The first few days

I am here! and all settled in. I have been here for about 5 days and we have already seen the Lord answer so many prayers. Thanks for the prayers in getting us here! After 20 hours on the plane we were exhausted. But it turned out that through some pretty funny and strange circumstances our luggage was untouched and waiting for us on carts when we arrived in the capital city. (Lets just say the funny circumstances included us waiting a very long time at the wrong baggage collection and then running across the airport... as if didn't already attract enough attention being the only foreigners) But God was so good... we had been a little nervous about getting our very heavy baggage of the baggage belt anyway... so instead the Lord went ahead of us and it was waiting for us on the carts. We went through customs (actually they just waved us through customs) to some very friendly faces holding a sign with our names on it. We had several hours to rest, regroup, and go back to the airport for our last 45 minute trip to our final destination. Our baggage was driven down to meet us at our house the next morning. A huge blessing when you see just how much baggage we had. It was such a huge relief to see our baggage and finally unpack. Not only had our bags gone untouched but everything was in great condition! (which was a huge miracle... considering all the other bags that came off that plane were torn apart and ripped to shreds. The Lord had definitely protected even our luggage.

We have spent the last few days buying new clothes (So much fun!!), taking the clothes to the tailor to be made, unpacking, walking throughout the city, going to school, setting up my classroom, looking at my curriculum, and attending a local meeting! I also ate with my hands for the first time and learned a few words in our new language. It has already been quite the adventure and I am slowly learning to adjust to the sights, sounds, and smells. We met these precious children on the street one of the girls knows them well and they recognized her immediately it was sweet moments in the midst of it all and reminded me of why I am here.

I have been constantly reminded through it all that this journey is not mine so I can trust where I am being led. What a blessing to know that I am not alone and while everything else changes; He does not. He is still faithful. And it reminds me- that is why I am here. Because those all around me don't know the God that I know; his love, mercy, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. They don't know the pure joy of knowing our Father. And I so desperately want them to know. My heart has already begun to break for these needing people.

"For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, and love, and a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

In His Grip,

Jen

Nights of Prayer

Psalm 104: 27-35

These all look to you,
to give them their food in due season.
When you give it to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your Spirit,^[c] they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works,
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke!
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the LORD.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
and let the wicked be no more!
Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

For the past four years on this very night I would join in Liberty University's all night of prayer. On those nights my prayers would range from restlessness to peace, sinfulness to forgiveness, despair to hope. But the main theme of those prayers would be of brokenness. A prayer that would beg for the brokenness of my heart so that God would strip away and restore. It was four years ago on this very night that I was handed a glow stick. I was told that a glow stick cannot glow until it is broken... then... and only then can it shine brightly to the darkness around. And we... when broken before God... can be restored to purity and given the ability to shine to the darkness around.

Now just four years later... my night of prayer is no longer at Liberty but in the silence of my room. And this time... my night of prayer does not look to four years of college and the changes that will come but instead to two years in South Asia... and all that God will do through a broken and contrite heart. It is on the eve of change that I am reminded of the faithfulness and goodness of God. He has shown himself to be faithful! Bless the Lord oh my soul and remember his loving kindness and grace that has followed all the days of your life! Bless the lord oh my soul with all that is within me bless His holy name!

This past month has been busy as I finished up my work with the children’s ministry at my home church. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work those precious children. I also attended my ABWE training. It was such a great time of learning and encouragement. The time was beneficial and exciting as many last minute details were finalized.

While I was at training my financial support came in at 80%. What an encouragement and blessing! God has been so good! I was also given clearance to begin my two years overseas. I will be flying out on Saturday, September 3^rd. This next month will be filled with time with my family, packing, and goodbyes. My brother and sister-in-law are coming in for the first two weeks of August. I am excited for two weeks of vacation with my entire family! Then the packing and goodbyes begin.

I will arrive in South Asia on September 5^thWe will begin teacher training and in-service as we get ready for the new school year; school will begin on September 14^th. (A little late this year because of the Muslim Holiday Eid-ul-Fitr) This will give me some time to get settled, prepare my classroom and home, buy a whole new native wardrobe, and begin to build relationships with my students and community.

I am so thankful for each of you in my life. The prayers, support, love, and encouragement has blessed me more than I could ever fully express. God has been so gracious and faithful in these last few months. The date is set. The tickets are bought. Finances are at 80%. Praise the Lord that He is a God of details and order. He cares about the day to day moments and seeks Glory in each step that is taken. The gracious love of our Lord is at times overwhelming and always a wonder for those He calls his own. Oh, that I wouldn't forget these moments of praise and extreme delight as the Lord of this Universe turns his attention toward us and lavishly pours grace and mercy over us. Praise the Lord that in all moments He is God and has sovereignly ordained and designed each step taken.

