Aloha,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and take an interest in my life as a missionary. Being a missionary is not only a profession but also a lifestyle. You might be wondering why I chose Youth with a Mission and what their vision is. YWAM was founded in 1960 by a man whose name is Loren Cunningham. He had a vision of young people from all nations coming in a wave to expand over all the nations, bringing the good news. Their mandate is “To know God and make him known” by equipping and sending out. YWAM focuses mainly on three different types of ministry; evangelism, training, and mercy ministries and has over 1000 locations around the world. I absolutely love being a part of it because in the midst of training others, I am also learning. The YWAM community demonstrates authentic living in a way that all Christians should live. “Radical lovers of Jesus” we like to call ourselves, seeking Jesus every moment and in every situation. If you would like more information about YWAM or University of the Nations you can visit: www.ywam.org or www.uofnkona.edu.
The first step in YWAM is completing a discipleship training school. There are different focuses that are targeted towards certain spheres, people groups, and societies. The school that I am staffing with is focused on children at risk, being a voice to the voiceless and addressing the issues of poverty and injustice. Compassion DTS attracts students that want to take action, and cannot just sit back and do nothing. This school has two parts to it, a lecture phase and an outreach phase. The first three months-lecture phase-are dedicated to teaching, equipping, and healing. Students from all nations and all denominations become a family and not only do they learn biblical truths, but they learn the truth about who they are in Christ. I love walking along-side students, discipling them, and watching the transformation take place. The next three months-outreach phase-is an application of this new knowledge and revelation. This year we are leading teams to South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Four different continents and seven different countries are soon going to be hit with young people that have a desire to see Gods kingdom come.
My heart is for the unloved, the outcasts, and the children who are innocent victims of injustice. My heart is for revival, not only for those people that don’t know the love that Jesus lavishes on them, but also for those that know the gospel but don’t really know Jesus. My heart is for the darkest and hardest of nations, to see hope and restoration poured out, and for a revelation of Gods redeeming love. My heart is for North America, for an awakening to take place in the Church and in people’s hearts. As Christians we need to recognize the authority we have with the Holy Spirit living inside us. To stop living a mundane Christian life and to take the passions that Christ has put in us and do something with them. The first and greatest commandment that Jesus mentions in Matthew 22:37 is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” Only out of gazing at him can you know who Jesus is. Only out of knowing who Jesus is can you know His love. Only out of knowing His love can you change the world. In Shane Claiborne’s book “Irresistible Revolution” he talks about being an ordinary radical. Normal ordinary people like you and me living radical lives by choosing to walk in love, again and again. Radical should be the new normal.
In just over a month I will be taking a team of students to Colombia, South America. We will be embarking on an amazing adventure that begins in the capital city of Bogota and continues south into the Amazon Jungle in a city called Leticia. The first month in the capital city will be focused on street kids, evangelism in churches, and different service projects. We will come along side different YWAM bases, churches and people there with the intention of spreading Christ’s love and joining in with what God is already doing there! Leticia is a small city on the southern most part of the country right at the border of Peru and Brazil. We will be spending 2 months there and in the surrounding areas. Working in the city and taking 10-day trips to different indigenous tribes will consume most of our time there. Sleeping in tents, cooking our food over the fire, and bathing in the Amazon River will become normal for us, along with living with the many snakes and spiders!! We also plan on spending 2 weeks in Iquitos Peru working with the tribes there. This trip will take 3 days on boat to just get there but we know that God has something there for us and we do not want to miss out.
My heart is filled with joy that I get to lead 9 students into the heart of Jesus. Yes I know that difficulties will arrive but I am not leading alone, Jesus is my leader and the leader of my team. He will pour out His strength and anointing on me as I walk in obedience with Him. After leading a team last year I have come to realize that the key is to abide in Him, staying close to Him and remaining in His peace, only then can we survive all the responsibility and stress. My prayer for this time, not only for me but for my students too is what Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 20 verse 9:
“Sometimes I say to myself, I will forget about the Lord. I will not speak anymore in his name. BUT THEN His message becomes like a BURNING FIRE inside me, DEEP within my bones. I get tired of holding it inside of me, and finally, I CANNOT hold it in.”
I pray that the word of the Lord becomes like a fire inside of us and we cannot hold it in. That when we hold it in we become weary and disappointed and realize that letting it out is the only way to live life to the fullest. When this happens we burst open with His word, His truth, and His love; releasing His power throughout the nations.
So please keep us all in your prayers as we journey to the jungle with Jesus. Pray that we may be bonded by unity, that we may display God’s Glory, and that His kingdom may come. Know that you are making a difference in bringing hope to kids who live on the streets, to those who have been the victims of a long endured drug war, bringing bibles to those who do not have them, and awakening hearts to love. I could not do this without your support and prayers, you are enabling me to make a difference and I thank you.
If you would like to financially support me there are many options that are available. I want to make it as easy as possible for you to give.
Options:
1. Put money directly into my Hawaiian Bank Account
First Hawaiian Bank (account details upon request of this option)
2. Mail Cheques either made out to me or the University of the Nations to:
Japhia Jones
75-5863 Kuakini HWY App #102
Kailua-Kona HI
96740 USA
3. Put money directly into my Canadian bank account
Royal Bank of Canada (account details upon request of this option)
4. My Pay Pal account. Name: Japhia Jones Email: Japhia.joy@hotmail.com
5. Phone (808) 326-4461 and give them your credit card information
6. Phone me at (808) 937-2385 and we can work something out!!
I really hope this is helpful and if you have any other ideas or ways you would like to help just let me know and I will do what I can.
Know that you are not just supporting me but you are supporting people all around the world. This money buys me a plane ticket somewhere, this money allows me to buy food for orphans, this money allows me to build a church for a village, and this money allows me to go to the farthest village and the darkest nation.
Thank you so much.
YOU are making a difference.
YOU are changing the world!
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