“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, "Mine!”
― Abraham Kuyper
― Abraham Kuyper
My name is Jennifer Sunderland and I am lucky enough to be a missionary. Growing up, I didn't really every imagine being a missionary. I can remember having missionaries in our church and thinking that thinking that it must be so cool to live in another country and speak another language. I didn't really know what kind of people God called to be missionaries, but it was certainly outside of what I thought God would do with me! Yet, as I look back I can see how God's hand was moving and preparing me for what He was going to call me to do.
As a child, I loved when my mama would buy us the newest Patch the Pirate tape. My favorite was always Patch the Pirate Goes to the Jungle. At the end of the drama, one of the boys stays in the jungle to help Mr. Missionary build the church. The song I remember best from that tape is, Here am I Lord.
Here am I Lord, send me.
Here am I Lord, send me.
I will serve you faithfully.
Here am I Lord, send me.
Even as a child, I could feel something stirring in me when we sang that song. I can remember crying. I can remember thinking that I wished I could do the same that little boy had done. It seemed so brave and exciting!
My first trip to Mozambique was in 2006. After that, my heart was stolen for these beautiful, broken people. I love the beauty of Mozambican people. They have so little of earthly value in this life, but they sing and dance and share what they have. They are happier than any people I have ever met with and abundance of "things."
As you can imagine, there are many areas in Mozambique where we need help. I am blessed enough to work on a team with people that have vision for clean water, agriculture, church planting.....and just about anything else you can imagine. My heart is in the area of education. The literacy rate here is about 56% with most of those people only reading at a 2nd grade level. Many children do not go to school and if they do, they usually leave school after 2 or 3 years. The education system here is completely broken. It is common for children to leave school in 5th grade without being able to spell their names or read.
My vision is to bring education to the most remote villages. My first dream is to bring biblical education to them. I want these precious, beautiful people to know Jesus. My second dream is to open their eyes to the world of reading. For the adults, I want to teach them to read so that they can read the Word of God and so that they can inspire their children to continue with their education For the children, learning to read is the way that they will be prepared for a rapidly growing, and changing Mozambican economy. I want these children to be open to a different way of life than their parents have had.
Through education, I believe that we can change their world! I know that Jesus can change their world! In the Lord's prayer, Jesus prayed, "let your kingdom come, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9). " Jesus meant for his kingdom to come here in our lives right now. How does that happen? It happens when God's people take His light into every single area of society - government, entertainment, family, church, education, science, technology, and business. We take His light and we take back what the enemy has taken from us. Jesus said he came to give us abundant life (Jn. 10:10). This poverty - this brokenness - was NEVER his plan.
So, take your light and run, run into the area of your society that you feel passionate about and shine brightly!
As a child, I loved when my mama would buy us the newest Patch the Pirate tape. My favorite was always Patch the Pirate Goes to the Jungle. At the end of the drama, one of the boys stays in the jungle to help Mr. Missionary build the church. The song I remember best from that tape is, Here am I Lord.
Here am I Lord, send me.
Here am I Lord, send me.
I will serve you faithfully.
Here am I Lord, send me.
Even as a child, I could feel something stirring in me when we sang that song. I can remember crying. I can remember thinking that I wished I could do the same that little boy had done. It seemed so brave and exciting!
My first trip to Mozambique was in 2006. After that, my heart was stolen for these beautiful, broken people. I love the beauty of Mozambican people. They have so little of earthly value in this life, but they sing and dance and share what they have. They are happier than any people I have ever met with and abundance of "things."
As you can imagine, there are many areas in Mozambique where we need help. I am blessed enough to work on a team with people that have vision for clean water, agriculture, church planting.....and just about anything else you can imagine. My heart is in the area of education. The literacy rate here is about 56% with most of those people only reading at a 2nd grade level. Many children do not go to school and if they do, they usually leave school after 2 or 3 years. The education system here is completely broken. It is common for children to leave school in 5th grade without being able to spell their names or read.
My vision is to bring education to the most remote villages. My first dream is to bring biblical education to them. I want these precious, beautiful people to know Jesus. My second dream is to open their eyes to the world of reading. For the adults, I want to teach them to read so that they can read the Word of God and so that they can inspire their children to continue with their education For the children, learning to read is the way that they will be prepared for a rapidly growing, and changing Mozambican economy. I want these children to be open to a different way of life than their parents have had.
Through education, I believe that we can change their world! I know that Jesus can change their world! In the Lord's prayer, Jesus prayed, "let your kingdom come, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9). " Jesus meant for his kingdom to come here in our lives right now. How does that happen? It happens when God's people take His light into every single area of society - government, entertainment, family, church, education, science, technology, and business. We take His light and we take back what the enemy has taken from us. Jesus said he came to give us abundant life (Jn. 10:10). This poverty - this brokenness - was NEVER his plan.
So, take your light and run, run into the area of your society that you feel passionate about and shine brightly!
