Anyone who reads my newsletter on a regular basis knows about my passion for coffee. My newsletter is even entitled, "Coffee With Karen." I've encouraged my friends and supporters to pray for me and the country of Rwanda over their morning coffee. If you do drink a morning cup of Joe, there is a way to do good with each cup of coffee that you drink.
I'd like to introduce you to the Thousand Hills Coffee Company. This coffee company was started by a visionary pastor who wanted to do good in the country of Rwanda through Americans' daily routines. Thus, the Thousand Hills Coffee Company was born. Thousand Hills harvests coffee beans in Rwanda, providing Rwandan coffee growers with a livable wage and the means to support their families. The coffee is then exported, roasted and sold at Thousand Hill's Georgia location, at churches around the country and on their website.
I've excerpted the following from their website, "Every bag purchased provides a rural farmer with a proper Living Wage and the dignity and self respect that comes from providing for oneself. In 2004, Land of a Thousand Hills committed to paying at minimum of $1.26 per lb. to the grower for their finest coffee, more than three times the unjust 40 cents often paid by other coffee companies. Currently, the growers are consistently paid an average of $1.86 per lb.Land of a Thousand Hills also invests one dollar per 12 oz. bag sold to fund micro-finance programs that help Rwandans start small businesses. Approximately $3 total per 12 oz. bag is invested in the Rwandan economy. "Drink Coffee. Do Good."
Thousand Hills Coffee has several different options of delicious Rwandan coffee on their website as well as come incredibly yummy looking espresso chocolate bark that I think I'm going to have to order and try! I'm also going to order a sample package of four of their most popular coffees. Go ahead, invite yourself over for coffee at my place!
Check out Thousand Hills Coffee at http://www.landof1000hills.com/
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Great Photojournalism Work on FH Global Website
I just received news that one of my colleagues in Rwanda, along with a great team, has done some incredible photojournalism and video work all throughout Africa. I'd like to highlight some of their work in Rwanda and invite you to visit this incredible website, housed on the FH Global website.
Please read the story of Boniface, a child impacted by Food for the Hungry's work in his hometown of Kanyinya, Rwanda. Read Boniface's story at:
You can also read the incredible story of Bertin, a man who lost both of his legs during the genocide. The story, "Walking Again" tells the tale of how the small business initiatives of Food for the Hungry greatly impacted his life. Read Bertin's story at
You can also see a video chronicling Food for the Hungry's work with children in Rwanda. View the video at:
Please take the time to check out all of the wonderful photos, videos and information at FH Global's website at http://www.fhglobal.org/
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Monthlong Missionary Training
There is no one word to describe my month of missionary training. The words refreshing, jolting, challenging, inspiring and life-altering come to mind. I spent one week at Food for the Hungry's home office in Phoenix and three weeks at Mission Training International in Palmer Lake, CO. Though a blog post is hardly enough space to share what I learned in those four weeks, I'd love to share some of the highlights.
God's Word as Truth and the Source of Development - Satan's strategy in the world is to deceive the nations. At the root of poverty are lies. Therefore in order to combat lies we must saturate communities with Truth. The root of lasting, sustainable development is Truth. The Truth is found in God's Word which should provide us with a Biblical worldview that will transform our lives. Our worldview determines what we see and how we live. As I go to Rwanda to share the Truth with Rwandan children I was challenged at my FH training to keep the following in mind:
Worldview is like a tree: Beliefs are the root of our worldview tree, values are the trunk, behaviors are the branches and the fruit of this tree are consequences. Fruit comes from the branches in all trees and in our lives behavior comes from consequences. In order for communities to see a change in the consequences of their behavior (poverty, brokeness...etc....and I'm not just referring to materially poor communities overseas but our spiritually poor but materially rich communities here in the West!) bad fruit cannot simply be plucked. Rather there must be a change in the roots of our worldview tree. The heart of FH's ministry and my ministry as a curriculum developer is to encourage Rwandan children to develop roots in the Truth - roots that are saturated in the water of God's Word.
The Great Commission is more than just "sharing the gospel" and planting churches. The Great Commission's end command is to "make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that God has commanded." To simply share the Truth with Rwandan children, while valuable, is not enough. Rather, the ultimate goal of my ministry should be to make disciples, followers of Christ, not just converts. I hope to be able to share stories with all of you of children who are passionately following Christ and transforming their communities, not just the numbers of children being saved.
