About

I am Jen.

I am//

• wife to Jeremy for the past 15 years
• mama to TWO of the sweetest Congolese boys IN all of Africa
• teacher, mama, and counselor to 22 in the third grade in Mid-Michigan.
• A nature lover...Running, Hiking, Water, Snow...are where I hear God the clearest.
• happiest when there is a suitcase rolling behind me....Lord, Send ME!
• a writer, speaker, and creator.

My biggest passion is to encourage others to jump in the mud and get messy!  God calls us to be courageous and to be people of faith.  We are called to bring tangible HOPE to the poorest of the poor, the lonely, and to the very messiest places on earth.  I am not satisfied with safe American Christianity where everything fits neatly packaged in your weekly schedule, budget, or emotional safety zone.  If we really want to make a difference, we must be willing to do the very things that no one else will do.

The Nations.....

God has set the nations in my heart and has blessed us over the years to travel, lead, speak, share, and experience His people and bring His goodness in Africa, Asia, and South America.  One of my greatest delights and passions is to take teams of young people to the nations and help them to broaden their worldview...help them see at a young age, that they CAN make a difference, even as a young person, AND that God is real, alive, and living for HIM is the most rewarding life you can have.  Learn more about my work with Reach Ministries International Here.

Adoption.....
Through our international journeys, our experiences as public school teachers, and through serving on staff at our local church, we felt the Lord lead us to adopt and start a family. In 2012, we legally adopted two boys in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  We love them as our own and pay for their care every month.  We have however, been unable to bring them home yet, due to an exit letter suspension, that is still going on.  We pray every day for the suspension to lift to bring them home to our forever family.  Infertility, International AND Domestic Adoption has been one of the biggest callings and also biggest challenges of my life but has brought me to a place of complete reliance and trust in God.  I live to inspire others to never give up on your dreams...no matter how messy they get!  Please read more about our story here.

Leadership & Friendship & Hope

My husband and I were on staff as the children's pastors for over 10 years, when tragedy struck within the local church, a story all too common but NEVER openly talked about.  As I experienced deep pain and an immense fracture within the family of God I never imagined, God grew me in Hope, Love, Leadership, and the meaning of true friendship.  Through a journey of years and years, God has taught us the meaning of perseverance, faith, and integrity in leadership.

It is now my life's message that the more we are willing to get deeply involved in the messy affairs of humanity, whether in missions adoption, or leadership, the closer we are to the heart of God.  My passion is to inspire hope in others, to never give up, and get messy!  It is in the messy, where we really truly LIVE.

I would love to come and share my heart at your event or Guest Post for your blog.  Please contact me  here: http://adoptingnations.blogspot.com/p/contact.html