Do you ever get lost in thoughts of thanksgiving to the Lord? Over the last few weeks I have found myself reflecting on all that God has given me. I am overflowing with thankfulness out of a humble and grateful heart!

I want to thank you and update you on how God has continued to provide for me and increase my support level. The month of July brings very exciting news. I am currently supported at 51.7%. The recommended support level for a single in Paraguay is $2,500 a month. God has been faithful to bring churches and individuals who want to be a part of God’s work in Paraguay. Over the last 6 months I have had the opportunity to share in 4 churches, 5 Sunday school classes and with many individuals! I am encouraged daily knowing that you are praying for me. Thank you for your prayers!

I am praying for you as well. I thank God for every one of you! It is so amazing how God has given us each other in the body of Christ for encouragement and fellowship.

Again, I am at a loss for words to say thank you to the Lord for his goodness to me. Looking ahead to six more months and trusting God for 100% support by January.

CAMP!!!
This past month I had the amazing privilege to work as a camp counselor at Camp Mahnahmanha for a week. Friends of the family who live near Chicago invited Matthew, my little brother, and I to come to camp near them. Matthew and I took the train…14 hours…from Syracuse to Chicago.
I have never worked as a camp counselor before so I was a little nervous. It didn’t take me long to realize that I was going to love it! I was on the Green team and worked with the junior high kids. We played the craziest games…learned about the armor of God…and slept very little.

The temperatures were in the 90’s all week and with the heat index it felt like 110-115 degrees. It was a struggle to stay cool but we were thankful for the sunshine.
I had the best cabin! Six very different…very talkative girls! Being around them reminded me of what it was like to be a junior higher. I prayed that God would use me in their lives as an encouragement. My favorite part of the day was cabin devotions. To hear the girls talk about what the Lord was teaching them was challenging to me.
As I look back over my first camp counselor experience I can’t help but see how God molded me into his image…chipping away at me and revealing more of Himself. The lessons I have learned are priceless!

I can’t help smiling when I remember waking up from surgery and asking for cinnamon toast!
It is hard to believe that it has been a year since surgery on my legs! Since passing out on my way from the bathroom, being on Vicodin, having to ice 24 hours, keeping my legs propped up on pillows, sleeping on my back, not being able to walk without being in pain, etc…

As I was thinking about it today I found myself remembering how God was faithful to give me peace and joy in the midst of pain. I was reminded of how intricately the Lord planned and laid it all before me. From the doctors, nurses, surgery dates, to insurance that covered the $10,000 bill. I am amazed!

I am reminded of the Israelites who forgot all that the Lord had done for them! I pray that I will always remember. It has been a year to the day…now I am running pain free and loving it! I continue to enjoy running and have had the opportunity to run in six races. I look forward to going for a run because I know it is an opportunity to remember and praise God for the gift that he has given me in my legs! The lessons learned…what it means to choose to have peace…to see the Lord’s faithfulness to lead me…to have joy in the midst of pain…to see how much He loves me. These are the true gifts that God has given me!

I invite you to pause today and remember a time in your own life that you were faced with God’s greatness! Think on it! Remember and live today in reflection of what God showed you about Himself.

Choosing to remember God’s greatness!

Sunday I had the blessing of sharing at Constantia Center Baptist Church, the church where I grew up. I love to share what the Lord is doing and has done in my life. Thank you so much for your prayers. I was asked to teach Junior Church (aka Children’s Church). What a blessing! I love the joy and honesty of children. I taught them about how different God made people of the world but how God loves us all and wants all people to have a relationship with Him. At the end is my favorite part. We took a few moments and prayed for God to send out more laborers into the world. I asked for volunteers to pray for different countries. Whenever I teach young ones I always leave learning so much myself. In the afternoon I was given sometime to share my heart with the congregation. I praise God for the words that he gave me. My heart was so full. Thank you for your prayers!

Saturday I ran in the Freihofer’s Run for Women. The race was a 5k (3.1 miles). I ran with more than 4,000 women. There were 9 Olympic athletes from 9 different countries. It was a very warm Saturday but there was a breeze which was very pleasant. I was very nervous and excited about running. It was very congested the whole race due to the amount of runner. It was great to look around and see women all running together. I finished 1,044th place and 112 out of 300 in my age group. I also had the opportunity to talk with and get the autographs of both Benita Johnson (Australian Olympian) and Joan Samuelson (who won the first women’s Olympic marathon) I had a GREAT time praising God throughout the whole day. It is an experience that I will never forget.