As I enter another culture, Rwanda and into my discomfort zone, I need to be desperate for God's help and His grace. As I minister in Rwanda and in a culture that is not my own, life will not be easy. We were challenged at MTI to consider the possibility that conflict may hit us the moment we step off the plane. I will also be susceptible to huge amounts of stress. On a common stress scale of 150-300, new missionaries often score in the range of 1000+. My constant prayer needs to be, "God help me, God help me, God help me." Daily I must turn to God and his stores of grace for my life. It is only by daily turning to and relying on God, I will be effective in Rwanda for the long term.
In order to maintain spiritual vitality in the midst of culture stress, adversity, loneliness, hardship and societal suffering all around me I must remember the following:
God is God - I cannot charge God with wrongdoing. He is perfect in all of His ways. He does all that he pleases and nothing that happens in this world happens outside his perfect will and His sovereignty.
God is faithful - It is because of the Lord's great love for His children that I am not consumed. He always keeps his promises. One of His promises to me is that, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Even when the going gets tough in Rwanda, I can rest in the fact that God will always be right there with me.
God is good - All that God does and is, is good. All that He does and allows into my life is done for my good. Even when I have a hard time believing it, God is good. Period!
My greatest tool in evangelism and discipleship in Rwanda will be how I interact with my teammates and colleagues. People in my community will be watching. What will have the greatest impact in my personal ministry is not my words or well crafted curriculum. Rather, it will be how I interact with those around me and how I model a Christlike attitude and spirit. Therefore, handling conflict appropriately and in a Godly attitude of humility and grace will be critical. The most important thing will be the love I show for others.
I learned so much at this month-long training! Thank you to all of you who were praying for me while I was away. I missed you but am happy to report all that I learned! I look forward to being in Rwanda soon and sharing with you all that I learn there too!
God's Word as Truth and the Source of Development - Satan's strategy in the world is to deceive the nations. At the root of poverty are lies. Therefore in order to combat lies we must saturate communities with Truth. The root of lasting, sustainable development is Truth. The Truth is found in God's Word which should provide us with a Biblical worldview that will transform our lives. Our worldview determines what we see and how we live. As I go to Rwanda to share the Truth with Rwandan children I was challenged at my FH training to keep the following in mind:
Worldview is like a tree: Beliefs are the root of our worldview tree, values are the trunk, behaviors are the branches and the fruit of this tree are consequences. Fruit comes from the branches in all trees and in our lives behavior comes from consequences. In order for communities to see a change in the consequences of their behavior (poverty, brokeness...etc....and I'm not just referring to materially poor communities overseas but our spiritually poor but materially rich communities here in the West!) bad fruit cannot simply be plucked. Rather there must be a change in the roots of our worldview tree. The heart of FH's ministry and my ministry as a curriculum developer is to encourage Rwandan children to develop roots in the Truth - roots that are saturated in the water of God's Word.
The Great Commission is more than just "sharing the gospel" and planting churches. The Great Commission's end command is to "make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that God has commanded." To simply share the Truth with Rwandan children, while valuable, is not enough. Rather, the ultimate goal of my ministry should be to make disciples, followers of Christ, not just converts. I hope to be able to share stories with all of you of children who are passionately following Christ and transforming their communities, not just the numbers of children being saved.
As I enter another culture, Rwanda and into my discomfort zone, I need to be desperate for God's help and His grace. As I minister in Rwanda and in a culture that is not my own, life will not be easy. We were challenged at MTI to consider the possibility that conflict may hit us the moment we step off the plane. I will also be susceptible to huge amounts of stress. On a common stress scale of 150-300, new missionaries often score in the range of 1000+. My constant prayer needs to be, "God help me, God help me, God help me." Daily I must turn to God and his stores of grace for my life. It is only by daily turning to and relying on God, I will be effective in Rwanda for the long term.
In order to maintain spiritual vitality in the midst of culture stress, adversity, loneliness, hardship and societal suffering all around me I must remember the following:
God is God - I cannot charge God with wrongdoing. He is perfect in all of His ways. He does all that he pleases and nothing that happens in this world happens outside his perfect will and His sovereignty.
God is faithful - It is because of the Lord's great love for His children that I am not consumed. He always keeps his promises. One of His promises to me is that, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Even when the going gets tough in Rwanda, I can rest in the fact that God will always be right there with me.
God is good - All that God does and is, is good. All that He does and allows into my life is done for my good. Even when I have a hard time believing it, God is good. Period!
