bronchitis. We brought him to the hospital and the Dr. said he could have pneumonia. He had such a hard time eating and breathing everyday and all night I hardly slept, just kept watch over him to make sure he was breathing. I was so scared.
Nothing is scarier than watching your own tiny helpless baby struggle to breath. It was paralyzing and I prayed so hard, cried, and poured out my heart to God asking him to heal him.
Then God reminded me of the piglet. And spoke to me so clearly, "Jenn to you remember that struggling little pig, and how I healed his broken back? If I can answer prayers and have compassion on a simple animal, how much more will I care for your precious baby?"
That is truth.
A week later Isaac was completely healed once again, and breathing soundly through the night.
Psalm 86:15 "But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."

Translation please?

2010-03-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

As a missionary to a foreign country it is absolutely necessary to learn the language. I have been trying for the past 2 years but have yet to be fluent in Tongan. Fortunately I have accidentally developed a technique that is working out - my Mother in law has been making me watch sappy Filipino soap operas and translate them to her in Tongan.
As the drama unfolds I try my best to read the English subtitles as fast as I can and translate in strong Filipino emotion. I try to explain who is marrying who's cousin while secretly embezzling money from the family business...and no one would have ever expected that Grandma was plotting revenge.
All the other Tongans in the house laugh and laugh at the whole new story I am inventing. In the end we all laugh and learn, praise God for creative answers to my prayer.

Keep your places

2010-03-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

There is an old Tongan proverb that says "Holo Pe Tu'u He Ko E Ngalu 'E Fasi" - "Keep your places, for the wave will break."
This saying comes from the sport of surfing. It is important to stand and wait for a large breaker to come, in order to surf. Hence the inference that we should always be ready for the arrival of an opportunity, so that we will be able to make use of it.

I've been mulling this around in my head lately after seeing the importance of living our lives as best as we can; loving God, each other and our neighbors. The time will come when people have a crisis or the youth need advice and if we are known to be loving and available neighbors they will feel free to come to us for help.
If we are too busy creating waves we might neglect our family and our own relationship with God, it's better for us to spend enough time preparing our own heart. Then instead of chasing the waves, get ready for the waves to come to us.
Please pray that we can be good neighbors.

Irrational fear?

2010-03-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

It's time that I admit my irrational fear of Tongan spiders. They are as big as my hand, hairy and scary. They always turn up in my shower early in the morning or evening when the light is dim and I can't see them until they are inches from my face. I hate them!
But they are completely harmless.
The Tongan even say spiders are lucky - at least that's what 'Osi says every time I make him remove it from the shower. In my mind I know spiders are good because they eat the mosquitoes, and they don't bite, but due to my longstanding hatred of the bug I can't bring myself to appreciate them.
Its a completely irrational fear and I need deliverance. But then again ALL fear is irrational right?

Bear good fruit

2010-03-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

Tonga is like the garden of Eden because every tree bears fruit that blesses the people. Looking around me in the everyday jungle I count 3 papaya trees, 3 mangoes, 1 Tongan Apple tree, 1 Tava, 2 Breadfruit, 5 Bananas, 1 Fa (we use this for perfume and decoration), and 1 Tuitui tree (we use the nuts from this tree as a creamy shower soap).
This is a reminds me that we are all trees in the garden of life and it is to the Fathers glory that we bear much fruit.

9 more days

2010-01-19T16:32:00.000-08:00

The count down has begun and home is just around the corner. We are so excited to return to the people we love and the work we enjoy.
At the same time as we pack our bags and start saying goodbye's we can think of a thousand wonderful memories we've made this season with family and friends.
THANK YOU.
Thank you Jesus for the opportunity to
* Rest
* to learn about the process of birth and parenting
* Teaching 'Osi about American culture and the English language
* So many wonderful friendships we have made and renewed here
* Sweet time with our family
* All that 'Osi has learned through Pastor Mich's discipleship
* All Jen has learned from fellow MOPS volunteers: their love, encouragement, and example
* Great fellowship with our Missions partners

Oh! And Isaac slept for 3.5 hours straight last night! yay! What more could this young crazy couple as for?

Treasure all these things

2010-01-08T17:32:00.000-08:00

I fell out of any normal routine after the baby was born, including my morning quiet time, and I've really been struggling as a result. So this morning I resolved to get back on track again. With Isaac on my lap we prayed for forgiveness and fresh revelation. God taught us a beautiful lesson from Luke 2:8-20, through the shepherds, the angels, and Mary.

After the shepherds experienced the miracle of angels and seeing the Savior they went out and told the whole village. "And all who heard it were amazed."
"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
I think there is a time for us to experience God and tell the whole world about it, like the shepherds did. Don't hide our light under a bushel but boldly declare the great things He has done for us.

But there is also a time for us to be like Mary and treasure miracles in our hearts, ponder the grace of God, and meditate on all He has done.
I need to do that more. I've had alot of rainy days lately with no sleep, when my precious baby won't stop crying and everyone else is annoying. On those days I really really need to start pondering the miracles I've treasured up in my heart - fight the blues with the blessings.
Have you treasured up miracles in your heart lately? Save them for a rainy day.

delirious

2009-12-30T17:57:00.000-08:00

This is how I am experiencing Motherhood:
For the first time in my life I am willing to sacrifice all sleep, work, vanity, and sanity for this little guy who spends 80% of his time eating and the other 20% pooping.
We have had brief moments of sleep sprinkled over the past 3 weeks, but I fear I am still losing my mind. Last night I told him "ok we're going to pray now for our family, dear God please bless 'Osi and myself and....the baby.
what's your name again?"

Isaac Halalilo, I adore you.

Announcing

2009-12-15T19:07:00.000-08:00

Our beautiful baby, Isaac Gray Halalilo was born on December 5th,2009 at 12:58 p.m.
He was 7 pounds 7 ounces; 21 inches long; and absolutely perfect.

2009-11-30T21:20:00.000-08:00

Thank God for family!
One of the greatest blessings of our lives is family. Praise God we have both been able to stay close with our own nuclear family, and with one another's. 'Osi sometimes says "our family is our first missions field", meaning that we need to work hard for peace and loving relationships with our nuclear family. After that we can start looking outward to loving and reaching the rest of the world.

Getting involved

2009-11-04T11:24:00.001-08:00

We absolutely love our church family at Camano Chapel. Everyone is so loving, we are overwhelmed every week we go through the door. Thankfully we have a little free time on our hands while visiting so we have been able to volunteer in several programs. 'Osi's been helping out with EYP (Jr. High youth group) and joined the Sunday night volleyball team. He is also being discipled by Pastor Mich and is so grateful for the new Paul/Timothy relationship they are developing.
Together we have volunteered in the infant nursery, soothing crying babies has been great practice for us. hehe
Then Jen has been helping out in Home-school Co-op and MOPS, thoroughly enjoying the other volunteers as much as the energetic toddlers.
If you are interested in being involved in a loving church family, we recommend Camano Chapel. For 20 years it's been a loving Mother hen to Jen, and 'Osi is so lucky to be adopted into the nest.

Tongan Missions Dinner

2009-11-04T10:48:00.000-08:00

We hosted a Tongan missions dinner at Camano Chapel last month. This was a way to say thank you to our missions prayer supporter team, and others who have been praying for Tonga. We are so thankful for all the people who came, including 'Osi's family from Seattle.
'Osi entertained us with Pacific Island dances, (I mean cultural presentations - because we don't 'dance' in church right? =)

Hiding our pumpkins

2009-10-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

I've been introducing 'Osi to American culture and he believes nearly everything I tell him. So now we can do all the American traditions, plus some I make up, and the ones that are normally reserved for children!
Going to the pumpkin patch to pick the perfect pumpkin was a must - only he insisted that I was hiding one under my shirt, so he did the same.
He paid for his now, I'll pay for mine next month. hehe

There's no place like home

2009-09-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

Hello friend,
We just wanted to let you know we're back in the U.S. again and have been so overwhelmed by the love of friends and family who have been welcoming us home...we especially want to thank our Camano Chapel family for their excitement. You always treat us like celebrity's even though we're only simple, young kids trying to follow Jesus.
Thank you all.
So we will be home for the next 3.5 months, for the next 3.5 reasons =)

1.) We're having our first baby, and would love to give birth in an environment that is safe, healthy, and familiar for Jen. At least this first time, she needs her Mom =)

2.) This is a great opportunity for 'Osi to meet our family and friends in the U.S., and experience American culture.

3.) Jen's Mom is having major surgery next month. We want to be here to care for her, and drive our little sister Mary to school and soccer practice everyday =)

Also....Jen is meeting with the YWAM Publisher in Seattle, with a book on Missions that she has been putting together.

Please feel free to call or write anytime! We would love to spend time with you if it is convenient, or at least catch up over the phone.
360-652-7430
God bless you with great joy!
-'Osi and Jen

Bula from Fiji!

2009-09-13T21:27:00.000-07:00

It’s 8:45p.m. and the youth are starting to gather at the outdoor crusade. They told us it started at 6, but Fiji time is a fluid concept.
I (Jen) was beginning to get bored so I fished super glue out of my purse and began fixing my broken sandal. A few minutes later the pastor called “‘Osi, our guest from Tonga, please come up and share the word of God with us!” I am so proud of him—this is his first time preaching in English to a giant crowd of people.
The message went smoothly, we all laughed at his jokes and shouted “amen!” at the appropriate times. But then he throws a curveball and calls me up to sing a song with him! I have a dangerously squeaky singing voice, and in the excitement of the sermon I had somehow managed to superglue my fingers together, which were glued to my dress, and also glued to my leg. So I awkwardly hobble up to the front, smiling, smiling, extremely nervous.

