Before I start, I would like to give a little preface to the story. In African culture, the guy has to give a dowry to the girl's family before he can marry her. But, in my case, Nic didn't have to do that because that's not part of the American culture. And plus, how could I send 6 goats to my parents' house in America? But, I did warn him that instead of a dowry, he did have to call my parents and receive their blessing. My dad was going to be out of town starting last Monday for the next 2 weeks. So, meaning, Nic had to call him before he left. Sunday night Nic made the comment, “Oh, yah, your dad is leaving tomorrow.” He said it in a way that made me think he hadn't talked to my dad yet. So, I wasn't anticipating an engagement yet.
Nic and I were invited to a special dinner on Thursday night, November 25th, for Liza Mucheru-Wisner, one of the 4 finalist in Donald Trump's 'The Apprentice' show. She's Kenyan but married to an American and lives in TX and she happened to be in town for the week. It was at a really nice and classy golf course called Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, Kenya. I had just finished having Thanksgiving lunch at one of my coworker's home. After that I met Nic in town to go to this other dinner. When we got there, we got a tour of the golf course and hung out with some of Nic's friends while we waited for Liza to arrive. Finally she did, along with lots of other people. There were many speeches and presentations. Then, we ate. We just relaxed and took it easy.
Around 11pm people were leaving. I was getting tired, so when we were one of the last people there, we finally decided to leave. On our way out, we walked over to a pond in the center of the golf course. He started telling me how much he loved me and how important I was to him. It was very sweet. But, in the middle of his talk, his friend called and asked him where we were. Nic told him we were next to the pond. The guy said he hoped we weren't on the grass. Nic said we were and asked if that was a problem. The friend said yes because if the guards saw us, we could get in trouble (golf clubs have so many strict rules). We then walked over to a different grassy area where the guards couldn't see us. There was a tree in the middle and Nic started talking about the tree (the poor guy was nervous). At one point, I was standing between Nic and the tree. Then Nic pointed at the tree and asked, “What in the world is that tree trying to grow?” So I turned around and said, “Well, flowers, of course.” But, I was thinking, “What is wrong with this man?” When I turned back around Nic was on one knee and he said, “Jen, I have a question to ask you.” He pulled out a box and opened it. I started laughing out of nervousness and because I was still thinking his comment about the tree was so funny and random. He then asked, “Jen, will you marry me?” I kissed him and of course said, “Yes.” He proceeded to tell me sweet things. I was in a bit of a daze because I couldn't believe this was finally happening to me. I never thought this day would actually come for me. So, it feels a bit like I'm dreaming.
We then took pictures. I did have a panic moment and asked Nic if he had called my parents. He said yes, that he had called them earlier in November (2 weeks earlier to be exact and he played it off so I wouldn't suspect). He proceeded to tell me about his conversation with them. My dad asked him a bunch of important questions and Nic successfully passed. Then, Dad asked him what he was going to do if I said no (you must know that my father is a jokester). Nic said he would have to go to Plan B, but he wasn't sure what that would be. So, Dad told him to make sure and give me lots of chocolate and then I would for sure say yes (when I was a kid, in our family photos I wouldn't smile unless they gave me chocolate). So, anyways, my parents gave him their blessing.
When we got to the car, first thing he did was opened the door for me. Then, when he got in he held my hand and prayed. He thanked God for our relationship, our engagement, for him not making a complete fool of himself, and that we would have a godly future. I was AMAZED!!! I was so distracted by the engagement, that I didn't even think about praying and thanking God. When Nic prayed, I was so thankful to God that He gave me a man like Nic. That was my favorite part about the whole engagement. After praying together, Nic handed me a plastic bag full of really yummy dark chocolate (my favorite). I thought it was a bit strange, but at this point it was midnight and now the 26th, so I figured it was for my birthday. I didn't know yet what my dad had told him about the chocolate. When I got home, I called my mom to tell her what happened. I couldn't call my dad because he was in another country without communication. So, when I told my mom the story, she busted out laughing when I told her about the chocolate. Then, she proceeded to tell me that Dad had told Nic to get me lots of chocolate. When I asked Nic why he got me the chocolate, he said that he had to be sure that I would say yes. So, he had to do what my dad said since my dad is a wise man.
It turns out that Nic had wanted to wait until midnight to propose so that it would have officially been my birthday. But, ends up he proposed 30 minutes before my 30th birthday. So, he was still pleased with that. It was a very sweet proposal.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
I LOVE ...