My greatest tool in evangelism and discipleship in Rwanda will be how I interact with my teammates and colleagues. People in my community will be watching. What will have the greatest impact in my personal ministry is not my words or well crafted curriculum. Rather, it will be how I interact with those around me and how I model a Christlike attitude and spirit. Therefore, handling conflict appropriately and in a Godly attitude of humility and grace will be critical. The most important thing will be the love I show for others.
I learned so much at this month-long training! Thank you to all of you who were praying for me while I was away. I missed you but am happy to report all that I learned! I look forward to being in Rwanda soon and sharing with you all that I learn there too!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Great Websites
This past month I've stumbled upon some great websites that I'd like to share with you. Both of these sites help raise money for the needy in the developing world.
Changing the Present:
http://changingthepresent.org/
Changing the Present provides a way to give gifts that make a charitable contribution in the name of the recipient. For the person who has everything (isn't that all of us?) you can give a donation that will build a latrine in a needy community, teach a farmer more sustainable farming practices, close a sweatshop, purify water or rent a market stall for a fledgling entrepreneur. They even have a place for party favors, where for a dollar you can provide a clean pair of socks for a needy individual. What a great wedding or shower favors! I mean how many useless tchockes can you get? Check out this website, it's great!
The Bridesmaid Party:
The relatively new movie, "27 Dresses" has quickly become one of my favorites! Now while I don't have 27 Bridesmaid dresses, I do have a couple and will never wear them again. It really is a fallacy that you can "shorten them and wear them again." Most women in their 20's and 30's have at least one or two bridesmaids dresses that are taking up space in their closet.
I've found a great website, The Bridesmaid Party that recycles used bridesmaids dresses. When you mail in your gently used bridesmaid's dress to them (for a charitable deduction) they send the dresses to HopeCraft, Inc., and Rubia, non-profit organizations dedicated to promote self empowerment and financial security for the poverty stricken, abused women and children in both Lea Toto, Africa and Darra-i-Nur, Afghanistan. Donating your dress to The Bridesmaid Party will give these women the opportunity to reuse and transform your dress for a better use or product. The impact of your gift will empower these women towards financial freedom and a better way of life.
I plan on donating my bridesmaid's dresses to this great organization. I'd love to see them go to good use. Now just imagine if the woman on "27 Dresses" had donated all of her dresses to the Bridesmaid Party.....what good all of those dresses could have done!
Check it out at http://www.thebridesmaidparty.com/donate/
Changing the Present:
http://changingthepresent.org/
Changing the Present provides a way to give gifts that make a charitable contribution in the name of the recipient. For the person who has everything (isn't that all of us?) you can give a donation that will build a latrine in a needy community, teach a farmer more sustainable farming practices, close a sweatshop, purify water or rent a market stall for a fledgling entrepreneur. They even have a place for party favors, where for a dollar you can provide a clean pair of socks for a needy individual. What a great wedding or shower favors! I mean how many useless tchockes can you get? Check out this website, it's great!
The Bridesmaid Party:
The relatively new movie, "27 Dresses" has quickly become one of my favorites! Now while I don't have 27 Bridesmaid dresses, I do have a couple and will never wear them again. It really is a fallacy that you can "shorten them and wear them again." Most women in their 20's and 30's have at least one or two bridesmaids dresses that are taking up space in their closet.
I've found a great website, The Bridesmaid Party that recycles used bridesmaids dresses. When you mail in your gently used bridesmaid's dress to them (for a charitable deduction) they send the dresses to HopeCraft, Inc., and Rubia, non-profit organizations dedicated to promote self empowerment and financial security for the poverty stricken, abused women and children in both Lea Toto, Africa and Darra-i-Nur, Afghanistan. Donating your dress to The Bridesmaid Party will give these women the opportunity to reuse and transform your dress for a better use or product. The impact of your gift will empower these women towards financial freedom and a better way of life.
I plan on donating my bridesmaid's dresses to this great organization. I'd love to see them go to good use. Now just imagine if the woman on "27 Dresses" had donated all of her dresses to the Bridesmaid Party.....what good all of those dresses could have done!
Check it out at http://www.thebridesmaidparty.com/donate/
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Where in the World is Karen Jacobsen?
Answer: Rome, Florence and Venice. Lest you think this support raising missionary is off on a globetrotting jaunt, I'm actually here on work! Since temping didn't pan out this summer due to the bad economy I had to seek out alternate forms of work. My job title now: Travel Nanny. I'm traveling with a family and their three young children in Italy. You can't beat seeing the Sistine Chapel for work!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
New Jersey's Children Need Help Too!