Thankfully it was a short song, and the Pastor didn't ask me to sing again. (?) But I have all new respect for my husband, having the courage to take any opportunity to share the gospel with one person or a hundred. It reminds me of our Father who invites us to represent Him and serve Him even when we’re awkward, can’t sing well, and glue our fingers together. hehe

Hallelujah!
We're really enjoying our time in Fiji, while waiting for 'Osi's visa interview on September 15th. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement.....we really praise God for opening many doors for us to serve the Missionaries and different villages in Fiji too.

Everyday we have been able to do door-to-door evangelism, youth crusades, prison ministry, helping tons of young Missionaries write their first newsletters.....God is so good, keeping us busy, using our talents. Never a dull moment!
Here's a picture of us with a local youth group we were helping with.

We're in Fiji

2009-08-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

We are here now applying for 'Osi's visitor's visa to the U.S. We really want to visit Jen's family and have the baby in the U.S. for citizenship and health reasons.

We arrived last week and have gotten settled into the Youth With A Mission in Suva house with the couple here who just started a counseling ministry. Their names are Jerry and Debra, and they are in their late 50’s, He is Fijian and she is American. Very sweet couple, we have really been enjoying getting to know each other, sharing our testimonies…..
The day we arrived I called the U.S. Embassy to make an appointment for ‘Osi, but they said that they have changed all their Visa policies, everything is much stricter starting this month, plus the rates have been raised, and all paperwork is online. So I filled out all the forms online last night (I had to do it 6 times because their internet server kept crashing! Praise God for the perseverance =)

Then I was able to make an interview appointment for ‘Osi. The bad news is, now is peak visa season so people from around the Pacific have been coming in for visa interviews, and there are no available appointments until September 15th. Sooooo we booked the appointment, and will keep checking in to see if there are any cancellations and possibility of an earlier one.
But ‘Osi and I prayed a lot about what God wants us to do while we’re in Fiji. We were really encouraged by the word, and feel that He is leading us to get busy in some kind of service and evangelism while here. So please pray for open doors =)

After praying we met 2 young Missionary guys from South Nandi who have been helping lead a youth crusade in the city this week. They invited us to join them in the crusade, and preach to the Fijian youth. So that’s what we did =) We joined them all week in the afternoons and evenings, helping with the crusade. 'Osi also taught the guys a Fijian praise dance, so they are performing that tonight at the crusade =) We also joined in a prison ministry over the weekend.

I’ve also be helping Debra get her counseling office set up – her wireless and computer stuff, as well as making some brochures and fliers for their ministry and counseling school. Today I sketched a few logos for her..... I want to help her with advertising, so that more people in Suva know they can come here for help and healing as well as training in counseling if they want to take the school.

So it’s pretty exciting so see how God is working, we always have our plans but His are much better, right?

We still really pray to get the visa to come home to the U.S. to see our family/friends and have the baby in December – please keep praying for that.
But in the meantime we’re happy to “be about our Father’s business” =)

Tragedy in Tonga

2009-08-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

Friends, please pray for Tonga. There have been many tragedies happening lately on each of the 3 islands of our kingdom. One of the most terrible tragedies happened this month, when an inter-island ferry the MV Princess Ashika sank killing 93 passengers on board. The victims were mainly women and children who were trapped inside the ship while they were sleeping.

While they were sailing a storm arose and somehow the ship flipped upside down. Many of the men (staying outside on deck) were able to jump ship, but the others were trapped inside when the ship began sinking within seconds.

'Osi lost one of his Uncles, his Mother's eldest brother. So we are mourning for him and all the families who lost loved ones. This is a major tragedy for our country because families are so tighly knit and our population is so small. Losing 93 people in Tonga is relative to losing 237,166 Americans (comparing the population size). So nearly every person in Tonga has lost at least one relative. Everyone is hurting.

Please pray for our people.

(Here is a photo of some survivors returning home)

Happy 6 month Anniversary Honey - let's weave baskets!

2009-07-29T18:43:00.000-07:00

Loloma has been teaching us how to weave baskets from coconut palms!
And Jen made a stunning "Happy 6 month Anniversary" hat for 'Osi. King of the house =)
he is wearing it proudly.

We plan to fill the baskets with taro (Tongan potatoes) after we harvest it, to sell it in the market. Taro is one of the main food staples in the Tongan diet. Nearly every Tongan meal includes "Tongan food", one of the many varieties of starchy root vegetables we grow here.

Typical (exciting) day on the job!

2009-07-29T18:18:00.001-07:00

'Osi (middle) preached some words of encouragement to the country, through the local Tonga TV station.

Jen's been helping out in
the mission's office,
with communications projects.

'Osi recently spoke at an outdoor evangelism night in one of the villages. He has a passion for reaching and teaching the youth of Tonga.

Tongan Pregnancy Lore - according to Jen

2009-07-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

Being pregnant, for the first time, in a foreign country has been an adventure, let me tell you! Everyone is excited for us, every female, Aunty, and Grandma in the village wants to give their advice about what I must do in order to have a perfect baby. Everyday they surprise me with new rules.

Sure, every culture has their unique brand of pregnancy lore - but I dare any to be as creative as Tonga.
For starters chili peppers are forbidden. Unless I want my newborn to have twitching eyes syndrome. I don't, but mind you there are limited flavor additives for Tongan food - we can either put copious amounts of salt on our daily yam/taro portions - or chilli. I love chilis! But when I catch myself reaching for the tiny red treasures I can feel every eye accusing me "Do you really want 'Osi's child to have twitching eyes??"
Coffee is completely tabu.
Even one cup. One tiny cup. Being from Seattle, the mecca of fine coffee (Starbucks), it is my birthright to be a coffee addict. I even downloaded the International and FDA caffiene standards for pregnant women, 1-3 cups a day is perfectly fine. But alas, I must sacrifice my coffee cup on the alter of good motherhood.
Octopus (another favorite) is also forbidden. Otherwise the child will be born with splotchy octopus skin. That's ok I don't need a Star Trek baby.
Too many carrots (fav. veggie) is also bad. Otherwise the child will be born orange, so I'm told.

The GOOD pregnancy lore, I am thankful for is that I am no longer allowed to touch cold water anymore. Since we don't have warm running water 'Osi now carries the responsibility of handwashing our clothes and dishes. And I don't shower anymore.
Just kidding.
I heat up the kettle and take a bucket bath. Which I sometimes do for the clothes and dishes too, because 'Osi has to hang up all the laundry. (They believe pregnant women should not stretch or reach up their hands too much.
The most fantastic story I've heard is whoever I stare at the most will resemble the baby. Thankfully I spend 95% of my day staring at my husband. So we're expecting a very handsome child.

Please let me know if you can explain my frequent sneezing and crazy dreams. Last night I dreamed that kung-fu Thai fighters were taking over our village. Thankfully I was able to surf a tidal wave to a deserted island where my missions leader was making pancakes......(maybe it was the octopus I snuck a bite of when no one was looking. shhhh)

Needless to say God is teaching me alot about humility. While my hormones are raging and I can't have coffee, this is the royal test of submitting myself to the culture I am called to serve. Please pray for me to love my neighbors....and follow the rules.
-Jen

2009-07-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Another praise report is that we both have many opportunities weekly to do evangelism with other missionary teams on campus. Sometimes we go from door-to-door in villages, other times we meet in churches, village halls, or do open-air events with cultural dancing, worship and preaching.
Here is a picture of 'Osi dancing (front, right) for an outdoor evangelism night.

The blind will see!

2009-07-12T12:56:00.000-07:00

As always, God is doing great things in Tonga, and we are so thankful to witness His work here. This past month we were sent off campus because we couldn’t pay all our room/board fees.
As we were praying with some other students what to do next, one of the girls asked us to go to her village to pray for her sick father.
Her family is Mormon, so when we visited them we shared some verses including Matthew 11:28 “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” After this we laid hands on him, praying for his healing. This man was very old and weak, as well as blind. After praying fervently we all expected a miracle, but the man remained blind, tears streaming down his face as he thanked us for our encouragement and prayers.
On our walk back home, we encouraged our friend that God loves her father. But sometimes it takes time for prayers to be answered. So we kept praying for her Dad everyday, and 2 days later God provided $700 to pay our debts, and our friend called saying her father is healed, the blind man can see again!

70 years!!

2009-06-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Loloma!
This weekend we celebrated Loloma's 70th Birthday. (Loloma is the dear lady living with us while taking her DTS). Her daughter and Granddaughter flew in from New Zealand, and we had a huge birthday celebration with her family and the entire missions community.
It was a great time of celebrating God's faithfulness and blessing over Loloma's life.

She truly inspires us, like Psalm 145:4 says "One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts."
We are so blessed to live with Loloma everyday, sharing our house and everything with her; amazed by her stories of Gods faithfulness over her whole lifetime. We also praise God because in a few months we'll be able to do the same for our "next generation". Then we will have three generations living in one house.
Hopefully God will give us all 70 years to "tell of his mighty acts".

Excercising our faith

2009-06-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

'Osi had a interesting experience excercising his faith lately.
The farmers surrounding our village were burning their feilds, preparing to plant new crops. The other night 'Osi noticed one fire behind the camp was getting larger and seemed to be coming quickly toward our houses.
He noticed one of the staff of our mission running around frantically asking for the Director. 'Osi thought "I don't know where the Director is, but who am I? Who am I in Christ? I know my position as a child of God. I can go ask God for miracles and He will answer my prayers."

