Why we Know...

Well I said that I would let you in on why we know God has directed us to go to Costa Rica. Well, if you didn't read our first posting on the blog you can check that out for how God changed Erins' heart about it. That in itself was a huge event. Other than that our whole life has led up to leaving. For me it started when I was about six. I began collecting change and sending it to a missionary in Costa Rica as often as a young kid could. I guess you could say I have been sowing into the country for a long time. Erin and I have been married for almost seven years. In that time the only thing we have purchased besides our home was a kitchen table and a computer desk. It has been very odd that everything we have has been given to us. Erin has asked several times to buy furniture but we never felt like we could afford it so we never did. So really, we have nothing to leave behind. Erin has always said that she knows she'd move away but never known where to.

Another huge sign has been my job situation. I have always felt drawn to ministry. I was a youth pastor for a short time and have looked into other types of ministry opportunities but nothing ever felt right. I always felt like there was something else. Currently I work for So. CA. Gas Co. and I love certain aspects of the job but still I feel like there is something more for me. S.I. provides an outlet for ministry as well as utilizes my strengths in construction. for the first time this opportunity seems like it could fit. There is more that God continues to show us in this process. It is very encouraging when we are questioning if we made the right decision and He shows us another thing He's done to prepare us. 

Thanks again for reading!

Jesus Bless You,

Jeremy

Judah will be one on Feb 13th. Happy Birthday Judah!!

25% yippeeee!!!

Well hello All!  I hope you are all doing well! We are all very well and seem to have missed the sickness that's been floating around, lucky us. We are busy, as always, but enjoying the season God has us in now. We're in our birthday season for the next few months. My nephew, sister, and Judah all have birthdays in February. My niece and a close cousin are late March. Ella and another cousin are early April, and my sister, Jennifer is expecting her 3rd beginning of May.  Then on to our anniversary, which is on Mother's Day, and Erin's birthday at the end of the month.  It's a lot of parties let me tell you!

Well, we are still in the process of raising funds to go to Costa Rica but as I was running some numbers this evening I saw to my amazement that we are already 18% of the way. Even better is that if everyone who has told us they will give monthly does we will be over 25%!!! That's exciting.  This however brings up a good question that some have expressed. Some have wondered if we are for sure going and what would happen to their moneys they have given if we don't go. Well, short of a death or invasion or God audibly speaking, we are intending to go as soon as possible. The only hitch is fund raising. If we aren't fully funded by May or June we will have to push our departure time back to January of '09. If we aren't funded by then it'll be pushed back until May '09. past that I can't say because I really believe that God will get us there by then. Our hope however is still to leave in August of '08. We are attending MTI (Missionary Training Institute) in June one way or another so we will be prepared to leave as soon as possible after that. As far as what would happen to the moneys if we didn't go, as unlikely as it is, all moneys I believe will stay with SI to fund the ministry they are a part of around the world. That is still a good enough cause for me but don't worry, we are going.... as soon as possible ';)

Another question that has been asked is, "Why give now if we aren't even leaving yet?" We actually have two accounts with SI. Account 1 is for our monthly living when we are living in Costa Rica, that one isn't being filled yet. The other (account 2) is building funds now in order to pay for our moving expenses, language school when we get there, to get legal documents for living there, and anything else to "Get Us There".  In other words, it's a one time expense. All contributions we receive now, monthly and one time, goes into this account until we are actually living in country. In order to  leave we must have enough pledged monthly to live on(account 1) as well as enough to get us there(account 2). 

Through all of this I am at times worried but then I remember... this wasn't really our idea. God has called us to go and He will be faithful to get us there. Actually.... I think I will write another blog right after this one to tell why we know it is God directing us.  Anyways, I know deep down that we are called to go and it is a great peace to us to know we are in God's will for us right now. He will do everything in His timing and we can rest in that. Like I said, at times the enemy tries to take that assurance from me, but I know the truth and I can always fall back on that.

Again I thank you all for taking time out of your day to read about our lives. It means so much to know you all support us. If you would like to support us in any way you can send all donations to Students International P.O. Box 2733 Visalia, Ca 93279. make checks payable to Students International and to make sure they get to us Write "Janzen" in the memo. Also if possible send a note to let us know if you are committing to monthly support us or if it's a one time gift. All contributions are tax deductible and very appreciated. Remember, you are all a part of God's work, find your place and thrive in it. If it's giving give. If it's going go. Thanks a lot and Jesus Bless You All,

Jeremy Janzen 

2008 will be great

Cheesy title I know but I am serious. We had a great Christmas and New Year with our families and hope that you all had as delightful of a time as we did. We also had the pleasure of going on a cruise with my dads office this last weekend. The best part was it was free. Coming in at a close second was the great food and third was that Erin won a 4g ipod nano in the arcade. We ran into some rough waters on Sunday and I got sick with sinus infections but it was all worth it. It was also our first time leaving both of the kids with Erin's parents. It was a good break for us, and the kids had a great time.

This last wednesday I had the awesome opportunity of leading worship for the youth group at Tulare Bethel Assembly of God. I will be leading worship there until we leave for Costa Rica, Lord willing in August. While I am there it will be my intent to raise up a new worship team from among the youth so that when I leave they will not need a "leader". We will also be a face to a mission. They will be monthly supporting us as we leave for Costa Rica. The hope is that it will excite them for missions and giving, and give them a better understanding of how our giving of money can effect the world . Anyways, I am very excited for what God is doing this year already.

I was speaking to a friend this last week and discussing all that has happened in '07. It seems like things have been shaken, marriages, jobs, and our own lives have felt all shaken up. I have been thinking that it is all just like the Bible says it will be "all that can be shaken will be shaken". God has been testing us all. He may not be done but it may be over. We may be on the edge of a great out-pouring  of the Holy Spirit or it may just be more of what only God knows. Either way, this year I will be ready. I am very excited that we are moving closer to what I feel God is calling us to. I am also excited  for this year and I hope you are all getting glimpses of what God is doing.

          Thanks for checking in and Jesus Bless you,

Jeremy

letter page 1

Sorry it wouldn't work

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

        Only a few days left until christmas. I hope you're all ready! Well for us it doesn't seem like it's that time of year yet. We have been very busy since the last time I wrote. I have been filling out paperwork for SI, now that I am officially on staff, and we spent many long hours trying to get our Christmas and support letter out. It would have been a simple task but Erin and I decided to make the big jump and buy our first computer. We got an apple laptop which will be just what we need in Costa Rica. I am hoping to learn how to edit video so I can send out some video updates to you all instead of just e-mails. Anyways, we have had to re-enter all of the addresses and transfer all of our info from the PC that we had to this apple. Before this we have only had hand-me-down computers that weren't very good and our info is spread out on many CDs and hard drives. I won't do that again. I'm an apple man now.

         For those of you who didn't get our letter and would like to receive letters in the future e-mail your mailing address to us @ jerinjanzen@att.net and we will make sure to add you to our mailing list.  I will try to post or letter for those of you who didn't get it. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS we wish you all a blessed holiday season,

Jeremy, Erin, Ella, and Judah