Today's post will veer off topic from Rwanda. Though it's not unrelated since it has to do with children in need. I had the opportunity to visit another church today and hear a great missionary speaker share about his upcoming ministry to Morocco. Afterwards I walked around Princeton and paid a visit to the Princeton Historical Society. On display is an exhibit entitled, "100 Waiting Children". It is a photo display of 100 older children who are legally freed for adoption in the state of New Jersey and desperately need a forever family. It is heartbreaking to read the stories of teenagers many of whom have spent the majority of their lives in foster care and have been in multiple homes. These are children who deserve families. They may not be as "cute and cuddly" as a baby or toddler but they are children who have the right to
parent(s) who will love them, support them and give them the security and affection they so desperately crave.
Those who know me well know that I'm pretty passionate about adoption. It has been a goal of mine since the age of eleven to adopt older children. I have always identified with the plight of children who are shuttled from foster home to foster home and never have a home and a family to call their own. I'd urge all of you who read this blog to check out 100 Waiting Children's website at www.heartgallerynj.org I know many of my readers are incredible parents and singles who have the capability to provide a forever home for a needy child. Won't you check out these young people's remarkable pictures and see if you are as moved as I am by their stories?
I think I know what's in store for me after I return from Rwanda (whenever that is!)
parent(s) who will love them, support them and give them the security and affection they so desperately crave.
Those who know me well know that I'm pretty passionate about adoption. It has been a goal of mine since the age of eleven to adopt older children. I have always identified with the plight of children who are shuttled from foster home to foster home and never have a home and a family to call their own. I'd urge all of you who read this blog to check out 100 Waiting Children's website at www.heartgallerynj.org I know many of my readers are incredible parents and singles who have the capability to provide a forever home for a needy child. Won't you check out these young people's remarkable pictures and see if you are as moved as I am by their stories?
I think I know what's in store for me after I return from Rwanda (whenever that is!)
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Let's Make a Deal - God's Best is not a Zonk!
Moving back home with my parents has afforded me many privileges, home cooked meals and an adorable canine companion Sami being only two. One privilege however, is both a blessing and a curse. It's cable television. For three years I was without cable and never thought about what I was missing. But now I have access to hundreds of channels on demand. Who would have thought there would be a need to watch game shows twenty four hours a day! Yet the game show network shows a plethora of new and "retro" game shows for my viewing pleasure.
Just this afternoon as I was eating lunch my father was watching "Let's Make a Deal". Do you remember the colorful game show hosted by Monty Hall where contestants dress up in unusual costumes to catch his attention? If chosen, contestants then compete and make deals to win whatever prize is behind three curtains. Invariably, there's a "zonk" behind at least one curtain; a prize like a donkey that a hopeful contestant has already traded for what they thought would be a better prize.
Even before today that game show had come to mind. You see, I've been struggling, like many of us, with being content with God's best. I had come to feel that God's best for me was something like that zonk behind curtain number three. Not an awful prize if you're in the market for a a donkey, but certainly not as great as the shiny red convertible. I wanted to make a deal with God something like: "God I'll trade my single life for a husband, three kids and my own house. You can make that house be in Rwanda, but just let me trade this life in for something I can call my own." I felt like what he had given me right now was that zonk, for which I wanted to make a deal for a better prize.
Then I realized what my problem has been. I've been thinking like a cat. I took part in Perspectives, the US Center for World Mission's, missions overview course several years ago. The first class session was entitled, "Cat and Dog Theology - Living Passionately for the Glory of God." I pulled out the companion book by that title and got to reading and boy, was it convicting!
According to the authors, Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robinson, there are two types of Christians: cat Christians and dog Christians. Cat Christians in essence say to God, "You exist to serve me,"while dog Christians on the other hand say, "I exist to serve you." Lately, I've been thinking like a cat. I've wanted God to serve my whims, my needs and my desires instead of giving myself fully to him and seeking to give him glory and fame in whatever circumstances he chooses to put me in.
