An Unexpected Burden

During this afternoon's session, a fellow missionary who'd spent a week in Burundi, Africa spoke to our group about her time there. She shared about how the country has been ravaged by war over the last several decades. Many of us have heard about the genocide that took place in Rwanda. But what is not commonly known is that the same battles between those two ethnic groups also ravaged the country of Burundi. A entire generation was basically destroyed. On top of that, HIV/AIDS have spread like wildfire through the country, resulting in even more deaths. There is an increasing population of young widows and orphans--most of whom have little or no income. And many of whom resort to prostitution to provide for their families, thereby increasing the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the country. The church desperately needs help in providing alternate means of income for these women and children. They'd like to teach these women skills they can use, like sewing, to earn money for their families. But they need workers. They need financial supporters. I was unexpectedly broken for the ruined state of the country.

Perhaps a little background history is in order here. My paternal grandparents, Bill & Ruth Cox, were pioneer missionaries with World Gospel Mission to Burundi. When I say "pioneer" missionaries, I mean it just like it sounds. My grandfather was dropped off in the middle of nowhere with basic supplies and a tent. He himself made the bricks needed to then build each of the buildings on their compound. They had no language school to attend to learn Kirundi. No seasoned missionaries to lead and guide them through their initial days on the field. I've heard stories of my grandmother--a very gracious, well-groomed woman--spreading her handkerchief over the dried dung piles the women sat on during her Bible lessons. After a time of making little relational progress with the women, God showed her what the problem was. My meticulously groomed grandmother removed her handkerchief and sat on the dried dung pile like the other women. That simple act bridged the gap between them.

My father was actually born in Burundi. As an adult, he and my mother served a couple years on the field with their one-year-old firstborn: me. I learned Kirundi along with English and embraced the Burundian people as my own. They've often told me that when we came back to the States, I wasn't used to seeing so many white faces. Spotting a black man at either a restaurant or the airport (I don't remember which), I walked right up to him and held my arms out for him to pick me up. Of course I don't remember anything about my time there, as I was only 3 years old when we returned to the States. However, growing up hearing stories of Burundi, Kenya, and other parts of Africa, I've never had any desire to visit the country. I'm the only one in the family that feels this way, too.

So this afternoon when I heard about how ravaged the country has been over the years, my heart ached. Burundi is part of my family heritage. The language and memories of the people and my time spent there are ingrained in some corner of my brain. Still, I can feel a bit of the burden my grandparents must've felt for the country and people of Burundi. I know if they were alive today, they would both be broken-hearted by what has taken place there. I am thankful for their faithful service to the people there. And I pray that God will raise up a new generation of workers and missionaries like them who are called to minister to the precious people of that country. Please pray with me for the country of Burundi.

End of Week 2

We arrived back at headquarters from Clifty Falls late this afternoon. After our emotional day spent watching "Schindler's List" yesterday, we used our evening hours to play games, giving us a chance to get to know each other better. A good game of "Apples to Apples" will do that for you. I can't think of a quicker way to determine a person's sense of humor than a rousing hand or two of the game. (Especially when you've played "52 card pick-up" before even playing the game because someone--and I won't name names--scattered all of the million cards from the game onto the floor when picking up the box.)

This morning we packed our belongings, stowed them in the vehicles, and then completed the last session of the week. In this session, we had the opportunity to view clips from the movies, "Not Without My Daughter", "Kite Runner", and "Trade". I've never seen any of these movies (although as a movie about Mexican children who'd been trafficked, the latter is already on my Netflix queue). I'm not entirely sure why, but these movies, particularly the first, rendered me an emotional mess. Perhaps I should just always travel with a giant Kleenex box with me wherever I go when talking or learning about this particular subject.

It's strange to think that we're already half-way through with our training. Next week I will begin my third week of training and the independent (country specific) study I'm required to complete as well. While I have learned, over the years, a few things about Mexican history and culture, I'm looking forward to learning even more as I prepare for my studies. I'm also anticipating, yet dreading, the research I'll need to do on human trafficking in Mexico. I've recently become aware that it is actually happening. Sometimes I think it would be much easier to bury my head in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist. Like ostriches. But I can't. God has called me specifically to the people of Mexico City. And I believe He has recently called me to service in this particular ministry. So as much as I want to pretend it doesn't exist, I know that it does. And I know that something must be done about it. The church must learn about it and how they can stop it. I believe God is laying this on my shoulders. Please pray with me that He will show me exactly what He wants me to do. Pray that doors are opened for me to be able to share with the churches and possibly even the seminary students about this issue.

Week Two - Days One and Two

It's the second week of my anti-human trafficking training, and we are on "retreat" at the hotel at Clifty Falls state park. (All this means is that the other conference rooms at OMS headquarters were previously booked, so we came off campus for our week's sessions.) It really is a beautiful setting. We're about ten minutes or so from Kentucky. If I look from the far right corner of my bedroom window, I can see a tip of the Ohio River in the distance. (The view of the river is spectacular from the dining room windows. If the weather were a tad warmer, I would definitely enjoy exploring the grounds and visiting the many falls in this state park. Another time.)

Yesterday afternoon after our mid-afternoon arrival, Shirley had a great object lesson for us on clay pots. She gave us each a small clay pot, told us to break them, and then write encouraging notes and scriptures on the pieces. We are then going to glue them back together so that we'll have a visual reminder that the people we are ministering to are broken....but who have, hopefully, been restored through the grace and saving mercy of Jesus Christ. I was reminded that whole clay vessels do not make the best lanterns. They're too dense for the light to seep through. But clay vessels that have been broken filter the light much better. Through these transformed, redeemed lives that were once broken, we can see fully see God's mercies. What He's brought them through to become the Light-infused individuals they have become. I'm also reminded that my heart must continually be broken for these people. A broken heart encompasses more compassion than a cold one.

After dinner and my presentation on the spiritual and socio-economic needs in Mexico, we watched "Amazing Grace". We own this movie, so I've seen it a few times. Yet, I'm always struck by the cruelty men are capable of. How is it even possible that mankind can treat their fellow human beings this way? It was a theme reiterated to me this afternoon when I finally watched "Schinder's List" for the first time. I cried and cried seeing the animalistic treatment of the Jews by the Germans. Shooting them for no reason. The degradation of their fellow man. The horrors those children were forced to witness. I cannot even imagine the psychological scars that had to have left on the survivors. I think the ones who were killed were probably the lucky ones. Their torment ended. There were scenes upon scenes where children were ripped out of their mother's arms. One in particular where it was a girl torn from her mother. I imagined how I would feel if my own two precious daughters were torn from me and I wept. How would I feel watching my sons shot? I cannot even begin to fathom the things these people endured.

The horrific thing is that these atrocities have not ceased. They are not simply a part of "history". They continue today. Children are ripped from their mothers' arms. People are shot or killed for no reason. There is forced slavery. People are beaten. Raped. Degraded. It happens every day. We can say, but I'm just one person. What can I do? Oskar Schindler was one man. And look what God enabled him to do.

Lord, Jesus, help us to take a stand wherever we are. Help us, as individuals and as a whole, to put an end to the atrocities committed. May there be men raised up who can hold other men accountable. To teach them what it means to be men of God. May there be men and women raised up who will join the fight. To not simply look on from the sidelines. Help us make a difference.

Help me make a difference.

End of Week 1

My first official week of training was finished on Wednesday. While it was an emotional day for many, I found myself....numb. There were no more tears to be shed. I guess there's only so much information you can take in until your mind goes into self defense mode. It didn't help that I was starting to get whatever sickness the rest of the family has (boo, hiss!), and I just wasn't feeling like myself.

I look at my girls--who are the ages of commonly trafficked girls--and I see their innocence. Their joy for life. And I wonder how anyone could do anything to take that away. How anyone could see that innocence and still treat them as a plaything? The Mama part of me wants to scoop all those children up and carry them away to parents who will love them and nurture them. The Mama part of me is angry at the men (and women) who abuse these precious little ones. The Mama part of me wants to beg God to wipe these individuals off the face of the earth. Like Sodom and Gomorrah. I know He could do it. And I know He is as broken-hearted and angry on behalf of these children as I am. Even more so.

But I also remind myself that, no matter how despicable I think these acts are, God still loves these men and women. Despite how I personally feel at this moment, they are not beyond salvation. Redemption. And so I will continue to pray that God will liberate these women and children. And I will continue to pray for revival. That God would raise up Christian men who can be an example and a witness to the men of the world. The scary thing is that there are even men who profess to know Jesus engaging in these acts. The very ones who should know better.

Yesterday, I was working on a presentation of Mexico I'm to give on Monday. I went through the "Operation World" statistics and found some information online that, unfortunately, confirms what we suspected: human trafficking is alive and well in Mexico. The statistics greatly disturbed me. I didn't think I could have any greater a burden for the people of that country. But I was wrong. After working on this presentation for the whole day, I was heartsick (as well as physically sick). I laid down in the bedroom to get some rest. And had what is probably the first of many dreams in which I was a trafficking victim. My dream was horrific in nature. But there is a huge difference between my nightmare and that of many young children around the world.

I woke up from mine to find it was only a dream. They are caught in their nightmare day in and day out. Fully awake and aware that this is no dream. It is their daily existence. Their living nightmare.

