Going . . . finally!

It was a change for us to do more sending than going in the first half of 2017, and a challenge to do our part in keeping the wheels turning for the tours that were going out. But the second half of the year has kicked off more going — sometimes barely unpacking between trips.  Our plan was to spend the majority of the year focusing on renewing relationships with our support team and seeking new support as many long time donors are not able to continue in this season of their life. The travel part was delayed, but we have been making up for it. 

In this time of more active ministry travel we have a need of $7500 to meet our support budget for the remainder of 2017. There is a deficit of $4500, and $3000 needed for additional ministry expenses. God has already provided some additional monthly support so the total needed is less than it was a month ago! We welcome any new monthly commitments or special gifts to help with the balance of the need. Donations can be made here: ONLINE AT PROCLAIM. Choose JENKINS on the dropdown menu.

Josua and Tabita

Our hearts are full--every trip has been blessed beyond expectation! 

Right after our July trip we made a personal trip to Croatia where we started off with 3 days at the Adriatic coast for our 43rd anniversary. 

Then a very special occasion -- celebrating with dear friends and Proclaim-Croatia ministry partners, the Kovacevic family, as youngest son Josua was married in Serbia. We have known Josua since he was born and have seen him grow into a young man of faith and a gifted musician. Some of you helped send him to play in Jim's Sax 4th Avenue team last year in Greece!

KOVACEVIC FAMILY

We returned to the US and then headed north to Tennessee to meet up with a group of long-time friends and supporters to view together the Total Solar Eclipse. One of this group--and the organizer--was Chap Percival, a science and astronomy teacher and eclipse expert. All of Chap and Bonnie's work and preparation made the experience so meaningful to all of us. It was not only a sweet time with old friends, but a spectacular and rare event.

A few days later we made a long overdue visit to Norfolk, VA, to our original missions sending church where we "grew up" as newly marrieds and were greatly influenced in our spiritual growth. We still have many prayer and financial partners, friends and encouragers there, and were able to spend time with many dear people and visit some nostalgic places.

Our first apartment in Norfolk upstairs from Marj --  40 years ago! It still feels like home.

God arranged the timing so we were able to be in Norfolk for the memorial service of Helena Garrick who made a significant impact on us through her example and her friendship. That relationship with Helena and the family has continued through the years. Countless others have felt the same way, as evidenced by the hundreds of guests who came together to honor her life and faithfulness.

 Later that week we had the opportunity to visit the fulfillment of a vision and passion of Helena's -- the Global Friendship House on the Old Dominion University Campus, a home and ministry to International students, a building that will be completed within the next year.   

One last quick trip was squeezed in to Grace College Homecoming with a special music reunion and performances of some of the music teams from years past. Once again concert choir alumni had a chance to bring back a few of the most performed pieces -- always an emotional experience.  That weekend a new music program of the college was introduced that will provide multi-faceted training for church music ministers. That gives us joy, as passing the torch of church music leadership was such an important emphasis of our dad.

Family at Music Reunion Event

Oh, yeah -- and we had a hurricane come through. There was no damage to our house although many in our city were severely affected. And this year it didn't cause delays in our travel plans as last year's did.

We are not yet done for the year! There will be10 days of International Council and the Proclaim Gathering in Budapest in mid-November. Then we will stop in Brussels for a few days on the way home to visit friends from our time at the Bible institute in the mid 1980s and see what opportunities there might be for Proclaim to partner and assist in evangelism.

We greatly appreciate your prayers for wisdom and for God's provision for the added expenses of going out. Thank you for the partnership with us through prayer and finances in these challenging times.