I'm leaving the country! Tomorrow I head back to grandma's to say goodbyes and then Saturday fly to Miami to meet up with the rest of my team. We will be departing for the Dominican Republic the next morning. I can't wait!
While I'm gone I'm sure you'll all miss me so much and want to know how you can keep in touch. Well here's the deal.
1. Read my blog. I will be updating as often as possible and please feel free to leave comments to brighten my day!
2. You can still email me but don't expect instant replies...I don't know how often I'll get to use the internet and blogging will be my first priority.
3. If you feel so inclined as to bless me with an old-fashioned hand written note, I've been told this is a possibility. AIM sends our coaches to meet us at the end of each month and they will be able to bring letters to us. They ask that it is limited to about 5 letters per person/ a month and they must be flat letters (no packages or anything like that). But I would greatly appreciate them and they can be sent to AIM headquarters at this address....
Adventures in Missions
The World Race
For: Jessica Bauman
6000 Wellspring Trail
Gainesville, GA 30501
I love you all and thank you so much for all the love, prayers and support. I feel privileged to have this opportunity to spread God's love around the world. I ask that God blesses each and everyone of you this new year and am looking forward to sharing this journey with you!
If you read my last entry, you know I love snow! Well today when it warmed up enough to make the snow stick, my brother and I had a great time building this snowman. When I asked my 8 year old brother what his name should be he replied with, "Foman." So here you go...pictures of Foman the snowman!
I love snow...always have. Now, I know there are many of you out there who think I am a little crazy. Snow means cold weather and bad roads and scraping your car windows and shoveling your sidewalk, etc., etc. I don't particularly like those things either. But somehow, snow just makes it all worth it to me. I don't know why exactly, but snow has this almost magical quality to me. Many of my favorite childhood memories revolve around snow. Building snowmen, forts, tunnels, having snowball fights and of course the best...sledding at my grandma's and coming in to her hot chocolate to defrost. I loved it!
However, there is one memory concerning snow that stands out above the rest that took place when I was a teenager. A time in my life where I often felt out of place. I knew what I liked and what I didn't. I knew what I stood for and what I was or wasn't willing to do. I knew who I was and because of that, I thought I must be abnormal, strange, or perhaps weird. I felt like I was completely different than every other teenage girl I knew. I felt alone.
During those years, God had to reassure me a few times that I wasn't alone and that being different wasn't always a bad thing. He made me and He loved me the way I was. One of those divine moments happened on a clear, windless winter night. A nice layer of snow lay on the ground and it was just the right temperature that when I put on my ugly brown coveralls, hat and gloves I was quite comfortable. I don't remember the exact reason I decided to don the winter apparel and go outside at night, but I did and ended up walking to the field across the road where up until then the snow had been untouched. It looked like the perfect spot to lay down and look at the stars, which is exactly what I did. And while resting on the pure white snow and gazing at the beautiful star-studded sky I felt the nearness of God and felt He was reaching out to me in love to show me I am important to Him. That I night, I felt true peace.
Lately, I have been craving that feeling of peace. I once again am at a point in my life where I often feel out of place and different than everyone else. I often feel alone, even when surrounded by others. I have felt left behind while everyone else seems to have figured out their place in society and I am completely confused about where I belong. I still have these feelings and lots of questions about what's in store for my life...but when I woke up the other morning to snow on the ground, and again when I saw huge flakes falling outside just now, I was reminded of that night several years ago. I was reminded of the message I heard loud and clear from God, I am His and I am important to Him. He has a plan for me and I must trust Him to guide me safely into what He has in store.
Some of you have already heard that a couple changes have been made to my World Race itinerary. Well, it turns out there were a couple more changes, and so I thought I would send the latest update out to all of you. Remember, it is still subject to change as needed.
One of the objectives of AIM for the WR participants like me, is to learn to listen to God's voice. They promote, (and I agree completely) the belief that we can have two-way communication with God. Not only should prayer be us talking to God...but it should also be us listening to God. Throughout the year we will be given numerous opportunities to do what AIM calls, ATL (ask the Lord) ministry. This is where we don't have some other missionary or leader telling us what kind of mission work to do. We go before the Lord and seek His guidance for ourselves. As you are reading this route update, you'll notice that twice, AIM is giving us the opportunity to use this ATL ministry in regards to what countries we will be going to. I am looking forward to learning to hear God's voice more clearly and following His will, not only in this upcoming year...but throughout my life.
