New Beginnings

Hello Friends,

I'd like to take a minute and catch you up with what God has been doing in my life this year and the opportunities he has placed before me. I have been in Mobile, Alabama, working on my degree in communications. Even though I am in school full time, I sometimes feel that it is my part time job.

I've made my home in Mobile, fully believing God has placed me here because of the friendships I have made. So many have poured their love and prayers into my life. I have found myself falling in love with ministry, church, and missions. I have worked at my church as a youth intern for the past three years. I have taught Bible studies, organized and led retreats, prayed for kids, chaperoned, and tried my hardest to live as a role model for these young people who have found their way into my heart.

I have always wanted to go on a foreign mission trip, but never had the opportunity. During the past year, I have prayed silently about a desire to go to Africa. I felt to put into action Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." As I was learning what it meant to wait on the Lord, He was already forming plans greater than I could imagine.

This semester our youth group hosted, Annieo and Rudyo Klaas, whose parents are missionaries in Senegal, Africa. I grew close to the family during their short time in the States. I heard what Rudy and Laurie do as missionaries, working for Wycliffe. The more I talked to them, the more I felt that I wanted to go. They soon discovered my heart for missions and have invited me to spend part of the summer with them.

I'm calling this trip my exploratory mission trip. While I am in Senegal, I will do a number of things. I will help with the youth group that Annio and Rudyo participate in. I will teach a Bible study to Annio and her friends. I will take literacy classes and travel with Rudy and his colleagues to help in nearby villages. I will stay at a British boarding school. I will be working with a missionary there who runs a program for Taliban boys who spend much of their day begging on the streets for the Islamic leader. Finally, I will work at a deaf school in Senegal, teaching deaf children how to communicate better in their own language. I'm praying that through this trip God will show me the way I am to serve in the mission field and that I would begin to see things through His eyes.

I plan to leave for Senegal in the middle of May and stay through the middle of July. If you would consider supporting me in this venture, I would be very grateful. If you are unable financially, I would ask that you would keep my journeys in prayer.

Please pray:

- That I would have safe travel both in and out of country.

- That doors would begin to open, as well as my eyes.

- That I would see what missions really is.

- That if I am called to further missions, God would give me a deeper desire.

- I also ask that you would pray blessing on the Klaas family for the gift of their time to me.

Thank you so very much,

Jeanetta Bennett

Isaiah 52:7