As I re-read "Cat and Dog Theology" a couple of phrases stood out to me. Sjogren and Robinson say, "God is under no obligation to be faithful to our expectations; God is only required to be faithful to Himself, and cats have a problem with that." In Deuteronomy Moses writes a song that ascribes to God, many incredible attributes of his character including faithfulness, "For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he." No where does Moses ascribe faithfulness, justice and greatness to God because of what God had done for him. Rather he ascribes these attributes to God because of who God inherently is. God is faithful because He is God, not because He does what I want him to. He does not exist to serve me. Even when I feel that his best is like a zonk hidden behind curtain number three, He still remains faithful and His work is perfect. I was having a problem with God and his work because I was a cat, expecting Him to serve me.
Later on in their book the authors say, "Dogs sometimes realize that like our Lord, they must sacrifice their own joy and pleasure for the advancement of God's kingdom. At the heart of it, dogs have a passion for God's glory." When I was thinking like a cat, I wasn't willing to sacrifice my own joy and pleasure to advance God's kingdom in Rwanda. Rather I was more interested in seeing my own joy and pleasure fulfilled and still try and advance God's kingdom in Rwanda. Yet when my focus was on my own joy and pleasure it was off of God's kingdom and I certainly didn't have a passion for God's glory. The only thing I had a passion for was my pleasure. I was in all ways thinking and acting like a cat! I had forgotten that my purpose is in all things to bring glory to God; even when I am seemingly living out God's best that is hidden like a zonk behind curtain number three. I had forgotten that, "For from him and through him and to him are all things." All that I am and have comes from God and all is to be lived out and given back to him in order to bring Him glory.
Towards the end of their book, Sjogren and Robinson compare the similarities of dogs and cats. Yet they identify one main difference, "Dogs do everything that cats do. Their lives are parallel in every way except one: their mindset! They do everything as an act of worship to God and to make him smile. This is because they define everything in terms of God's glory! Life was designed to be one big worship service as we live for and reflect the glory of the Lord. But with cat theology, we have turned it around so that we no longer worship the Lord. We've been busy worshipping ourselves. Oh how we need to dive into Dog theology and once again worship the Lord for who He is and not for what He can give to us." Going to Rwanda as a single woman, without a husband or children can be done as an act of worship to God and to make him smile. When my focus is on bringing him glory and making him smile, what seemingly felt like a "zonk" really does become God's best. And why is it God's best? It's because it is what will bring God the most glory and fame right now.
My prayer is that I increasingly live the life of a dog; worshiping God for who He is; completely unconcerned with what He can give me. Sure, God can give me the home and family that I desire, yet if he chooses not to, this in no way diminishes how awesome He is. I am charged with the awesome responsibility and privilege to bring him glory and fame. And the greatest part of it is that I get to do that in Rwanda as I share His truth with Rwandan children! I get to invite Rwandan children to be a part of this life that is meant to be "one big worship service." I get to use my singleness and the freedom that it affords me to go halfway around the world to minister to more children than I could ever dream to have on my own. Certainly when I start thinking like a dog and reject my cat-like thinking, this does not become the "zonk" hidden behind curtain number three but rather the grand prize revealed behind curtain number one.
Just this afternoon as I was eating lunch my father was watching "Let's Make a Deal". Do you remember the colorful game show hosted by Monty Hall where contestants dress up in unusual costumes to catch his attention? If chosen, contestants then compete and make deals to win whatever prize is behind three curtains. Invariably, there's a "zonk" behind at least one curtain; a prize like a donkey that a hopeful contestant has already traded for what they thought would be a better prize.
Even before today that game show had come to mind. You see, I've been struggling, like many of us, with being content with God's best. I had come to feel that God's best for me was something like that zonk behind curtain number three. Not an awful prize if you're in the market for a a donkey, but certainly not as great as the shiny red convertible. I wanted to make a deal with God something like: "God I'll trade my single life for a husband, three kids and my own house. You can make that house be in Rwanda, but just let me trade this life in for something I can call my own." I felt like what he had given me right now was that zonk, for which I wanted to make a deal for a better prize.
Then I realized what my problem has been. I've been thinking like a cat. I took part in Perspectives, the US Center for World Mission's, missions overview course several years ago. The first class session was entitled, "Cat and Dog Theology - Living Passionately for the Glory of God." I pulled out the companion book by that title and got to reading and boy, was it convicting!
According to the authors, Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robinson, there are two types of Christians: cat Christians and dog Christians. Cat Christians in essence say to God, "You exist to serve me,"while dog Christians on the other hand say, "I exist to serve you." Lately, I've been thinking like a cat. I've wanted God to serve my whims, my needs and my desires instead of giving myself fully to him and seeking to give him glory and fame in whatever circumstances he chooses to put me in.
