The Chitenge

Lovely people, let me introduce you to the chitenge.

That awesome skirt I’m wearing is actually a piece of fabric to cover from my knees and up. Women of marrying age and higher have to wear these. They use them so your shape can not be seen. Showing this area would be equivalent to women in America walking around without their shirts on and nothing underneath if you catch my drift… Not pretty, and you definitely don’t want to offend anyone. You’re probably not going to share the Gospel that way. Chitenges are our friends. 

What I found as we got out into the bush was that women use them for everything! The “good” chitenges are made from a quality fabric and cost about 30 kwacha. That’s about $5 dollars depending on the current rate of currency.

Mostly, they use them for coverings.

Next, would be baby carriers.

Then, blankets for their kids.

Finally, they use them like purses. Tied end to end and stuffed with whatever they need to carry. 

Plus, they make a great covering when you have to go to the bathroom in the bush. ;)

In His Love,

The Hennis Family

Meet Tata

This is Tata. Which means Father in Tonga. Tonga is the language people speak here. Side note, our Zambian friend Mary told us that many times in their culture a woman’s father-in-law names your children- all of them.

 From the moment we got to Chipepo and set up camp Tata was here. I think everyone fell in love with this kid.

On our first day of hut-to-hut ministry we met Tata’s family at the first hut we went to. His family thought we were coming to complain about Tata hanging around camp. Obviously, this was not the case. While ministering to them we found out that Tata was deaf from having malaria too many times.

It was a beautiful thing to watch people on the team love on him. Really, that was all he wanted, to hold your hand or receive a hug. Many times I watched them love him like Jesus. Huge bowls of shima, hugs, playing soccer, holding hands, lollipops, running around at the top of our truck, etc. Whenever you saw him he had a huge smile on his face.

God put on my heart the story of Jesus asking Peter if he loved him in John 21:15-17.

Love His sheep.

In His Love,

The Hennis Family

Etchings

One of the days we were in Chipepo we went to the funeral of a young boy. Memories from this day will forever be etched in my brain. I wish there was a way to play my memories like a movie real for you.

Funerals in Zambia typically go on for days. Think 4-7. People from all over come and sit at the funerals all day. There is a lot of wailing, literally, which is part of their culture.

When we got there we were split into two groups, men and women. We were next to the room where the grandmother was sitting and singing with the coffin of her grandson. There were many other women in there singing with her. One of the ladies told us while we were in there that they were singing a song about the Lord.

After we came out we were chatting with the older ladies who are called nay-nays. (I may not have spelled that right!) The picture etched in my brain is of all these ladies smoking their tobacco in these huge pipes.

Next, a team went next door to pray with the mother. She wasn’t at the funeral. Apparently, she had been really ill since her son died and they didn’t want her to get worse. As a human being I had love for this woman who lost her child, but as a mother it just takes it to another level. Only Jesus makes that better.

Once we got back, we sat down and not long after that all the men stood up. Then all the women stand up. Men, we would call them pallbearers, came to move the body out of the house for viewing with the casket open before burial. I wanted to look away as we past by, yet found I couldn’t. It’s not something easily forgotten to see a child in a casket.

At the burial site, which was dug that morning by anyone and everyone, Overland Mission’s Leader in Africa, Jake, preached a simple Gospel message to the crowd, this is very different than burial messages in America.

Jesus is the focus of all that we are doing, we express Him in so many different ways, but LOVE being the motivating factor. God loves all people just where they are, He wants all to become part of His family, we don’t push anything on them, we just live like Jesus and share His love.

In His Love,

The Hennis Family

Welcome to Africa!

We arrived in Africa on May 5^th, 2014. The flights were great just a little exhausting from lack of sleep on the plane. Our flight was from Orlando, Florida to Frankfurt, Germany, to Johannesburg, South Africa to Livingstone, Zambia.

We wanted to show you some of Overland’s Rapid 14 base where we are living while not out doing ministry or on an expedition.

This is our tent!

This is the main base. We have meals here, worship, and church. It’s also where everyone hangs out.

The gorge here at Rapid 14.

 

Goodnight from Zambia!

Keep praying! We’ll try to update when we can!

In His Love,

The Hennis Family

  

Shelfie: Changing the World Starts with Jesus

There I was on a hot day in June praying over my husband's mission trip to Africa while running errands. I kept thinking through everything I could think of to pray for Joe and his team. I stopped only to listen to God. It was then that He got a hold of my heart. 

He asked me to say Yes. 

