Browsing Tag

Africa

Blog, Faith, Marriage, prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Travel

Kenya, Africa flight is booked!

plane

plane

For nothing is impossible with God. – Luke 1:37, NLT

My flights are now booked for Kenya, Africa, to speak at Pastor Rose Mudenyo’s women’s conference. I am SOOOO excited and praising God!

With some donations coming in from my friend Shelley Valasek’s webinar and my friend Jennifer Whiddon’s Dream BIG bracelet, I was finally able to get my yellow fever immunization.

Most of the expenses for this trip are coming out of Ray’s and my pockets (i.e., our hard work!!!!). We are still taking donations if God is tugging at your heart to sow seed into this amazing mission trip. Click here if you’d like to help by donating online.

me & Ray

me & Ray

Some people have no idea of the amount of stress I have been through to go on this trip, financially, emotionally, spiritually – or the criticism against me and even people speaking curses against Ray and me (amazingly, these are even from family & friends who are CHRISTIANS. This comes with the territory of following Christ and from the accuser of the brethren, satan!).

I know it will be worth it all, but I may need a vacation somewhere quiet and peaceful after I come back!

Our precious daughter Heather

Our precious daughter Heather

Despite everything, I am SUPER excited about my dream of Africa finally coming true! My only wish is that our precious daughter Heather was going, too! Going to Africa is one of her dreams, too. It breaks my heart so much she isn’t going with me. She WILL go one day! Keep praying, Heather! I’d like our sweet, youngest daughter Leah to go, too, but she doesn’t want to go to Africa.

Thank you for all your encouragement, prayers, and support. I couldn’t do this without you, my family, friends, and intercessor team members who have been warring on my behalf since I said “yes” to God and pastor Rose.

Please pray for Ray and me and our family as Ray and I leave next week! Some specific requests are:

  • God’s will to be done on this mission trip and Him to fill us with His agape love for His people there in Africa.
  • God’s powerful anointing on me every session as I speak.
  • That Ray and I won’t get sick from the anti-malaria meds or experience any sickness, disease, or injury there, such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, sunburns, etc.
  • No problems with any of our plane flights – traveling mercies.
  • God’s protection upon us and our family spiritually from any acts of violence, theft, robbery, car accidents, and any spiritual warfare attacks. Special protection upon our kids and grandkids while we are gone.
  • God’s abundant financial provision for our travels there. We are needing more money coming in for this trip!
  • That we’ll have FUN and for Ray and me to draw closer in unity and our marriage blessed and refreshed.
  • Divine appointments on the planes and in Africa.
  • That we will be servants to our hosts and a blessing and encouragement to their hearts.
Woman with camera

Woman with camera

Yes, I’ll be taking pics! (My motto – always take pics!)

Click here if you want to sow into this amazing opportunity!

For all of you who have prayed for me and encouraged me, the words “thank you” fall so short of my gratitude and how I feel about you. You are so precious to me. Thank you for holding up my arms in battle. It’s been a long road and I still need great faith, strength, power and stamina.

Thank you for believing in me and believing WITH me for this BIG DREAM COME TRUE.

Thank you to Ray for his incredibly hard work to help make this dream possible. God will reward you! 

Our beautiful children and grandchildren and sister Maria and her family, I love you so very much and wish you could come with us. 

Most of all, Jesus, I love you and thank you so much for allowing me of all people to be used by You for Your glory! God, let me please You and make You smile.

Australia
Blog, Faith, prayer, Travel

The open road unknown

Australia

Australia

This morning I heard a new song on KLove and I loved it. I came home and watched the video which blessed me even more – the beautiful waterfall, the amazing ocean, different places in the world.

I felt this song was timely with our upcoming Africa trip.

The lyrics which stood out to me were:

Let’s go heading down the open road unknown
And we find what we’re made of through the open door
Is it fear you’re afraid of?
What are you waiting for?
Love alone is worth the fight.

The photography in this video is incredible. I wish I could learn to do videos like this.

What are you waiting for? Let’s head down the open road unknown. It will be a great adventure!

Click here to view the video, Love Alone Is Worth The Fight by Switchfoot.

Blog, Faith, Marriage, prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Travel, Writing

Of Things Not Seen

Pumpkin scented candles - Pinterest

Pumpkin scented candles
Pinterest

Pumpkin spice scented candles. Soft sweaters. Brightly colored scarves. Boots, oh boots of every length and color!

Leaves in glorious shades of orange, yellow, red, and brown. Fall is here, and we love and welcome it like a best friend who moved far away and is visiting, her stay much too short.

We’re teased in stores with the promise of Christmas around the corner: smiling snowmen, snow globes, shiny red and purple gift bags, this year’s cute Christmas tree decorations, fun toys and techy gadgets for the kids and teens, Silent Night or Carol of the Bells playing and our hearts sing and worship along in adoration of Jesus, the King of Kings.

But while so many are getting ready for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I prepare for Africa.

Purple journal

Purple journal

I journal in my new, oversized, purple diary about things on my heart. The excitement of this great adventure, a dream I’ve had for years and have been praying about.

The drums of Africa beat in my heart and blood. And at night, I’ve dreamed of Africa, even though I’ve never been there before. The dreams have been so real, like I was really there.

I’m reminded of the line in the movie Out of Africa, when Karen Blixen (played by my favorite actress, Meryl Streep) said, “I stayed in the room where I was born in Rungstedland and tried to remember the colors of Africa.”

I long to see the colors of Africa.

Africa

Africa

I also journal the fears. Ridiculous fears. And some that are warranted. Africa may not be “The Dark Continent” as many describe it, but there is some darkness there to respect.

I make lists. What to bring like my passport, driver’s license, and yellow fever immunization paper. What not to bring, like a hair dryer.

What to buy like dresses, skirts and blouses on sale for the warm climate and chocolates for the orphans. What to take here from home, like our daughter’s soccer ball, for children there to play with and keep.

Only a few more weeks until pastor Rose’s annual women’s conference in Bungoma, Africa. When she first invited me to speak there, I prayed and believe God told me to do this. Then I talked to my husband Ray, whose fleece was “if God provides.”

While Ray and I may disagree on how exactly God has accomplished that [he has wanted money to just fall out of the sky and I believe God provided through my July car wreck settlement, but Ray didn’t agree], this past week we were able to finally purchase Ray’s round trip plane tickets through some of his hard overtime work! (The website booking buddy has some great deals.) This is so exciting!

Initially we were going to buy my tickets first, but Ray was concerned about being “left behind” and me being alone and in possible danger in Africa, so we bought his first. If something were to happen to where I can’t go, then pastor Rose would still have a speaker for her conference. Ray is an amazing preacher and teacher!

Several weeks ago, a few donations came in from my friend Rochelle Valasek’s fundraiser webinar and my jewelry artist friend Jennifer Whiddon’s Dream BIG bracelet and I was able to get my yellow fever immunization!

This weekend some sweet friends made a donation and I was able to purchase my round trip tickets from Nairobi, Kenya to Kisimu Airport, Kenya, and then the return flight from Kisimu to Nairobi. Praise God!!!

Now Ray and I and my intercessors are praying in the money for my round trip tickets to Africa: for the long (expensive!) flight from Kansas City, MO, to Nairobi and then the return flight from Nairobi to Kansas City.

Beth Jonees, International Speaker/Author

Beth Jones, International Speaker/Author

I have faith that God will provide the money so I can go.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1, KJV

The evidence of things not seen. I don’t see it yet ~ in the natural. But I see it by faith.

Will you join me in this great adventure to encourage God’s daughters in Kenya, Africa?

To learn more, click here.