MISSION REPORT 2008: Jennifer Harris, World Outreach

Nina and her mom reading on their front porch.

Jen’s Jungle News ~ July 2008

Dear Friends,

I met Nina four years ago at one of our church services. She was a kind, timid 13-year old who lived four blocks down the street from our church. Nina had been raised as an only child by her mother in a one-room, 300-square foot house with no electricity, running water, or sewer services (see photo). Her mother had paid for Nina’s school expenses by cooking meals for a variety of families and restaurants, as well as selling fruits and candies on her front porch. Nina excelled on her high school track team and graduated near the top of her class in December 2006. She did very well in her college preparation class; however, as the date for the college entrance exam drew near, she was struck by the reality that her mom could never afford to pay for college.

During her sophomore year of high school, Nina made a firm decision to follow the Lord. She joined our church youth group, took a discipleship class, began to sing on the worship team, and served as secretary of our micro enterprise glasses project. Nina developed into a cheerful, outgoing young woman who continued to hope that one day she would have the opportunity to go to college.

Nina

Thanks to generous hearts from the States, Nina is now studying law at a private university in Pucallpa. Her dream as a lawyer is to help bring justice to the corrupt society in which she lives. Nina still gets teary-eyed when she talks about the future, “I want to make a real difference in my community… I also want to help my mom who worked so hard to raise me…I am so thankful for this opportunity.” Nina is one of 10 students in our youth scholarship program; these youth were chosen as candidates based on character, leadership potential, academic achievement, and financial need. Thank you for supporting these well-deserving youth!

Successful Micro Enterprise

“What would you do if you had enough money to start a small business?” I have asked this question dozens of times as I interview potential participants for our micro enterprise program. I have received numerous creative and intelligent responses: start a store in my home; buy fish at the river and sell it on my front porch; sell water in neighborhoods that do not have access to city water; raise chickens in my backyard; plant five acres of peanuts; buy a generator so I can run my portable saw mill in villages with no electricity; buy a 13 horse-power motor so I can use my boat to transport people and goods upriver; and much more. Participants who are accepted into the program receive either a loan or an offering, depending on family size, poverty level, additional sources of income, and monetary amount requested. Loan payback periods depend on the size of the loan and the projected monthly income to be earned from the new business. We have had high payback rates and deeply appreciative people…the man who received a loan to buy his 13 horse-power motor still gives us discounts on boat travel, even after paying off his loan!

My good friend and spiritual mentor from college, Margaret Allen, came to visit me last month with her daughter Miranda. Margaret became friends with a young couple (Beto and Alely) from one of our satellite churches. Beto is a construction worker, but often cannot find steady work. Margaret asked Alely what she would do if she had enough money to start a business. Alely responded instantly, “I would sell breakfast on my front porch!” Alely shared how she wanted to sell homemade fruit juices, sandwiches, pastries, and chicken soup to her neighbors. She saw the need for such a service, and she knew that this job would enable her to provide for her family while staying home to take care of her two youngest children (see photo).

Drinking fresh apple juice at Alely's café,

Alely opened her breakfast café two weeks ago. She is pleased to be earning about $2.80 per day (just under the local minimum wage of $3.60 per day), and she expects her profits to grow as word spreads to nearby neighborhoods. Alely shares, “I never thought I would have this opportunity… I am able to feed my family every day…now we can save the money my husband earns at work to pay for our marriage papers ($75) and to purchase a piece of land ($900) so we can build a house someday…I am very thankful.” Alely’s initial budget included a two-burner gas stove, a steel drum with propane gas, a large pot, a blender, 12 bowls, 12 spoons, 12 juice glasses, 3 pitchers, 5 wooden stools, a glass display case for the sandwiches, 2 chickens, 90 eggs, a box of papaya and apples, a sack of oranges, a bag of sugar, a table cloth, a money belt, assorted pastries and more…all for $252! I have learned that a small investment can bring immeasurable help and hope to a struggling family. Thank you!

The Joy of Teaching

One of my favorite parts of being a missionary is the opportunity to teach classes in discipleship, leadership, and sermon preparation. My students range from ages 9 to 50, and they love to learn. In discipleship class, we study the basic truths of the Bible and we learn to share the Gospel one-on-one. In order to receive a diploma at the end of the class (see photo), each student must complete the homework assignments, memorize a dozen Bible verses, pass the exams, and share the Good News with a handful of people in a public place.

Last Sunday, 17 discipleship students joined me at the riverfront park to talk to people about the Lord. We divided into groups of two or three; my teammates were two of the 10-year olds shown in the photo above, and I can assure you that they did most of the talking! In two hours, the 18 of us saw 105 people make sincere decisions to follow Jesus; many of these new believers also asked us to pray for their health, jobs, and/or families. We gave them booklets which included Bible verses and our church contact information so they can visit us anytime. As we took the 10-minute taxi ride home, we marveled at all God had done that afternoon.

Looking Ahead

I will never cease to thank all of you who pray for me and support my ministry financially. I could never keep going (and the ministry could never keep growing) without you. There are always a handful of exciting projects on the forefront that are made possible by your continued support, like finishing the church sound room ($700), buying kitchen supplies for the apartment ($250), fencing in new pasture at our farm ($1,200), buying clothing and a pair of shoes for needy children in our neighborhood ($30 per child), selecting a hide-a-bed for our living room…we host a lot of guests! ($600), buying a digital camera to use for our church newsletters ($130), traveling to villages to share the Gospel ($30-60 per trip), beginning new businesses ($75-$250 per business), and visiting patients in the hospital to help them fill urgent prescriptions ($10-$50 depending on the prescription). Let me know if you can help!

Thanks and blessings to each of you and your families,
Jennifer

All donations are tax-deductible. Please make checks out to World Outreach Ministries and write “Jennifer Harris” in the memo line of the check. Send to:

World Outreach Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box B
Marietta, GA 30061

For gifting stock, please contact World Outreach: (770) 424-1545 or
Questions? Contact Jennifer: (011) 51-61-577923 or