Overwhelmed, but Excited

Well, exactly 2 months from today I will be on a plane, on my way to Kenya. Oh my goodness! I can hardly believe it! The fact that I'm moving to Africa and all the challenges and changes that come with that, are beginning to hit me. Then I begin to get anxious thinking, "What in the world am I doing? What am I getting myself into?" But, I know this is of the Lord and I must obey. Plus, I want to obey what the Lord has called me to do right now in my life because I'm super excited to see what He has in store for me. Still, I have times where I get nervous, stressed, and overwhelmed, just as I'm sure any other human would.

I have already begun to go through all of my things to see what I should take, what I should get rid of, and what I should store. It's tough trying to figure those things out when I've never been to Kenya before, or any part of Africa for that matter, and only know what I hear from other teachers about what I will need. It is helpful getting information from others, but I'm the kind of person that likes to have been there myself to see what it's like to then decide what I will need. Oh well! I'll just have to get over it. :)

The task that God has set before me seems to be getting bigger and bigger the more I realize all that I must do. I have 3 classes to prepare to teach and a team to prepare to coach. It's kind of intimidating, but so exciting all at the same time. God is good ALL THE TIME and He will see me through. What a crazy and wild ride this is going to be!!! :)

I read this really great poem the other day about waiting on God:

Wait only upon God; my soul, be still,
And let thy God unfold His perfect will,
Thou fain would’st follow Him throughout this year,
Thou fain with listening heart His voice would’st hear,
Thou fain would’st be a passive instrument
Possessed by God, and ever Spirit-sent
Upon His service sweet – then be thou still,
For only thus can He in thee fulfill
His heart’s desire. Oh, hinder not His hand
From fashioning the vessel He hath planned.
“Be silent unto God,” and thou shalt know
The quiet, holy calm He doth bestow
On those who wait on Him; so shalt thou bear
His presence, and His life and light e’en where
The night is darkest, and thine earthly days
Shall show His love, and sound His glorious praise
And he will work with hand unfettered, free,
His high and holy purposes through thee.
First on thee must that hand of power be turned,
Till in His love’s strong fire thy dross is burned,
And thou come forth a vessel for thy Lord,
So frail and empty, yet, since He hath poured
Into thine emptiness His life, His love,
Henceforth through thee the power of God shall move
And He will work for thee. Stand still and see
The victories thy God will gain for thee;
So silent, yet so irresistible,
Thy God shall do the thing impossible.
Oh, question not henceforth what thou canst do;
Thou canst do nought. But He will carry through
The work where human energy had failed
Where all thy best endeavors had availed
Thee nothing. Then, my soul, wait and be still;
Thy God shall work for thee His perfect will.
If thou wilt take no less, His best shall be
Thy portion now and through eternity.
-Freda Hanbury

“My soul, wait thou only upon God.”-Psalm 62:5
“A God… who worketh for him that waiteth for him.”-Isaiah 64:4

Preparations & Funny Nieces

Now that my newsletter has been sent out (which is the same as the blog previous to this one), there are many preparations to be done by the time my departure date arrives on July 26th. I am still working for a company in Ft. Worth until June 10th. Afterwards I will get a nice little vacation in California to visit some friends. I can't wait! Then, I'll be off to my pre-field orientation in Mississippi for 2 weeks, to then return back to TX for a few weeks to finalize things before I'm off to Africa!


There's so much to do, and there's so many questions I have, and there just never seems to be enough time in the day. That's why it's midnight when I'm writing this. :)





















What I want to share is some funny things that my nieces said to me this past weekend when they were over for Mother's Day that made me crack up laughing. These nieces are my older sister's kids and they are Ellie (7) and Essie (4).
So, I was reminding the girls that I'm going to be moving to Africa soon. I said that's where the lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and lots of animals live. And this is Essie's response, "Yah, I've been there! I went with my class and my teacher on the school bus!" :)

Then Ellie said, "Aunt Jenny, what are you going to be when you grow up?"
Essie: "She's already growed up!"
My mom: "She's going to be a missionary. Do you know what a missionary does?"
Essie: "work & work & work" :)
Ellie: "Aunt Jenny, when you leave can I have your jewelry?" :)
Essie: "Can I have your toys?" :)

I have a little stuffed animal lion and zebra that make noise when you hold them in your hand. So, Essie was playing with them and she told me, "Aunt Jenny, when you go to the zoo, don't forget to take your stuffed animals." :)

Aren't they precious?!