Prayer Requests - Urgent

The kids have gotten sick since arriving in Indiana. They each had the flu shot before we left home, so we're hoping they can avoid the flu that's making the rounds. And since we do not have insurance for them outside of the state of Mississippi, we're trying to keep from taking them to the doctor's unless we absolutely need to. Besides, for a cold, they are likely to just send them home anyway.

Please pray that their coughs and cold symptoms will disappear. Pray that they do not run fevers or get any worse. Please pray that Troy and I do not get sick as well. Troy is with them all day, acting as substitute teacher, and we can't afford for him to get sick (and for them to miss a bunch of school). I certainly do not need to miss any of my class sessions due to sickness, either.

So please continue to pray with us that we will all be back to our normal selves very soon. Thank you!

Heart-Breaking Statistics

We are reading a prayer guide for our class, entitled "A Voice for the Voiceless: 30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless". We read one to two days' worth of stories each class period. Today's were the individual stories of a child prostitute and a young African woman infected with AIDS. The following statistics broke my heart and greatly disturbed me:

- 10 million children worldwide are engaged in some facet of the sex industry. Each year at least one million children, mostly girls, become prostitutes.

- In Thailand, 10-12 year old girls service men in the sex industry. They typically have sex with men 10-15 times daily and sometimes as many as 20-30. (This one particularly kills me because this is the age bracket of my eldest daughter. Her face is the one I imagine when I think of these girls.)

- In South Africa, there are 40,000 child prostitutes.

- Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans.

- 43% of those infected with AIDS are women.

- Of the 40.3 million people living with AIDS worldwide, 1/3 of them are between the ages of 15-24.

Jesus, help us. Rise up and defend the little ones, Lord. They are defenseless. Many times sold into this living hell by their own family members. Have mercy on the adults who sell them and use them. Convict these individuals and bring your Gospel message to them so that they might cry out to You for forgiveness. Bring freedom, healing, and restoration to these little ones, Jesus. That they might come to know You. To know that they are beautiful boys and girls that were created in Your image. That they are loved. And loved unto death on a cross. Lord God, may there be men and women the world around who rise up in outrage over this horrific exploitation. Who will move heaven and earth to put an end to it. Jesus, don't just let us sit back, look on in horror, but do nothing. Move us to action. Move me to action. Show me how I might do something to help these little ones. Your precious children.

Anti-Human Trafficking Training, Day Two

For our video segment today, we watched a video that had much significance for me. As I heard the young girl's story, I was struck by how familiar it was. But where had I heard it before? When, however, she talked about dying at the age of 24 of AIDS---and wondering if anyone would even care enough to come to her funeral---I remembered exactly where I'd heard her story before.

She was my introduction to human trafficking at a seminar last year. It is her story, and those of many other young girls I heard about over those two days in April, 2011, that served to stir up a longing to help. God used her story to break my heart for these women and children.

Today, listening to the story again, this time sitting in an anti-human trafficking training session, fresh tears poured down my cheeks and my heart was broken for her again. I may not know exactly how to help them. But I want more than anything to be the voice for those who haven't a voice.

The Night Before

After months of anticipation, it's finally here. My anti-human trafficking training is scheduled to begin at 8 AM tomorrow morning. We arrived in Indianapolis last night and checked into a hotel for the night. It was literally the most stressful day before a trip we've ever had. And that's saying a lot. I was unusually sluggish. Normally, if I don't have all the laundry run the day before, I have at least a good start on it. Well, I hadn't washed a thing come Friday morning. So I literally had about eight loads of laundry to wash as well as all the packing to do. About the only thing I had done was to pull together all the school supplies Troy would need for the next five weeks. And okay. That was a massive job. So by 9:30 Friday night, aside from the school supplies, nothing was packed. For a five-week trip. Tensions and tempers were high. The tension in the air was so think that even the kids could feel it. It was bad. Thankfully, after eating a little supper, I got a burst of energy and was able to do most of the packing in about two hours. It also helped that we had abandoned our plan to leave at 5:30 in the morning. Instead, we slept in a bit and left when we were ready.

As long as we're in Mississippi, the kids have medical coverage. But once we step foot out of state, that coverage disappears faster than an ice cube in July. And of course, the dry, cold air we hit as we went north irritated the kids' throats. At least one of the kids now has a pretty nasty cough as a result. I'm sure more will follow.

Today we were able to visit some dear friends of ours, friends we haven't seen in six months. We anticipate many more fun times to come during our stay in Indiana. After our fun day together, we all got back into the car and drove to our little home away from home here on the OMS campus. We stayed in this apartment this summer during our month of Cross Training. It holds many great memories for us; it was a little bittersweet unpacking our things this evening, knowing our dear friends from last summer won't be here with us.

After I'd unpacked our belongings, and began preparing myself for the start of class tomorrow, I thought about our packing day and the fact that our kids are already fighting the sick germs. I'm not really convinced they were coincidental. The subject matter I'll be focusing on for the next several weeks is very serious and dark. But there's also a lot of hope and promise as well. With God's help, and through His grace and mercy, we can learn how to minister to those caught in the bondage of slavery. There is one who would love nothing better than to keep them there---and to keep us distracted from our purpose. Maybe the hectic packing day and the illness were attempts to do just that. Keep us distracted. Unbalanced. Unfocused. Stressed.

I will be praying each morning for the day's sessions, and I would love for you to do the same. This is a subject matter that tugs at my heart. It is very emotionally laden for me. I just know that the next few weeks will be difficult in many ways. It's always hard to hear about suffering. So please pray with me for the leaders and for those of us participating in the training. Pray that God uses these sessions to break our hearts anew and give us the fervor and the love needed to help the hurting.

I'm not sure yet quite how often I'll be posting, but I'm sure it will be at least a couple times a week. If you have not already signed up to follow this blog (or my writing blog, www.jottingsbyjenny.blogpsot.com -- I'll be posting to both places) you might want to do so.

Thank you in advance for your prayers. And please keep praying with me that everyone, particularly the kids, will have their coughs disappear and remain healthy for the rest of the time here.

Anti-Human Trafficking Training, Day One

Today was the first day of training. I went in this morning, knowing that it would be an emotional day. I think tomorrow I'll bring my own box of Kleenex.

Anyway, today was kind of an overview day. An opportunity to meet each other and begin the "getting to know you" process. It's always nice to hear how the Lord led people into missions. Each story is different. Encouraging. Challenging. I'm always amazed anew every time I share my story; each calling in my life has been significant and memorable, with many confirmations along the way. It's not that you forget your own story. I mean, how could you? But hearing yourself tell others about the path God has led you down serves as a stark reminder of the journey. Kind of like collecting seashells to remember a particularly enjoyable afternoon at the beach.

This afternoon once the training was complete for the day, Joyce asked us to think about what we'd learned and try to pick out a few things that stood out to us. For me, the two things that stood out the most were the video clips we watched. The first was a partly animated, partly live-action video clip telling two sisters' stories. One was promised a better life abroad by a family member. The other, by a significant other she had fallen in love with. Both men betrayed them. Sold them into sexual slavery. I can't think which betrayal would be worse: the trusted, favored family member, or that of the supposed soul mate. To be reminded that there are parents, husbands, family members, and friends who would sell their own children, wives, nieces, cousins, and friends into sexual bondage..... It's unspeakable. Unthinkable. As someone who grew up in a loving, nurturing home, I can't even imagine it. How does that kind of pain even heal? Sometimes I am absolutely overwhelmed when I think about even attempting to minister to children and women like this. What in the world makes me think they'd even listen to one word I say?! And yet, I know I'm not really the one speaking to or reaching out to them at all. It's Christ in me. Through me. Praise God, because I am so inadequate to the task.

The second video clip was based on the ministry, "Remember Nhu". The founder of this ministry was in a seminar, saw the pictures, and heard the story about a little girl named Nhu. He was instantly sobbing in his seat, broken with the knowledge of what this little girl endured. And I remember thinking, that was me. That was what happened to me. I was sitting in a seminar, blissfully unaware of the scope of the issue. When I was confronted with it in the form of stories, pictures, testimonies, I was wholly unprepared for the emotional, physical reaction I had to it. I have never been more burdened in my life, my spirit has never felt so heavy. I walked around for the next two days after that seminar in alternating states of passionate anger and shock. I was fired up one minute and sobbing the next. As I've mentioned before, I came home from the seminar and allowed life to distract me. There were children to educate. Trips to plan. More training to prepare for. So many things--not even bad or unnecessary things--distanced me from those girls I'd been so burdened for. Then, in the middle of our July training, we visited a church one Sunday with the intent to speak to the church mission's committee. That was our intention, anyway. But God had other plans. In church that particular Sunday, was a missionary leaving the next day to minister in Bangladesh. Their ministry was to women who'd been forced into prostitution--and the children conceived in that existence. My heart was broken anew and all the same feelings and burdens came rushing back to me even stronger. Just like the founder of "Remebering Nhu" recognized that he simply must do something to help those poor girls, I knew it was something God was putting on my heart as well.

He's yet to show me exactly what role I'm to take in the ministry. But I've no doubt that He has a plan for me in it somewhere.