Dominican Republic
The Caribbean sits as unexplored territory for the World Race. This initial launch will send teams into all corners of this beautiful country to build relationships, plant churches, love orphans and widows and begin to discover all that God has in store for the people of the D.R.
Haiti
Crossing the border from the Dominican Republic to Haiti is like entering another world. Language changes from Spanish to French to Creole, and landscape changes from lush forests to barren wastelands. The island of Hispanola has been divided against itself in decades of animosity between the Haitian and Dominican people. The 2008 hurricanes ravaged across the island, leaving the northern portion of Haiti devastated and in much need of tangible help and spiritual encouragement. We go to help rebuild physically and spiritually, as we explain the hope that Christ brings in the face of such tragedy.
Vietnam
Leaving the Caribbean, the team will cross the Pacific and land in a whole new world. The country of Vietnam has been under communist rule for decades, and the oppression has taken its toll through seasons of warfare and rebuilding. The government is adamantly against religious freedom, and as the country suffers in Buddhist bondage, the light of the Christian remnant shines as a candle in the darkness.
Cambodia
Fifty years ago, Cambodia saw one of the most devastating genocides in history. The Khmer Rouge slaughtered nearly two million people – one-third of the country's population at the time. In 24 hours, cities were emptied, left to be ghost towns. The nation has been in constant upheaval until recently. The strength and resiliency of the Cambodian people is inspiring. Be a part of holding orphans that are born into a new era, meeting felt needs in some of the worst slums in the world and church-planting with an adolescent generation on the verge of religious revolution.
Thailand
Even though the official law states that prostitution is illegal, it is estimated that nearly 2 million women and men engage in this practice daily, thus creating the lucrative sex industry of Southeast Asia. In addition to reaching out to the rural communities of Thailand, we go to the streets, into the darkest of spiritual environments to share what is most needed: hope. By helping women learn practical vocational skills and providing an alternative form of income, the face of Thailand's premiere sex industry is being changed one life at a time.
Mozambique/Malawi
Enter a world of lions, elephants and monkeys, and welcome to Africa. Potentially the most fruitful of mission fields, northern Mozambique and Malawi is seeing sweeping revival in the form of mass conversions, miracles, and churches planted on a daily basis. Teams will be a part of breaking the hold of fear on the people bound by witch doctors and animism.
Swaziland
Swaziland made history by being the first country to reach a 51% HIV/AIDS infection rate across the general population. Through lack of education, superstition and other such deceptions, it is speculated that in 50 years, the country will no longer exist. Though small, Swaziland has great potential to spread the light of Christ to all of Africa.
PIONEER AFRICA
Twice during your World Race, your team will take a month Ask the Lord for a new mission field. He may lead you to a location developing, growing and booming or He may lead you to a land untouched by the World Race or even Christianity as a whole. It will be a time to listen to the voice of the Lord and, with true abandon, follow Him into the wild blue yonder.
Romania
The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy people of Romania. Strangers in their homeland, they are segregated, ostracized and forgotten. Yet, they are a strong, proud and vibrant people who are beginning to embrace the light of Christ in a whole new way. Teaching English, leading sports camps, and planting churches are but a few of the tasks set before us as we enter this area of the world.
Ukraine
The developing country of the Ukraine stands caught between its past oppression under the U.S.S.R. communist regime and the desire to be accepted into the Western world. The forgotten and marginalized of this area are quick to be found if one looks close enough. Come be a part of a revolution, taking back a region from the bondage of Islam and other folk religions. It's a new day for the countries of Eastern Europe!
PIONEER EASTERN EUROPE
Twice during your World Race, your team will take a month Ask the Lord for a new mission field. He may lead you to a location developing, growing and booming or He may lead you to a land untouched by the World Race or even Christianity as a whole. It will be a time to listen to the voice of the Lord and, with true abandon, follow Him into the wild blue yonder.