- my life
- my family
- that even though I'm thousands of miles away from family & friends, modern technology allows me to be in daily contact with them
- learning new things
- seeing new places
- watching action movies
- colors
- my church in TX (Arlington Hispanic Bible Church)
- my church in Kenya (Karen Community Church)
- jewelry
- flowers
- dark chocolate
- living in Kenya
- my students, even if I don't show it
- my job, despite the hardships
- what God is doing with my life
- listening to thunderstorms while wrapped in a blanket
- playing games
- soccer
- hanging out with close friends, just talking
- dessert
- Asian chicken salad
- wearing jeans
- listening to music in the car while singing at the top of my lungs
- the feeling after working out really hard
- being right, which is not too often
- the feeling after shaving my legs
- getting text messages from special people
- the way I was raised
- traditions
- Christmas time
- Thanksgiving meal
- my birthday
- when leaves change colors
- when flowers bloom
- getting emails
- making lists
- checking off things from my to-do list
- being organized
- plain Cheerios
- that I am a TCK (third culture kid)
- to travel
- watching & listening to people who are REALLY good at playing the piano
- colors of a sunset
- when you can't see the sun, but you can see the sunrays streaming down through the clouds to touch the earth
- farms
- agriculture
- John Deere branded items
- Christmas lights
- my office
- my Lord & Savior
- His amazing grace
- His unconditional love
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Facebook | Sent - support
Facebook Sent - support:
http://www.nics.org/donation.php
These are the following ways to support me financially (using the website above), while still getting a tax deduction:
1)Send a check to the organization I work for at:
Network of International Christian Schools
3790 Goodman Rd E.
Southaven, MS 38672
2)Send money online with your credit/debit card at: http://www.nics.org/.
Go to:
1. 'donate',
2. 'donate securely online',
3. next to destination - select 'missionary project',
4. under 'select a school' - pick 'Nairobi(Kenya)',
5. under 'select a person' - pick 'Prather,Jennifer(003282)'.
6. fill out 'Donation amount',
7. fill out all the billing information.
3)Or you can have automatic withdrawals from your bank account by filling out the 'Automatic Donation Form' on the above website.
http://www.nics.org/donation.php
These are the following ways to support me financially (using the website above), while still getting a tax deduction:
1)Send a check to the organization I work for at:
Network of International Christian Schools
3790 Goodman Rd E.
Southaven, MS 38672
2)Send money online with your credit/debit card at: http://www.nics.org/.
Go to:
1. 'donate',
2. 'donate securely online',
3. next to destination - select 'missionary project',
4. under 'select a school' - pick 'Nairobi(Kenya)',
5. under 'select a person' - pick 'Prather,Jennifer(003282)'.
6. fill out 'Donation amount',
7. fill out all the billing information.
3)Or you can have automatic withdrawals from your bank account by filling out the 'Automatic Donation Form' on the above website.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Random Thoughts
Random Thought #1: I was talking to my Dad on skype the other day. My nieces are staying with my parents for the week to go to camp. The other morning, on the way to camp, my Dad was praying with them. He started by thanking God for the weather, for their health, for the girls going to camp, and so on. Then Ellie (8) prayed, "Thank You Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins." Dad said that after that he felt like such a jerk. Here he is a pastor and missionary and praying simple prayers because he thought that's all they would recognize. But then his grandaughter prayed, thanking God for His atonement. Kids are amazing. No wonder Jesus tells us to have "faith like a child."
Random Thought #2: Yesterday I was working in my office at school. One of my students, whose mother works in the office, came to see me. He said he was bored sitting in his mom's office, so he thought he would come see if I needed any help with anything. I had him help me move all of my Physics lab equipment from one classroom to another. We got to talking about our summer and other random topics. Then we started to talk about dating, relationships, and what we believe God intended marriages to look like. We came to the conclusion that no matter what, we have to always trust the Lord in everything and pray about all things in our lives. After our conversation he said, "This is what is different about our school." I said, "What?" He said, "That we can talk to our teachers about stuff." I thought about it. He's right. Our school is special because the kids can feel safe to talk to their teachers about all kinds of matters, and they know their teachers will be real with them. I'm very thankful for that. This is one of the reasons why I love my job.
Random Thought #3: In my quiet time this morning, I was reading about Miriam (Moses' sister) and how she had that moment when she questioned Moses' authority and ability to lead the Israelites. In doing so, she was also questioning and undermining God's authority because God was the One who had placed Moses in that position. It caused me to reflect on myself. I am very much like Miriam. I often question those in authority over me and have a hard time submitting to them. But I realized this morning that when I do that, I am also undermining God's authority and I am ultimately not trusting in His sovereign plan. God is the One who has allowed for those different individuals to be in leadership over me and I have to respect and obey them. This doesn't mean I have to agree with decisions they may make, but I need to submit to their authority anyways. They will have to answer to God for the decisions they have made while in leadership, and I will have to answer to God for my attitude and the way I have responded towards them.