The Battle We Wage

This week, another missionary couple was killed in a Mexican town near the Texas/Mexico border. We were broken-hearted to hear of it. Then yesterday, we heard that a young man Troy went to seminary with, died of carbon monoxide poisoning on the mission field he was serving in. Three missionary deaths in just this week alone. We missionaries certainly are not exempt from life's tragedies. But neither is anyone else. That shooting, and that poisoning could've happened here in the States just as easily as it did those other countries. It could've happened to anyone.

This morning, a woman approached Troy with some very real concerns for our family's safety. She'd heard about this missionary couple and knows of another young missionary who has just recently disappeared. No one has heard from him for almost two weeks. We've often had people ask us if we're afraid to go into Mexico, or if we're nervous about taking our children there. Of course we are. Although, more of our fear is for our children's safety. Yet God has most definitely called us. He knows the risks. And He knows our futures. All of our futures. In all honesty, with the new ministry I believe He is calling me to, the safety concerns could only get worse. I do not yet know exactly how God will use me in the anti-human trafficking efforts. But I know one who will not be happy about it. Ministries like Hope61 exist to redeem, restore, and release victims from bondage. To set their lives free, and to give them new lives in Christ. The enemy of our souls loves nothing better than to destroy lives, and he hates those who snatch those lives out of his grasp and restore them to a life in Christ.

Yes, we will most definitely be in harm's way. But not necessarily physical harm. It is guaranteed that we will face spiritual warfare, as our enemy seeks to discredit, distract, or discourage us away from the ministry God has called us to. We are in a battle for souls. All of us. All of the time. This battle we wage is not against people or governments. But against the enemy of our souls!

Many of you have asked us how you can pray for us, particularly during my five weeks of training at OMS headquarters. Here's how you can actively take up the battle on our behalf:

1. Pray against the works of the enemy and his attacks. I will list below the names of those attending and leading the sessions. You can pray over each of our names during these next five weeks in particular. Pray against the spiritual attacks of the enemy. Pray that the Lord will encourage us. Pray for the leaders as they train us. Pray for those of us who will be actively working in this ministry. Pray that God will equip us for the battle ahead and give us His grace and love for the victims.

2. Pray for safety for all, especially the kids. Pray that God will help us be wise and follow His leading.

3. Pray that God will show me how He wants to use me in this ministry.

4. Pray for Troy as he continues to schedule meetings with pastors during this time. He's only heard from a couple. Pray that he's able to reach the rest on his list.

5. Pray also for Troy as he teaches the kids and for the kids as they adapt to having a new teacher for the next 5 weeks.

6. Pray for this young missionary who is missing. Please pray that he will be located and for God's glory to be shown in this situation. Also please pray for his colleagues on the field and for his family and friends at home as well.

Thank you for your prayers. I cannot stress enough that we cannot do this without them.


Attendees/Leaders for OMS Hope61 Anti-Human Trafficking Training
(February 6 - March 2, March 12 - 14)

(Because some of these may be in security risk countries, I'll only list first names)

1. Jenny
2. Joyce (training, out-going director of Hope61)
3. Lauren
4. Tom (transitioning director of Hope61)
5. Tonya
6. Allison
7. Sandy
8. Doris
9. Dottie

Anti-Human Trafficking Training Dates

I received the finalized dates for the training yesterday and wanted to share them with you so that you could be praying with me specifically for this training and for those involved. There appear to be just under a dozen of us taking the training, which will be a nice group of people to study with. I've always been a person that prefers a more intimate learning setting than a big auditorium or classroom packed with people.

Please keep praying with me that the Lord will show me some ways I can serve with Hope61 in Mexico City (as there is not currently a ministry branch in the city). I am not merely taking this training just to learn something about human trafficking. This is an issue I feel very passionately about and believe God has laid it on my heart for a specific reason. Thank you for your continued prayer support.

The dates of the training are:

Week 1 - February 13-15*
Week 2 - February 20-22*
Week 3 - February 27-29*
Week 4 - March 12-14*

*The main training sessions with the director of Hope61 will be held three days each week. The remaining two days each week will consist of smaller group sessions. There is also a month of study I must complete on my own before my training is complete and I'm allowed to actively minister. There is the possibility that I'll be using some of those extra days to complete this work as well.*

I'll have a week off between weeks three and four while some of the members of the group participate in OMS Candidate Orientation, something Troy and I have already completed. The nice thing is that I'll be able to spend that week with the family at the cabin they'll be staying in. It'll be a nice opportunity for some R&R during my training.

Huge Answer to Prayer

Not long after posting the previous blog entry about our trip to Indiana next month and the family's need for additional housing in March, I received several responses with suggestions from many of you. Thank you so much for your ideas and your prayers!

God has answered that particular prayer and we have FREE housing at a beautiful cabin on a large property in the country. The cabins are there to provide missionary families with free options for some rest and rejuvenation. While Troy and the kids will be without television (and possibly internet as well), they will have opportunity to explore a lake, streams, and see some horses on the property as well!

I am in awe with just how quickly God answered this particular prayer. And this time, he used you all to do so. Thank you for praying for this need! Please keep those prayers coming for a full meeting schedule for Troy.

Update for February

I feel like we've been on an emotional see-saw the last month, trying to finalize our plans with regard for my anti-human trafficking training in February. Earlier this week, we learned that the dates of the training have been pushed back a week to begin February 13. This worked out in our favor. With the new dates, there will now be housing available for our entire family on the OMS campus from February 12 through the end of the month. So, the whole family will be driving to Greenwood instead of me flying by myself! Troy will still be teaching the children during this time, but now we won't be separated for an entire month at a time. As there is not housing available for the whole family after March 2, however, Troy and the kids will be staying off-campus for the remaining week of my training. So we'll only have about a week apart as a family as opposed to four.

This brings me to some urgent prayer requests:

1. Troy and the kids need to find reasonably priced (or even free) housing from March 2 to March 15. When my training sessions are over on March 9, I'll be joining the family for that last week of our stay in Indiana. If you know of any available housing, can host the family in your home, or would like to help with the cost of a hotel stay (possibly something like an Extended Stay that would have a kitchen in the room(s)), please let us know. You can email either myself at jennygentry06@gmail.com, or Troy at troygentry4@hotmail.com. Thank you!

2. Troy is trying to fill each Wednesday and Sunday of our stay with church meetings. He's also available and would love to fill some of the days as well with individual meetings. Please pray with us that God will help him to do so. And if you would like to invite our family to speak in your church, or would love to hear more about our ministry, please contact us at the above emails.

Thank you very much for praying with and for us for these needs!

The anticipation is building as I look forward to my training. I feel a renewed sense of purpose--that God really does have a ministry in mind for me. Please do not think for a second that I place any less of a value on the ministry I have to my own children, and through my family. I know that there is absolutely nothing in this world more important than training the family God entrusted to us to love and serve Him. But I've also been looking for a ministry I can call my own during the hours my children are in school--and for when they are grown and no longer need their Mama in quite the same way. I believe this is it. I can't wait to be able to share more with you as I go through the process.

Anti-Human Trafficking Training

At a conference we attended last year, our hearts were broken during a seminar on the issue of Human Trafficking. Slavery is more prevalent now than at any time in history. Later in the summer, while visiting a church, we heard a missionary speaking about this very same topic. About the horror these women endure, day in and day out. The Lord used these two experiences to kindle a fire inside of me to help women, men, and children locked in this hellish existence.

One Mission Society has a new branch of ministry geared toward helping release, redeem, and restore those caught in slavery. Early last fall, I contacted the director of Hope61, Joyce Oden, to discover how I could help. While there is currently not a branch of the ministry active in Mexico City, I believe that there is a need for one. We may not hear about human trafficking in that city. But we do hear about the drug trafficking. And I believe very fervently that where one is, the other will follow. For now, we are seeking the Lord's leading and direction, to see exactly what role He has in mind for me to serve in this ministry.

Regardless of what that future role will be, there is some required training I must complete before i can serve within Hope61. So I will be flying to Indianapolis in early February and spending the month at OMS headquarters in Greenwood, completing the main four weeks of required training. I will be going by myself. This will be a potentially long month for the whole family, as I have never been away from the children for more than a few days at a time.

We would appreciate your prayers for the following requests:

1. That the Lord will reveal the role He has for me to serve with Hope61 in Mexico City.

2. That He will give me safe traveling mercies as I fly and that He will bless the training. Not only for myself, but for all those participating in the training as well.

3. That He will help Troy and the kids at home. Especially as Troy will take over the kids' home-schooling activities for the four weeks I'm gone.

4. That in our lonely moments when we are missing being together as a family, that God would wrap His arms around us and bring us comfort.

Thank you! I look forward to sharing more with you during my training!

THE DONATE LINK'S BEEN FIXED!

The issues we've been experiencing that link our blog to our donate page on the OMS website have been resolved!

Troy took a few moments over the noon hour today to work on this. So, if you would like to donate online, you can once again use the "donate" link on our blog to do so.

By using the "donate" link, you have the option of using your credit or debit card to give monthly or just once. No hassle! No papers to fill out and mail in!

Thank you so much for giving toward this ministry God has called us to.

BEFORE YOU DONATE, PLEASE READ FIRST!

