It’s been 4 years and 4 months since we got here at the University of the Nations Campus in Kona Hawaii with the intention of spending about half of this time here studying and the rest in Europe. At least as we thought back then, but our own plans have taken different twist and turns we could never have expected while leaving Nigeria in 2010 with the plan of returning to start up the YWAM University of the Nations Campus in Calabar Cross River States of Nigeria.
During these past 4 years of training here at the University of the Nations, I have had the opportunity to take several Schools that further challenge my previous understanding of how and what I needed for the start of a Campus back in Africa. And the additional blessing and privilege of being part in some schools as they were being run for the first time in our Global University like the Word By Heart School, an in-depth approach of studying the Bible as an eye-witness in Jesus time and recreating the events and narrate them using the exact words. This approach proved to be one of the best tools for Eradicating Illiteracy when tested during a one week Seminar at our Campus in Port Harcourt Nigeria. Our students also made up of special friends (former “PIRATES” ) who could not read, write or speak any good English were able to use the method and technique of this School and memorized stories from the Bible in their own language and at the end of the week, we had 25 courageous presenters during an evening that was entitled “Worship and the Word”.
While in Nigeria last year, I personally wrestled through what the Lord had been speaking to us as a Family months before we left on the trip. Simply to “Slow down” the pace of our plans of returning and since we still did not have clarity concerning what “Slow down” would look like, I visited Nigeria with great excitement to share during the Seminar and seek to have some sense of the timing.
I left Nigeria after the one week visit with a feeling of unrest regarding the thoughts of returning or even the idea of planning our return in the future. We continue to pray about this until our last trip to Holland in May. At this time, we both had peace about not planning and communicating our return as we did in the past few years and also it was now time for me to get hands on leadership experience through staffing on Campus in Kona.
But the worries and anxiety of all our previous enthusiasm regarding Nigeria and the soon return to start the Campus to staying longer in HAWAII became our main challenge. How would people take this to heart and what about support and finances to cope during this time?
I know, this sounds almost like a lack of Faith, but the reality is that we do not take for granted the generosity and sacrifices of our friends and Families in our lives and that of our Children.
This has been a challenging journey for us as a Family, learning to hear the Voice of the Lord and practicing Simple steps of Obedience. It’s also a journey of dealing with the Fear of other people’s Opinions, Trusting the Lord and of redefining Living by Faith, while being accountable to Him who Calls us, as the scriptures say: we are His and the Works of His hand, Psalm 100.
As we go through this with friends and Families in Holland, we knew it was a step of Obedience towards what the Lord is calling us to BE and then DO His will. So after our return in June, we have taken some practical steps which also include my taking the last set of leadership training this July with at least a three years (3) commitment to lead the Word By Heart School and serve the Leadership by helping to train School leaders for other Schools to be started from next year, while my Princess Wife Anneke, will continue as Personal assistant to Loren Cunningham and Kona Assistant to Darlene Cunningham Founders of YWAM.
I must say though that this time has been challenging walking this through, it has been the most bonding and growth filled moments in our lives as a Couple, as we spend hours and hours almost every Night talking about this, reading the Word of the Lord and applying it to our lives in prayers to the Lord.
We are indeed so grateful to the Lord for allowing us to experience these times and hope we continue to grow daily as a couple and family in obedience to His Voice.
And as I prepare for the School, I have had the privilege of finishing memorizing my 5th Bible book and currently working on the book of Hebrews as the 6th one on this journey to memorize the entire Bible. Jesus has become much more richer and personal to me daily and His Word reaches areas of my heart that needs His touch and I have been personally working on His Patience and Grace.
My desire and prayer to the Lord is to LOVE MERCY, WALK INPATIENCE AND GIVE GRACE TO EVERYONE GRACIOUSLY (HEBREWS 4).
As I look at the quality of people applying for this upcoming School, I find it a privilege to be asked to lead the School and the Joy of being part of the team that is going to be training some of our brothers and sisters from a close Nations sensitive to the Gospel is swelling up in my heart daily. This time around, we are going to train and send “LIVING HUMAN BIBLES”. Please be praying for them, for Visas, and for their Finances as they pray, plan to join us. Some of them are already here which in itself a Glorious Miracle from the Lord.
We want to sincerely thank you all for your continued prayer and support to us as a Family and as we bring you up to date regarding our plans to stay here longer, we also want to give you the opportunity to pray and ask the Lord if you are to continue supporting us on Staff as you have been in the past years and if so how much. Knowing those who are still committed to supporting us and the monthly amount will help us plan properly for the next 3 years as we need to make monthly payments to the Campus for housing and in preparation for Princess Hope to Start School next year.
Love and blessings,
Jackson & Anneke, Hope and REJoyce
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