It is hard to believe that another entire year has passed! Naturally, as this year comes to a close, we look back on what it has held for us. As a family this has been an extraordinary time of change. It was this January that our family was first introduced to Houghton and Gretchen Richards and consequently became involved with Team Vanuatu. We had prayerfully been seeking the Lord’s direction for our lives and He had answered us! With gratitude, humility and an immense amount of prayer, we responded to the Lord’s call to take His Gospel to the unreached.
We are thankful that in March of this year the Lord provided the opportunity for me (Jim) to participate in a survey trip to Vanuatu (a country that before January I didn’t even know existed). I was able to meet the peoples that will become the focus of the work God has prepared for us. What an awesome adventure! The Ni-Vanuatu were so kind and generous, especially with what little they had. What really blew me away was their thirst for the Word, and their unbelievable lack of access to it. This survey trip turned out to be the tool God used to place an unrelenting burden on my heart. A burden unlike any other I have ever experienced. After a long period of waiting and wondering what the Lord had in store for us, we now had a clear purpose.
Upon returning, our family focused on preparing for the work ahead. There was (and still is) so much that needed to be done. Tania and I began intensive training for the type of ministry God is leading us to. In addition, we began researching the language, culture, and jungle/tropical living. Joshua and Grace also began learning about our future home. Through their studies they began basic language lessons in Bislama and French. They also began learning about jungle/tropical living in general, and what it might be like living in a different culture. We have met so many wonderful people, as well as strengthened existing relationships, that have been a huge help and encouragement to us (thank you!) We thank the Lord for the equipping that has taken place. And with His blessing we will prayerfully continue to prepare in the coming year.
Our family has been very understanding and supportive. Nonetheless, being in the process of letting go of things that will not be useful in our new home has made answering the Grandparents’ questions of ‘What do the kids want for Christmas this year?’ interesting! This has been a huge time of change and upheaval for us, but the kids are little troopers. We are truly blessed with adventurous children with a zeal for God’s work.
We have begun the process of support raising – referred to as deputation. We thank God for all of those who have joined with us in this mission through your financial support and prayers. In anticipation of the travel necessary during deputation, I have taken a new job that will allow us to do just that. We look forward to visiting with many of you. Please prayerfully consider allowing us to share the mission with your family, friends, or small group. For those of you who are on our prayer team, please continue to pray for us as the coming year will, I am sure, be a challenge to us all.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a truly blessed New Year.
Your Fellow Servants of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Kenners ~ Jim, Tania, Grace, and Joshua