As I re-read "Cat and Dog Theology" a couple of phrases stood out to me. Sjogren and Robinson say, "God is under no obligation to be faithful to our expectations; God is only required to be faithful to Himself, and cats have a problem with that." In Deuteronomy Moses writes a song that ascribes to God, many incredible attributes of his character including faithfulness, "For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he." No where does Moses ascribe faithfulness, justice and greatness to God because of what God had done for him. Rather he ascribes these attributes to God because of who God inherently is. God is faithful because He is God, not because He does what I want him to. He does not exist to serve me. Even when I feel that his best is like a zonk hidden behind curtain number three, He still remains faithful and His work is perfect. I was having a problem with God and his work because I was a cat, expecting Him to serve me.
Later on in their book the authors say, "Dogs sometimes realize that like our Lord, they must sacrifice their own joy and pleasure for the advancement of God's kingdom. At the heart of it, dogs have a passion for God's glory." When I was thinking like a cat, I wasn't willing to sacrifice my own joy and pleasure to advance God's kingdom in Rwanda. Rather I was more interested in seeing my own joy and pleasure fulfilled and still try and advance God's kingdom in Rwanda. Yet when my focus was on my own joy and pleasure it was off of God's kingdom and I certainly didn't have a passion for God's glory. The only thing I had a passion for was my pleasure. I was in all ways thinking and acting like a cat! I had forgotten that my purpose is in all things to bring glory to God; even when I am seemingly living out God's best that is hidden like a zonk behind curtain number three. I had forgotten that, "For from him and through him and to him are all things." All that I am and have comes from God and all is to be lived out and given back to him in order to bring Him glory.
Towards the end of their book, Sjogren and Robinson compare the similarities of dogs and cats. Yet they identify one main difference, "Dogs do everything that cats do. Their lives are parallel in every way except one: their mindset! They do everything as an act of worship to God and to make him smile. This is because they define everything in terms of God's glory! Life was designed to be one big worship service as we live for and reflect the glory of the Lord. But with cat theology, we have turned it around so that we no longer worship the Lord. We've been busy worshipping ourselves. Oh how we need to dive into Dog theology and once again worship the Lord for who He is and not for what He can give to us." Going to Rwanda as a single woman, without a husband or children can be done as an act of worship to God and to make him smile. When my focus is on bringing him glory and making him smile, what seemingly felt like a "zonk" really does become God's best. And why is it God's best? It's because it is what will bring God the most glory and fame right now.
My prayer is that I increasingly live the life of a dog; worshiping God for who He is; completely unconcerned with what He can give me. Sure, God can give me the home and family that I desire, yet if he chooses not to, this in no way diminishes how awesome He is. I am charged with the awesome responsibility and privilege to bring him glory and fame. And the greatest part of it is that I get to do that in Rwanda as I share His truth with Rwandan children! I get to invite Rwandan children to be a part of this life that is meant to be "one big worship service." I get to use my singleness and the freedom that it affords me to go halfway around the world to minister to more children than I could ever dream to have on my own. Certainly when I start thinking like a dog and reject my cat-like thinking, this does not become the "zonk" hidden behind curtain number three but rather the grand prize revealed behind curtain number one.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Missions Reporters at Redeemer Montclair
This past Sunday was a big day! I debuted the Missions Reporters program at my home church, Redeemer Montclair. We had a blast learning about the Who, What, When, Where, How and Why of Missions. We even had time at the end for the kids to write their own creative newspaper articles about missions.
For those who are more interested in the Missions Reporters Program I'm posting general information about the program below. I'd love to debut this program at your church. Post a comment or drop me an email to find out how I can visit your church.
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Summary – The Missions Reporters mini-missions adventure is an interactive program for children in 1st-6th grade to learn about missions and missionaries. Through this adventure students learn who missionaries are, what missionaries do, where missionaries go, how they as children can be missionaries and why God wants everyone to be a missionary.
Students are charged with the responsibility of becoming “missions reporters” as they visit three interactive stations to play games, take part in group activities and participate in teacher led discussions centered on the theme of missions. Karen Jacobsen, Food for the Hungry missionary candidate to Kigali, Rwanda facilitates the Missions Reporters mini-missions adventure with the help of three youth workers or Sunday School teachers from your church.
Students are given “reporter’s notebooks” and are encouraged to record what they’ve learned in order to write newspaper articles about missions.