I said No.

He asked me to say Yes, again.

What's it for?

Say Yes. 

No.

I need you to surrender to Me. 

It's really a shame I'm not stubborn right? I said Yes. It was then that I got the call for missions. I never saw my yes coming. A month later I stood as my phone rang at one o'clock in the morning. It was Joe. He was on the other line in Africa fumbling through words to try to explain that we would have to go the following year as a family. Little did he know I was already ready. Funny how God works, huh? 

It's been less than a year since I said yes to God for a dream I didn't even know I had in my heart until He put it there. I wish I could tell you I feel adequate for the upcoming mission trip to Africa for three months with my husband and five year old daughter.

Or that I'm prepared...

Or brave...

Or organized...

Or have cleaned my house...

Or that I have the corner market on faith...

I'm not. I don't. To be honest I'm a hot mess. None of it hinges on me though, its all about Him. All He asks is that I say YES! Everyday. Even in the mundane day to day stuff like dirty laundry (the clothing kind), milk spills, fruit loops in the dog bowl, different shoes on my feet, losing my phone or keys for the umpteenth time that day, etc. Or in the bigger spend a quarter of your year sharing the Gospel in Africa with people who have never heard the good news way. 

"God didn't wait for me to get my life together before I said yes--He accepted my willingness in the middle of my mess." - Kristen Welch

In her new book, Rhinestone Jesus, Kristen Welch invites you to say yes in your mess. As I read the book it felt like I was sitting across from Kristen at Chik-fil-a sipping sweet tea while she shared this amazing story of redemption. I've been following Kristen's blog We are THAT Family for about four years now. I thought this book would basically be about Mercy House Kenya. It was about so much more from marriage, ministry, motherhood, and everything in between! This book caused me to lose sleep, cry in public places, and dream again. Rhinestone Jesus propels and inspires you to do your yes, whatever that may be! 

This book is for those that have ever been hurt, or feel they've lost their identity, have ever been mean to your spouse, those who don't follow the culture of the world, struggle with making dinner, have one of THOSE families, are a mother- basically if you're breathing- you should read this book! It's a beautiful story of how Jesus is changing the world. Lucky for you, it comes out today! Go order it!

I'm in the middle of my mess, literally. Currently there are colorful bags, boxes, clothes, and supplies strewn across my living room floor. In five days my family will be in Africa. I'm excited and terrified. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else though. Thank you for prayers and support! 

"God wants us right in the middle of our mess because it's the perfect place for Him to shine through our imperfections." - from Rhinestone Jesus by Kristen Welch

In His Love,

Jennis

You're Invited!

Time spans...

I have this countdown ticker app on my phone. It's counting down the days until we go to Africa for me. People would ask and I could never remember how long- so the app is my friend. :) As I type this we have 45 days 3 hours 11 minutes and 48 seconds until we leave for Africa on May 3rd. But who's counting anyway?

From the time we got the call until now (and probably until we board the plane) there has been a lot of ups and downs. We've known great joys during this period and experienced personal heart break. We know God is preparing us for Africa as well as for whatever lies ahead of us. If it brings Him glory it was well worth it!

Want to hear some crazy amazing stuff? Okay, WE ARE FULLY FUNDED. God is so good. Time is running short on this wonderful adventure that God has been preparing for us. We wanted to share with you all the wonderful news of the work that God has been doing. We have reached our needed goal that was set for us in the beginning of this trip!

So for now we're just preparing for the trip! Here's a few pictures of that! So fun! Okay, maybe not the shot for Kendall!

Speaking at our church about our trip!

Yellow fever shot!

Wedding bands for Africa.

Supplies for the trip!

Same supplies just a little more organized!

One of our awesome students made us this! Isn't it beautiful?

Running! Joe and I have both been running to train for the trip!

Our bags ready to be packed!

Kendall loves hers! Can you tell?

We praise God for His faithfulness in confirming our call and showing us that with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26. We are super excited and have been praying for this opportunity to serve the Lord. We know that God has worked and touched you and the lives that you are living in partnering with us in prayer/giving. Eternity is going to be affected by this generosity that has been shown by you all. We want you to know, there have been tears of joy throughout this process and that without God and you, we wouldn’t be where we need to be. A special thanks to you all in sincere gratitude from our family to yours.

We are going to have a commissioning service on April 13th at 6:00 pm at Westside Baptist Church. This is a time of prayer and vision about this trip. Please join us! We would love for you to come! 

In His Amazing Love, 

The Hennis Family