So he marched confidently towards the fire at the end of our campus, and said "In the name of Jesus I command this fire to stop by the time it reaches this coconut tree. You will not harm our houses."

Then 'Osi returned to the main chapel building where we were all gathered to have a meeting. During the meeting a few of the girls were watching the fire nervously, saying how worried they were that the fire was coming too close.
But 'Osi told them not to worry, he already prayed about it, it will stop. Most of us kind of laughed at him (sadly) he has such child like faith and confidence in his prayers. But by the time that fire reached the coconut tree, the rain started falling. God quenched the fire and answered 'Osi's prayers. We all have daily opportunities to excercise our faith, are you praying specific prayers in confidence that God will answer?

Harvesting peanuts!

2009-06-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

The mission we are serving with in Tonga claims to be the only self-funded YWAM base in the Pacific. We have 50 acres of land that we lease from the Tu'ipelehake, and we use much of it for farming. Everyone living at the mission takes time to serve on the farm. This week we had fun harvesting peanuts! We will sell these peanuts, using the profits to help pay for various ministry expenses.

Join the Peace Corps or be a missionary?

2009-06-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

While living in Tonga I (Jen) have had the opportunity to meet several Peace Corp volunteers from America. They are serving in various villages, and we love to talk about life in Tonga and how we sometimes miss American food or hot showers.

I have been told that most Peace Corps volunteers are not Christians. Out of 20 living in Tonga I have only met 2 believers, and they claim to be the only ones. I met these two at church, and try to encourage them regularly because they are very discouraged, claiming to be continually bombarded with ridicule for their faith. Please pray for them.

On the other hand, this is a fantastic opportunity to share God's love with the others! It is wonderful that they have come here voluntarily, to serve the Tongan people. They share that common ground with Christians, to serve and sacrifice for the good of others.
I have started contacting a few of them for casual visits, and hope we can become friends. Hopefully we can all broaden our understanding of faith and the culture we are living in now.

Thank you

2009-06-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

For the past 5 years in missions we have been strengthened and protected all over the world because you were praying faithfully.
Sometimes people send us a word of encouragement which is exactly the thing we need to sustain us in a spiritual battle. Your partnership with us is vital, and we want to improve our communication with you. From now on we will try to update this weblog with new photos and stories every week.

One of our main goals in ministry is to proclaim God’s goodness through our testimony.
Revelation 12:11 says the Christians overcame Satan “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
We all want to be counted in that number of Christians boldly sharing our testimonies right?

So what can we do to be in better communication with you? Should we send newsletters more often? Maybe every 2 weeks instead of every 4-6 weeks? We enjoy praying for you every day when you send us your prayer requests….should we send you more letters or postcards?
If you would like to receive letters through the mail we can do that. We apologize because sometimes our mail doesn’t reach America, coming from our remote 3rd world country. But we’ll keep trying. We received our first letter here this week and were so excited. Jen’s Grandma mailed us corn seeds for our garden (thanks Grandma!)
Whatever we can do from our side, we really want to try our best to improve communication. Because we care about you, value your partnership, and need to share more testimonies for God’s glory. Amen?

Here is the exciting news….

We’re having a baby!
This was a total surprise to us, because we planned to wait awhile—but God did a miracle.
This is a blessing and testimony to ‘Osi’s family too. His 3 older brothers have been married for many years with no children. They really want children but are not walking with the Lord. Now they see how we are walking with God and He blessed us with a baby even when we were trying to prevent it. God is so amazing!
So now we are over the shock, and getting excited. God’s plans for us rarely seem “practical” or “safe”. Remember what He called Noah to do? Or David, or Esther? (Check out Hebrews 11 for more fantastic examples of faith). When we put our faith in Him He can show His greatness and do miracles.
This month we moved back to the YWAM Missions compound on the main island of Tonga. We felt we should return here for a bit more Bible/ministry training while helping serve the mission. Because everywhere we’ve lived the past 5 months of marriage we get heavily involved in local ministry, and quickly the Pastors offer ‘Osi a leadership position among the youth or asks us to pioneer a pre-school….random things. But every time we bring it to God in prayer, we get verses about how we need more training and humble positions first.

While we are serving and training here…..

We are sharing a cute cabin with another missionary on campus. She is a darling 70 year old lady named Loloma, who just gave her life to Jesus and wants to be a missionary. We love Loloma as our own Grandma, and are thrilled to have her in our family. She came with nothing to support herself, and no family support. So we applaud her bravery. She is a true disciple, leaving everything to follow Jesus. Loloma is also helping Jen improve her Tongan, because she talks constantly but doesn’t speak English. The only English word we have hear her speak is "enough!" when we give her too much food.

Maybe you were wondering why we took the past 4 months off from our “normal” ministry to do youth ministry in other villages with our family. Truthfully, we have not changed our missions focus or vision, but were respecting the culture we live in. In Tonga after marrying the man is expected to take his bride home to help his Mom and meet the whole family. Indeed we spent a lot of quality time with the whole family, sometimes packed into a 3 room house with 4 different families. Spending our “honeymoon” in the same room with Grandpa was awkward, but overall God used us in exciting ways.
A few of our relatives recommitted their lives to God simply because they saw that we read the Bible and pray together daily instead of screaming and fighting. Osi’s brother and sister in-law have been married, wanting children for years but never could. But when they saw that God blessed us immediately with a baby, they started praying and going to church again….after inviting God into their marriage they conceived 2 months later! Hallelujah!

The most amazing miracle…..

Is that after 16 years ‘Osi’s Dad is finally reuniting with his Mom. ‘Osi’s Dad, Kesomi sat in our kitchen last week crying as he confessed his failure to a group of friends and family. Kesomi had left ‘Osi’s Mom Kelela 16 years ago in Tonga with their 7 children. Then he moved to Alaska, saying he wanted a divorce and had another girlfriend. But Kelela refused to give up on him, and she prayed for the next 16 years. Kesomi said recently he has been convicted by the way his children are missionaries trying to serve God, yet he should be the one setting an example. So he flew back here to Tonga and is currently reconciling with his wife.

Malo aupito! (Thank you very much) for your encouragement, advice, prayers, and partnership with us. We always pray for you, and look forward to communicating with you more regularly.
Love 'Osi, Jenn, Loloma, and the baby.

Eating the neighbor’s dog….. and the never ending Easter Celebration

2009-06-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

Life is different in Tonga.
The other day I sent ‘Osi to the shop to buy some milk and he came home holding the neighbors dog by the feet, dead. He found it on the road, and guessed a car hit it, so we can cook it for lunch. We’ve been on a tight budget, since the U.S. economy went down our missions support is down 1/3 what it was before. But God still provides manna from heaven! Jehovah Jireh, our provider.
We know that you may be facing a similar struggle right now, so we have been praying for you and your family everyday. Praying you will experience God’s peace and provision for your family. Tongans always tell me how proud they are of being free, they don’t feel pressured by jobs schedules, time, or bills….just free. Just live, and eat what God provides. Dogs are tasty with salt and onions. Meanwhile the building project continues, as we help our Mom finish her house.

Our brother Viliami also came up for a week to help us build the house. Here is a recent family photo.Here in our village ‘Osi and I helped lead the Easter program for the children/youth in our church. We had to be there from 6 A.M. until midnight the whole weekend, so I was squirming like a little kid on the pews. Overall I didn’t contribute much to the program because my Tongan is not fluent yet, but ’Osi was fantastic teaching and preaching. Several kids gave their lives to Jesus, Praise God!!

♥ ‘Osi and Jennifer Halalilo

Building!

2009-06-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

'Osi enjoys working on the house, he is learning alot about carpentry. We just installed the plumbing, so our Mom can have her first indoor toilet! We are all very excited.

March 2009 Newsletter

2009-06-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

We have so much exciting news to share with you this month, and here are the highlights:
We moved to Vava’u the beginning of this month. Vava’u is another main island in the kingdom of Tonga. ’Osi’s Mom Kelela, and some siblings still live in his childhood home where we are living temporarily to help Kelela finish her house, and renew her farm. ’Osi’s Dad and all 3 older brothers moved away to find work, so Kelela really has to work hard to care for the other children on her own.
I love, Kelela so much. She is the perfect picture of a Proverbs 31 lady. When we first married ‘Osi told me “Jennifer, I love you so much. I love you like I love my Mom.”What!! That’s every American wife’s nightmare being compared to the perfect Mother in law!
But now that I am living with Kelela I understand, I can’t be jealous of an angel. Besides ‘Osi gives me ample reason to feel secure. Every day he scrubs the Tongan mud off my feet and tells me how much he loves me. He is a wonderful husband. Another way God blessed us this month is through ‘Osi’s Dad giving us land for an inheritance. Land in Tonga is passed down from Father to son, and his Father gave us the best piece. We praise God for this generous gift. Hopefully we can build a little Tongan house from coconut leaves so we have a permanent address anytime we need to return from missions.
When I first visited the property I cried and cried. Its everything I ever dreamed about, and ‘Osi was totally confused when I reenacted a scene from Gone With the Wind – grabbing a fistful of dirt I declared “With God as my witness, I’ll never go hungry again!!!”
‘Osi was working as a youth leader for 3 different churches in Tongatapu before we moved to Vava’u. We are still involved in ministry everywhere we go, and I have internet set up at home now to continue mission communications work. Also I finished two documentary videos this month for YWAM Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. But our main ministry now is friendship evangelism with many of our unsaved family members and friends in our village.
Everyone goes to church as part of the culture, but many people don’t have a relationship with God. So alcoholism, abuse, and other problems are common within families in our village.
Village life centers around church meetings. So I really need you to pray for me to learn Tongan faster. I love going to church at home, but going to church Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5:30 in the morning, then again on Sunday 3 times a day is a bit much when I don’t understand the language.
It was hilarious, today was the quarterly giving Sunday, but I didn’t know the protocol. ‘Osi and I were rushing out of the house when I grabbed our tithe, thinking it was a $50 but it was only $2. So the protocol in our Free Wesleyan (Methodist) church is every 3 months we save up our money and bring a large offering to the front. Then the deacon calls out our name and the amount we gave. Man, I was so embarrassed giving our $2 widows mite.
Good thing God and the Pastor are more concerned with our hearts than public displays of holiness.‘Osi has had many meetings with the pastor of our church here. They have several ideas for reaching the youth in our village. Most of the youth are going to church on Sunday as part of the culture, but during the week they are taking drugs and alcohol and falling away from God’s plan for their lives.
Please pray for the youth in our village. It’s difficult to reach people who think they are Christians because they go to church, but they don’t have a real relationship with God. We want to encourage them to see that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their life.This promise is true for you as well dear friend.
God bless you as you grow closer to Him,
♥ Jen and ‘Osi
Praises and prayer requests:
1.) Praise God for the opportunity to serve our family and new village in Vava’u.
2.) Please pray for our good health, Jennifer is recovering from dengue fever this week
3.) Praise God for our ministry opportunities to the youth, through ’Osi’s favor with the Pastor 4.) Pray for Jennifer to learn the language and adapt to being the only foreigner in the village, it can be lonely sometimes

