Here's a little sneak peek into the mysteries of Clarkston...
Sitting in my closet at 5:30 this morning...
God woke me up to pray specifically and I am so thankful I finally had the awareness to stumble up and listen!
Two-way journaling back and forth in conversation with Jesus...this has been blowing my mind. Check out the "4 Keys To Hearing God's Voice" by Mark Virkler if you want to know more!
Let the apartment visits begin! Yes!!!!
Met with my pastor and a friend to visit different believers and nonbelievers in my complex in their homes.
Ready, set, go!
1. A Congolese believer who attends Reach The Nations, my refugee church, and is awaiting her long lost husbands arrival in hopefully a couple of weeks. It has been almost 5 years since she and her six kids have last seen him! Lunch #1 consisted of goat livers and rice and creamy coffee bubbling over on the stove. I was not too disappointed I was fasting today and graciously explained this to my dear sister in Christ eating a heap of white rice instead. My comrads took one brave bite after another doing everything to keep them from reappearing on the plate. Some were more successful than others. ( :
The best surprise of the day came when I realized that the wonderful and interesting smells greeting me everyday in my bathroom are actually coming from my Congolese friend's kitchen on the other side of my wall! She didn't even know we were neighbors! Love that! Funny... I know when she burns things too....
2. A visit with an Ethiopian Orthodox family who sees Christianity as something separate altogether... and lunch #2 which consisted of enjeera (a spongy brown bread the size of a pizza crust) smothered with a chickpea and spices saucy mash and eaten with your hands. Her son was named Daniel which was an incredible connection because this is the book I am travelling through in the word right now! He had never read the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den, nor did he know much of Daniel or the Bible in general. I grabbed my easier translation from my bag and showed him how to find his way around the Bible and he started reading the story. My pastor and I invited him to come to our church and I really hope to see that little guy soon! The mother invited me back anytime. It filled me right up inside to meet some of my new neighbors!!
3. A high Hindu priest Nepali family was last but not least having suffered a tragedy of great proportions...losing their 22 year old son only weeks ago to colon cancer. Through the conversation I began to realize that the Nepali family I have poured into the past 2 years, and used to visit in the same complex I am now living, are actually the relatives of this family! We had a great conversation connecting dots and opening doors of relationship as my pastor offered encouragement. I especially connected with their 19 year old daughter who already knew of me through our mutual Nepali friend and will be praying through whether this is an area of good soil or not to spend my time investing in.
I am off to an English house church meeting which was attended by Ethiopians, Americans, and Afghanis last week at our first gathering! It was beautiful to study the word with the Nations altogether in one living room declaring Holy the same Father.
My pastor has asked if I would be open to beginning a similar Nepali speaking Bible study group alongside of some Nepali believers from our church within my own complex. I would be leading it off with the Nepali couple, modeling how to facilitate it, and discipling other Nepali/ English speaking individuals within it. This is a point of prayer and I ask that you would pray for my wisdom and also for my financial support to be able to continue taking on more ministry responsibilities and expanding the Kingdom.
I love you all and have to run!!!
Thank you for your prayers!!!
Jenna in Clarkston...
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Care of: Stone Mountain Baptist Association
1200 Green Street, SE
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Conyers, GA 30021
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