Posted in newsletters
by Jessica Bauman
on 12/3/2008
December Newsletter
And so, as Tiny Tim observed, "God Bless Us, Every One! - Charles Dickens
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
~Dr. Seuss
Financial update
Thanksgiving has come and gone another year, but that doesn't mean I have to stop saying thank you for all the blessings God has given me. To the right you'll see a list of names. These are all the people God has led to help support me financially or in prayer to go on the World Race mission trip (please forgive me if I somehow missed your name!). I have been completely shocked, awed, and amazed by God's wonderful gifts. He has truly touched my heart in ways I cannot describe in words...and all through the hearts of people like you.
With that being said, I am pleased to inform you that I am mere dollars away from reaching my final $$$ goal. Here is how it looks...
In Account: $8,723.17
In Pledges: $4,280.00
Still Needed: $796.83
*Note: I made the goal of 60% actually in my account! Praise God! If God provides more money than I need, I can be reimbursed for my immunizations, international health insurance and plane tickets to and from the starting point (roughly about $1,200). I would also like to encourage anyone who feels led, to consider checking out my teammates' blogsites and praying about financially supporting them.
Trip Update
Immunizations? Check. Malaria pills? Check. Health Insurance? Check. Paperwork? Check. Supplies? Check (we'll be double and triple checking that later!!) Physically speaking, I am pretty much ready to depart from the good old USA and head off into the wild blue yonder for 11 months. On January 3rd I will be flying out of KC to Miami where I will fly out with the rest of my team on the 4th to start our journey in the Dominican Republic.
Emotionally speaking, I am getting more nervous. One, because I have no idea what is in store for me. Two, because I am going to be leaving all of you. I am going to need all the emotional support I can get over the next year. I would appreciate any emails or comments on my blog from friends and family back home. I will be updating my blog on a weekly basis and emailing when possible.
Counting my blessings...
"I thank my God every time I remember you." -Philippians 1:3
I've been having a hard time thinking of a topic to blog about this week...but my teammate, Holli asked this thought-provoking question the other night and I thought some people might be interested in the answer.
Question: If your life were a book, what would be the title of the chapter you are in now?
My answer
:
I was lying in bed last night, unable to sleep due to a headache and I began to ponder the answer to this question. At first I couldn't think of anything to really summarize the place I am at in life right now. Then I began to wonder..."what if I think of the section title, instead of just a chapter title?" So I quickly was able to come up with "O Home, home, wherefore art thou home?"
See, ever since I left for my first year of college I have felt kind of homeless. For over 7 years I have lived in dormitories, other people's houses, in a tent with a bugnet over my head (I did that for two years, mind you...), and none of it ever really felt like home. There have been times that for weeks or even a couple months, like summer break, or now until the World Race begins, I have lived with my parents again...but even that doesn't feel like home anymore. My room was long ago taken over by my little brother and redecorated and painted. My few possessions have been boxed up and stored away. I now feel like a guest and live out of a suitcase. I love my family dearly and enjoy being around them and spending quality time with them...but living with them is not the same as it once was. It's hard to find where I fit in.
Back to the original question...what is the title of this particular chapter in my life? I would have to say "Restless Wanderer." After thinking about how I've been homeless, in a way, for these past several years, I realized I am getting tired of it. I am desperately wanting to feel at home somewhere. So am I crazy for signing another year of my life to a nomad lifestyle by joining the World Race? Maybe...but then again, maybe it will be on this trip that God shows me where my home is going to be. Perhaps in some other country. Maybe in some sort of ministry field. Or maybe He will teach me to be content no matter where I lay my head at night...it was said of Jesus himself, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." I suppose I will never feel completely at home anywhere on this earth. Jesus didn't, so why should I be any different?
These jars are a blessing from God. Purchased with passion and hand-painted by little hands. They represent my home church's love and support and God's ultimate provision.
See, these jars are two of several like them that the elementary Sunday School teacher at my church bought after being inspired by the story of the widow and her two sons in 2 Kings 4: 1-7:
The Widow's Oil
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves."
2 Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?"
"Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a little oil."
3 Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."
5 She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one."
But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."
When this teacher, who also taught me as a child, heard about my mission trip, she jumped on board the ministry team with me. She has been working hard to help educate the kids and others in the church about the importance of missions. She has helped encourage me by having the kids and other church members make a love quilt for me. And then to top it off she gave these jars to the kids to paint and then use to fill with money for my mission trip. I was touched to discover that these kids are emptying their pockets into the jar, finding loose change around the house, and asking for donations from others around them to help support me in this ministry.