Where in the World is Jennifer Prather?

In the last 2 years, where in the world has Jen been?
· Turkey (mission trip)
· New Jersey (training to reach Muslims)
· Iowa (Emmaus Bible College)
· Switzerland (summer trip)
· Texas (working)
And the next 2 years will be spent in… Nairobi, Kenya!

(Kenya is located in East Africa and is slightly smaller than Texas, roughly the size of France.)

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” -Habakkuk 2:3

Last time you heard from me?
My last newsletter was in August of 2007. I had been pursuing ministries in Turkey and had attended a month long course in New Jersey on how to reach Muslims. But for whatever reason, God closed the door on Turkey. Through this I came to realize that I needed more Bible training. So I resigned from teaching in TX and headed to Iowa to attend Emmaus Bible College for one year. My time there was well worth it. I learned a lot, built lots of friendships, and had a great experience.

Currently?
I moved back home to Arlington, TX last August. Through a temporary job with a good company, God blessed me with needed finances and meaningful relationships.
In January I attended a life-changing weeklong retreat called ‘Heart Quest’ (http://www.fellowshipofthesword.com/). During my awesome time there with the Lord, He revealed to me that now, finally, I needed to pursue my dream of serving overseas and that He would show me His plan. Through a series of circumstances, counsel, and the Lord’s guidance, He prompted me to pursue Africa.















I have really enjoyed the opportunity to be with my family this year.

Now what?
The amazing has occurred! After so much time of waiting and training and trying to figure out what God wants me to do with my life… the hour has arrived! I have been hired to teach at an international school in Nairobi, Kenya. It is called West Nairobi School (http://www.westnairobischool.org/) and is run by an organization called Network of International Christian Schools (http://www.nics.org/). This international school serves missionary and international children (diplomat and businessmen’s kids), Christian and non-Christian. The school has at least 200 students made up of 50% Americans, 25% Kenyans, 15% Koreans, and 10% other. It is a Christian school, so the parents know we will be teaching them Bible classes and Christian principles. I have been hired to teach high school Physics, Algebra 1, Remedial Algebra 1, Old & New Testament Bible survey, and coach the girl’s soccer team. The school will be paying me a salary, which will cover most of my expenses, but not all. I need to raise a few hundred dollars per month in support along with some outgoing expenses (details on back). I am ecstatic and in awe of how God has worked this out financially so that I can leave for the field much sooner than if I had to raise full support.








What will it be like?
I will be living in a house with 3 other girls, in a suburb of Nairobi called Kilimani, which is 25 minutes from the school.
Some facts about Nairobi:
1) population of 3 million people
2) area of 260 square miles
3) primary languages are English & Swahili
4) located 1 degree south of the equator
5) known as ‘Green City in the Sun’
6) 6000 ft. above sea level
7) yearly temperatures range from 50’s - 70’s
8) on the edge of the Rift Valley
9) situated between Mt. Kenya & Mt. Kilimanjaro
10) home to one of the largest slums in Africa
11) world’s largest safari bordering the city










What do I need?
The most important thing I need is your prayer. Currently, my most pressing prayer requests are:
· Numerous pre-departure details
· Raising finances
· Adjusting to new life
· Preparations for my classes
· Relationships with roommates and coworkers

If you would like to be one of my financial partners, you can go to http://www.nics.org/ and click on ‘Donate’. There are 3 options to choose from. Please make sure to include my name (or project #003282) on any correspondence or in the box labeled ‘Other Destination’ online. Any donations will be tax-exempt. You may also send your support to:

Network of International Christian Schools
3790 Goodman Rd. E.
Southaven, MS 38672

It will be too costly to keep sending newsletters via mail from Kenya. So here are some ways that you can keep up with what I’m doing:
this blog
my email
Skype: jennifer_prather

This life change is a dream come true for me. I cannot express enough how much it encourages me that you want to be a part of what God will choose to do through me in Nairobi. Thank you.

“And now, my daughter, fear not. I will do for you all you require, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of strength (worth, bravery, capability).”
–Ruth 3:11

In Love With Christ,
Jen