Wedding Photos!!

2009-02-09T13:56:00.000-08:00

At last!
I am now Mrs. Faka'osi Halalilo.
We had a beautiful simple little wedding here in Tonga. Please see the Wedding Photo Album on the right side of this page!
Love from Tonga,
Jenni and 'Osi

Faka’ofo’ofa!

2008-09-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

I may be vain but……..
Living in Tonga surrounded by beautiful people, has made me wonder what is their secret?! They are so very beautiful, with such smooth skin. Their skin glows brighter and healthier than a Maybelline commercial!
So I did a bit of research and I am happy to report to you the ancient secret for their beauty. Can you guess?
Customarily I found Tongan women trekking to the bush looking for tui tui trees. They gather the small brown tui tui nuts, crack the shells, and chew the nuts mixed with fragrant leaves. Then they spit the mixture out and rub it on their skin!
It sounds gross, but I had to try it since I claim to “wear the culture”. So I started chewing and spitting and rubbing…. Rubbing it on naturally exfoliates our skin because of the small nut pieces, but what really surprised me was that a mysterious ingredient in the nut causes dirt to rise up! That is why they call it Tongan soap. Then after we rinse off, the oils from the nuts leave our skin feeling soft and smooth. It really is amazing stuff.
Perhaps I am a vain missionary, but I tell you everyday I have been doing this and have reaped the benefits of beautiful skin and a valuable life lesson: this is just like the Holy Spirit.
When we ask the Holy Spirit for a fresh anointing and covering everyday He sluffs off the old dead skin, and draws out the dirt and sin from our life. Then as the sin washes away our lives are so much brighter and beautiful.
Faka’ofo’ofa is the Tongan word for it: beautiful. Life is beautiful when we allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in our lives cleansing and renewing us. And don’t we all want to be beautiful from the inside out?

Our wedding!

2008-09-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

Well....not mine it was Jessie and Pila's, but I was a bridesmaid =)

Incognito

2008-08-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

This week I found myself the fortunate stow away on the big yellow truck taking the DTS feild trip to the beach! Usually people aren't aloud to go along, but I was desperate =) Fortunately I had this tupenu to cover my head and conceal my identity. I blend in right?

Weaving with my roomie!

2008-08-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

This is my lovely roomate Suliana. She has MAD palm weaving skills, which she has been teaching me so that we can decorate our gate for the coronation of the new King of Tonga!

Jen's July 2008 News - lessons from the Quaker Box

2008-08-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

Every morning I laugh while reading the back of my oatmeal box with the sordid recipe for Oatmeal Quesadillas. Strange people, whoever thought of that. Breakfast for dinner is cool if it’s pancakes. But there should be a limit, right? =) This originally caught my eye after noticing the text in a foreign language. Naturally I assumed it was Tongan because we are in Tonga.
So I’m thinking
“Right on! I’m going to learn Tongan from my oatmeal box!” But as I read along – almost the whole recipe – I thought “cucharaditas de granos” and “Sazonar” might not be Tongan because Tongan words always end it vowels. Reading further down the box I caught the phrase “En Mexico importado” and my cunning linguistic intuition told me “This must be Spanish!” hence the recipe for Oatmeal Quesadilla’s.
I drank another cup of strong, special missionary brew, instant coffee and two things became very clear: #1.) I should get a Tongan dictionary. #2.) Quaker Oats needs to rethink their marketing strategy.
Why in the world are they sending products all the way out to a tiny little Island kingdom where people highly value food, then they market the food in Spanish?!
I had another cup of great instant coffee and began to ponder my own life – as if I were the oatmeal box coming to this foreign land. Will the people read me in the right way or am I carrying too many labels from my native language and country, or the last language and country I’ve been to?
The Spirit really convicted me to shed my labels. Be fresh and ready to learn from the people and start wearing the culture. Obviously missionaries need to learn the local language, dress, food, and customs…but I think it goes deeper. Since I know The Living God has called me to be here, I want to be the best I can for Him. Will I love the people enough to wear their culture from my heart? 1 Corinthians 9:22

I am so thankful for that revelation from the Oatmeal box because......
After that morning I had an excruciating week. Potentially the worst week of my life. Physically, spiritually, and emotionally I was so sick….Something happened to me and it was 7 deadly poison arrows shot in my heart (not exaggerated enough.)
But eventually, God restored my soul, enabling me to focus on my work. I got back to learning the language and culture.
One night I was sitting outside with the girl DTS students. We were shelling peanuts on the porch, laughing and talking in broken English/Tongan. Then one of the girls said the sweetest, uplifting thing, “Jenni, we know you love us ‘cause you not just wear our long dress, eat our Tongan food, and try to talk in Tongan – but you wear it in your heart.” Man she made me cry. I really love these people. I really love God who probably had her say that =)
And I want to encourage you, my friend to read the back of your oatmeal box and meditate on the life changing lessons God is teaching you. Please seek Him daily, love people, and never give up.

My new home for the next 2 years! (Lord willing)

2008-06-08T15:16:00.001-07:00

Why Tonga?

2008-06-08T14:57:00.000-07:00

Dear friends, I have some interesting and exciting news to share with you! But I wanted to share it straight from my heart. So as I was praying about writing this letter to you, I felt that I should copy a page of my journal here and let you read it. (Normally I never let people read my journal, but this is a glimpse of my heart.)

April 26, 2008. (my first week visiting the YWAM University of the Nations Campus in Tonga)Lord I am getting close to the people here already, especially the girls...and everyone has been telling me to stay. It’s so tempting because I do absolutely love it here. Everything about this place. But I want to have a sign Lord, 4 signs please? There are too many beautiful places in the Pacific with nice people who have asked me to stay and set up my office for communications. But I can’t stay just because of the people, I need to know it’s from You. There are many great places to live….but I want to be in the best place; in Your will. So I wait for the Lord. My soul waits =)
Driving around the country today with friends (Tonga is roughly the size of Camano Island, so it’s easy to drive around) I was amazed at the beauty of this place. And the beauty of the people. Their culture and traditions are soooo beautiful! For about year now I have been dreaming of coming to Tonga…and I have to say I feel like I’m in a dream. The culture is beautiful.
I know that’s such a shallow reason to stay here. But why not? Really? I never wanted to be an ascetic missionary who feels the need to sacrifice every happiness and comfort thinking I will somehow please God by being miserable! So unless I hear otherwise from You Daddy, I think I will continue to follow my heart and my eyes and my taste and all my senses and exercise my freedom of choice =)
Plus another great thing about this place is they have free offices open and ready for occupation, wireless internet, and cheap rent. It is in an excellent location, in the middle of the Pacific. With great leaders whom I trust.
Daddy, this lifestyle I have been living the past year has been a fun adventure with You. But I am getting tired of moving and transplanting myself over and over and over again. I thank You for giving me the strength and diligence to continue moving and planting seeds, building relationships….but Daddy, now I would just love to settle down in one place for awhile and put down deeper roots. Have sanctuary.
It has been a wild ride and I need a place to just stop and think…to work on all these missions projects I have accumulated. Take a deep breath, focus, and grow deep. I am becoming buoyant, resilient, and a bit surfacey – like a coconut floating on the waves being tossed and drifting…..I’m ready to settle on a beautiful island with some other coconutty’s and put down roots. =)
My Father heard the cry of my heart and by the end of the week I had all 4 of the confirmations I asked for: A Bible verse, a dream, and a formal invitation from the leaders, and also the fact that they let me run around barefooted! So I gleefully accepted, and began filling out my visa application to stay here for the next couple of years.
I am sharing a room with the greatest girl named Suliana. She is so cool. We laugh all day long and all night. Since we live around a lot of families the kids usually spend the night at our place too. Now that I’m part of the Tongan family life I feel free to be myself and have a good time, and we are just crazy.
I tell you one thing, it was great to unpack my suitcase after so many months on the road! The office is a good atmosphere to dive into all my communications projects too. By the way, I plan to post links on my blog to the different websites I am creating for YWAM bases in the Pacific. If you want to check them out please visit my web blog www.castyourbread.blogspot.com and click on the links. (Just to show that I am actually working here too, and not just dancing and playing all the time =)
Thank you so much for your love and prayers my friend! God bless you warmly and wonderfully as you call on Him - Jeremiah 33:3
♥ Jennifer

Our city is on fire but we are still having a good time...