There have been some linking issues with our "donate to the Gentrys" tab on this blog. Until we can get it fixed, you will not be able to use it.

However, in the meantime, if you'd like to donate, simply go to www.onemisisonsociety.org. On the upper right-hand corner of the home page is a tab that says "search missionary or project". In this tab, type in Jennifer and Troy Gentry (in that exact order or it won't work). This should bring up our biography page. At the bottom of this is a link to donate online.

Sorry about the confusion! Hopefully we'll get the donate link on our blog fixed soon! Thank you so much for your willingness to contribute to God's ministry!

What It Will Take

Many people ask us what it will take for us to be fully funded. Note, we do not have to have all of this in the bank. We merely need 100% of the needed funds pledged.

If we had:

140 individuals/couples/churches/Sunday schools who made new pledges of $25 a month...

or

70 individuals/couples/churches/Sunday schools who made new pledges of $50 a month...

or

47 individuals/couples/churches/Sunday schools who made new pledges of $75 a month...

or

35 individuals/couples/churches/Sunday schools who made new pledges of $100 a month...

...then we would reach our goal of being 100% funded.

Won't you please prayerfully consider picking up a new pledge for our family? Or, another way you can help is by referring us to friends who might be interested in supporting.

Until we get the "donate now" link on our page to work, you can go to www.onemissionsociety.org to donate. At the top right hand corner of the home page is a tab that says "search missionary or project". In this tab, type: Jennifer and Troy Gentry (in that exact order or it won't work). This will bring up our bio. At the bottom of that page is a link to donate online.

Thanks!

No Coincidence

Originally when we began planning our North Carolina trip this last spring and summer, I did have ulterior motives for selecting October as the month for our meetings. After spending nine years in a part of the country that experiences very little autumn color, who wouldn't have? God had His own plans, however.

Thanks in large part to the planning and coordination of some good friends, we were able to get the four weeks filled. Those of you who received our updates know that Troy shared about our ministry in a different church each Sunday from October 1 - November 6! Throw in three Wednesday nights as well, and our schedule was full!

Within the first week or two of our arrival in Reidsville, it became clear that the timing of the trip was certainly not ours---it was God's. Our pastor friend had four busier-than-normal weeks at their church that kept him away from his family quite a bit. The timing of our visit meant that our friend had some other adult company at home with her while her husband needed to be away. The timing of our visit was not coincidental.

Perhaps the most amazing evidence that this was a divine appointment was in the opportunity to meet a young man who was interested in becoming a missionary. This young man's family was new to our friend's church--they'd only been attending a few weeks prior to our arrival after extensive church hunting. He was glancing through the church bulletin, reading the listing of missionaries the church supported and the organizations represented by each. At home, he took the time to look up online each of the missions organizations listed. One stood out to him more than the others---One Mission Society. Not long afterward, he realized that missionaries with this very organization were staying with his pastor and pastor's wife! He, Troy, and our pastor friend met over a meal. Within a couple weeks, he'd already begun the paperwork to become an OMS missionary! The timing of the family finding our friend's church and of our subsequent visit were not coincidental.

I may have initially selected this particular month so that I could enjoy some fall foliage. But God clearly had other plans. He had a divine appointment for us to keep, and it was His leading and direction that brought us to North Carolina in October and workout out all of the details so beautifully.

Weekly Messages

In the past, we haven't been as good at keeping you up to date on the things happening in our ministry. This is about to change. Beginning today, I am sending out a weekly email or FB message (however you'd prefer to receive it) with updates, praises, and prayer requests on a weekly basis.

If you are interested in receiving these emails, please send me a message on Facebook (Jenny Cox Gentry) or send me an email (jennygentry06@gmail.com), and I will include you on the list.

I've already sent out the first message detailing our schedule for this month. If you'd like to receive that, please let me know.

October Schedule

Weeks ago we asked you to pray about our October schedule. Well, you prayed, and God is answering!

PRAISES:

1. As of today, we have every Sunday morning and Wednesday night filled between October 16 and November 2!
2. Some dear friends of ours are hosting us in their home during this time in order to help us keep costs down!
3. We participated in World Communion Sunday at a church in South MS on October 2, serving communion in two of three services and sharing during the Sunday school hour as well. As it was our second time participating, the pastor shared with us that we will likely pick up some monthly support from the church!

God is GOOD!

There are a few things to pray about as well:

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. We need to fill 4 Sunday evenings, 1 more Sunday morning, and 1 more Wednesday.
2. We need to line up as many individual meetings as we can during the weekdays following each service.
3. Please pray that the Lord will break our hearts anew before each service for the Mexican people and help us to help others see the spiritual need of the people.
4. Please pray against attacks of the enemy during this time. He loves to deal in Discouragement, Despair, and Divisiveness. Please pray against these Ds of the devil.
5. Please pray for traveling mercies as we travel to North Carolina and as we travel to and from each of the services/meetings.


Thank you so much for all your continued prayers and support. We are praying that this month will be the jolt we need to get some momentum in our funding. Only God could've put all this together, and so we are trusting that He has something BIG planned for our family and the ministry He's called us to.

North Carolina in October

I've been working on putting together a plan of attack for what we hope to be a month jam-packed with church and individual meetings throughout western and central North Carolina.

Please pray with us for the following:

1. Filled Sunday and Wednesday night meetings.
2. Filled meetings each week with individuals in each region we visit.
3. Housing (hotels could get expensive)
4. Supportive pastors
5. No scheduling conflicts!

Thank you very much for your continued prayer and support. We seriously could not do this without you. God is the one who blesses, but you are the vessels He chooses to use.

Faith Promises and What They Are Not

Whenever we sit down with people, or share from the pulpit on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings, we always ask people to consider a faith promise gift. Unless that person has given to missionaries in the past, most often they are unfamiliar with that concept. A faith promise is a donation that an individual makes, trusting that God is going to be faithful to provide the needed money at the appointed time.


When I ask folks to consider a faith promise, I'm not asking them about their budgets. I don't want to know if they can afford to donate or not. Because, quite frankly, we often cannot. We are so overextended financially these days because we have gotten away from the concept of living within our means and saving for the things we want or need. Credit has become the norm. And so we are, many of us, deeply in debt. It is little wonder missionaries and other ministries are turned down or hurting for funding these days. Fewer and fewer folks are donating because they have fewer and fewer dollars to spend.


When we rely on ourselves and neglect to trust in God's provision for us, we miss out on a huge blessing. Recently, we were forced to rely on God to provide a mere $1.75 each to get back to Greenwood from downtown Indy. A mere $1.75! We didn't have it--all of our money had been stripped away prior to the field trip. But obviously, as I'm sitting here back at home in Mississippi, God provided. I cannot begin to tell you the blessing we received when we completely trusted God for His provision. How freeing to not have to "worry" where every penny was coming from!


If a missionary asks you to prayerfully consider supporting them with a faith promise pledge, they are not asking you to consult your checkbook. They are not asking you to pour over your budget to see if there's any wiggle room. They are not asking you to be the ones to support them. What they are asking you to do is to ask God how much He wants to donate through you. In other words, you're asking God how much extra money He is going to provide each month for you to in turn donate to those missionaries. In essence, even though you are the ones listed on paper as the givers, it is actually God who is the giver. You are merely the tool, the funnel, He uses to provide for His workers.


And when you have stepped out in faith and committed to the faith promise, if it is from God, He will provide in sometimes the most unexpected ways! A couple years ago, while at a camp meeting, both of us felt that we should donate to the camp. We came up with a number in our heads, according to what we thought we could afford, of course. But then, the Lord asked us to double it! We couldn't afford that! However, we felt very strongly that He was asking us to pledge that amount. And so we did with great trepidation. That very first month our pledge was due, someone hired Troy to do an odd job. They hadn't discussed pay ahead of time, but neither was Troy concerned about it. When the job was finished, he received a check from the man. In the exact amount needed for our first pledge payment! God had provided, just as He'd promised. And so it went.


Folks, if God is asking us to do something, He will provide the strength, ability, or resources to do it. We believe very strongly that He has called us to this ministry in Mexico City and know that He will provide. While He owns all the cattle on the hillsides, He provides for us most often through other people. But those people must be willing and obedient to His leading, just as Troy and I must be in our calling.


So the next time a missionary---possibly even Troy or I---asks you to consider a faith promise pledge, instead of answering with the automatic no (unless you've prayed about it ahead of time and sense God giving you that answer, of course), or mentally running through your checkbook or budget to see if there's room, pray and ask God how much He wants to give through you.


I promise you will not regret it.

Some Prayer Requests

We are working on our schedule now that Troy's time at WBS and our training session in Indy is completed. Troy will be leading a Sunday school class at a local church through September. The hope of ours (as well as the individual who helped us arrange this) is that we will receive some support from either the class and/or the individuals involved in the class. Please be praying with that the Lord will speak through Troy as he leads this class.

Some of you may have already heard, but we recently received a generous gift from a total stranger! While we have yet to meet this couple, I (Jenny) had been chatting with them in an Amazon forum about Christian books. Through the discussion, I was able to mention that we were missionaries raising support for our first term. The husband is an evangelist from Hawaii who felt that God was leading him to give us an encouragement blessing! Please be in prayer with us for Chuck as he is traveling today to Taiwan for a month of preaching and teaching. Pray for open hearts and safe traveling mercies.