It is taking all that is in me not to smile as I write this. My cheeks are so swollen that I haven’t been able to smile over the last 4 days. I think that has been that hardest part of getting my wisdom teeth taken out.
Surgery on Monday went well. I was in and out of there in a few hours. Recovery has been a bit slower than I would like. I am learning to appreciate soft foods in a whole new way. Aside from the discomfort I have been GREAT! This has been the most amazing display of God’s care and love for me. I want to thank you for your prayers. This is what I call a “glory story”
When I found out that I was going to have to have my wisdom teeth taken out I was a little stressed as to how I was going to pay for it. Because I am no longer a student, I am no longer under my parents insurance. I have full medical coverage just not dental. I was told by my dentist a year ago that my wisdom teeth were fine the way they were.
About three weeks ago I started having pain and headaches. I needed to go to the dentist to have them checked out. Someone from my church told my dilemma to his dentist. This dentist saw me for no charge! I could hardly believe how God had provided. After telling me that all 4 needed to be taken out he referred me to a dental surgeon. The surgeon saw me and told me that he was going to do something to help me be able to pay for the surgery because I was a missionary and didn’t have coverage. So when I went to make an appointment for surgery the receptionist went over the bill. Surgery to have all four taken out came to $2,100. I was told that they were going to allow me to pay the bill over the next 3 months. I was glad to see God providing time to pay it off.
On the day of surgery I arrived at the office and went up to pay my minimum of $1,000 down payment. The receptionist asked me if I was ok paying this much. I told her that that is what I was told I had to pay that that I had 3 months to pay the rest of the bill. She looked at me and told me that she needed to check something and then get back to me. She called me back up to the desk a few minutes later and said “I think $1,000 is all you have to pay.” I was a bit puzzled not really knowing what this meant. I went in and had surgery. When my mom and I were preparing to leave we went over the billing with the nurse. She showed me the bill and at the bottom where I was expecting to find a bill for the remaining $1,100 was a much smaller number, $50. I looked at the bill and saw written across the top “Courtesy discount 50%.” The doctor had taken a 50% cut on the bill. The only amount that I owe is $50. After my mom and I pulled out of the parking lot I burst into tears. “God is taking care of me” I was and still am amazed as to how much God shows me His love. I thought of that verse in Isaiah that says “I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. God was holding me…I am in His almighty hands. God is taking care of me!
Recovery is still painful and long but I have seen the Lord in a whole new way. I am so thankful that our God is a personal God. What a tremendous comfort knowing how intimately he loves me.
Thank you for all of your prayers. Look at how God answered your prayers! Praise His Name! Glory

Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Fellow Partners,
Isn’t the Body of Christ amazing! I was overwhelmed on Sunday. So much weighing on my heart and mind. God brought two ladies to me who asked me how I was doing in such a way that I knew that they really wanted to know. Their caring heart and readiness to listen gave me the freedom to share. Right then and there they said “Let’s pray” I was lifted to the throne of heaven…I was pointed to the direction that I felt too weary to lift my head. Praise God for those who will lift you up in prayer.

Please pray for me this week and especially this weekend.

Saturday, May 30th I am running in a 5k race. It has been almost 10 months since I had surgery on both my legs. Every time I run it is a time of praise! Pray that I will rejoice with each and every step.

Sunday, May 31st My church that I grew up in until I was in 8th grade has asked me to come and share about missions. I am going to be busy this week preparing what I am going to say. Please pray for calmness of heart and clarity of mind. This is my first time sharing without any of my family in the audience. Pray that I don’t feel alone but most importantly that God will work through me as He sees fit.

Monday, June 1st I am going to have surgery to have all four wisdom teeth pulled. Over the last 3 weeks I have been in a lot of pain with headaches and my jaw being tight. Every day the pain seems to increase. I am looking forward to getting them taken out but also I am anxious. The last time I had surgery I was in tremendous amounts of pain. Sub-consciously I am thinking that this is going to be that bad. Please pray that the pain does not get any worse before June 1st. Please pray for sleep as I am being kept awake by the pain. Please pray for clarity of thought as I am preparing to share on Sunday. It is hard to focus sometimes.

I have seen already the ways that the Lord has grown my trust in Him! I praise Him for the ways that He has promised to be my comfort. Thank you for your prayers.

“Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may continually run” Ps 71:2

Because of His amazing grace,
Jenna

 After a long battle with her heart, my grandma, Pat Vincent went to be with her Savior on April 28. It has been a hard adjustment for us realizing that she is gone but we would not wish her back here. She is walking the streets of heaven without a pain. Thank you for all of your prayers and comfort that you have given our family during this time.

Over the last few months I have had opportunities to share with different groups of people. I have shared in Sunday school classes, Awana, a Bible study, my grandma’s church, as well as my home church. I am so amazed to see the opportunities that God has given me to share about Paraguay and how others can be a vital part of the ministry. God has continued to raise up partners. I am currently at 36 % level of monthly support. I am trusting God for 100% before Jan 2010. I invite you to join in the work in Paraguay.