2008-05-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

My friends say I need to keep writing provocative newsletter headings to coerce people into reading them. Apparently the “Sleeping with Warriors” title on my last newsletter attracted a lot of attention. No, Daddy, I have not fallen into sin =) I just wanted to see if people actually read these letters each month!
Truthfully, I am in Argentina this week and our city is on fire. Someone said I should title this newsletter “Smoking pot in Argentina” because this city is a smoking pot. Hehe. In spite of the smoke we are carrying on with our mission conference Communications Research Information and Technology (CRIT). Thanks to my amazing boss Bryan, who sponsored my trip here. I was invited to represent the Pacific Islands and meet 30 other worldwide YWAM Communications staff. Did you know YWAM is the largest mission organization in the world? I had no idea it was growing this rapidly worldwide….possibly because I am floating in the Pacific like a coconut on the sea =)
I am thrilled that the waves brought me here briefly, to share about God’s work in the Pacific region.I taught a small workshop on writing for YWAM which was fun. Then I met with a few YWAM Editors to give them some stories and photos from the Pacific. Praise God, various magazines want to publish these stories I have been gathering the past couple of months in the islands. So you didn’t send my communications team out in vain! God is doing miraculous and mighty things in New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, the Cooks and the Solomon Islands…..and I am so thrilled to send these stories worldwide!
At the conference I also learned how to use multimedia computer programs such as Photoshop, so that I can make myself look beautiful. If I look suspiciously gorgeous…..well, don’t look too close. The islands have been good to me =)
Jen’s April 2008 Newsletter!I was blessed to be involved in a weeklong project of organizing a team of missionaries from Central and South America into the official “LatinComm. Team”. I am secretly jealous there are 6 of them to serve their region, and only 1 of me for my region. But I am still praying. Please pray with me that God will send a couple more people to join me in a permanent PacificComm. Team. It was wonderful traveling with Tim and Anna the last 2 months, but they had to return home for work and school….so please pray that God will send more people to help me. See, I have so many dreams for developing communications in the Pacific but I only have 24 hours a day to write the stories, take pictures, shoot video, build websites for the ministries, and maintain them, raise support for all this and….it is fun but please pray for more skilled people to help.
Hey! I love getting your e-mails – please feel free to write anytime!
“Dios con bendiga!” (God bless you)
♥ Jen
p.s. The new addiction?? Matte. mmmmmMatte the marvelous Argentinean green tea pounded into the wooden cup in my hand. The locals share a communal cup of it all day long. Matte is about relationships, caffeine and antioxidants so I happily embraced this tradition. They sent me home with 6 kilos of the stuff and a cold. Yay for communal sharing!

Bula from Fiji!

2008-04-10T12:18:00.000-07:00

I just said goodbye to Tim and Anna as they returned to their motherlands....I love you guys and miss you already. But I'm so thankful we shared this missionary journey together! Thank you.

This past week in Fiji has been fabulous!
I visited 3 seperate YWAM ministries in the past 6 days, and everyone has a fantastic story to tell. So I was extremely busy reporting and gathering photos....
Another highlight was reuniting with my old Fijian friends Salote and Uriah!
Reh Reh Vinaka!
They were YWAM staff in Samoa during my DTS, and have since returned to Fiji.
I completely surprised them - we were laughing and crying there in the village...good times. They say Y.W.A.M. stands for You Will Always Move =)
This gives me hope that I will continue seeing the same friends over and over again - so I'll never say "goodbye" anymore just "see you later!"
Moce!

Jen's March Newsletter

2008-04-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

Jen's March 2008 Newsletter
Last night I was sleeping in a Marae which is an ancient sacred meeting house of the Maori people of New Zealand. This place is so holy, I felt like I was sleeping in the temple. The only thing stealing some of the holiness from the room was the men snoring a chorus throughout the night. =)
All of the families sleep together here when they spend the weekend on the Marae. They don't live here every day, but some have been coming their whole lives. Some can trace their ancestry back 19 generations from this Marae.
As I stare up at the 19 generations of ancestors carved into the beautiful ebony wood beams of this house I wonder what stories the carvings tell. They don't look like people. They look like fierce mythological warriors staring at me with their bright shells for eyes. I am afraid, and don't dare to get up to go to the bathroom.
These are fierce people. Have you ever seen the Maori people do a haka? A war dance? If you have not, go to youtube.com and look it up. (I put a picture of one here at the top) There is nothing that impresses the warrior heart of God on me like a Maori haka.
The interesting thing about Maori culture is that it demonstrates both the Father heart and the nurturing motherly heart of God as our comforter. An older lady just told me that outside the Marae there is war and all manner of violence. But at the end of the day all people, warriors and children alike, are required to take off their shoes at the door before entering here. She says "It is the womb of our culture. The safe place."

Doesn't that picture remind you of Jesus looking compassionately over his people saying "Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem… how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks. But you were not willing" Matt. 23:37.

Friends lets be warriors for God. Strong and courageous and fight the good fight. But when He calls us in for the night lets learn how to rest in Him too. Let's stop striving and fighting; and rest in His love for us and His power to do things for our lives.

The Maori word for life and also thank you….is "Kiora"
Kiora my friends,

♥ Jennifer

Pictures from our weekend on the Marae

2008-04-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

I helped build this....

2008-03-27T13:37:00.001-07:00

This is the stage for the amazing Team Xtreme show that the YWAM body builder men are performing tonight. But I just want everyone to know that I busted out my carpentry skills and helped the guys build this stage yesterday =)
And God created the breathtaking mountain behind it. You could never dream of a better picture for a stage set.

This next picture is of the YWAM Polynesian International guys dancing for the Cook Island World Missions Conference we are videotaping right now.

Cook Islands!

2008-03-16T22:21:00.000-07:00

Anna and I

Easter Sunday in the Cook Islands!

Solomon Islands

2008-03-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

This week we are in the Solomon Islands staying with the YWAM Directors Eddie and Joy and their amazing family…
Eddie and Joy live in the town, but the YWAM missions school is way out in the jungle. It's in the most beautiful village I have ever seen.
It would be such a dream to live in a village with these beautiful people. To build a grass thatched hut up in a tree and live off the land. Work in the garden together and carry our babies on our back...Do tribal dances and eat together at night...Yes, I am 87% sure I will come back here to live someday =)

Tim and Anna are doing great, they are exhausted because traveling to new countries and time zones every week takes a toll. We are making a website for Eddie and Joy.... But we have some time to rest during the day.

Anna and Tim banter all day about who is better Germany or America...and I am trying to learn the Pidgen language =) Today was hilarious, Anna went outside to use the outhouse and came running back into the house yelling "There is a "CRAP" in the toilet!!" She meant to say there is a "crab" in the toilet (which is also strange because we're in the jungle). But sometimes Tim and I misinterpret Anna's German/English.
We were laughing so hard, I thought I would die.
But Anna didn't think it was funny so we went to check it out - and lo and behold there was a giant craB in the toilet!

There are also colossal spiders here, like in Vanuatu. Please pray for my fear of spiders it flares up at all the wrong times. I was teaching at a youth group here the other night and this spider the size of my foot crawled under my chair!

Another highlight of this week was my first chance to drive on the wrong side of the road, stick shift!! It is the rainy season in the Solomons, so there are alot of mud holes in the road....As Eddie was driving us out of the village we got stuck several times and they let me navigate us out while the boys pushed. =)
It was great fun! After all this talk of alligtors and malarial mosquitoes in the mud I was grateful to be on the inside of the truck =)
p.s. Thank you everyone so much for praying for me this week, when you heard the rumors that I had malaria....I was deathly ill for 2 nights but it wasn't malaria. Praise God! Thanks so much for your prayers =)

Pictures of the Solomons

2008-03-15T16:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Island Breeze, Brisbane!

2008-02-26T19:16:00.000-08:00

This week we are helping the YWAM Island Breeze base in Brisbane. The people are incredible, Waqa and Jade are the Directors over 20+ staff and several ministries.

Tim, Anna and I are helping them by videotaping a Melanesian Leaders Conference this week, as well as designing new advertisements for their ministry.....There are incredible Island Breeze dancers here and they welcomed us by performing this traditional Aboriginal dance, among other island dances.
I am 87% sure I will return and base my own communications ministry here this summer. So I'll leave one of my suitcases here as collateral. =) But I'm still praying about it - you know how funny life is. "Man makes his plans but God determines his steps." Please pray for me, I don't know exactly where He wants me to settle after this trip is over. But at least Tim won't have to keep lugging along my extra suitcase =)

Tim killed a kangaroo

2008-02-24T18:32:00.000-08:00

So ever since we arrived in Australia Tim has been wanting to see a Kangaroo.
This desire intensified after watching a short video in Wollongong about Kangaroos fighting. (Don't tell Tim I said this but you can check it out on his blog it is hilarious www.theylookliketrees.blogspot.com)
Kangaroos really do box! But they lose the fight against trucks apparently, because Tim and his friends hit one "accidentally" while driving home from our missions picnic.
To see these guys you would think they had won the lottery - man I'll never understand boys. =)
Of all things to do after a missions picnic.
Hallelujah!

Sydney

2008-02-22T18:37:00.000-08:00

Worshiping with the Island Breeze Sydney Missionaries.

