Hello friends. Long time no blogs, sorry. Haha
Life on the race has been hectic for me. And I’m learning how to balance all the things.
In the mean time, here are some things I miss about home life:
- My personal toilet. Sharing an intimate space like that can be overwhelming at times.
- A washer AND dryer! We have found washers in most countries however, hang drying our clothes on the reg really shows what they are made of. They don’t last that long.
- Staying unpacked. I love life on the move but there is a certain comfort that accompanies staying somewhere more than a month.
- American amenities such as my dentist and chiropractor. Two things I’ve learned to love living on my own.
- Of course I miss my family and friends. I think about them everyday.
- The ocean. I miss being able to head to the beach on a bad day. To lay in the sun or to snorkel. I miss being under water, scuba diving.
- Food! Creature comforts that I miss both from Missouri and the Keys. Imo’s Pizza, Dillons Pub, the food truck at Key Largo Chocolates, and most importantly the autonomy of my own kitchen.
I also have learned new things when traveling this world:
- Most countries do NOT flush toilet paper. So keeping the bathroom clean is imperative!
- Learning peoples names can get you far, even if you’re bad a pronouncing them.
- I do not need to know the language to hang out or even live with people. It does help when I make an effort to learn though.
- They have nicer mops over here that make way more sense.
- Dogs are treated very differently outside of the U.S.
- Church can mean very different things to people.
- Coffee/Tea time is universal.
- Bread is way more important outside of the U.S.
- U.S. might be better at driving than the rest of the countries I’ve been to.
- The body of Christ is moving and active!
- Sharing a meal with people is bonding no matter what.
There are so many more on both ends of missing home and learning new things. This is all I have for now though.
We had team changes and I’m on new team: Stu Pickles and the PenguiNUNs! Currently we are in Armenia learning and praying a lot with widows and mothers who have lost their love ones in the current war.
Next we head to Kyrgyzstan.
If you have any questions please reach out to me. I would love to hear from you personally.
Hi Jenna I just saw your blog and awesome picture! I pray God will deeply meet all your needs as you have shared how much you aré missing home and having to sacrifice so many taken for granted needs and desires met for us here home! My prayers are with you! El Shadai jehovah Rapha your Healer is with you! I am that I am is with you as He is with me Moses and Joshua! You are where God has planted you to blossom!! Thank you for what you are doing to go places where the gospel is being proclaimed by you being and making a difference in the salt and light that you are carrying into all those nations that I have never heard of but are so important to God that He sent you to make a difference in the lives of those people! May God continúe to strengthen you mightily with Holy Spirit Power From on High! We miss your smile too! Love you much!! Rosie
So great to hear from you! I’m glad you like using mops. Can’t wait for you to get back. :O
You’re definitely becoming a refined jewel. – love you – Pam
Thanks for your love and service to the Armenian widows and grieving mothers. I am excited for you and the new team! I love your list of things you have learned while traveling the world! The countries you mentioned, we seem to have students from there work on Mackinac island, I remember meeting some from Kyrgystan and Azerbaijan….i saw that country again when I looked into the war you mentioned. How shielded we are here from all that is going on in the rest of the world. I am proud of you…and will be praying for you as you go to Kyrgystan…had to look that one up on a map….Wow. Love you!
Hey Jenna,
Especially liked, no loved your last 2 points.
God is most definitely moving and meals, coffee or tea are bonding in the best missional/ gospel focused way imaginable .
“ Jesus went around eating and drinking…”
First of all, I just love that you are in Armenia, my native country. I would love to go there myself someday. I’m cracking up about the mops! Have you taken a picture of one? I would love to see what it looks like and how it functions. I’d also like to know how dogs are treated there? I’m assuming less like part of the family and more like pets? I miss diving too and definitely look forward to it when you return. I can see Christ working in and through you on this journey and can’t wait to hear the whole story when you return.