In His Grip,

Jen Tarr

I bought my ticket! I am officially departing from JFK at 10:50pm on September 3rd! Which leaves just 34 days left in the states. I can hardly believe it. God has been so good and has answered so many detailed prayers. Praise the Lord that we serve a God that loves and cares about the details of our lives. He delights in us.

Some quick praises:

* bought my ticket

*finished my ABWE training- which was both encouraging and informative

*reached 80% in financial support

*was given clearance to leave on September 3rd

*my brother and sister-in-law coming tomorrow for two weeks

*my dad got off work for the next two weeks

*going on vacation with my family!

The gracious love of our Lord is at times overwhelming and always a wonder for those He calls his own. Oh, that I wouldn't forget these moments of praise and extreme delight as the Lord of this Universe turns his attention toward us and lavishly pours grace and mercy over us. Praise the Lord that in all moments He is God and has sovereignly ordained and designed each step taken.

We will Remember... the works of His hands

Today I went to start the beginning of my shots for South Asia. The shots were not too much in quantity. I needed Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Rabies; but the cost for these 3 shots came close to $5,000. This is a huge chunk for my means... but He is always faithful to provide. He works in ways that we can't even imagine.

I arrived with my mom at the Apothecary to pick up the shots before I went to the travel clinic to have them administered. They took our insurance card. After quite a while of waiting... the nurse called us with a shocked look on her face. She informed us that our insurance covered the cost of traveling immunizations 100%. I shouted "Praise the Lord;" which left an equally shocked face on the nurse. The other nurse told us, equally shocked, that she had never seen these shots covered by insurance companies before! So we left with our shots; having paid $0.

What the nurse didn't realize was that we serve a God that goes beforehand and prepares the way for us to walk in. What the nurse didn't know was that God had moved my parents to change our insurance plan a year ago (just before anything happened with South Asia). What we didn't realize was that God would use that to cover my shots today. And what I didn't realize was how such a simple yet incredible act of God; would remind of how much He loves us and works out the details of our lives. Praise Him for caring about the details.

"We will remember, we will remember

We will remember the works of Your hands

We will stop and give you praise

For Great is your Faithfulness!

Hallelujah, hallelujah

To the one from whom all blessings flow

Hallelujah, hallelujah

To the one who glory has been shown."

Tommy Walker- We will Remember

He answers swiftly

Luke 18:1-8

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

For the last few weeks the Lord has been stirring Luke 18: 1-8 into my heart. Our small group studied the passage several weeks ago and it has echoed in my heart and mind ever since. In the midst of my doubt and unbelief the Lord has reminded me of the widow who came before the judge and persisted for justice. Through his annoyance the unrighteous judge finally agreed to hear her plea. But we serve a judge with grace, mercy, and compassion. One who is righteousness itself. And promises that those who are elect will have justice. The One who tells us that as we cry out to Him day and night not only does he hear us, but He will swiftly answer us. He is not the unrighteous judge who answers out of annoyance but instead The Judge who answers out of love.

It amazes me that even in the promises found in God's word and seeing His constant faithfulness; I still have the tendency to doubt. To doubt my Creator and Savior who is always good and seeks His Glory! In His blessings I am brought back to my knees before Him overwhelmed by how good he is; overwhelmed that He does keep His promises. That He does work for His good. That He does use those He has elected.

The blessings that have brought me back to my knees:

*In one week my support has jumped to 67%

*The Lord has provided someone to go with me-- Jeanne Arp

* The Lord has allowed me minister here in the states for the summer at Heritage Baptist Church

*The people the Lord has brought into my life to encourage me, lift me up, and bless my life

* Seeing so many great friends this week

He Goes out before us

Psalm 68: 7-10

O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.

Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

Today, I thought a lot about what it meant to go to South Asia. What is the worth of my ministry. Could it possibly make any difference? What is my purpose? I love to begin journeys by contemplating the end. What will it be like to come back in two years? What changes will I see in me... in my relationship with Christ... in my understanding of Scripture... in my heart for the world... for the poor... and for those who are lost? Who will I be?

In the midst of my thoughts today I came across this psalm. And I was reminded... that it is all about Him. My purpose... is His glory. My Worth... is in Him. My desires... are to be changed into His image. As moments of doubt in His faithfulness may come. I am reminded of His faithfulness throughout Scripture. Ruth, Naomi, David, Daniel, Moses, Hannah, Esther, Joseph, Abraham, and Isaac are incredible reminders of God's faithfulness to His children. When He goes before us the earth quakes.... mountain moves... and rain pours.

I praise the Lord for His faithfulness. Today I reached 40% of my financial needs. Even in my wonderment and doubt- He is still moving. He is still faithful. With 2 1/2 months left before I leave. I know that He has gone before me- for I am a child of Him. So I know that He will move-in His way- in His time.

Psalm 68: 32-35

O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord,

to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.

Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!