Random Thought #2: Yesterday I was working in my office at school. One of my students, whose mother works in the office, came to see me. He said he was bored sitting in his mom's office, so he thought he would come see if I needed any help with anything. I had him help me move all of my Physics lab equipment from one classroom to another. We got to talking about our summer and other random topics. Then we started to talk about dating, relationships, and what we believe God intended marriages to look like. We came to the conclusion that no matter what, we have to always trust the Lord in everything and pray about all things in our lives. After our conversation he said, "This is what is different about our school." I said, "What?" He said, "That we can talk to our teachers about stuff." I thought about it. He's right. Our school is special because the kids can feel safe to talk to their teachers about all kinds of matters, and they know their teachers will be real with them. I'm very thankful for that. This is one of the reasons why I love my job.
Random Thought #3: In my quiet time this morning, I was reading about Miriam (Moses' sister) and how she had that moment when she questioned Moses' authority and ability to lead the Israelites. In doing so, she was also questioning and undermining God's authority because God was the One who had placed Moses in that position. It caused me to reflect on myself. I am very much like Miriam. I often question those in authority over me and have a hard time submitting to them. But I realized this morning that when I do that, I am also undermining God's authority and I am ultimately not trusting in His sovereign plan. God is the One who has allowed for those different individuals to be in leadership over me and I have to respect and obey them. This doesn't mean I have to agree with decisions they may make, but I need to submit to their authority anyways. They will have to answer to God for the decisions they have made while in leadership, and I will have to answer to God for my attitude and the way I have responded towards them.
Caution: I'm on a Rampage
Lord, help me to be cautious with whatever I say next. Amen.
I just finished reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Wow! Can I say "convicted"? I am convicted of my current life and what I'm doing, or what I'm not doing. I'm turning 30 this year and what do I have to show for it? If God were to ask me "What have you done with what I have given you?", what would I say? I have the desire to obey and follow the Lord, but I realize I only do it half-heartedly. What's with that?! God didn't give His only Son, to die on the cross for my sins, half-heartedly. My life is but a vapor on this earth. In the grand scheme of things, my life is here and gone in no time. And what am I doing with it? How am I making a difference? What impact am I leaving behind? How am I leading people to Christ? How am I even showing Christ to others? How am I loving others, including my enemies? How am I serving others? How am I making myself smaller so that He can be greater?
Sure, my title right now is "missionary teacher in Nairobi, Kenya." But, if you were to see my life here, it's not much of a sacrifice. I'm currently staying in a really nice home, using a car, have a salary that provides for my needs here, have running water, have electricity, have house help, have lots of clothes, have a computer, have lots of shoes, have my own office at work, and so on. People in America tend to have a misconception of "Africa." They tend to automatically think that all of Africa is in the bush or desert and people live in huts with no running water or electricity. This is wrong! Sure, there are lots of places in Africa that are like that, and there are some areas that are more difficult than others to live in. But, let me set the record straight for Nairobi, Kenya (since I have not been to other parts of Africa, I can only say for this part). The areas that white people live in are not difficult. We have everything we need and more here. Yes, driving is crazier than it is in the US and there is not the wonderful world of convenience like in America, but the only thing we truly sacrifice by being here is being with our family and friends back in the States (in fact this past summer when I was home, I saw more family than I did when I used to live there). Last year I played the victim by using the phrase "missionary in Africa," and I was incredibly wrong to do that. For that, I am sorry. I am not a victim of anything. I live very comfortably here. I have never wanted to live long term in America due to fear of becoming too comfortable. I know myself. If I lived in the States I believe I would simply rationalize my life and say that my ministry is just to be nice to people and show them God's love in my everyday walk. But there are plenty of nice people out there that are loving, but not Christians. So how is someone to tell me apart from them? Evangelism is not one of my spiritual gifts, but I'm still commanded to evangelize to the unsaved. Am I doing that? No. The thing that I realize by living in Nairobi is that I can get just as comfortable here as I would be in the States. So something has to change in me, not where I live.
How am I furthering the Kingdom of God? I currently teach rich kids who have no clue as to how blessed they are when there is plenty of poverty surrounding us. Am I showing them what God's love really looks like? They just see me as the typical white person who comes to Africa in the name of “missions.” They wonder, “How long is she going to last? How long before she leaves like others who left because life in Africa seems too hard?” I'm tired of being like everyone else. How am I going to make a difference in the lives of others in this next year?
I just finished reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Wow! Can I say "convicted"? I am convicted of my current life and what I'm doing, or what I'm not doing. I'm turning 30 this year and what do I have to show for it? If God were to ask me "What have you done with what I have given you?", what would I say? I have the desire to obey and follow the Lord, but I realize I only do it half-heartedly. What's with that?! God didn't give His only Son, to die on the cross for my sins, half-heartedly. My life is but a vapor on this earth. In the grand scheme of things, my life is here and gone in no time. And what am I doing with it? How am I making a difference? What impact am I leaving behind? How am I leading people to Christ? How am I even showing Christ to others? How am I loving others, including my enemies? How am I serving others? How am I making myself smaller so that He can be greater?