The Adventure – A Synopsis
WHO – are missionaries? (5 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a true/false game show format geared at the whole group, Karen will help students understand that missionaries are normal people from all walks of life, with real struggles who have accepted God's mission to share the good news– overseas or in their own neighborhood.
WHAT – do missionaries do? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a memory game pairs of students learn what missionaries do. They learn that while, some missionaries are pastors and teachers others are videographers, musicians, nurses and airline pilots. Children learn that God can use everyone’s skills and training in missions work.
WHY – does God want us all to be missionaries? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through Bible Verse puzzles small groups of students learn why God wants everyone to be missionaries. Students will examine Psalm 105:1-2 and Romans 10:13-14 and learn that God wants people to be missionaries to make known all of his wonderful acts and what he has done and because people need to hear about Christ in order to believe in him. Through a teacher led memory verse activity, students will be challenged to memorize Psalm 105:1-2
WHERE – do missionaries serve? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through small group board games students will learn more about the countries that your own church’s missionaries serve in. Students will gain a global awareness of the world that God has created and learn about ways they can pray for the world.
WHEN – can I be a missionary and HOW – can I be one right now? (10 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a large group discussion students learn that they can be missionaries now by telling their friends about Jesus. In pairs, children will come up with creative ways to tell their friends and family about Jesus to share with the whole group.
TAKEAWAYS - Each child will be given their own missions reporter notebook as well as a double sided newspaper article. One side will tell about Karen’s upcoming ministry to Rwanda. The second side is left blank with spaces for writing and pictures for children to write their own articles about what they have learned.
For those who are more interested in the Missions Reporters Program I'm posting general information about the program below. I'd love to debut this program at your church. Post a comment or drop me an email to find out how I can visit your church.
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Summary – The Missions Reporters mini-missions adventure is an interactive program for children in 1st-6th grade to learn about missions and missionaries. Through this adventure students learn who missionaries are, what missionaries do, where missionaries go, how they as children can be missionaries and why God wants everyone to be a missionary.
Students are charged with the responsibility of becoming “missions reporters” as they visit three interactive stations to play games, take part in group activities and participate in teacher led discussions centered on the theme of missions. Karen Jacobsen, Food for the Hungry missionary candidate to Kigali, Rwanda facilitates the Missions Reporters mini-missions adventure with the help of three youth workers or Sunday School teachers from your church.
Students are given “reporter’s notebooks” and are encouraged to record what they’ve learned in order to write newspaper articles about missions.
The Adventure – A Synopsis
WHO – are missionaries? (5 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a true/false game show format geared at the whole group, Karen will help students understand that missionaries are normal people from all walks of life, with real struggles who have accepted God's mission to share the good news– overseas or in their own neighborhood.
WHAT – do missionaries do? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a memory game pairs of students learn what missionaries do. They learn that while, some missionaries are pastors and teachers others are videographers, musicians, nurses and airline pilots. Children learn that God can use everyone’s skills and training in missions work.
WHY – does God want us all to be missionaries? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through Bible Verse puzzles small groups of students learn why God wants everyone to be missionaries. Students will examine Psalm 105:1-2 and Romans 10:13-14 and learn that God wants people to be missionaries to make known all of his wonderful acts and what he has done and because people need to hear about Christ in order to believe in him. Through a teacher led memory verse activity, students will be challenged to memorize Psalm 105:1-2
WHERE – do missionaries serve? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through small group board games students will learn more about the countries that your own church’s missionaries serve in. Students will gain a global awareness of the world that God has created and learn about ways they can pray for the world.
WHEN – can I be a missionary and HOW – can I be one right now? (10 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a large group discussion students learn that they can be missionaries now by telling their friends about Jesus. In pairs, children will come up with creative ways to tell their friends and family about Jesus to share with the whole group.
TAKEAWAYS - Each child will be given their own missions reporter notebook as well as a double sided newspaper article. One side will tell about Karen’s upcoming ministry to Rwanda. The second side is left blank with spaces for writing and pictures for children to write their own articles about what they have learned.
My Name is Miss Jacobsen Again!
The biggest change in my life lately (besides deciding to go to Rwanda) has been the decision to return to teaching. In late February I accepted a new job at the Geneva School in Manhattan to teach fourth grade. This was a big change for me since I haven't formally taught in five years; though I've taught ESL, Sunday School and done curriculum development in that time.
The Geneva School is a classical Christian school in midtown Manhattan. It's a great school - academically rigorous yet a small welcoming atmosphere. I have ten students in my class who are all bright, precocious and talkative! I have to say, I'm loving it!