I'd like to let everyone know that I love my home church and their kindness, generosity, love and support. Even though I haven't attended this church more than a handful of times over the last few years, they have joined me whole-heartedly in the World Race mission trip.
A big thanks to the elementary teachers and kids at the United Church!
Posted in newsletters
by Jessica Bauman
on 11/5/2008
October has come and gone. I don't know about you, but it was definitely a busy month for me. I finished my job in Florida on the 14, attended training for the World Race the 17-26, road tripped back to Kansas with my dad the 26-31 and took my younger brother and niece and nephews trick-or-treating on Halloween. Here are a few of the highlights from these events..
World Race Training
Ignition training for the world race was phenomenal. I met 54 other incredible Christians who are on fire for God and are ready to fulfill the Great Commission with me this upcoming year. We spent the first half of training learning and working on our own individual spiritual battles and I have posted a blog already about the biggest lesson I learned through that.
The second half of training was spent doing team building exercises so that the AIM staff could split us up into the small groups we will be traveling and working with throughout the 11 months. I am fortunate to have been put with an incredible group of 5 others and we call ourselves..."Tikvah" (that is Hebrew for "hope"). Check out my teammates blogsites by clicking on their links on my websites. They'd all appreciate words of encouragement and prayers!
Road Trip!
After training, my dad flew down to Atlanta to drive the rest of the way to Kansas with me. While the short easy route would have taken us a little over 17 hours (we could have been home in 2 days) we decided to stretch it out to 6 days. We camped out 4 out of the 5 nights. The weather was much colder than we had anticipated, dipping into the low 30's at night. I was nice and warm in my 20 degree sleeping bag, but all my poor dad had was my bedding and fleece blankets from Florida and he couldn't figure out how to keep warm all night. But he sucked it up anyway. We both love the outdoors so we made several stops along the way. We stopped at Amicalola Falls State Park and Cloudland Canyon State Park in Georgia, Russel Cave National Monument in Alabama, David Crockett State Park in Tennessee, and Big Spring Campground, Round Springs and Onondaga Cave State Park in Missouri.
Trick-or-Treating
I love kids and I think they are so cute dressed up and going door to door asking for candy. And of course since these ones are my relatives...that makes them even cuter! My seven year old brother dressed as black spiderman. My 6 year old niece dressed as a ballerina. My 5 year old nephew dressed as a pirate (although he refused to carry around his sword or gun and his eye patch got lost early on in the game). And my 3 year old nephew was the cutest batman I've ever seen! They all felt bad for me and my older brother because they kept getting all the candy and we didn't have any. So they shared with us!
Upcoming Events
At this moment I don't have a lot planned other than the upcoming holidays. I will be at my parents'most of the time, helping out my mom with chores and baby-sitting. I do have to get my vaccinations soon and am trying to set up an appointment asap. I also hope to find time to visit friends and family around the area. I love and miss you all dearly!
Fundraising update
By God's great provision I am getting closer and closer to meeting my goal of $13,800. Here is what it looks like now...
In Account: $5,656.88
In Pledges: $5,843.00
Still Needed: $2,300.12
I need to have $8,280 in my account by December 21. With some pledges coming in before then I will have $7,659.88 as of right now. Thanks again for all who have donated and will be donating!
Prayer Requests
My mom's health
My teammates (for fundraising and for readiness to go on this trip)
Continued financial support
That I continue to stay focused on God and what He's is asking me to do
Hey everyone! I'm finally back in Kansas! I finished my training camp for the World Race last Sunday and miss my new friends already. I met the other 54 people planning on going on this journey with me and they are all incredible people. But traveling and working in a large group of 55 would be insane, so they have split us up into small groups of 6 or 7. We got to come up with our own team name and after much deliberation we have settled on one of the Hebrew words for hope, "Tikvah" (pronounced, teek- va). We all share the desire to spread God's hope to others around the world and as Paul says in Romans 5:5...
"hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
So without further ado I would like to introduce you to my team...Tikvah!
The minute they put us together to see how we worked with each other, we all felt an instant click. This team just feels right. We are all excited to get to know each other deeply, help each other grow, minister with each other, and have a lot of fun! Please feel free to find out more about them and send them encouragement by visiting their blog sites (click on their names above or on my links to the left).