Finally, we would like to spend the entire month of October in North Carolina. We'll be contacting some of the pastors there soon to schedule meetings. Our prayer is to fill each Sunday (morning and evening, when possible) and all but 1 Wednesday with meetings. What we hope to do is to spend a few days with each church. We'd have a meeting with the body and then invite individuals to meet with us one-on-one for more information about our ministry. Please be in prayer with us as we begin to schedule these meetings. Pray that the Lord will fill the month with both church meetings and individual meetings as well.

Thank you for all your continued prayers on our behalf. We greatly value them. As always, if there is something we can pray about for you, please let us know.

Excitement in the Mundane

Today we took our lunch break to open a savings account here in Greenwood, something that is a totally mundane occurrence. Until the woman setting up the account asked me (Jenny) where I work. I instantly blurted, "Nowhere," as that is what has customarily been my answer. Then the thought struck me that yes, I am employed. As a salary-receiving missionary candidate of One Mission Society, I most certainly am employed. Troy later remarked that he'd been able to respond to that question with, "I work at Wesley Biblical Seminary", but then, with a similar jolt, realized that was not true.

A mundane occurrence such as opening a savings account profoundly impacted us by serving as a stark reminder of our commitment to step out of the boat and trust God fully for our every needs---especially our funding needs.

Thank You, God, for the excitement in the mundane.

Field Trip of Faith

I want to warn you now, the following post is LONG. So please only read it when you have the time to really read it. Thanks!



When you see or hear the words “field trip”, what are you reminded of? That grade-school field trip you took to your state’s capitol building? How about the “insider’s” view tour you took of the back of a grocery store in early elementary (did this in either kindergarten or first grade and thought it was MAGICAL back there. Then, once I actually worked in a grocery store in high school, it somehow lost it’s magic)? Anyway, when I saw the words “field trip” on our schedule for today, I immediately was thinking of something soothing and relaxing--maybe a meal off-campus with the whole group (minus the children). And then, like working in a grocery store burst that bubble of how magical the back of a store was, Friday’s corporate Bible study had the same effect on my expectations of today’s field trip.

We looked at the passages of Jesus sending out the twelve and the seventy two, in pairs, and His very detailed instructions of what they could or could not bring. Almost immediately, little warning bells started sounding in my head. My heart sank as an idea took shape---they were going to pair us up and send us out into downtown Indy to do street evangelism. Was it too late to back out of this whole CROSS training experience? Maybe if I worked at it really hard, I could somehow develop a strangely rare, non-contagious disease that lasted only twenty-four hours, yet would prohibit me from participating. Some of you might be shocked right now. A missionary scared of doing street evangelism? I mean, is that even allowed??? Yes, it is, and the word should be “terrified”, not merely “scared”.

Fast-forward to today. Knowing that we would be fasting through lunch, our plan of action was to eat a good breakfast. At the appointed time, I noticed that my usual purposeful strides as I walked across campus toward the main building were somewhat lagging in their enthusiasm. And as the departure time kept drawing nearer and nearer, my heart rate kept increasing, and dread completely took up residence in my gut.

In an attempt to make a long story a tiny bit shorter, I’ll just lay it out. We were split into four groups of three, told to empty our pockets of all but our IDs (no credit cards, no cash, no phones---although we each did carry a bottle of water, as it was HOT today), given one baggie of change per group and some further directions, and dropped off at the bus stop. Each team had enough change to ride the bus from Greenwood to downtown Indy....and that’s all. We were to arrange our own rides back. Say, what???

My group arrived at our designated spot, a lovely park area with a fountain of scantily-clad women (not so lovely), directly across from the Indiana war memorial. During the long bus ride there, we had (reluctantly) agreed that we would not ask people for the return bus fare---we would simply pray that God would provide and then leave it in His hands. Once we’d written down some ideas, some immediate feelings (more terror, worry, panic, etc), and then figured out our plan of attack for the morning, we each set out individually to walk the perimeter and just pray. Knowing my tendency to worry things to death, and my tendency to have to know all the details ahead of time, I was really struggling with this whole idea. So during our short time of prayer away from each other, I had to give it all to God. This whole kind of thing is so out of my comfort zone, that it’s in a whole ‘nother state from my comfort zone, okay. And going up to people I don’t know and asking them about God? Same thing. Just because I am a missionary (well, a missionary candidate who hasn’t yet been to the field, anyway) doesn’t mean that I’m totally comfortable sharing my faith with strangers. You might ask how someone is to reach people for Christ if they aren’t willing to share with strangers, and that is a totally fair question. Today reinforced several things for me and one of them is that I need more boldness in order to be effective for Christ. I can’t let fear dictate what I will or will not do. It was also brought home to me the fact that there are many things in the Word I still do not know, and that is mainly because I’ve gotten lazy about reading my Bible and having my quiet time with God. Realizing that, it’s little wonder why I was so ill-equipped for today’s excursion.

As the morning went on, the realization came to me that I really had turned our return trip over to God. I wasn’t stewing over it. I wasn’t trying to figure out in my head how in the world we were going to come up with $5.25 and who we could ask for it. I was assured that God was going to provide somehow. There are no words to describe how freeing this was for me. I am the type of person who has to have everything all figured out. I need a plan. Living by faith is a foreign concept for me. Yeah, God recently asked Troy to leave his job and live on a smaller income as we fund-raise full time. But a smaller income is completely different than no income! Knowing that none of us had a dime in our pockets, nor any plastic with which to procure some cash could’ve been---should’ve been---a really frightening thing. And yet the assurance was there.

During the course of the day, through the boldness of one of our team members (who, I don’t believe met a stranger in the park the way he was able to converse with them), and through offering to take pictures for people and because of other people striking up conversations with us. we were able to speak with a Muslim family from Turkey, a Buddhist woman from the West Coast, a few homeless men, and several fellow Christians who were more of a blessing to us than we were to them. I was never bold enough to approach anyone and share Christ with them, but I did come out of my shell enough to approach people I didn’t know for the pictures. This is all a work in progress (not that I’d like to do this exercise again, mind, but I imagine God will continue to use this in teaching moments with me for a long time to come).

By 3 PM, we started making our way to our bus stop, knowing full well that we had no money to actually ride the bus home. We had no idea how God was going to provide. (But the fact that you’re able to read this proves that He did.) As we rounded the corner, we could see our bus coming down the street. Some panic set in, at least for me. Then, glancing up, we saw another team walking our way. They asked if we were ready to get on the bus, but when we admitted that we hadn’t gotten any money, they smiled at us and encouraged us to get on the bus anyway. When we objected, they smiled again and said, “We have enough for you.” Stunned, we raced to get on the bus, wondering how in the world---and where---they had gotten enough for both of our groups. But there was still more money left! A few bus stops down, we spotted another team. They’d found a free one-day bus pass that someone had taped to the bus stop shelter’s window, but still needed the money for two more people. Our fellow teammates had the money for them as well. They explained that, through the course of a conversation with someone, they’d shared their predicament, but had left it to talk of other things. At the end of the conversation, they’d walked away from this man only to have him chase them down and give them $20!! All told, there was enough money for 8 people to ride the bus---with $5 leftover! Back at our stop in Greenwood, one of the men was able to give the remaining money to two women who were getting on the bus as we got off, furthering the original giver’s blessing to include 10 people! We later discovered that the fourth team had met a group meeting for a Bible study (and were actually able to join in their Bible study!) and, through conversation with them, met someone who kindly gave the three of them a ride back to Greenwood from downtown Indy!

God faithfully provided a way home for all of us and taught us all many valuable lessons on faith in the mean time. For me, the lesson I will take home with me from the whole experience is that I don’t need to have it all figured out. I’ve always admired the faith of missionaries like Hudson Taylor, who prayed in their needs and didn’t worry about them. But until today, I didn’t really think that kind of faith was actually possible. Friends, I am sitting here at this computer because it IS possible! God knows what our needs are and He is more than able to provide them. He knew that we needed a way home from downtown and He provided. And not only provided, but provided abundantly!

The question is, do we have enough faith to let Him?

The End of an Era

As we wrap up the last weekend and last week of June, we realize that a very large chunk of our married lives is coming to a close at the end of this week. 9 years ago we were hastily packing up our house in Iowa and preparing to be separated for 6 weeks--after placing all of our belongings in temporary storage, Troy was to drive to Jackson where he would take a summer class and live in the dorm. Jenny, Tayler, and Clayton were to temporarily move into her mom's house in West Des Moines until a house in Jackson could be found and the rest of the family (and their belongings) could be brought to MS. We waited on the Lord to see what He would have for our family. And He most definitely provided abundantly. There were years when I know without doubt that the only way we were able to make those ends meet was because He had supplied our needs. We added two more precious children to our family during our time here. And we made so many wonderful friendships that will last for the rest of our lives. I am so grateful for our Wesley Biblical Seminary family, as family they have become.