The transition from a desk job back into the world of teaching has been challenging yet rewarding. Since I'm going to Rwanda to do curriculum development this is a great opportunity for me to transition back into the world of formal education. As always, I'm enjoying the lesson planning and curriculum development aspect the most. There's nothing I enjoy more than finding creative ways for children to learn!
With that passion in mind I'm especially excited that curriculum development is going to be my job and my ministry in Rwanda. I can't think of anything I'd rather do then find creative ways for Rwandan children to learn the truths of the Gospel!
The Geneva School is a classical Christian school in midtown Manhattan. It's a great school - academically rigorous yet a small welcoming atmosphere. I have ten students in my class who are all bright, precocious and talkative! I have to say, I'm loving it!
The transition from a desk job back into the world of teaching has been challenging yet rewarding. Since I'm going to Rwanda to do curriculum development this is a great opportunity for me to transition back into the world of formal education. As always, I'm enjoying the lesson planning and curriculum development aspect the most. There's nothing I enjoy more than finding creative ways for children to learn!
With that passion in mind I'm especially excited that curriculum development is going to be my job and my ministry in Rwanda. I can't think of anything I'd rather do then find creative ways for Rwandan children to learn the truths of the Gospel!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Being Mary White
Oftentimes life imitates art. I didn't realize it until a month ago, but this has been the case in my life!
As many of you know I grew up at Brookdale Baptist Church. It has a long and vibrant past and has been ministering in Bloomfield, NJ for 114 years! Fourteen years ago, when I was still a teenager, Brookdale celebrated their hundreth anniversary. This was a momentous ocassion with former pastors preaching, lots of music and even an original play. I got to play a very small role in that play. The part I played? Mary White.
I'm sure you've never heard of Mary White. If I hadn't of grown up at Brookdale, I wouldn't have either. Mary White was Brookdale's first missionary. She was sent as a young single woman to Africa as a nurse. On the night of the play my "starring role" was to go on stage, alone, with my old fashioned suitcase, spotlight beaming on me, while the narrator read about my life. This was to dramatize Mary's decision to go to Africa as a missionary. I distinctly remember wondering at 16, if I'd ever follow in Mary's footsteps.
Well, as you all know I am following in Mary's footsteps - in more ways than one. I too am going to Africa as a single woman, though not as a nurse. And I too am a Mary White, but the Mary White of Redeemer Montclair. Though my home church, Redeemer Montclair supports several missionaries within the denomination, I am the first missionary to be sent from our congregation. I am honored and excited to be Redeemer's first missionary.
I've chosen as my life verse Jeremiah 29:10-13, "For I know the plans I have for you," declare the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Indeed God has known the plans of my life. It was in his plan that I would be Mary White....that I would go to Africa as single woman. My prayer now is that God would prosper the ministry that he's given me in Rwanda and that before I leave and when I'm there I would seek after him with all my heart.
As many of you know I grew up at Brookdale Baptist Church. It has a long and vibrant past and has been ministering in Bloomfield, NJ for 114 years! Fourteen years ago, when I was still a teenager, Brookdale celebrated their hundreth anniversary. This was a momentous ocassion with former pastors preaching, lots of music and even an original play. I got to play a very small role in that play. The part I played? Mary White.
I'm sure you've never heard of Mary White. If I hadn't of grown up at Brookdale, I wouldn't have either. Mary White was Brookdale's first missionary. She was sent as a young single woman to Africa as a nurse. On the night of the play my "starring role" was to go on stage, alone, with my old fashioned suitcase, spotlight beaming on me, while the narrator read about my life. This was to dramatize Mary's decision to go to Africa as a missionary. I distinctly remember wondering at 16, if I'd ever follow in Mary's footsteps.
Well, as you all know I am following in Mary's footsteps - in more ways than one. I too am going to Africa as a single woman, though not as a nurse. And I too am a Mary White, but the Mary White of Redeemer Montclair. Though my home church, Redeemer Montclair supports several missionaries within the denomination, I am the first missionary to be sent from our congregation. I am honored and excited to be Redeemer's first missionary.
I've chosen as my life verse Jeremiah 29:10-13, "For I know the plans I have for you," declare the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Indeed God has known the plans of my life. It was in his plan that I would be Mary White....that I would go to Africa as single woman. My prayer now is that God would prosper the ministry that he's given me in Rwanda and that before I leave and when I'm there I would seek after him with all my heart.
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