A day in the city visiting the famous Sydney opera house!

We are in the pool because....

2008-02-17T23:46:00.000-08:00

Anna is an amazing photographer.
I tell everyone that even though she denies it.
One of her photography fantasies was to take pictures of beautiful girls in beautiful dresses in a swimming pool....since there happens to be a pool at the YWAM Sydney base myself and 2 of the students here dressed up and fell in the pool...and we had alot of fun.

Because Anna is an amazing photographer =)

God blessem you from Vanuatu!

2008-02-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

Vanuatu is a lovely little island full of beautiful, gentle, cheerful people who live in villages.
This week we are staying in a village near Port Vila, at the YWAM missions school. There are about 20 people who live here, including Staff and students.

Tim, Anna, and I are making a short promotional DVD for them. We’re also helping with their website and writing all the DTS student’s stories… I have been teaching the YWAM Staff a communications workshop for 3 days, and they have been teaching me how to play the bongo drums!

There is a prophetess here named Mommy Miriam who
has inspired me daily with her stories of God working in the villages.

She and I have been meeting everyday to pray and intercede for the missionaries and local church…it is such an honor to spend time with this mighty woman of God.

Another highlight came on Sunday when I took a day off to go surfing with the locals! I was hilariously clumsy on a short board. I landed on heaps of coral everytime, so I'm pretty thrashed, but we had a great time!

Rooky videographer

2008-02-16T18:53:00.000-08:00

Anna caught me working again....I am videotaping Geoff in Vanuatu, the YWAM Director there.
Attempting to create a promotional DVD for them which will be released in August 2008 (?) possibly =)

And then there is me....

2008-02-16T17:22:00.000-08:00

This is the photo that goes with my story below =)

Our team!

2008-02-15T21:18:00.000-08:00

Tim and Anna will be my fellow travelers for the next 3 months! I am so excited to have them on my communications team – taking the Pacific by storm!
God is funny in the way He brings people together. The three of us couldn’t be more different: Anna is the tranquil, efficient, German beauty on our team; Tim is the retroverted, brilliant, pessimist; and I’m the energetic optimist, who is always working on 3 projects at once and feels the need to declare with great joy everything I see in the islands!
We drive each other crazy but we still love each other and function well as a team – praise Jesus! Sadly we do not have a nice team photo that we all agree on yet. So I am publishing the ones that capture our personalities! (Here is the one of Tim and Anna - mine is the one up above)

January 2008 Newsletter

2008-01-29T20:38:00.000-08:00

It's a brand new year and already 2 exciting things have happened!!

One is that everything has fallen into place for me to become the YWAM Pacific Communications Coordinator! In two weeks I will lead a small communications team touring nine countries in the region. We will meet the missionaries, develop their communications, and end in Samoa where my team will leave me to pioneer a little communications outpost. The second ridiculously exciting thing is that I am finally learning to play the drums! Ever since 4rd grade Derek Fekkes has inspired me -I have always wanted to play the drums. Being a rather cheap missionary I could never justify spending money on lessons, so I just kept pounding away on stuff with chopsticks and pencils.
Then one day last month an old friend of mine said “Jen, I want to support you in missions on one condition: don’t spend it on missions or airfare, I want you to get a life! Go do something fun and get into the real world. Ever since you were little you’ve been talking about how Jesus is coming back! You work too much and you need to go have some fun like normal people your age.”
Point taken. Henceforth I shall take more breaks from pounding on my keyboard and praying for the lost, and start pounding on some drums and mastering syncopated rhythms. Let me tell you, drumming is a blast! You can take comfort in knowing that if all the lost do get saved, and I’m out of a job, at least I can join a rock band.

Truthfully, I want you to know that I love being a missionary though. I love partnering with you, to go into the world, preach the gospel, and make disciples….I am not doing it out of some heavy sense of obligation or even the warm fuzzy feelings. I truly love sharing the good news with people. I love publishing the stories I hear about God working in the world. The Pacific people have been calling to my heart for a while now, and I am thrilled to get back out there and encourage hundreds of missionaries in that region.
They are a bit behind in media and communication, yet God is working powerfully among them - so I can't wait to help them herald the good news!
My theme verse for this new mission is "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong...so that no one may stand before Him." 1 Corinthians 1:27 + 29
Also verse 29b from the JAV (Jennifer's Abridged Version) "He gives big titles and responsibility to little girls with nothing but ridiculous ideas and big faith, knowing that God will show up working wonders."

Friends, I am young and green, and my feet are way to small for the shoes I'm putting on. But I trust that God can work in spite of me, and help my feet to grow into them.
Thank you for walking this road with me.
Love,
Jennifer
p.s. my new website is www.ywamconnect.com/sites/jennifergray

Spending time with family and friends......

2008-01-27T14:49:00.000-08:00

Oh what fun it is to......

2007-12-30T16:06:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas dear friends!!!!
(hmmm I better be careful who I say that to.) Right now I have two Jehovah's Witness missionaries working zealously to convert me.
Every week they come over for coffee and scones, and we study our Bibles. Several translations are strewn across the table as we go through the doctrines step by step.
It's interesting.
I am learning a lot from their approach. I am also very thankful that my church allows me to celebrate Christmas and blood transfusions.
But I feel guilty. Am I leading them on by being so interested in their faith? Meanwhile I'm praying they will come to know the Truth, and relieved knowing I don't have to get angry or superior in flexing my theology… I just have to be their friend and love them, and search for truth withthem. God is faithful, and will show us the way. Please pray for their salvation, they will make wonderful YWAM'ers someday =)
I'm living at home in Washington again this month; doing my missions writing here and trying to raise missions support. My Director strongly suggested I come home, and stay home, until I can raise enough support to pay my rent.
Praise Jesus for the opportunity to share about missions at several homes and churches in Stanwood. Making a big deal out of God is what I love to do, so it has been fun. (Did anyone see Pastor Steve do the Samoan warrior dance for the Camano Chapel presentation??) E lelei le Steve! It was classic, you can probably find it on " u-tube.com" =)
Thank you so much Terry Greer, Luke and Tori Dawson, and Chris Mietes for joining my mission team this month!!
Thank you all friends who have been partnering with me in missions these past four years. I am so blessed to have you on my team. Praise God, we have touched many lives through your partnership. Please remember, I would love to come and visit you while I'm home. I could bring some international dessert and we can talk about missions and your family.
In the meantime, thank you so much for praying for me as I continue to write the stories of the wonderful things God is doing in the world. Please keep praying for my new Jehovah's Witness friends too.
Merry Christmas!!!!
Love, Jennifer
YWAM International Communications NetworkP.O. Box 26479Colorado Springs, CO. 80936(719)-380-0505
send4jen@gmail.com

Here is a photo of me baking Christmas cookies with AWANA girls - so much fun - I love getting involved in AWANA when I'm home.
If you're looking for a good ministry to be involved in locally, AWANA clubs are an excellent way to reach kids for Christ - and they're always looking for new leaders! Here is also a photo of my cute sisters, Emily and Mary, it's been so fun to be with you again for Christmas =)

Baking Christmas Cookies!

2007-12-27T18:21:00.000-08:00

with the AWANA girls!

Jen? Are you back??

2007-11-16T20:16:00.000-08:00

If you happen to see me around Stanwood this week, you may be puzzled.
And justifiably so, since I just sent out a newsletter saying I was loving life and missions in Colorado!
There are 3 possible conclusions one might jump to:
1.) I have a twin
2.) I’ve been hiding out at home all these years, making up stories about the countries and missions I've been in.
3.) My mission director strongly suggested I come home, and stay home, until I can raise enough support to pay my rent.
If you chose option 3 you are cunning and qualified for a free evening with me!
I will gladly come to your home, bringing a tasty international dessert, and share my vision for missions with you!

I hate being pushy and making people uncomfortable - so I may wait for you to tell me you're interested. But I am praying God will stir in the hearts of people a desire to be involved in missions. I absolutely LOVE to share the stories of the wonderful things God is doing in the world and how you can be part of it.
So next time you see me around Stanwood feel free to grab me and be the answer to my prayer! =)
p.s. my new e-mail adress is send4jen@gmail.com
and phone number is 360-652-7430

So I moved to Colorado and........

2007-10-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

I promised my Editor that I would come and spend at least 6 months living here in Colorado Springs working on writing projects for my fellow missionaries at the Youth With A Mission International Communications Network office.
I actually have my own little office – but since my Editor left on a business trip the next day he said I could use his until I finish preparing mine. sweet! I just got here and I’m already taking over my bosses office.
The people I work with here are nice except they told me
I have to wear shoes and stop singing in the hallway. So I am doing my best to become poised and professional.
Much to my chagrin they said I could not paint my new office to look like a Samoan beach fale (open hut with a thatched roof)...
but they let all those little shortcomings pass like water under the proverbial bridge because of the baked goods I have been bringing in. Ha.
I feel like Amelia Bedelia.
Actually I’m glad because I love to cook but also intend to keep my cute girlish figure forever, sooo bringing those brownies in for everyone else to enjoy makes everyone
happy.
(as an aside for all the sweet, well-intentioned ladies at church who try to hook me up with different nephews ect. I need to marry a man who likes to eat.)
Another thing that surprised and delighted me this weekend is that it snowed already! It was the strangest thing – Saturday it was 75 degrees and I got sunburned, but I woke up Sunday morning and found this!

60 minute meals a day with Jennifer Gray

2007-10-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

Or something like that....

