Every Marine is a Rifleman

“What do you see as your family’s role on Team Vanuatu?”

...was the first question asked of me by Bill Lake, BMW’s Pacific Area Director, as we were sitting around a table on the island of Santo in Vanuatu.

It is amazing for Tania and I to look back and see how the Lord has uniquely equipped our family with skills and know-how vital to the work of Team Vanuatu (Eph 2:10). Technology, communications, construction, alternative energy development, water development, “off-grid”/primitive living, survival skills, logistics, and education are just some of the practical ways in which we will contribute to the team. However, all team members share the same main focus of planting indigenous churches.

Allow me to illustrate. In the Marine Corps every Marine is a Rifleman. In addition to the title and responsibility of ‘Rifleman’ each Marine has a specific occupational specialty that is essential to the overall effectiveness of the Marine Corps as a unit. In the same way, every Missionary is an Ambassador for Christ, while at the same time each has specific responsibilities that are essential to effective ministry (1Corinthians 12:12-28).

Our family will be actively involved in building relationships, evangelism, and discipleship. However, our unique role will be to support the team in such a way that our fellow missionaries will be free to do their jobs. This will allow everyone to be more effective servants of Almighty God as we proclaim Christ among the unreached.

In the remote areas of Vanuatu there is no corner supermarket, drugstore, or lumberyard. You can’t just plug your appliances into an outlet or turn on the tap for hot water (or any water for that matter). Communications may be a matter of life, or death. The skills we bring to the field will be crucial to the long-term sustainability of the ministry.

The Ni-Vanuatu that will come to know Christ as He sends workers into that field have been purchased with His precious blood. We overflow with thankfulness to God that, by His grace, we are able to be a part of the work He is doing as He gathers worshipers from every tribe and language and people and nation. And so we pray that as you learn more about what God is doing, you also will become impassioned with the vision to claim Vanuatu for Christ and will join with us as fellow laborers among the fields of harvest.

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Luke 10:2 KJV

Vanuatu?

Until CBS filmed a Survivor series on the islands of Vanuatu (formerly known as the New Hebrides), most people did not even know these islands existed.

To read more about Vanuatu visit http://www.biblicalministries.org/countries/vanuatu.html

BMW Candidate Orientation Report

We thank God for all of you that prayed for us during our time in Georgia with Biblical Ministries Worldwide (BMW). It was a grueling two weeks ‘under the microscope’. We were tested and analyzed on everything from theology (both a written test and three hours of oral audits), our marriage (a twenty, yes twenty, page survey), plus our autobiographies, personality and temperament analysis, and many, many meetings over meals with the General Director, Area Directors, and other BMW staff. All of this was in addition to much training in many areas of ministry, deputation, and preparation for uprooting and moving to a completely foreign culture. At the end of it all we sat before the Board, and praise God, were approved.

And now the work begins!

Dear Fellow Laborers,

A Letter from Vanuatu Team Leader, Brad Jones

In March of 2005, after almost 7 years of prayer and planning, my wife and I partnered with Biblical Ministries Worldwide to establish a pioneering mission team to take the Gospel into the tribal areas of Vanuatu. In Vanuatu, 80% of the indigenous people live in bush villages spread out over 85 islands. To effectively reach the Ni-Vanuatu people for Christ we must go out to where they are…to live among them…to understand their culture and to speak their language. In order to do this, we knew that we would need strong, gifted teammates who love God and are committed to the work ahead.

By the fall of 2006 God was bringing a strong team together, but we still lacked a like-minded couple who was not only gifted in the areas of evangelism, discipleship, and leadership training, but who would also be able to concentrate on the sustainability of our team in a harsh, unfamiliar tribal environment. Then, God “arranged” for us to meet Jim and Tania Kenner and this July they official joined Team Vanuatu! They are a mature, godly couple with knowledge and life experience in the areas we are lacking. Some of the essential areas where they will be contributing to our team include: technology, communications, alternative power, “off-grid living”, education, logistics, supplies and so much more…

God has answered the prayers of our team by uniting us with Jim and Tania. It is our team’s goal to be 100% prepared to leave for Vanuatu by March of 2008. That is an ambitious goal and especially ambitious for the Kenners as they are getting a later start than the rest of the team. We need them with us, and as they embark on this new path for their lives, they will need your prayer. I am asking that you would prayerfully consider being a part of their support team.

If I can be of any assistance as team facilitator, please contact me at bjones@biblicalministries.org

Amazed by His Grace,

Brad Jones

What Next?

"...all things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23

Until we depart for the field, and thereafter, we pray that God would be glorified as we serve.

There is much work that lies ahead. It is our aim, Lord willing, to depart for the field at the same time as the rest of our team. Therefore we will be diligently doing all we can to prepare.

