Where will you go?
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
(Matthew 28:19-20)
This is the most exciting question I get and one of the most often ones too. When people find out its 11 different countries I always ask them if they want all 11 or just the regions. 11 countries is hard to follow along with and remember, especially if you haven’t heard of some on them! First and foremost I am going where God is leading me. 11 months is a long time and this route I am about to share is subject to change and in-fact it already has changed since I announced my countries in my first Facebook video. The where doesn’t matter to me and I am letting God choose those decisions for me because He knows me and where I would be most beneficial. The going is the important part to me and I cannot wait to land in my first country (Indonesia) on January 17, 2018!
I am going to introduce all of them even though I still need people to partner with me to uncover my southeast asian countries on my stick me on the race board. If you want to help uncover my 5 asian countries donate to this blog, Thank you in advance!! If you would like to see all the sticky note numbers that need to be donated to reach my full fundraising goal that can be found on my Facebook page: Jenny For Jesus <3.
Southeast Asia:
Indonesia
Compromised of 17,508 islands and yet only around 6,000 are inhabited.
1 Indonesian Rupiah = .000070 US Dollar.
Country’s motto is “Many, yet one” referring to its incredible diversity as a symbol of unity.
Largest Muslim Nation on earth.
Objective: Share the unifying love of Jesus with this diverse country.
Philippines
Filipino flag is the only one in the world which shows whether the country is in peace or war depending on how it is flown.
The public utility vehicles are called Jeepenys and are left over military jeeps from World War 2 that has been repainted with bold colors and decorations.
The main religion is Catholicism.
1 Philippine Piso = .20 US Dollar.
Objective: Many earn less than 15 cents per day giving them the status of ultra poor and in order to survive some have resorted to prostitution and human trafficking. So let us share the freedom of life in Christ.
Vietnam
1 Vietnamese Dong = .000044 US Dollar.
Officially most do not claim to have any religion but unofficially most of Vietnam is Buddhist.
Objective: Teaching English or working in cafes forming relationships and friendships with the locals, ultimately to share the love of the Father.
Munching and belching at meal time is acceptable as an outward appreciation of your food.
Cambodia
1 Cambodian Riel = .00025 US Dollar.
Mostly Buddhist.
Soles of your feet must remain on the ground because they are dirty therefore disrespectful to cross your legs in company.
Fried tarantulas are a delicacy.
Objective: Show the people of Cambodia hope and healing. Cambodia itself is struggling to heal from one of the worst genocides in modern history. In the 1970’s, the Khmer Rouge killed over 1.5 million men, women, and children. Faced with inconceivable poverty and desperation, Cambodia became a source, transit point, and destination for human trafficking.
Thailand
1 Thai Baht = .031 US Dollars.
Mostly Buddhist.
Every day the National Anthem plays at 6 pm at various locations all over Thailand and everyone stops what they are doing out of respect for the King.
It is insulting to walk into someone’s house and not take off your shoes.
Objective: Sharing the freedom of Christ with a people where modern day slavery is a problem. Sexual Tourism is growing with an estimated 60% of tourists visiting the Red Light Districts—and 90% of Thai men visit local karaoke bars for the same reason.
Eastern Europe:
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Split between Muslim, Orthodox, and Catholic.
1 Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark = .61 US Dollar.
Resembles the shape of an abstract heart.
Objective: Share God’s healing love in a place still recovering from the Bosnian Wars of the early 1990’s. It’s people know the pain of separation and division well.
Still has many unfound landmines.
Kosovo
Mostly Muslim.
1 Euro = 1.2 US Dollars.
Kosovo is a small landlocked nation which has more than 50% of its population under the poverty line.
Objective: Share the healing love of Jesus Christ in a land desperate for peace. After the Socialist Republic dissolved in 1992, it preceded a decade of guerrilla warfare where over 800,000 ethnic Albanians fled their homes. With recent history a close memory and the majority of the population is divided by both blood and religious beliefs, tensions are high.
Romania
1 Romanian Leu = .26 US Dollar.
Most are Eastern Orthodox.
The largest population of brown bears lives in Romania.
Gorgeous country with water falls, winding roads, castles, the 2nd largest underground glacier, and so much more!
Economic growth is an impossible dream for many orphans and widows, who struggle to for food and hope for the future.
Objective: Share the good news of being remembered and loved by God with those who feel forgotten and alone.
Africa:
South Africa
1 South African Rand = 0.081 US Dollar.
Many Christians.
A land of adventure! Known for soccer, safaris, and shark diving.
Although they live in one of the wealthiest countries on the continent, most of the population outside of big cities are poor.
And like the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, this country struggles with a high rate of AIDS/HIV.
Objective: Share the adventure of the Kingdom of God!
Lesotho
Landlocked inside South Africa.
About 40% of the population lives below the poverty line so children are forced to work instead of go to school.
Mostly Christian.
Objective: Share the difference between cultural Christianity and a life changing relationship with Jesus.
1 Lesotho Loti = .080 US Dollar.
Zambia
This was a route change! We were going to Mozambique but it got switched to Zambia at training camp!
1 Zambian Kwacha (1968–2012) = .00019 US Dollar.
Mostly Christian.
Roughly the size of Texas, Whoop!
Victoria Falls- one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World is found here.
AIDS problem has lead to a huge orphan crisis.
60.5% of the population live below the poverty line.
Objective: While this is a mostly christian country, animism is practiced by a large amount of the population. Church support is necessary for biblical foundations and raising up next generations.
“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.” Psalm 96:1-3