Oh the joy of baking! Pumpkin bread seemed like a good place to start because it is fall and I wanted to give some to the people who have been praying for me and helping to supply my “daily bread” in missions.
Would you believe my humble little pumpkin yielded 16 loaves of bread?
Amazing – if you have not yet received a loaf of said bread, please don’t hesitate to give me a call and I’ll be happy to bring one to you. =)

p.s. Many thanks to all the wonderful friends and family's who let me come over and share missions stories, pictures and food - I always love coming home to you all!

September - In culture shock - and loving it!

2007-10-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Home again!
After 8 months of living in the jungles of Samoa it’s quite the culture shock coming home to strange modern commodities like….carpet?
Another shock came this weekend when I was struck by the first winter storm on the tippy top of Mt. Pilchuck where my Dad, Jessica, Nate and I were hiking. Thankfully we were rescued by Arthur the lone Mountaineer at the lookout tower.
Admittedly, I was a bit out of my element moving from tropical beaches to wild mountain ice storms – but I’m counting my blessings because this frigid flashback led to my first warm shower in 8 months.
(Which was also really weird.) You know cold showers have been proven scientifically to be better for your hair, skin, and circulation, so I think the Samoans are more advanced than we are in that respect. =)
But things that are bad for us always feel better anyway. So I remain thankful.
Our standard American kitchen has been fun to come back too. After cooking over an open fire for so long I was elated to rediscover the oven.
My family eats a lot less than the Samoan boys I’m used to cooking for, so we could potentially have the same leftovers 3 days in a row.
But they forgave me after I mixed up a bowl of ava (some kind of drink made out of dried leaves, don’t ask how I got it through customs) and danced Island dances for them.

My family is so cool and accommodating to me – I’d like to take this opportunity to pay omage to their graciousness. Lord knows I’m always springing some wild idea on them and they just brace themselves and say “shoot the moon Jen!”
Thanks Mom and Dad and Emmy and Mary for your abundant love for me, for never acting too surprised at my ideas anymore, and especially for not allowing me to elope with that beautiful island guy.
(sigh)You’re right, now I see that it really wasn’t good timing.
More ava?

How life is destined to be from now on

2007-10-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

Playfulness n. The state or quality of being playful
play·ful /ˈpleɪfəl/ Spelled Pronunciation[pley-fuhl] –adjective
1. full of play or fun; sportive; frolicsome.
2. pleasantly humorous or jesting: a playful remark.

Yes, this is a pearl I picked up in Samoa and will treasure till kingdom come - the Samoan people are playful in their talking, working, studies, worship, cooking, eating, sports....play =) I think the village chief even has a glint of playfulness in his eye while chasing little boys with a stick when they're out past curfew.
So as I return home I'm taking this with me, and thank you for ruining me forever for the boring and serious. =)
Mua ta'alo so'o! (we play too much!)
love,
Jen

July 2007 -Summer in Samoa

2007-10-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

Gako le Oso, I pusa kalafa!" is the funny Samoan slang meaning "I'm running around in circles with my sideburns on fire!" =)
That's how I've felt occasionally over the past summer of outreach in Samoa. But it's been especially exciting lately with Samoa hosting the South Pacific Games.
It's like the olympics with thousands of people from Fiji, Cook Islands, Toga, Tahiti.....competing in various games.
Everyday my missions team goes out to evangelize, pray, or do Island dancing with our testimonies on open air stages. I never dreamed of being the only palagi (white girl) doing a hula in front of thousands - but when we're available, God is able, and all things are possible right? =)Truthfully, I have absolutely fallen in love with the Pacific people, especially the Samoans.
I want to die here. (Not anytime soon Daddy, don't worry I don't have Typhoid or Eliphantitus) But I really love the people, culture, language...everything.
I am committed to spending a few months at the YWAM International Communications Network in Colorado Springs this year. But my long term dream is to continue working as a YWAM Missionary Journalist in the South Pacific.
There is a huge need for someone to fill this position as new YWAM bases are cropping up like coconut trees all over the South Pacific. Islanders are wonderful storytellers but they rarely get their stories on paper.
My hope is to do this plus help them develop their communications, websites, brochures.....wherever the island breeze leads. =)Thankyou so very much for your prayers, encouragement, and support that makes this ministry possible. I have prayed for you continuously during my outreach and traning here and am so thankful when you share your prayer requests....
I can't wait to see you soon and share all the crazy wonderful things God is doing in the Pacific.
Hey, when I get home this month we could do a workshop on hula dancing, coconut husking, and missions!! Let me know if you're interested. =)
Viia le Alii! - Praise the Lord!
May His blessing be upon you forever!
Much love, Jen
p.s. please read Psalm 139 today and know how precious and honored you are in His sight.

Paddle your own canoe!

2007-10-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

(June/July Newsletter)
This week I was sitting in the YWAM Samoa office and happened upon a copy of the latest International YWAM’er magazine. I was thrilled to see my articles and pictures in there. Hopefully the missionaries in India and Thailand…will be excited to see God receiving glory for the great things He’s doing in their ministry. That makes me eager to graduate from this DTS in six weeks and get back to my ‘real job’! Right now we’re entering our outreach phase, where we put all of our head knowledge of God and ministry into practice by serving outside of our camp. Lord willing we’ll go to Australia, but we’re still fundraising and praying for God’s direction.
Speaking of direction I learned a great new Samoan proverb this week: “Paddle your own canoe”. Ha. Basically it means mind your own business.
Living in community we can get in each other’s business sometimes which isn’t healthy, but I told my brothers and sister here I hate conflict and especially confronting people with problems, so this week I had to do something extremely difficult. I was called to a meeting with my leaders and a few of my fellow students about some trouble they had been getting into and they needed me to “testify” about what I saw/knew.
It was a tough spot for me and I hated it but I had to tell the truth. After the meeting I started crying, I was so worried that my brothers would hate me for snitching on them and I am not a backstabber.
But as I sat crumpled up and crying in my fale that night they came to me one by one and apologized again. They said they didn’t want me to feel bad or go to bed hating them! So we humbled ourselves in love and honesty towards eachother – it hurts my heart I love them so much. We talked about the situation again, and about our feelings and concerns.
One of the guys explained to me a Samoan proverb “Paddle your own canoe” =) and I said “Eoi, (yes) but I need you to watch me and help me stay on track because we’re all trying to paddle our canoes in the light toward Jesus. If you see me paddling backwards or drifting away please call out to me, and if I can’t hear you get one of our canoe chief leaders to go and help me too. Because the cross-current is strong and there’s whirlpools and rocks in my path sometimes….plus there’s a strange magnetism between my canoe and Pana’s and if we’re out of line we’re gonna capsize.
I’ll just be honest with ya. =)
So if you ever see us doing wrong grab my paddle and beat me over the head please!”
Anyways, the night ended well, we all decided to keep each other accountable in humility. God was glorified, we all love each other,
and we’re trying to grow and learn - isn't that what being a disciple is all about? Viia le Atua!

La'u uo lelei

2007-10-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

This is Atapana Tualagi my best Samoan friend- he and I have been dating since August 2006 where we were both doing YWAM missions in Singapore. I am so thankful for the way his family has accepted and loved me as their own, and he has taken very good care of me just like he promised my Daddy that he would. Even though it's been hard being friends during the DTS because we are hardly aloud to speak to eachother ( staff and students are not aloud to have relationships). But we still pray for eachother and he still does a good job of looking out for me. Malo lava ma fa'afetai tele lava Pana!
La'u uo o le tama lele!

The Lecture Phase of DTS

2007-10-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of me.......studying.

A typical YWAM Discipleship Training Session is divided into 3 months of lecture phase and 2 months of missions outreach. I didn't expect to learn very much from my DTS lecture phase because it's all basic Christian discipleship messages that I've heard a hundred times growing up in a Christian home, church, Bible school, then the missions feild.....My prideful little self seemed well grounded in the fundamentals of Christian life.
Boy was I wrong.
The 3 months of lectures challenged my heart and mind as we dove into The Word together. We studied the nature and character of God, forgiveness, and evangelism....I think I cried every other day in class as God tilled up the soil of my soul and planted new seeds of discipleship into my life.
Praise God for His endless patience in teaching Bible-prideful people like me =)
Here I am next to our fale (Samoan house) with a few of my fellow students: Ameto Vinepa, and Alissa.
We really love eachother.

My Samoan friends and family

2007-06-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

My new Grandma =)

2007-06-23T15:51:00.000-07:00

This is me and my new Samoan Grandma =) Isn't she beautiful? She is so precious and I adore her =)

Fundraising!

2007-06-23T15:41:00.001-07:00

My Discipleship Training School in Samoa has been alot of fun but also alot of work =) Besides our usual studies, ministry, and programs we do alot of fundraising for our school fees. Usually this involves waking up at 4 a.m. a couple of mornings a week to roll rhoti curry, or husk coconuts and make vasallo (a coconut soup /pudding to sell to our neighboring villages).

My Samoan friends/Family!

2007-06-23T15:32:00.000-07:00

Friends in Samoa!

2007-06-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

This is one of my fellow students Ameto who is absolutely hilarious.
I told him I would make him famous by putting his photo online =)

Hacking through the Jungle part 2!

