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

Kirinda

Last year, we spent our summer in Africa. When we were in the villages we loaded up our truck with jerry cans and filled our nalgene bottles to the brim. Sometimes we had to walk miles to the nearest borehole to fill the jerry cans and nalgenes up. Those cans are so much heavier than they may appear.

I can't even tell you how many people in the villages came up to us so that we would pray for them. We absolutely prayed for them, but we would also ask how much water they drank that day. Most of them would tell us very small amounts. This meant a variety of ailments, but most common were headaches. They conserved their water so that they didn't have to walk the many miles back to the nearest borehole. In one village they got water out of a lake, and ran the risk of being eaten by a crocodile or a hippo while they collected water.

I can't even carry one of those cans far with just my hands. These girls and women carry water on their heads after walking miles to get it and then return home. 

Water is vital. 

In the village of Kirinda in Uganda they have one borehole that they share with livestock. They have no access to clean water. 

World Water Day | Water for Kirinda from World Help on Vimeo.

March 22 is World Water Day. This World Water Day, World Help is asking you to be a part of bringing water to Kirinda. You can be a part of bringing hope to this community.

Meet Ratifah. She is an ambitious high school student and a passionate follower of Jesus. She has overcome great odds to gain an education and yet one major obstacle still remains in her way.

She misses school regularly due to water-related illnesses.

It is estimated that every year, waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera, and dysentery keep children out of school for a combined 443 million school days.

Meet Silvano. When Silvano was younger his father committed suicide. After his father's death was enrolled in World Help's Sponsorship Program. He now attends school.

When he comes home this is the water they drink. 

"Whenever I come back to Kirinda to visit my mother, my siblings and I are forced to use this dirty, red-like water full of waterborne diseases,"Silvano told us.

Clean water will open the door to life, opportunity and prosperity. This World Water Day, join us as we commit to transforming a community in central Uganda.

Meet Sumayiya. Her smile is like instant sunshine. 

Many times young girls are tasked with getting water for the family. That sometimes mean missing school and running the risk of being sexually assaulted. 

In Northern Uganda, one-third of all women have been victims of sexual violence. What’s more, the first sexual encounter of 25 percent of girls is reported to be against their will.

Many of these instances occur when girls are collecting water alone.

This World Water Day we can be a part of bringing hope to Kirinda. Would you join us?

Put Your Love on the Map

I don't know why but I was shocked when Valentine's Day stuff was out on the shelves January 1st! I thought it was a little much, ya know? I'm not "hating" on the holiday. I just think commercialized love is a little shallow. Nothing says love like over sized animals, sweets, and spending too much money right? Real love can't be found on a shelf. You can't buy it.  It definitely shouldn't be celebrated once a year. 

                           

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Jesus gave us the greatest example of love. He went to the cross for you and I. For the whole world. Love is sacrificial. It gives every day. It dies to self. It's much more than just a feeling every now and then. It's an everyday decision. 

This year, what if we did something different? God's love compels us as an outpouring of what's already been done for us to love others. What if we put our love on the map? What if we put our love into action? Let's love one another. 

Maybe for you it's giving a little extra to a missionary. Maybe it's going on a mission trip. Maybe it's providing food, giving clean water, sponsorship, or giving bibles. Let's share love in a tangible way. Want to find out more? You can at World Help and put your love on the map! 

In His Love, 

Jennis