Greetings! Welcome back to those of you who have been following this blog since the very beginning, and welcome aboard to those who are first checking it out! As in the past, there are several things I hope to achieve within my posts... First, to keep our families and friends back home connected to us as we travel to India. Secondly, to open a window to all those who passionately support Joyful Journeys India Ministry so they can travel with us in spirit and observe what is happening throughout the trip. And finally, to bring awareness to others so that they too can see the good works being done in the remote village of Madhavapatnam and beyond! I hope you will continue to join us on our journey...
It is beyond mind-boggling for me to imagine that I am heading back to India for the 5th time since our first trip in 2011; so much has changed within my life over the past 8 years, as well as within the life of this ministry! Looking back to some of the earlier posts, and remembering what it took for my family and me to travel there is just a gentle reminder of the importance of appreciating life each step of the way. Our first time to India, after my gals and I spent 9 months "workin' 4 change", was supposed to be a "once in a lifetime adventure"...we were blessed with 3 more times after that to travel together as a complete family, proving that you can never "relive" a special moment, but you can choose to simply live your life as if it were a lifetime of adventure and continue to embrace all that is put before you!!
This time however, will be the first time only five out of six of us will be going; my daughter Olivia is staying home since she recently started a full-time career as a Firefighter / Paramedic on the West Bend Fire Department. Good thing this isn't a "vlog" (video blog for those unfamiliar with the term) as I'd hate for you to see me tearing up right out of the gate! I couldn't be happier for her and all the exciting things going on in her life, but words can't describe how I will miss her on this trip...in more ways than one!!
For the rest of my family, I'll try and put it all in a nutshell...Big Bob continues to work for Waste Management and looks forward to getting both hips replaced when we return from India. (Okay, maybe he's not looking forward to the actual procedure, but he is excited about the anticipated pain relief down the road!) Emma will be graduating from Eden Theological Seminary this May, and will marry her life long sweetheart Nick in September. (We are all thrilled to officially welcome him into our family!) Johanna recently graduated from Blue Sky Massage Therapy School and looks forward to getting her career started once we return. (I look forward to her practicing on me during the trip so she can keep up on her techniques!) Sophia is using her artistic skills and gift of tenderheartedness as she works with adults with disabilities at ARTcycle in West Bend; she couldn't be happier there! (She's excited to buy art supplies for the children in India with the money raised from some of the artists she works with!) As for me, I continue to feel incredibly blessed with my job as Director of Ministries/Pastoral Assistant at Immanuel Church; to serve and serve alongside people I love has been a real gift for me. (My job truly is my home away from home!)
Now that you're caught up on my family, I'm incredibly excited to introduce you to the eclectic group who we will be traveling to India with us in January 2020. Kaitlin Demmon joined us on our last trip along with her dad and brother, however this time around she's being accompanied by her fiance, Jordan Petrin. Others who will be making their first trek over are Al Nevala, Jan Armato, Joan Dobberstein, and Olivia Gluck. Each of these individuals share at least one thing in common, and that is a passion for this ministry, but more so they each bring their own unique gifts and talents to the trip which will certainly enhance the adventure!
As for the ministry itself, I look forward to sharing more about it in future posts. To ensure you don't miss anything, sign-up in the box on the right sidebar to automatically get updates sent to your email.
Thanks for traveling along on this joyful journey with us!!
Namaste'
~Jenny
It is beyond mind-boggling for me to imagine that I am heading back to India for the 5th time since our first trip in 2011; so much has changed within my life over the past 8 years, as well as within the life of this ministry! Looking back to some of the earlier posts, and remembering what it took for my family and me to travel there is just a gentle reminder of the importance of appreciating life each step of the way. Our first time to India, after my gals and I spent 9 months "workin' 4 change", was supposed to be a "once in a lifetime adventure"...we were blessed with 3 more times after that to travel together as a complete family, proving that you can never "relive" a special moment, but you can choose to simply live your life as if it were a lifetime of adventure and continue to embrace all that is put before you!!
This time however, will be the first time only five out of six of us will be going; my daughter Olivia is staying home since she recently started a full-time career as a Firefighter / Paramedic on the West Bend Fire Department. Good thing this isn't a "vlog" (video blog for those unfamiliar with the term) as I'd hate for you to see me tearing up right out of the gate! I couldn't be happier for her and all the exciting things going on in her life, but words can't describe how I will miss her on this trip...in more ways than one!!
For the rest of my family, I'll try and put it all in a nutshell...Big Bob continues to work for Waste Management and looks forward to getting both hips replaced when we return from India. (Okay, maybe he's not looking forward to the actual procedure, but he is excited about the anticipated pain relief down the road!) Emma will be graduating from Eden Theological Seminary this May, and will marry her life long sweetheart Nick in September. (We are all thrilled to officially welcome him into our family!) Johanna recently graduated from Blue Sky Massage Therapy School and looks forward to getting her career started once we return. (I look forward to her practicing on me during the trip so she can keep up on her techniques!) Sophia is using her artistic skills and gift of tenderheartedness as she works with adults with disabilities at ARTcycle in West Bend; she couldn't be happier there! (She's excited to buy art supplies for the children in India with the money raised from some of the artists she works with!) As for me, I continue to feel incredibly blessed with my job as Director of Ministries/Pastoral Assistant at Immanuel Church; to serve and serve alongside people I love has been a real gift for me. (My job truly is my home away from home!)
Now that you're caught up on my family, I'm incredibly excited to introduce you to the eclectic group who we will be traveling to India with us in January 2020. Kaitlin Demmon joined us on our last trip along with her dad and brother, however this time around she's being accompanied by her fiance, Jordan Petrin. Others who will be making their first trek over are Al Nevala, Jan Armato, Joan Dobberstein, and Olivia Gluck. Each of these individuals share at least one thing in common, and that is a passion for this ministry, but more so they each bring their own unique gifts and talents to the trip which will certainly enhance the adventure!
Thanks for traveling along on this joyful journey with us!!
Namaste'
~Jenny
