“The place God calls you to is where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” (Fredrick Buechner)
Dear Friends and Family –
Hello from the beautiful town of Chapel Hill, NC! (And might I add, home of the 2009 Men’s Basketball National Champions…sorry, it just had to be said) As of a few days ago, I officially became an alumna of UNC-Chapel Hill after my graduation from the UNC-School of Nursing! I have been offered and accepted a job in Progressive Care at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and no longer fear a life of an unemployed, new graduate nurse, living with my parents. As of now, I have selected the date for my national nursing boards, the NCLEX, and I am now counting down the days (and of course diligently studying) until I take that last step towards becoming a registered nurse. As the date towards my NCLEX draws closer, the realization of my dream of being an international traveling nurse is very much becoming a reality. Now I ask you to keep reading with me because I would love to share with you some of the exciting things God has in store for me this summer!
I was recently blessed with the opportunity to return to the place so near and dear to my heart, Africa. Except this time, I will be traveling and exploring Western Africa! From July 3-July 12 I will be partaking in a medical mission project where, as a part of a team, I will help to provide much needed medical assistance to woman, men, and children. Not only will my team be able to provide free health care to all, but we will also have the opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ. Through this medical mission trip I hope to be able to give back to others a little piece of the abundance that God has blessed me with and for the Lord to use me and His gifts to expand His Kingdom. As a side note, I wish I could give you more details as to the exact location of where I will be traveling to, but I must keep from giving that information out in writing in order to protect the safety of the permanent missionaries in the area. If you do desire to know exactly where I am going or have any questions then I would definitely be more than happy to talk to you by phone or in person!
West Africa has a population of approximately 11 million people with 70% of those people living in rural areas. Only 4% of Western Africa is Christian with 95% of the population being of Muslim faith. By traveling to Western Africa, my team hopes to not only provide community health and education, but to also support the local church.
I am writing to invite you to participate with me in the joy of not only seeing a small part of my dream of providing free health care to all become a reality but also in the joy that comes with sharing the Gospel to this desperately needy part of Western Africa. The most vital part of my medical mission trip is prayer! Prayer is not only our freedom, but it is also a very powerful tool. I understand only a small percentage of the hardships faced by individuals and families in the third world; a drop in the bucket of the daily obstacles individuals all over the world wake up to each and every day. I will see a piece of these challenges daily and I will need to fully rely on God’s strength and grace to help me through. I ask that you please pray for my team’s safety and health, for the strength to face whatever new adventures this trip brings, for an open mind, that we will be open to God’s movement through and in us, and that the individuals we meet will be receptive to our presence and willing to let us help and teach.
I am also beginning the process of support raising and will need to raise $3000 to cover transportation, living expenses, and supplies and medications needed to run the clinic. I know that the economy is not at a place of stability and that many, if not all of us are feeling the blow that comes with the world’s current circumstance. Therefore, by no means do I desire for you to feel pressured to give! I hope that you will prayfully consider joining me in advancing the kingdom in this way, but if you decide against it, I promise I will try not to hold it against you. (Yes, that was sarcasm ;-)) If you do decide to support me financially then please make checks payable to “Church of the Good Shepherd” so that you can receive a receipt as a tax-deductable. I also ask that in the memo line, you write “short term trip” and not my name because our team is trying to collectively raise support.
If you do decide to give financially, checks can be mailed by June 30th to me at:
Jenna Woodruff
101 Raven Lane
Carrboro, NC 27510
Lastly, I just want to thank you for all of your support! Thank you in advanced for your prayers as I return to Africa, for your love and support in the many trips I have taken in the past, and for the thoughts and prayers I know you will continue to lift up as God continues to reveal His plan for me.
Love is a verb,
Jenna
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