Flexibility is Key!

So I left today for New York, our first leg of the trip, and wouldn't you know it our luggage got lost! One of my biggest fears for this trip was losing our luggage at this point of the trip because we are here for a short time and it may not ever reach us. But one thing i've learned from mission's trips is that you MUST be flexible! Most of the time there isn't much you can do. So thankfully I packed a lot in my carry on and one if my bags showed up so I still have things but hopefully it appears tomorrow before we leave the country! Prayers please!

Support Letter for 2011 Trip

Dear Friends and Family,

As most of you know last year I had an amazing opportunity to travel to Tanzania, Africa for a mission’s trip with Newport Mesa Church. I cannot put into words the experience that I had or how much that trip changed my life. Getting to spend time with all those kids from the schools and orphanages was an unforgettable privilege. Their faith and their unconditional love just blew me away. I knew the moment I set foot back in the States that I would return to Africa, no doubt about it.
Now I have a chance to go back again and I am so excited! My team and I will be partnering with Ryan & Stacy Helbling, missionaries in TZ, and their non-profit organization, Global Effect Ministries as well as with Newport Mesa Church, our church back home. I will be part of a team of 5 and we will be there for about two and a half weeks. Because we have a smaller team we will have the opportunity to be flexible and help where we can. Our purpose while on this trip will be to lend a hand to the leaders of the school and the missionaries, minister to the children (we’re going to host a week long circus-themed VBS), research ways in which we can provide long-term help to these students and leaders, and reach out to the locals of Moshi.
You all supported me when I went to New Hampshire three years ago and when I went to Tanzania last year, and I’m asking for your support again.
A trip like this requires lots of support and I am so blessed to have so many people in my life who care and love me and support the things I do.
We need support in two ways.
1) Most importantly we need prayer. Lots and lots of prayer. This trip is coming up fast and there are still details to be worked out. Also, last year quite a few people got sick and so prayer that all of us can stay healthy before, during, and after the trip. Please also remember to pray for the people we will meet and that our vision and purpose for the trip is in line with God’s vision and purpose. Again, prayer is the most important kind of support we can receive.
2) We do need financial support as well. To cover the cost of air fare, housing, transportation, food, and helping with costs for the schools and orphanages, we need to raise $3500 by May 20th. Any amount that you can afford to give will be so appreciated, every single penny helps. All donations are tax-deductible. If you would like to support me in this way please fill out the attached form.

You guys are seriously the most amazing people in my life and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do for me. I am so grateful for this new adventure I’m about to embark on and I’m glad I get to share it with all of you.
If you would like more information on Global Effect you can visit www.global-effect.org. You can also check out my blog from the last trip that I will start up again for this trip at mytanzanianexperience.blogspot.com. Africa is a beautiful country with beautiful people and I can’t wait to go back!

Still walking by Faith,
Jessica Rowley

Every. Father’s. Family. Every. Child’s. Tribe.















Name:_______________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________

Phone:__________________ E-mail:_______________________________

____I will support ___Jessica Rowley___ with Prayer

____I will support ___Jessica Rowley___ financially in the amount of ________

If you’d like your contribution to be Tax Deductible, please make the checks payable to Global Effect and put MCTZ in the memo line. My name cannot appear on the check for it to be tax deductible. You can mail checks to:
Global Effect
P.O. Box 992856
Redding, CA 96099

I'm going back!!!

That's right! I'm returning to Tanzania in the summer! I'll post more details as I get them but wanted to let you know now! :)

I'm Back...

So I just realized I never wrote to say I was back! Well I'm back, got back a week ago. It's still hard to believe that everything that has happened, happened. But my life has been changed and I cannot wait to go back! I'm planning on posting my journal entries from my trip on here so you guys can get a glimpse of what I did while on my trip. So that's all for now! More to come!

tanzania

Africa is amazing and beautiful. IIt is still hard to believe I am here and it has been over a week. This is my first time being able to go online only because I did not want to pay for it but we found some free wifi at our campsite. We just finished our last day of ministry and we are now camping for our safari. I cannot even begin to explain how much has happened and how much god has done this last week and a half. So I will wait until I get home. We leave Thursday and will be home Friday please still keep us in our prayers. Love!

The Time Is NOW!!

So today is the day! Today we board a plane that will take us on a journey of a lifetime!

I'm already full of emotions, today will probably be a very long exhausting draining day. But I know what awaits me in Tanzania will make up for it!

Today I had to say goodbye to my roommate who I love dearly, she's moving out before I get back so the last couple nights we were pretty much inseparable trying to cherish our last few nights together. She's done so much for me, especially the last few days. I don't know how I would have survived this week without her. I love her so much and will miss her dearly. It was a lot harder saying goodbye to her this morning than I realized, even though I know I will still see her, it's just hard.

So that made me emotional, and all morning I just feel like I'm in a race for time. I just now finished the last of the homework I needed to complete but now I have just a couple of hours to finish packing, clean my car, shower, run last minute errands and head down to church. I almost cannot wait to get on that first 10 hour plane ride, I'm pretty sure I could sleep the whole time without need of a sleeping pill. And I'm just a bundle of nerves. It was about a couple of hours ago that butterflies decided to appear in my stomach and have not stopped fluttering around.

God is good. He will do amazing things on this trip. I will come back changed.

Please remember me and my team in your prayers.

Check this every now and then, if by some chance I can get online I will be sure to update!

Thanks for joining me on this long process to get to this point!

Love!

It's Almost Time!!

So I just realized I never updated since something huge happened! I RAISED ALL MY SUPPORT!!! Plus some too! God really showed up in this process, even though I was doubting that this large amount of money would actually be raised, God went BAM! and raised it all! He's awesome!

So in just a few short days I will be boarding the plane that will take me on the greatest adventure I can ever have. I'm excited, nervous, excited, stressed, excited, scared, excited, happy, excited, blessed and did I mention that I'm ridiculously excited?!?!?! So crazy!

Prayer Requests:

*I'm having some issues in regards to my nut allergy and being able to take my medicine with me. I may need a doctor's note and even though I got one from school, it may not be sufficient. So just that we can work everything out with that.

*That darn volcano is acting up again! Please pray that we'll be able to get on the plane to Amsterdam. We just need the skies to clear up for us!

*For the rest of my team to raise their support

*For my 3 days of lots of schoolwork and finals! Thursday will be here very quickly!

Love you guys!