There are many stories I could share with you about the last few days...but right now I simply want to share with you the word of encouragement that I feel God has given to me...
Tuesday at training camp we were given 2 hours of solitude to find a spot and journal about grief and loss and the past hurts we've been holding onto and need to let go of. I went out and found myself a secluded spot on the lake we were camping by and sat down. I really wasn't sure how to begin. We had been dealing with the grieving process for a couple of days already and I felt like I had already let it all out. So I prayed, "God show me what it is you want me to focus on right now." I opened up my Bible and started reading the Psalms from the beginning. As I was going, I would come across promises from God and write them down in my journal as if God were saying them directly to me.
See I had grieved over broken hearts, lost relationships, rejection, and all of that. But one thing I hadn't really grieved over was the loss of my dreams or the unfulfillment of my dreams. I know the verses in the Bible that say God has great and wonderful plans for me and that God will give me the desires of my heart. But to be honest I have felt like God has done the opposite at times. I feel like the desires of my heart have been ripped away from me. So I have been holding on to some real bitterness towards God. I have often yelled at Him and cried out to Him ..."God, if you are such a loving Father and give good gifts to your children, then why are you doing this to me!!" I have had my moments where I began to feel like maybe God wasn't such a loving Father. I began to wondering if He was punishing me or if there was something wrong with me.
So Tuesday, here I was out by the lake reading God's promises and I come across Psalm 4:7. The author is talking about how God has given him greater joy than when the harvest comes in. And I began to think...Jessica, God wants you to have that joy to, but in order to have it you have to be willing to let go of the bitterness you have toward God. I didn't know how to let it go what to do, I just knew that I wanted that joy!
Later on that day our next task was to write down on a log the things we wanted to lay at the cross. So of course I wrote those things...my dreams, and the bitterness I had been holding onto. I then carried that log around the lake and up some very steep hills to where they had formed a cross. All the time I was praying and asking God to replace that bitterness with his joy. When I came to the cross I threw down my log and I felt at peace. I know that God will take that calming peace that I felt and turn it into gushing joy overtime, because as Psalm 4:7 says (in my paraphrase)...
God has filled my heart with greater joy than I have ever known!
Adventures in Missions
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
If you read my last entry, you know I love snow! Well today when it warmed up enough to make the snow stick, my brother and I had a great time building this snowman. When I asked my 8 year old brother what his name should be he replied with, "Foman." So here you go...pictures of Foman the snowman!
comments on my blog from friends and family back home. I will be updating my blog on a weekly basis and emailing when possible.
I love you all!
that God shows me where my home is going to be. Perhaps in some other country. Maybe in some sort of ministry field. Or maybe He will teach me to be content no matter where I lay my head at night...it was said of Jesus himself, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." I suppose I will never feel completely at home anywhere on this earth. Jesus didn't, so why should I be any different?
We camped out 4 out of the 5 nights. The weather was much colder than we had anticipated, dipping into the low 30's at night. I was nice and warm in my 20 degree sleeping bag, but all my poor dad had was my bedding and fleece blankets from Florida and he couldn't figure out how to keep warm all night. But he sucked it up anyway. We both love the outdoors so we made several stops along the way. We stopped at Amicalola Falls State Park and 
Cloudland Canyon State Park in Georgia, Russel Cave National Monument in Alabama, David Crockett State Park in Tennessee, and Big Spring Campground, Round Springs and Onondaga Cave State Park in Missouri.
black spiderman. My 6 year old niece dressed as a ballerina. My 5 year old nephew dressed as a pirate (although he refused to carry around his sword or gun and his eye patch got lost early on in the game). And my 3 year old nephew was the cutest batman I've ever seen! They all felt bad for me and my older brother because they kept getting all the candy and we didn't have any. So they shared with us! 
Tuesday at training camp we were given 2 hours of solitude to find a spot and journal about grief and loss and the past hurts we've been holding onto and need to let go of. I went out and found myself a secluded spot on the lake we were camping by and sat down. I really wasn't sure how to begin. We had been dealing with the grieving process for a couple of days already and I felt like I had already let it all out. So I prayed, "God show me what it is you want me to focus on right now." I opened up my Bible and started reading the Psalms from the beginning. As I was going, I would come across promises from God and write them down in my journal as if God were saying them directly to me. 