Worldview Resource Group in Colorado is holding a one week seminar in September. Many classes will be held on planting New Testament-patterned churches among indigenous people. The entire team is hoping to attend.

We have lofty ambitions as we prepare for deputation. But with God all things are possible. We recognize His Sovereignty and are fully submitted to His will.

Prayer is vital. The Apostle Paul prayed for his fellow workers. He also encouraged them by letting them know he was praying for them. Right now we need people, like you, that will be committed to faithfully support us through prayer and encouragement. Please let us know if you would like to partner with us in this way. And, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

This is only the tip of the iceberg.

Care Packages

ATTENTION: We are now in Vanuatu and have a mailing address:

James & Tania Kenner
PMB 3446
Port Vila, Vanuatu
South Pacific

Just be aware that we may be charged up to 45% duty and tax on any package with a value more than $100.

Hello family & friends!
Thanks for checking in here. If you want to send us a package, this is what you can do...

1. Check out the 'homeschool helps' ideas we have below on this page.
2. Sometimes we just need people that can send a package for us. That is, we order and have things shipped to you, and then you repackage (if necessary) and ship it on to us overseas. Send us an email if this is something you would like to do.
   
3. We love to get news from back home, send us a letter and/or a photo!
   

So, here are some things to give you ideas...

RECENT ADDITIONS (now that we are back in Vanuatu):

• sunblock
• ibuprofen
• 'crystal lite' drink mix
• taco seasoning
• the list will grow...
  

HOMESCHOOLING & EDUCATIONAL FUN STUFF:
We have been able to make our plans for the 2010 school year to begin January (we are going to stick with the Australia/Vanuatu/S. hemisphere school year.) However, one of the biggest challenges to homeschooling in Vanuatu is going to be the lack of availability of enrichment materials, you know, the stuff we would normally find at the library, or on TV, etc. This is the stuff that really helps make learning fun for the kids. We have ordered what we need as far as Core curriculum goes, but if you would like to help with some of these other things, this is what we are looking for.
Below is stuff for Josh, stuff for Grace, and ideas for those of you that have Tivo or some way to record things onto DVDs...

For Josh (he will be 11 yrs old and in 5th grade):

• Josh will be studying his favorite subject - Physical Science so any books (picture books, story books, fiction,non-fiction, biographies)/tv shows/DVDs/documentaries/science kits/hands-on stuff/whatever having to do with engineering, inventing, inventors, or anything science in general etc. The units he will be doing this year are... Heat & Energy, Machines & Motion, and Inventions and Technology. But really, this boy just loves science so anything 'sciencey' strikes his fancy. There are some great tv shows for kids, but he likes it all.
  
• 5/6th grade math games
• Adventure and science books to read; he really likes Usborne books because there is lots of information and lots of pictures; easy enough to read on his own, but if they are too hard then we read those books together and he really likes that too.
  
• See the Amazon wishlist for a few ideas.

For Grace (she will be 13/14 yrs old and in 8th grade, but working on some high school stuff too)

• She will be studying the period of history between Christ's resurrection and the American revolution. Any historical fiction/poetry/literature/music/art/documentaries/movies/whatever falling within that time frame would be great!
• Biology - Any videos/documentaries/etc.
• Literature - this girl loves to read and loves to write.
• See the Amazon wishlist for some ideas.

Also...

• Art supplies like stuff to do charcoal sketches, painting, colored paper, markers, glue, tape, etc...
• Music
• Devotions and Bible study materials
  

Do you have Tivo, or some way to record onto DVDs?
Here are some ideas of TV shows you could record and send us:

• 'Backyard Science' or anything like it - this is a kids science show that talks about science concepts and demonstrates experiments
  
• 'Junkyard Wars' - awesome because they make/design/invent things from what they find in a junkyard
• Nature documentaries
• Historical documentaries/movies - particularly anything from the time between Christ's resurrection to the American Revolution. These could be about people/art/events/anything
• 'How its Made'
• 'Myth Busters'
• What else? We aren't picky - have fun!

These kinds of things wont only help the kids' academically, but will also help them socially as they continue to expose them to the outside world beyond the shores of Vanuatu. Do you know what I mean?

Well, that should give you a few ideas.

SEND TO:
Jim & Tania Kenner
PMB 3446
Port Vila, Vanuatu
South Pacific

Birthday and Anniversary Info -

Jim - May 30

Tania - May 18

Grace - May 4

Josh - February 13

Wedding Anniversary - August 18, 1994

> > >

Kenner Family Album

This page is not going to get a lot of attention this year but we will try to put something new here now and then when we are all caught up on studies and have something interesting to share.


Family Pics at Mt. Alexander





Grace and Josh's school presents
'The Wizard of OZ'



We feel so blessed that the kids got the opportunity to participate in this production. The school only does it every other year. Grace was a farm girl, and Josh was a Jitterbug!