Thursday is Troy's last day at the seminary. Tomorrow marks our final Sunday of full-involvement at Wesley Chapel. Such huge landmarks for our family. But landmarks that are, nonetheless, essential. It is time for us to focus all of our energies on doing our part to see this ministry funded. We realize--as recent posts remind us--that God is ultimately the One providing. But we also have to do our part. And so as hard as it is to say goodbye, it's something that must happen. Although we will still be in the Jackson area until (probably) December, we will be busy scheduling meetings in churches and with individuals.

We will be leaving in a week for a month-long training session at OMS headquarters in Greenwood, Indiana. At the end of July, we'll return to our house here in Jackson where we will "hit the ground running." We covet your prayers for the following items:

(1) That God will bless our time of training, not only for us but our fellow trainees and our trainers as well.

(2) As we return home, that God will enable Troy in a supernatural way to do what is needed to make and keep his meetings. Asking for money is not something that comes easily for him. I know he would covet your prayers in this matter.

(3) This will, hopefully, be our final semester of home-schooling for the children. It will be the busiest year yet with Cody starting Kindergarten, Tori in 2nd grade, Clayton in 5th grade, and Tayler in 6th grade. Please pray for me as I work very hard to keep all of us disciplined and on schedule. Please pray also for the kids, that they will do their best to make this the best semester yet, academically. I'm a little nervous to see how all of our work holds up, as when we arrive in Costa Rica, the kids will have to take placement tests in order to determine which grade they are placed in.

Thank you so much for all of your support of our family, both prayerfully and financially. For some of you, letting us go to do our work is difficult. Please don't think we're not sensitive to that. Leaving is never easy. But your support is a huge part of what enables us to do what needs to be done. Know that you will go with us in our hearts wherever God leads us.

We love you all!

Working On Our Behalf

If you've been around the Seminary during Commencement season, you know the great amount of work the maintenance department (ALL the departments, really) does each year to ensure that the building and grounds are in tip-top shape for the guests that arrive for the special events. This year, as the head of the entire department, Troy's had a larger burden on his shoulders during the last few weeks than in years past. And with the end of his time at the Seminary soon coming to an end, it has behooved us to focus our energies on finishing this race strongly. At the end of Cross-Training in July, there will be more than ample time to focus on fund-raising.

So, comfortable with this decision, it was to our great surprise and utter joy that we had not one, not two, but THREE people approach us last week about supporting our family, all within FOUR DAYS' time! We may not be in "funding mode", but that doesn't mean that God has taken a break as well. The events of the last few months have clearly shown us that Troy and Jenny are not funding this ministry at all. GOD is funding this ministry! He who has called us WILL provide....and IS providing!

PRAISE JESUS!

Shortly after posting our last blog entry about Troy's resignation from WBS, I received a phone call from a wonderful gentleman at HQ who has been such an encouragement to us both during this process. He had received our funding report for February and wanted to give me an update.

As of the end of February, WE ARE 52% FUNDED! PRAISE THE LORD! We have not had any meetings since last year, but the Lord has been working on our behalf! Once again, thank you so much for your support for this ministry. God has called us to Mexico....and He IS PROVIDING!

A Giant Leap of Faith

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Matthew 14:25-31 (NIV)


For the last two years, these verses have been in our minds as we have been involved with this funding process. Funding in itself is a difficult thing, not easy for most. Asking for money is never an easy thing, even when it is for the Lord's work. Time and time again, we have felt like Peter must have as he looked at the wind and waves around him and began to sink. Time and time again we have cried out to the Lord to save us from our fear and doubt. And time and time again, He has held out His hand to us and redirected us anew on the path He had set us on.

Up until now, Troy has been working full time at Wesley Biblical Seminary. We've struggled to schedule meetings with individuals here in Jackson, reserving the weekends for any long-distance travels that need to be made. Dividing our time between Troy's work demands and funding has not been as successful as we hoped. In three years of funding, we are only about 45% funded (give or take a few percentage points). However, God has asked us to make, what feels like, a giant leap of faith and end our time at the Seminary. In obedience to this, Troy has submitted his resignation effective June 30.

What does this mean for the Gentrys? Right now, we are unsure as to what our immediate future holds. Ultimately, we know that we will go to Costa Rica for a year of language school and then make the move to Mexico City. But what will we do in the mean time? Regardless of what happens this fall, we will be attending a training session at OMS headquarters in Indiana during the month of July. If we are fully funded (or if we are somehow miraculously released by HQ), we will return home long enough to put our belongings in storage before departing for Costa Rica. If, however, we are not released for language school in August, we will return to Jackson and look for temporary housing. We currently live in seminary housing, which would need to be made available for another seminary couple. Therefore, regardless of the outcome, we will be spending the next few months preparing for a move (not Jenny's favorite thing).

Obviously, our preference is to be in Costa Rica this fall. But above all, we want to be obedient to God's leading---even if His timing is not our own. Please pray with us that God will direct our steps in the coming months. Pray with us that the funds will come in, that we will receive some new contacts, and that He will give us the motivation and energy to get the packing done.

Thank you so much for all your continued prayers and support. We truly are blessed to have ministry partners like you!

Unexpected Blessings

Most of you know that we had planned to be in language school in Costa Rica by the end of April and were very disappointed when it didn't not work out. Since then we have come to see that the Lord knew better. He still has work for us to do before all of our funding is raised and we are released. That became imminently clear within the last couple weeks.

Right after Independence Day, we packed up the van and drove to Indian Springs Holiness Camp in Flovilla, Georgia for 10 days. Once again, we worked in the Children's Tabernacle each day, Troy as the leader on the Missions Porch and me as the Blue Team leader (or more appropriately, the Team Heavy or Bouncer). There were a few people we are able to share with about our ministry, new missionaries we were able to meet, and familiar faces to greet as well. There were times when some of the children or situations frustrated us. But then there were the rewards as well. For example, today, Troy and I are both sporting pink hair. Now, that's not necessarily a reward for US, but for the kids for exceeding our missionary offering goal. In the past the highest amount raised was around $700. This year the kids--with the added incentive of seeing 6 of their team leaders, three of them men, with pink hair--raised over $1,100.00 for a new Children's Center in Zambia, Africa! We were humbled and overcome to see these children go door to door every day in the heat--sacrificing their free time in order to raise more funds for the missions project. Humbling. On the Missions porch, there were several children who told Troy that they had made the commitment to God to go anywhere or do anything He wanted them to do--some even thought that might mission work! Awesome! Another reward was mine today. I got to pray with one little boy in particular who asked Jesus into his heart and life. How awesome to be the vessel used by God to reach this precious life. Again, how humbling.

Over the months we have been frustrated by our lack of progress, like we were as team leaders at camp. But then, also like at camp, God showers us with unexpected blessings that overwhelm and humble us--reminding us again and again of His faithfulness to us. We are at approximately 35% now. There is a long way to go, but we are resting in His promises that as HE HAS CALLED US, He WILL PROVIDE.

When you are facing times of frustration in your own lives, when things do not go according to your plans, think of our story, and remember that God is faithful to provide all our needs according to His riches and glory in HIS time.

Thank you for your prayer support, your financial support, and your friendship. We could not do this without you.

Weekly Update - June 19

Please keep Troy in your prayers today (Saturday) as he is flying to Montana with a group of men from the Jackson area to help do a build for a church there. They flew out of Jackson early this morning into Houston only to discover their flight from Houston on to Denver was cancelled due to mechanical issues with the plane. After some juggling, they were able to get a flight around 2 PM to Seattle where they will then fly (after a 4 hour layover) into Montana, arriving at their destination between 11 PM and midnight tonight. Please pray for safe travel for the men. Please pray that their luggage reaches the destination with them. Pray for Troy as he leads the men in daily devotions. Finally, please pray for safety as they work and for the Lord to minister to them as a group this week.

We have a date for our Mexican FIESTA here in Iowa. It will be Thursday, June 24 at 6:30 PM. Please pray for a good turn out and for the Lord to speak through Jenny as she shares with those who attend.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. This two week period of separation as a family has been kind of rough, but it's been really nice for Jenny and the kids to have this time with her family. Everyone will be thrilled to see Troy next week when he flies into Des Moines on Saturday.

Happy Father's Day to all of our friends and family members who are Daddies! We love you!

Weekly Update - June 12

PRAISES:
Jenny and the kids made it safely to Iowa despite the rain on Friday. Thank you for praying for their safe travel.

We had an awesome meeting in an Independent Methodist church on Wednesday night and were welcomed by the church members. Troy will be speaking again tomorrow morning without the family. Please pray for him as he speaks.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Jenny is still working on putting together a Mexican Fiesta for our friends and family members in the Oskaloosa area while she and the kids are in Iowa. Please pray that they are able to secure a location, find a date and time that works for the majority of the people, and for a good turn out.

Pray for Troy as he is by himself this week in Mississippi. There is more calling for him to do, but 2 1/2 weeks without the family is a long time.

Thank you so much for your faithfulness in praying for our family. We love you!

Weekly Update - June 5

Thank you for your continued prayers. We truly could not do this without you!

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Continue to pray for Troy as he calls to make meeting appointments--both with individuals and in churches.

2. We will be speaking in a church this Wednesday (June 9) and Troy will be speaking in the same church again next Sunday (June 13). Pray that the Lord will speak through us and that those who hear His message will be receptive.

