It is time...we're going back to India

 Where do I even begin... 🤔 
So much has happened since our last trip to India in January 2020 

it almost seems like a lifetime ago... 
It was just a few short weeks following our return that the world shutdown due to the COVID pandemic and life as we knew it changed forever. Recognizing what we in the United States did to try and tame that beast was a stark comparison to what they were able, or should I say what they weren't able to do in the remote village of Madhavapatnam...it is absolutely heartbreaking the extent of the suffering and loss they experienced. However, within the darkness of the demon, Joyful Journeys was able to shine some light. Through the radical generosity of many, donations that were collected on our end were used to literally help keep this community alive! In addition to continuing to support the staff at the Marshall School while they did their best to keep educating the students with limited resources and new strict COVID regulations, with the backing of local officials, we were also able to provide food and medical assistance to people who had been shut off from the outside world. 

Safer at home looks very different when your home doesn't have a pantry to draw from 

or running water at your disposal. 

We were so grateful for everyone, on both ends of the earth, who stepped up, worked together, and gave from the heart, even in the midst of their own COVID struggles, to help those less fortunate...

it's amazing what can be done when humans work together for good. 💗

On a more personal level, after surviving the challenges of the pandemic and a few other crises...

my beloved Big Bob died on June 25, 2022...just days after celebrating his 57th birthday...

no warning...no suffering...no good-bye...

no future to the life we dreamt of together for us and our family...💔

but also...

no unspoken words of love...

no regrets of our chosen path...

no question as to where his heart was...

no limit to the positive impact he rippled into this world...💕

Now, almost 3 years later, the Fruit of the Spirit that shaped who Big Bob was,

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,

 and self-control (okay, self-control in some things, after all no one's perfect 😉),

is being passed on to the next generation of Landows. 💖

Forever in our hearts, love lives on...

Forever in our hearts, life carries on...

So much gratitude for the gift of Robert in my life...💝

So, this brings us to:

It is time...we're going back to India.

The thought of traveling back to India...for the first time without Big Bob...over his birth date and 

the anniversary of his death...has been a lot to grapple with. 😢

Big Bob had a profound impact on this community which grew stronger with each of our 5 trips over. The lack of his physical presence throughout this upcoming trip will truly be felt by everyone.  

Then, on top of that, my treasured friend, Bill Tybring, who was incredibly instrumental in setting the coarse for Joyful Journeys India in the beginning, and was one of the first travelers from here to venture into Madhavapatnam, died last week.

His commitment to helping empower both children and adults in the village, 

by setting up computer technology in the school, was a gift that continues to this day. 

Joyful Journeys in India wouldn't be what it is today if it weren't for the initial passion of 

Bill and the late Terri Tybring! Well done thy good and faithful servants. 👍

So, based on what I just shared, it's a good thing they don't make you pay extra 

for any emotional baggage being carried on flights! 😏

Now, in spite of all that, I do believe I'm ready!

Thanks to my awesome travel companions, 

the anticipation of observing the growth within Joyful Journeys since our last visit,

celebrating 20 years since it all began,

the excitement of meeting new JJ family members in person, 

and seeing the changes within the village and touring the surrounding area,

I am beyond excited to return!

And, excited to share it all with you on this blog!

As leader of this trip, I'd like to introduce the rest of our group...

My daughters, Jo and Sophie will be embarking on their 6th trip over.

Other return travelers are Alan, who traveled with us in 2020

and Lora, who was on our first trip over in 2011.

First timers to India are mother and daughter, Amy and Madison,

and last, but not least, Brenda.

💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

Although it's just the 8 of us going, we're carrying the love and support of many

as we pack our suitcases full of homemade washcloths, jump ropes, bracelets, 

Beanie Babies, books and of course sweet treats...among other goodies! 😍

Thank you for taking the time to get caught up with me; 

I hope you'll continue to journey along with us as we head to India for a new adventure.

Until next time,

Namaste'

~Jenny

Absolutely, you can help!!

I'm sitting in my warm comfy house, drinking a cup of hot tea, my beloved pups laying at my feet, and reflecting back over the last 2 weeks and trying to decide what to write at this point. There is so much information that I've tried to cram into this blog while we were in India and I truly pray that it has touched you in one form or another. I think about how I tried to capture the days events as I would write well into the wee hours of the night...and why I would do that. Of course one of the primary reasons was to keep our family, friends and supporters back home up on what we were doing, however my true prayer was to touch hearts and open eyes to the magnitude of this ministry in the hopes that it might drum up the much needed support to keep it going.   

In a nutshell, Joyful Journeys is a 501c3 organization that is run out of Immanuel Church in West Bend. I rejoice in the fact that our congregation is full of generous individuals who give of their time, talents, and financial support to a ministry that most will never see in person, but trust and believe in the good that it is doing.  But it's not just our church family who are committed to empowering the people of Madhavapatnam; three fourths of our pledged funding comes from Immanuel contributors, the other quarter comes from friends, our family members, and people who have simply heard of what we are doing and feel the desire to support it.  When this ministry started 15 years ago, our monthly budget was $450, currently we send approx $9,000+ every month to cover things such as teacher and staff salaries, school supplies, hostel children needs, food for Lunch Bunch program, support for Oma's Oldsters, and fuel for the vehicles, just to name a few expenses.  With the growth that has taken place over the years, we have recognized that we are to a point where in order to maintain the good works being done, WE NEED YOUR HELP.

Support can come in many different forms, the primary way is through our Student Sponsorship Program.  A pledge of $20 per month / $240 per year will cover a students educational needs, including uniforms and teacher salaries, for a school year.  When you commit to sponsoring a child, you are given a photo of one of our students; we can pick one for you or you can stop in at Immanuel Church and check out our India Wall and choose one for yourself.  Below are a couple of the kids I sponsor...

I met this set of twins before they even started school; 💕

and have had the joy of watching them grow over the past couple years!

It was fun showing them the photos of us! 😊

At the risk of totally embarrassing myself, I will share this next picture for the good of the ministry.  You see, sometimes you just feel a personal connection with a child...

Here I am showing him our pictures together. 😂 I can only imagine what must be going through his young mind!!

At least one of us cleaned up nicely with a haircut!

Currently we have 450 students in our school...many of them could still use a sponsor to support their education.

Our Lunch Bunch program feeds over 100 children a day whose families are unable to send them to school with food from home. For $10 per month / $120 per year, you could provide nourishment for a hungry child. 

Oma's Oldsters provides support for basic needs to the elderly community within Madhavapatnam. $15 per month / $180 per year would help provide food, medicine and clothing to senior citizens in the village. 

Our House Pastor program offers a stipend for individuals who spread the Gospel in local house churches. $35 per month offers financial assistance to these clergy.

Any dollar amount given to the general fund can help with expenses such as building and vehicle maintenance and repair.  Or you can specify to a direct need like these donations...

Hot water heaters for the hostel

Sewing machine for the Cutting and Tailoring Center

A bus for the Marshall School

Computers for technological training

To pledge online, you can either access our website in the right hand column or click the link below

Joyful Journeys Website - donate here

Donations can also be mailed to 

Immanuel Church

501 Walnut Street

West Bend, WI 53095

(checks payable to Joyful Journeys)

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this blog, for faithfully following along on our travels, and for opening your mind to prayerfully consider how you can help our efforts in Madhavapatnam India.

Namaste'

~Jenny

p.s. Don't forget to join my fellow travelers and me on Sunday, February 16th at the 9:00am or 10:30am Worship Services; we will be sharing our reflections on our trip and Joyful Journeys Ministry.