Spoiler Alert: South Africa 2015

Hello to my wonderful friends and family who so willingly decided to click on this link! I can’t wait to share how God has been moving so boldly and clearly in my life over the past several months. As many of you know, I recently packed up my few belongings and moved back to Chicago from Nashville to start a new job opportunity at the Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Now, as many of you know, moving in and of itself is an exhausting process, not to mention starting a new job all within a few days. The natural response that anyone would recommend would be to REST for a few months, right? However, God has other plans. 

 March 4-14 2015, I will be joining a team of nurses and traveling to *spoiler alert* SOUTH AFRICA and providing medical care and community support for a small population there. Let me repeat that again, I will be going to SOUTH AFRICA. 

Now, a lot of you may be thinking something along the lines of this: “Does that girl ever take time to sit at home and settle into a routine?” Well, for those of you who know me best know that I’ve never been one to sit still for very long. God laid on my heart at a very young age to do mission work. For a long time, I thought that meant that I had to drop everything, sell all my possessions, say adios to my family and friends and hop on the next gondola for the Amazonas. I was sold out - ready to commit to loving God’s people where I thought He wanted me to go. In fact, I can remember a conversation I had with my dad during college, where I was exhausted from the demands of classes and said “I just want to move to Africa and love all of the babies.” While there is nothing wrong with that sold out fervor, God had to teach me that it was not the ONLY type of missions.

I was ready to take the plunge and commit to international missions, but had to learn to love the people that God had put in my everyday path first. My mission field became my church and the families there, my school, my job, investing in new communities...all the while breaking and humbling me to a place to learn what it means to be a servant of the Lord. I have learned through the years that to it doesn’t matter what setting your “mission” is in, just that the love of Jesus is unashamedly shown and His glory is on display.  Although these lessons are far, far, FAR from over, God has opened up the door for a new mission field....

Which brings me back to my original point: SOUTH AFRICA. I am honored to say that I will be participating in a trip to Cape Town, South Africa and partnering with Justice & Mercy International and Rolling Hills Community Church. When I was first approached about this opportunity, God began doing a work in my heart that silenced all the fears and excuses in my heart. I started to pray and research about this partnership and learned about the people of Living Hope. Living Hope is a ministry partner located in the community  of Red Hill, bringing a servant attitude to those broken down by poverty, disease and addiction. My role on this trip will be partnering with other health care professionals and working with those afflicted with HIV/AIDS, providing life skills education to families with young children and assisting with any other ministry needs. To learn more about how Living Hope is supporting the community of Red Hill, visit: http://www.livinghope.co.za/ 

Now if you’ve made it this far into the blog post, you can probably anticipate what this next portion is going to entail. Yes, that’s right, you guessed it...I need help with this support! The total cost of this trip is $3100 and about $500 has already been raised! I ask that you prayerfully consider a donation to this team and assist in the work God has been doing in South Africa. Even if you feel that you cannot donate at this time, I ask that you join me in praying for this community and for our team as we prepare for this calling. 

For those of you who are interested in donating, there are a few ways you can do that!

• -Cash or Checks can be sent directly to me (Please make all checks payable to JMI and write “Jenn Vander Veen” in the memo line)
• -Mail a gift directly to Justice & Mercy International, 1810 Columbia Ave. Suite 100, Franklin, TN 37064
• Make an online donation: www.justiceandmercy.org Click “donate” and scroll down to “Support a Missionary or Pay for a Mission Trip” and type “Jenn Vander Veen” in the space provided.

WOW! Congrats! You made it to the end of this incredibly long post! I hope to provide you all with updates on the preparations we make for this trip, as well as an update on our financial progress. To close, I want to reflect on a few verses from Matthew 9:37-38. "Then He said to the disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." So, my sweet friends and family, I want to challenge you to pray and discern what mission field YOU are being called to. I would love to hear how God is revealing Himself to you. 

Thank you all in advance for your love, support and prayers. I look forward to sharing how God continues to move so boldly in my life during these next few months. 

Love Always,

Jenn