3. The kids and I will be traveling to Iowa on Thursday for a few weeks with family. The journey will take two days. Please pray for safe traveling mercies.

4. I am putting together a Fiesta for some friends of ours while we're in Iowa. Please pray that all of the details will come together and that we'll have a good turn out. It will be an evening of fun but also a chance to share with our friends what the Lord has been doing for our family these last few years.

We hope you have a great week!

Weekly Update - May 29

PRAISES -

1. We are officially out of the 20th percentile and into the 30s! We are so thankful to see some forward momentum.

2. We've already been able to schedule some meetings and have received some contributions as a result of our latest bulk mailing.

PRAYER REQUESTS -

1. Continue to pray as we continue calling for meetings with individuals.

2. Please continue to pray for our Mexican brothers and sisters as well as our teammates on the field as they mourn--and celebrate--Ernesto Rivera's Homegoing early Friday morning. Pray for his family, friends, church family, and all of our missionary friends who were close to him.

FUTURE REQUESTS -

Troy and Jenny will be traveling separately in June. Please pray that we each are able to set up meetings with individuals at each of our destinations.

Thank you for all your prayers and support. We love you all!

Weekly Update - May 22

Thank you for lifting our family up in prayer list week! We NEEDED it! For those who don't already know, both of our boys came down with fevers on Thursday--Cody's spiking at almost 104 degrees! Praise the Lord, the fevers came down before bed time and were completely gone by Friday morning. Praise the Lord, no one else in the family got sick!

Another praise for the week was that we received a very significant check from some donors on Monday and received another pledge that will help boost our percentage out of the 20s once the paper work is finalized at HQ!

Prayer Requests for the week:

1. We have a meeting with a couple tomorrow night.

2. There are several people we are contacting about scheduling meetings with during this coming week. Please pray that we'll be able to make connections and that everyone's schedules will be accommodating.

3. At the suggestion of our wonderful funding coach (thank you, Robin!), we just sent out a large batch of letters to individuals. We send these letters to people making them aware of our intention to call them and request a meeting. The purpose of sending these letters out first is so that we are not necessarily making a "cold call", and to give the individuals an opportunity to look over their schedules before our call. Please pray with us that these letters are well received and that we are able to fill our schedule this summer.

Thank you! We hope you have a blessed week!

Weekly Update - May 15

While this is mostly a ministry blog, our family life is a very real part of our ministry. And so we want to take a minute to thank the Lord for 12 years of marriage together that we will be celebrating tomorrow (May 16). It has not always been easy, but Jesus never promised us "easy", did He? Over the last 12 years we have learned a lot about each other, about ourselves as individuals, and about what Jesus wants to do in and through our marriage.

We have one main prayer request this week. Following a suggestion made by our funding coach at OMS, we'll be sending out a batch of 20-25 letters this week to individuals, asking for a meeting. Our goal is to fill as much of the summer as possible as early as possible. Sending out a half dozen letters at a time generally leaves us with entire weeks not filled because schedules were not compatible. Please pray with us in advance for these letters and for the families who will receive them.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. God bless you!

Weekly Update - May 8

Once again, it seemed like the enemy was attacking our family earlier this week with health issues. Last Saturday night, Troy developed flu-like symptoms and then Sunday afternoon, Cody began running a fever. With such a busy week planned, we immediately sent out requests for prayer. PRAISE THE LORD, Cody's fever went away within hours and stayed away. PRAISE THE LORD that although Troy had to miss work on Monday, by Tuesday he was feeling much better. PRAISE THE LORD, no one else in the family got sick. PRAISE THE LORD, we were able to have one of our meetings that we've been trying to schedule on Wednesday evening before church.

Some requests for the week:

1. There are two couples in particular we're still trying to make contact with. Please pray we'll be able to get in touch with them and schedule meetings.

2. We sent out a new batch of letters this week and will begin calling to schedule meetings on Monday night. Please pray that those we contacted will be favorable to a meeting and that our schedules will mesh.

3. We have a meeting scheduled for Monday night. Please pray that the Lord will speak through us.

4. Please pray that the Lord will help us to know which churches to contact about meetings on weekends.

5. Please begin to pray with us that Jenny will know whom to contact to schedule meetings with while she and the kids are in Iowa next month.

Thank you again for all your prayers! We could not do this without your help! And to all of our readers who are mothers, Happy Mother's Day!

Weekly Updates

I realized today that we haven't done a very good job of keeping you, our faithful supporters, updated as to what is going on in our ministry. How can you pray for us if you do not know what the need is? So beginning this week, I will be posting weekly updates on how things are going or items that need prayer. I know we do not say it enough, but we are grateful for all of your support and prayer. We really could not do this without you!

I think I will try to update the blog on Saturdays, but since it's already Thursday, I'll go ahead and let you know what you can keep in prayer for the rest of this week and through the next as well.

1. There are about four couples we are trying to set up meetings with for next week. Please pray that everyone's schedules mesh and that we're able to meet with each of them at some point next week.

2. Our goal is to send out a batch of letters to six couples/individuals each week requesting meetings. This way, we have a consistent schedule of at least 3 meetings each week. So please pray each week as these letters go out that the Lord will speak to the hearts of those who receive them.

3. We are trying to fill as many weekends this month with church meetings as possible. Please pray for contacts and open schedules.

SOME PRAISES

This last weekend we were invited to participate in a missionary conference in Milton, Florida with three other missionaries. It was a privilege to hear the stories of these other workers called to God's ministry on foreign mission fields, and we were blessed with the chance to make new friends in the church as well. We left the conference Sunday morning to speak at a church in Mobile, Alabama (we were blessed to have both the morning and evening services in which to share) and made more new friends there as well. Upon arriving home, we had an encouraging meeting with some church members who shared their testimonies of God's provision in their lives. We both agree that the meeting was as much for us as it was for them (perhaps even more so). What a great blessing to have brothers- and sisters-in-Christ who can relate to the daunting task of relocating to another country and culture and the joys and issues that arrive from such a move.

As always, if there is something that you'd like us to pray for, please don't hesitate to let us know. You may email prayer requests to jennygentry06@gmail.com or troygentry4@hotmail.com. Have a blessed week and we'll see you next Saturday!

Prayer Request

We've received some discouraging news about the status of our account that we would appreciate prayer for. Due to the increase in insurance costs, our MSR (the breakdown of expenses we'll have over the course of our 5-year term) has risen by almost $1,000 per month. This drops our percentage raised to only 21%. Obviously, our dream of leaving for language school this spring is out the window. We are now praying that the Lord will supply the remaining 80% by the end of the summer so that we can go to language school in the fall. We would also like to attend Cross Training (now extended an extra week--basically the entire month of July) this summer. But this raises some concerns. In order to attend this training session geared toward preparing us for living in another culture, we have to be at 30-35% (I don't remember exactly which) by May, and at 50% by July. Perhaps a bigger issue of concern is this: if we want to go to language school this fall and will not be able to use any of July fund-raising, we essentially need to be fully funded (or nearly fully funded) by July. That's a mighty big prayer request. We believe that the Lord can work miracles and are trying to do our part to make this happen. We've made plans to attend Cross training. We are busy scheduling as many one-on-one meetings during the week as we can. We are also still trying to travel to area churches on weekends.

There are so many decisions to be made and so many what-ifs. Right now we can only handle one thing at a time. So we are asking you to pray that the Lord will bless us with a full meeting schedule. We are also asking you to pray that we will be able to attend cross-training. Finally, we are asking you to pray for the Lord's timing in all of this. He has a perfect time for us to be funded. He has a perfect time for us to attend language school. And He has a perfect time for us to reach Mexico City. Thank you in advance for continuing to lift us up in prayer. We appreciate it!

Spring Break Trips

This month has been extremely busy! A couple weeks ago we drove to Indianapolis for the Evangelical Methodist General Conference and saw a few friends at OMS headquarters on our way. Allow me to say here that I am extremely thankful--not only for a husband who knows about car repair, but to the Lord for allowing our fuel pump to go out BEFORE we got on the road (as opposed to breaking down ON the road). What was originally supposed to be a 5 AM start time was delayed about six hours while Troy dropped the van's fuel tank and replaced the pump, then had to put everything back in its place again. Some of our delay was from waiting until part stores opened--the rest was due to the massive size of the fuel tank! And I think we all know how much help *I* was... ;-)

After our weekend conference, we drove to Wears Valley, Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains for 5 nights and 4 days of income-tax-refund-sponsored family vacation. We stayed in a beautiful cabin overlooking the foothills and enjoyed the wonder and beauty of God's creation each day as we participated in fun activities as a family.

From there we drove to Reidsville, North Carolina to speak in the EMC church our friend Aaron Withrow and his wife Annette are pastor of. We spent the weekend with a wonderful family (Clayton really enjoyed the opportunity to play with another little boy close to his age) and had the opportunity to share in worship with the church Body and one other missionary to Mexico, Wycliffe missionary Kevin Cline.

We arrived home Monday night and have already made several phone calls to establish appointment times for individual meetings. Please pray with us as we intensify our meeting schedule with these one-on-one meetings over the next couple months.

