Here we go...

Gearing up to go, again! 

Tambo, Ecuador and Hope of Life, Guatemala

 Hi friends and family! We've had a busy start to our 2015! Joe's still in school full-time and keeping straight A's! Jenn and Kendall continue to homeschool. We've had many speaking engagements about our time on the mission field since coming home in August! Including one on Thursday {4/9} so if you would join us in prayer for that we would be so grateful! Here's a few of the other things we've been up to!

So far this year we've continued to develop the Children's Ministry at Crosswalk Community

Church. Doing lessons with the kids on Sunday and teaching missions on Tuesday nights. We've had so much fun! We even did a bake sale for The Mercy House {a maternity home} in Africa! They raised $350! {Picture of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cheesecake!}

We also went down to Port Canaveral and took part in Walk for Bibles! We love that ministry! {Picture of us in front of First Baptist Church of Cape Canaveral}

This past Sunday we did a 5 station Walk with Jesus with the kids at church for Easter. It was a blast! We took them from Jesus being falsely accused to the Empty Tomb. {Picture of Joe with the Cross}

The other picture is of Kendall wearing a chitenge from Zambia to hold her "baby" while she plays! 

In June, we are planning to go to Ecuador. It will be June 26th- July 6th. We are going to try to bring Kendall this time. We will be ministering to the same people as we got to minister in October of last year. While there we will be teaching {Old Testament}, working on infrastructure projects, and reaching rural villages. The amount we still need for our family of three for this trip is $3,500.00. This includes everything that we are going to need: airfare, lodging, food, equipment, materials, and most importantly the vessels to carry the message of the Cross.

In October, Jenn will be heading to Guatemala with World Help. World Help is a faith-based humanitarian organization serving the physical and spiritual needs of people in impoverished communities around the world. She will be there from October 19th- October 25th. While there the team will care for malnourished children at the Operation Baby Rescue center, visit remote Guatemalan communities and perform medical clinics for the villagers and pass out shoes, work at St. Luke's Hospital and Kelly's House, interact with with orphans at the Hope of Life children's home in Zacapa, as well as visit the Feeding Center at a community based around a trash dump. She will need about $2,000 for this trip. This includes all in-country transportation, lodging, meals, international medical insurance, and airport fees.

We’re once again honored to ask that you take a part in these trips and the furthering of the Gospel and to expand the Kingdom of Heaven. The ways to take part in these trips is to pray and when we ask pray, nothing is going to be accomplished in our own strength, we need the Power and Voice of God. Another way to partner is if God lays it on your heart after praying is to donate. All donations are tax exempt and taken through Crosswalk Community Church. Their address is 77 N. Carpenter Rd. Titusville, Fl 32796. Please put Hennis Family Mission Trips in the memo line. If God leads you to give could you send us an email that you did so for our records? We would REALLY appreciate it! We thank you for your time and consideration and look forward to hearing from you!

In His Love, 
Joe, Jenn, and Kendall

The Root Collective

Today, is a day that The Root Collective has been waiting for! It is the launch day for their new spring line! What do they do you ask? I'm so glad you brought up that question! Well, they sell shoes,  scarves, jewelry, and bags. That though, is just barely scratching the surface of what they do. 

Come on a virtual trip with me to Guatemala. There we'll see how the shoes are made and how those shoes are making a difference. 

In the slum of La Limonada in Guatemala City, many of the residents are unable to find work simply due to their address. As you can imagine gang violence is rampant in Guatemala. Children are targeted by gangs, and refusing to join can cause severe consequences, even death.

Meet Otto. 

Otto is a shoemaker from the slum of La Limonada in Guatemala City. The largest slum in Central America. He was raised, like many children in this city, with a knowledge of the streets, each day he was surrounded by the vast number of gangs in that area. He grew up with little support from his parents, which left him vulnerable to the violent environment around him. Otto knew he was different though. He loved to helps others. When he was 10, Otto began working as a shoemaker. Learning this skill helped him overcome his surroundings and help his community. 

The Root Collective partners with small-scale artisan businesses, like Otto, in marginalized communities to promote change though dignified jobs. The artisans they partner with own their own businesses, and set their own pricing. The owners have often times received business training through the nonprofits working in their area and understand how to set their pricing to ensure fair payment to their employees.

Today, Otto has his own workshop. The second floor of his house (which houses his workshop) now consists of a kitchen and breakfast bar, where he feeds his workers breakfast and lunch every day --for free. He hires women in the community to cook for the workers and earn an income for their own families.  Otto pays his workers regardless of whether or not they have work. 

Otto's dream is to involve many former gang members in his business and teach them the skills he has learned. By teaching them, he hopes that they will pay it forward and teach others to do what they have been taught. 

The Root Collective is doing more than selling shoes. They're spreading hope in the most unlikely places. You can partner with The Root Collective and Otto. Head over here to the website and check out the new spring line! The Magenta Diamond Peep Toe is my favorite! You can use the coupon code SPRING for 20% off now through Sunday, 3/8! Also, check out the video below to hear Bethany {founder of The Root Collective} share her story better than I ever could! 

*All images by: www.shimmersofgrey.com*

The Root Collective -- Walk the Vision from Em Grey on Vimeo.