Diet and Exercise

Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
-1 Timothy 4:7b-8

  Forgive me if I am taking this verse out of context, but I do believe that the implications of this verse can be very relevant to those preparing for the mission field - or anyone dedicated to the service of Christ. Jesse and I have recently decided to start eating healthier and exercising more. Mostly, it is because we wanted to be better stewards of our money (more on that later), but also because we wanted to take care of our bodies so that we can physically be better equipped to serve God now and in the future.

I have had a poor history with diets, because I was never all that motivated to stick with them. Now that I'm preparing for a wedding, it's much more important to me to look and feel my best and get my body into a healthy state. But what good is all of this diet and exercise that I've just promised myself that I would do? "Bodily training is of some value," as it says above. The changes I am making will get me back on track with how God wants me to maintain my body, but if I am to live healthier and live longer - I have that much longer to serve Christ. How, then, shall I live? All of this "training" is good for me, physically, but without any spiritual training, it is pointless.

With this thought, I am brought to the conviction that whenever I am tempted to cheat on my diet or give up on my exercise, I should go back to God's Word and get back into the mindset that it is all for Him. Yes, I am doing this so that I will be healthier, but I want to be healthier because He wants me to take care of myself, and so that He can use me better and longer than if I were living an unhealthy lifestyle.

The main point of this verse, though, is that discipline in the spiritual realm is more important than discipline in the physical. When we focus on Christ and dedicate our time and efforts to Him, those actions count toward eternity. That is why Jesse and I want to be missionaries and dedicate our lives to Christ daily. That is what we want to invest in - something that lasts.

Go into the world

It has often been said that the Great Commission has never been the "Great Suggestion." In the final parts of the gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ commands His disciples to "go into all the world" to preach the gospel, which is the story of His birth, death, and resurrection for the redemption of mankind from sin. God calls many people to different paths in order to complete this commission. Our mission is to use what talents God has given us in order to work for Him wherever He calls us.

Jesse:
Jesse's passion, other than Christ, is computers. He has been working around them his entire life, and feels lead to use his abilities in Information Technologies in a support role for Wycliffe Bible Translators. On the field, missionaries from Wycliffe use computer-aided translation tools in order to compile a language and a written bible for those who have neither. People who are good with computers and networking are crucial for these missionaries to complete their work and to effectively minister to their people groups. The need for computer technicians in the mission fields is great, with over 300 open positions and counting.

Jenni:
My passion is people. I have always loved helping and serving others, and God has called me to use this gift in education. My future role on the mission field is twofold: (1) I will be supporting Jesse by being a "worker at home," according to the Titus 2 model; this will include teaching our children myself because of the unpredictable nature of mission work. (2) I will be using my degree in education to help other families on the mission field who are in need of quality, Christian education, which is hard to get in many countries. Being a teacher on the mission field, God will be able to use me wherever He wants me, and we are both praying that He will guide us to the place He needs us most.

As prospective missionaries, we are working toward the goals of Bachelor's degrees in our prospective areas, and a membership with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Because we are doing the Lord's work in this, we ask you to join with us in asking Him for guidance, strength, encouragement, and supply. Prayer warriors are our biggest need, because nothing can be done without prayer. If the Lord leads you to give toward our "missionary" fund, please let us know! We thank each and every one of you for your support, and we look forward to partnering with you in God's work.

Jesse & Jenni