Sure, my title right now is "missionary teacher in Nairobi, Kenya." But, if you were to see my life here, it's not much of a sacrifice. I'm currently staying in a really nice home, using a car, have a salary that provides for my needs here, have running water, have electricity, have house help, have lots of clothes, have a computer, have lots of shoes, have my own office at work, and so on. People in America tend to have a misconception of "Africa." They tend to automatically think that all of Africa is in the bush or desert and people live in huts with no running water or electricity. This is wrong! Sure, there are lots of places in Africa that are like that, and there are some areas that are more difficult than others to live in. But, let me set the record straight for Nairobi, Kenya (since I have not been to other parts of Africa, I can only say for this part). The areas that white people live in are not difficult. We have everything we need and more here. Yes, driving is crazier than it is in the US and there is not the wonderful world of convenience like in America, but the only thing we truly sacrifice by being here is being with our family and friends back in the States (in fact this past summer when I was home, I saw more family than I did when I used to live there). Last year I played the victim by using the phrase "missionary in Africa," and I was incredibly wrong to do that. For that, I am sorry. I am not a victim of anything. I live very comfortably here. I have never wanted to live long term in America due to fear of becoming too comfortable. I know myself. If I lived in the States I believe I would simply rationalize my life and say that my ministry is just to be nice to people and show them God's love in my everyday walk. But there are plenty of nice people out there that are loving, but not Christians. So how is someone to tell me apart from them? Evangelism is not one of my spiritual gifts, but I'm still commanded to evangelize to the unsaved. Am I doing that? No. The thing that I realize by living in Nairobi is that I can get just as comfortable here as I would be in the States. So something has to change in me, not where I live.
How am I furthering the Kingdom of God? I currently teach rich kids who have no clue as to how blessed they are when there is plenty of poverty surrounding us. Am I showing them what God's love really looks like? They just see me as the typical white person who comes to Africa in the name of “missions.” They wonder, “How long is she going to last? How long before she leaves like others who left because life in Africa seems too hard?” I'm tired of being like everyone else. How am I going to make a difference in the lives of others in this next year?
Here are some examples of people I know who have made a difference:
- Rayder Hawkins- missionary in Brazil for as long as I can remember; most exciting, exuberant man I have ever met who is clearly in love with the Lord; was heavily involved in his ministry all the way until he passed away in his 80's.
- Tommy Skipper- missionary with us in Spain when I was a child; also extremely exciting and joyful man who deeply loves the Lord; currently evangelizes to prisoners in Oregon while in his 70's.
- My parents- working on starting their 4th church while in their 60's.
- Vickie Kairo- my friend, a local Kenyan, who is in her mid-20's and working with prisoners in Nairobi; she teaches them, clothes them, and gives them her time.
- The Kittrell's- when retired, left the comforts of the USA to become missionaries in Turkey.
These are just a few people who stand out to me. Sure, there are many, many more. None of these people get paid for what they do. They simply trust God and He has never failed to provide for their needs and bless them. What do they have in common? They are all joyful people, they all love the Lord, they all love others. And the majority of them have continued to serve the Lord even in their elder years. That's the kind of person I want to be; the kind that when you are dead and gone, you have left an imprint on someone's life and God has used you to spur them on to greater things.
As Francis Chan says, “The world needs Christians who don't tolerate the complacency of their own lives. What will people say about your life in heaven? Will people speak of God's work and glory through you? And even more important, how will you answer the King when He says, 'What did you do with what I gave you?' What we do reverberates through the heavens and into eternity.”
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
My Theme Song For This Year
CAN'T GIVE UP NOW by Mary Mary
There will be mountains that I will have to climb
And there will be battles that I will have to fight
But victory or defeat, it's up to me to decide
But how can I expect to win If I never try.
I just can't give up now
I've come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me
Never said there wouldn't be trials
Never said I would't fall
Never said that everything would go the way I want it to go
But when my back is against the wall
And i feel all hope is gone,
I'll just lift my head up to the sky
And say help me to be strong
I just can't give up now
I've come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me
No you didn't bring me out here to leave me lonely
Even when I can't see clearly
I know that you are with me
I just can't give up now
I've come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me
There will be mountains that I will have to climb
And there will be battles that I will have to fight
But victory or defeat, it's up to me to decide
But how can I expect to win If I never try.
I just can't give up now
I've come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me
Never said there wouldn't be trials
Never said I would't fall
Never said that everything would go the way I want it to go
But when my back is against the wall
And i feel all hope is gone,
I'll just lift my head up to the sky
And say help me to be strong
I just can't give up now
I've come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me
No you didn't bring me out here to leave me lonely
Even when I can't see clearly
I know that you are with me
I just can't give up now
I've come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me
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