Training

The last three weeks we have been privileged to participate in a webinar course on Biblical fund-raising offered by One Mission Society, and taught by Patty Collins. During the course of the three weeks, we've had to closely examine our attitudes on fund-raising (something that was extremely uncomfortable), learning to replace them with what the Bible says about fund-raising. We've learned how to craft stories to tell during our face-to-face appointments and have had the opportunity to practice these stories with the purpose of gaining confidence in our funding. Today we will also meet our coach who will discuss with us (via internet) each week our progress in making contacts and scheduling meetings. He or she will hold us accountable and answer any questions we have regarding the process. We are very blessed and thankful we've had this opportunity. Our only regret is that it didn't come sooner!

Please pray with us as we begin to prepare a list of individuals to call. We know that the Lord has already provided the needed funds--He's already appointed individuals who will partner with us financially. Help us begin to pray for them now. Thank you so much for lifting us up in prayers--they help us more than you can possibly know!

Travel Schedule

We have a few meetings coming up that y'all can pray with us about. This weekend, February 20-21, we will be speaking at Love EMC in Ackworth, Georgia (just north of Atlanta). We'll be driving over on Saturday, speaking on Sunday morning, and returning home Sunday evening.

Next weekend, February 27-28, we'll be speaking at Family of Faith church in Circleville, Ohio. When we leave for Ohio will greatly depend upon the weather. If snow is expected, we might drive part of the way on Friday after Troy gets off work. Otherwise, we'll be getting up at dark-thirty and making the drive in one day. We've been invited to stay with Ryan & Holly Adkins (the family of some friends of ours from seminary) on Saturday night and we are thankful to them for graciously opening their home to us. We'll be speaking Sunday morning. We are looking to see if we can also schedule another meeting for Sunday night in an EMC church, so please pray with us that Troy is able to do so.

We'll be home the first week and a half of March for the girls' birthdays, but will be attending the EMC General Conference in Indianapolis the weekend of March 12-15.

In all of our meetings, please pray that the Lord will speak through us and those He has appointed to support our ministry will obey His call. And of course, please pray for safe traveling mercies--particularly in traveling around the snowy Midwest! Thank you!

Big News!

OMS International becomes One Mission Society
One Lord. One Life. One Calling.

In early January 2010, OMS launched a new name, tagline, logo and mission statement. These changes were designed to help One Mission Society better communicate what it has stood for since its inception in 1901 as The Oriental Missionary Society.

One Mission Society’s sole reason for existence as a mission organization remains steadfast―to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world and to see God glorified in all that is said and done. This is the command of the Great Commission. This is their “One Mission.”

God has blessed OMS by using it as a tool in His hands for more than 100 years. Today, One Mission Society is seeing, on average, one person come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ every two minutes. In recent years, thousands of new churches have been planted and tens of thousands of people are actively participating in discipleship programs.

These are historic times to be involved in missions. As never before in the history of the Church, One Mission Society is poised to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Make no mistake; the task is huge. OMS recognizes that it is only a small part of the body of Christ and that it joins with many other individuals, churches and like-minded Great Commission organizations called and equipped together for One Mission, God’s mission. This is the unity in mission to which all Christians are called in Ephesians, chapter 4 by our one God and Father of all.

One Mission Society currently works in 50 countries. It was founded on the principle that the most effective way to share Christ is by training a nation’s people to lead and multiply their churches. That principle still fully applies today and is the basis of their dynamic four-fold focus: intentional evangelism, church planting, training leaders and strategic partnerships.

OMS currently has six international offices from which missionaries are recruited and sent out: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the Untied States. Today, One Mission Society has 430 missionaries and is a member in good standing with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

Here is One Mission Society’s new mission statement: By God’s grace, One Mission Society unites, inspires and equips Christians to make disciples of Jesus Christ, multiplying dynamic communities of believers around the world.

We are Thankful!

We are nearing the Thanksgiving holiday, and while many of us are already thinking past it to Christmas, we wanted to take some time to remember the Lord's many blessings upon us.

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve Him in Mexico City! What a privilege it is to be called to be the standard-bearers to those who do not know Him. Troy and I are also thankful that the Lord has placed a similar calling upon the children for the time they are with us. They are just as excited--if not more so--about telling the Mexican children about Jesus!

We are thankful for the Lord's help during this period of fund-raising. He has helped us setting up church meetings and has helped us as we begin reaching out to individuals as well. This week we have 3 individual meetings! Praise the Lord! Next Sunday, we will also be speaking in the first pastorate of Troy's at Tilton EMC in Iowa. We are excited about "going home" and seeing again those friends who made up our very first church family. The Sunday following Thanksgiving, we will be traveling to Flora, Illinois and speaking in the EMC church there.

We are thankful for such wonderful friends and family members who have taken up our cause both prayerfully and financially. We could not do this without you! May the Lord bless you abundantly for your faithfulness to us!

Please keep us in your prayers this week as we have our first individual meetings and as we prepare for our trip to Iowa. We are privileged to be able to spend Thanksgiving week with Jenny's family in West Des Moines on our last Thanksgiving stateside for awhile.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

6-Month Mark

It was pointed out to Troy yesterday that we only have about 6 months until the May departure date. Wow! It kind of boggled the mind a little bit. We still have a long way to go in the funding, but we believe that as the Lord gave us this date Himself, He knows our need and will provide. There is a story of a community that was experiencing drought, so the pastor of the church called everyone together to pray for rain, telling people that God would answer the prayers of the body and send rain. But on the day selected for the prayer gathering, only one person arrived with an umbrella and rain gear. It's one thing for us to say we believe the Lord will provide--it's another thing to actually act on it as if it had already happened. To that end, we are beginning the paperwork to apply for passports, and whatever other paperwork or steps need to be started. After the Christmas season we will begin the process of packing, storing, and/or getting rid of our stuff. Pray for us!

After a delay, our first batch of letters to individuals went out yesterday. On them, we specifically stated that we would be calling them to set up appointments on Monday. They've officially gone out, so now we have to act on them or appear incompetent. This is scary! Neither one of us were gifted with the abilities (or the ease) of asking people for money and so this is extremely out of our comfort zone. Please pray for us, for Troy especially. He is working on our presentation book to go through with them and getting everything organized. On top of that we are still trying to schedule churches during the remaining weeks of this year and into next. We know that we cannot raise the needed funds on our own. But we also believe that it is not good stewardship to just sit back and let the Lord do all the work--we believe that we have to do our part as well in GOING and TELLING. So please pray with us that we're able to schedule at least 2 personal meetings each week and at least 3 church meetings a month (we want to be traveling 3 out of 4 Sundays each month).

I was reminded during my quiet time this morning of Peter walking on the water to Jesus. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was fine. But the minute he looked around and saw the raging sea and heard the winds, he started to sink. Pray with us that we can keep our eyes on Jesus and the goal He has for us. Pray with us that the sea of doubt and the winds of discouragement do not tear our focus away from Jesus.

Delayed...but not Discouraged!

Due to recent illness and a van that is having issues, we have not been able to travel in the last couple of months. We had originally hoped to reach 50% funding by December, and still believe that the Lord can work a miracle, but we urgently need your prayer.

We have made a list of individuals in the Jackson area to contact with the hope of scheduling meetings in which we can share with them about our ministry in Mexico City. We have also made a list of churches in our denomination that are within a day's drive of our home. Please pray with us that the Lord will help us fill our calendar--even during the coming holiday season--the busiest time of the year! Thanks!

Thank the Lord for Health!

Earlier this month, the swine flu visited the Gentry house. Although only the girls were tested for it, and only Tayler was diagnosed, I believe that Troy and Clayton probably had it as well, as their symptoms and fevers were very similar to Tayler's. Tori and Cody each had viral upper-respiratory infections, which left me to take care of 5 sick people! Thankfully, the Lord kept me healthy and prevented me from being sick as well. After a couple weeks of running fevers, coughing, and generally lacking in energy, everybody is on the mend. We are thankful that we didn't the more serious complications of swine flu, especially considering Tayler's heart history. Thank you for all your prayers while we were sick--I truly believe that I could not have stayed healthy and the illnesses would have been a lot worse without them.

Funding Goals

Below are some prayer requests that we have pertaining to our funding. We appreciate all of your prayers for us in the coming months! Thanks!

1. We would like to reach 50% funding status by Christmas so that we can attend Cross Training at HQ in January. Please pray that the Lord raises up financial supporters to help us reach this goal.

2. When we go to the 3 week training session, we will need to have someone go with us to help take care of the kids and monitor their school day while we are in the training sessions. Please pray that we will be able to find someone who can help us out in this manner.

3. There is an opportunity for us to participate in the 3-week online training program Kingdom Come Training offers. It is a very intensive program but one that will help us as we learn how to share our ministry goals with others in a fund-raising meeting. Please pray that we will find just the right time slot that will be the most beneficial to us while fitting our busy work and school schedule.

4. Many of you already know that we are planning to move to Costa Rica in May, 2010. We sought the Lord's Will in this and feel like this is His answer to us, His promise. There's still a lot of financial and prayer support to raise in the coming months, but we feel that He can and WILL provide! We felt He was calling us to, like Peter, step out of the boat and trust Him in faith. So we are doing so, making plans for a May departure. Please pray with us that we will be 100% funded and ready to make the move to Costa Rica in May.