2007-06-09T13:59:00.000-07:00

Talofa Lava Friends and Family!Yesterday I found myself hauling coconuts and hacking through the jungle with a machete – working like this from 9-5 for 2.50 tala per hour (almost equivalent to $1 U.S.)
There are several ironies in this scenario, one of them being I had just explained the word “femininity” to a local guy and my desire to be effeminate. The second being I have earned a college degree to make 50 times that much working in America. But no matter, it was a team fundraiser and I’m fia fia (happy) to be working with my missions team. As we toiled we prayed, fervently, that this job and many prayers will fly us to Hong Kong next month for our outreach. (This is a picture of my team of DTS students and staff)

These past 3 months in Samoa have not exactly been a holiday at the sea – paradise loses some of its appeal when you have no toilet paper, or running water, or money for food. But in this situation I have two options: get sick and depressed and complain all the time like some people are, or suck it up buttercup and learn the lessons God wants to teach us! This buttercup’s choosing the latter option.
I believe God has so many good things He wants to teach us in the valleys. He gave me this verse today from Hebrews 12:28-29 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire’”.

What is more challenging than our physical circumstances is that there is a lot of spiritual attack happening in our camp right now.

Please pray for that.Mysteriously I’m the only one out of 10 girl students and staff who isn’t sick or depressed. I feel blessed that God has placed a shield around me.They say it’s because I’m in love with this boy here but it’s not entirely true.
I really believe God in His mercy is giving me strength, and there are so many of you praying for me back at home. I remain humbled by His grace and thankful for your prayers.May God bless you much as He is blessing me right now (only with an extra measure of T.P.) – and I encourage you to stand in awe of Him for He is a consuming fire, and worthy of our continual praise.Fa’a manuia le Atua! ♥ Kiengy (my Samoan name)

I love Samoa! - part 2

2007-05-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

Talofa Lava dear friends and family!
I am still living in Samoa helping the missionaries with office communications and at the same time doing my Discipleship Training School.
Life in our little YWAM village is gorgeous and simple. The land is green and warm, and the people are so beautiful.
I can feel God’s presence in this place.
Sometimes at 6:00 in the morning when I’m having my quite hour with God. I sit outside watching the sun and steam rise over the palm trees. The fragrance of His presence also rises. The birds are chirping in the jungle and children in red and blue school uniforms are laughing and singing as they walk to their bus. Men and women walk past carrying baskets of taro and bananas on their shoulders.
I call out to them “Malo!” (hi) and they laugh “Malo foe!” ”O a mai oe?” (how are you?) I ask. “Manuia fa’a fetai. - Yeah, fa!” “Fa!” I reply, manuia le aso!” (have a happy day).
The YWAM Missions base is nestled in 5 acres of land, surrounded by jungle and plantations. We live in 7 fales which are basically open huts with no walls and brown thatched roofs. There is a cute little village next door, but we can’t see the people through the thick patch of banana trees between us.
I love to hear their church bells at 6p.m. calling people to stop their work and go home for family devotions. Sometimes I catch children laughing climbing the coconut trees, while their cows munch the jungle fluff outside our gate.
Last week I caught a couple of our Big Samoan guys gazing longingly at the cows and laughing. "O laya layna?” I asked.
“Oh, we were just laughing because palagi’s (white people) look at the cow and think of many different ways to prepare the meat. But Samoans just think, kill, cook, eat until we’re full. Haha
We eat a lot here in Samoa.
There is an abundance of rice, bananas, coconuts, taro, greens, papaya’s, and some meat and fish….I feel like I should be getting fatter but I don’t think I am. Strangely.
Maybe it’s because after our morning classes we work hard farming our plantation, then play volleyball and rugby, then our evening praise and worship time gets pretty fun and energetic at night.
Oh I love Samoa.
Thank you so much for continuing to pray for me on my missionary journey. God is teaching me so much about His beauty, strength, and laughter here.
Friends, the most beautiful and fulfilling thing in the world is being in love with Jesus.
In Jeremiah 9:23-24 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of His strength, or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.”I am so thankful that we can all know the Lord.
I pray I can understand Him better while I am here, and you can understand Him better wherever you are.

Talofa Lava!

2007-04-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

Oka Leilei!

2007-02-12T04:36:00.000-08:00

YWAM is sending me to Samoa!
But before I go I want to thank you for your faithful partnership in missions!
This past year serving as a Youth With A Mission—Missionary Journalist has been an incredible adventure. God is doing great things in the world and it’s thrilling to join Him in our own individual way, isn’t it?
I really have loved encouraging Missionaries to tell their stories. Throughout the year God has expanded my job to include making brochures, promotional DVD’s, and websites for Missionaries, which has been a blast! That is actually what I’ve been doing since I returned home from my trip around the world last December.
Now that I am nearly finished with the projects I accumulated, I am ready to dive into new territory!
"So, why Samoa?” You might ask……Well, last August in Singapore I lived with a team of missionaries from Samoa.
They are the happiest people I have ever met and I spent everyday with them doing ministry, learning Samoan cooking and dancing... (when I wasn’t writing) and everyday they told me Jennifah we pray. Ask God. You come to Samoa for your DTS!”
Soooo I have been praying too.
Then God closed the doors for the other DTS’s I wanted to do because they were earlier and cheaper, and He provided a way for me to go earlier and cheaper to Samoa.
A’u Manuia! I am so excited!
The DTS (3 months of missions training and 3 months of practical service required for my job) does not start until March 22nd. But YWAM Samoa wants me to come February 8th to help develop their office communications, lead a writing workshop, and make promotional DVD’s and brochures for their upcoming outreaches!

So now I’m packing my lava lava’s, sunscreen, and laptop and will be gone for the next 9 months or so. I promise I’ll keep in touch every month, and update my weblog regularly. View new pictures and stories online at www.castyourbread.blogsot.com or e-mail me at send2jen@juno.com
Thank you so much for praying for me dear friend! It was wonderful to see many of you the past two months at home. I loved “experimenting” on you with new Thai food recipes and stories. You are very brave =) This month can you please ask God to give me wisdom, diligence, and creativity as I work in Samoa?
Thank you! I am praying for you too!
Partnering with you in the adventure of serving Jesus,
♥ Jennifer

What if?

2007-01-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

What if the Hokey Pokey is what it's all about?

High Strung

2007-01-22T20:03:00.000-08:00

(Insert obligatory apology for taking ages to write)
It was wonderful to be home for Christmas with my family!
And New Years, and Martin Luther King Day, and.…well I’m still here =)
Didn’t plan on staying in Stanwood for this long, but God always laughs when I tell Him my plans.
I have continued working on various communication projects for YWAM Missionaries: writing their stories, creating and editing websites, designing brochures, and newsletters... Everyday is a fun challenge as I’m learning more about communications and encouraging fellow missionaries.
Praise God for the great things He’s doing in the world!
When I’m not working on these projects I’ve been feeding experimental Thai food dinners to my missions supporters.
But one of the joys of this season has been working at Warm Beach Camp putting up and taking down The Lights of Christmas.
I am so thankful that the camp always welcomes me back to work there, whenever I’m in town. I’ve decided working The Lights of Christmas adds an interesting element to my resume:
Skills?? Well, I can coil Christmas lights with the best of them – in the pouring rain, snow, hail, and hurricane force winds we’ve had this season.
I can create a fake lake with swans on it.
And bodyguard for Bruce the Spruce (the talking Christmas tree)
Every day is a new adventure!
Thanks so much for your love and prayers my friend! Please don’t hesitate to call me if we haven’t gotten together yet. I would love to have you over for dinner so I can experiment on you with some Thai food recipes! =)

John the Baptist?!

2006-12-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

While prayer walking around Brussels I ducked into a French Bookshop and met this jolly celebrity and his...helper(?)
In Belgium and the Netherlands Santa Claus comes on December 16th to put candy in the children's shoes....
I like that.
Santa comes and blesses the kids, then gets out of the way to make room for the real reason for the season. =) I was raised in a home that hated Santa Claus, believing he steals Baby Jesus' thunder.
When I was little my mission was to tell all my little friends "the truth" about Santa. Sure, they cried their eyes out and hated me for a time, but they got over it so I thought they were better off =)

But you know, as I was reading the Christmas story again, I realized that Santa is alot like John the Baptist!
- stay with me here - especially the one in Brussels. He came to help prepare the way, get people excited about Jesus coming, then said "He must become greater and I must become less".
He loved on people, pointed them to the truth, and then got out of the way for Jesus.
Would that we were all like that Santa.....maybe we should put out locusts and wild honey next Christmas Eve =)

God save the Queen!

2006-11-11T03:19:00.000-08:00

I LOVE LONDON!
O.k. This may sound a little weird but when I arrived in the London Heathrow Airport I made a bee-line for the bathroom and joyously exclaimed “Yes! They have real western flushing toilets!” My joy was doubled after discovering a sink – with warm water! and soap! And – hark – paper towels! “Oh it's just too much, I am so thankful for this!” I cried to the lady washing her hands next to me. "I bet I can actually drink this water too without fear of strange uncurable diseases right?” “Sure, she replied, edgeing her way to the exit.”

After traveling hither and yon it is nice to be in a familiar culture again. Our mother country England is so charming. I love the people and culture, as well as the amenities of modern civilization....I felt guilty for feeling this way at first. But you know, it's o.k. to be thankful for comfortable things like paper towels!
We're supposed to learn the secret of being content wherever we are right?

The YWAM ministry in London is completely different from YWAM India, because the needs of the people are different. I will post another story about that later, but I just want to say it is beautiful when the body of Christ reaches out to their community in creative ways using their own cultural giftings.

Wouldn't it be boring if we all followed the same model for missions and evangelism? If we all worshipped and fellowshipped the same way? That would be so boring.
I praise God He has allowed us all to live and serve Him in beautiful and unique capacities.

And I praise him for paper towels!
p.s. No, Emily, I have not met Prince William and convinced him that I'm the princess of his dreams....yet.
p.p.s. Here I am sitting next to Buckingham palace.