hustle and bustle

last weekend was my first free weekend since christmas. crazy as that sounds, i've loved doing different things each weekend. whether it's coaching at tournaments (majority of my weekends), going on road trips, or leading a disciple now. i have loved every opportunity.

i actually got to do something really special last saturday night. it may seem small to some of you. but to me, it's the greatest thrill and brings joy to my heart when i get to do this. to make a long story short, i went to help my friend jenn babysit 2 kiddos satruday night. the oldest boy, alex, is 3 1/2 years old and the baby is hattie beth and she is just 1 month old. i couldn't wait to snuggle her! anyways, when i saw her swaddled up in her basinet, my heart was full. you see the last time i snuggled babies and they fell asleep on me was when i was in uganda 6 months ago. i held this little one as much as i could that night. i realized how i love to love children and babies.

i not only have gotten to love on babies, but also 5 incredible kids. i have been playing the "mom" role as my sister and her husband have been out of town this week. i had always wondered how it would be to have a child and even several at that. sooo...i finally got the opportunity to know what it would be like. it has been all but calm around here, but juggling the schedule has been so good for me.

i can't tell you how much i have learned from this experience. i have been challenged in so many ways and God continues to use EVERY opportunity for His purposes and greater good. i wore many different "hats" this week in doing multiple activities, but through all the craziness i have loved every minute of it! i will cherish this week with my nephew and nieces. my respect for moms, and all they do for their children, has gone out the roof!

much love to my beloved mom..and with that, i can't wait to love my own children one day...

Leg # 2 Complete: I made it to Zambia!

Paige, Holly, and I arrived at the airport bright and early Tuesday morning at 6am...

Lusaka Airport...

Once we left the airport we headed over to Mulungushi Village where we live for the summer. Home Sweet Home!!

This is a picture of our Villa. 

Before we got too far in the day we went over to Arcades and exchanged money but also ate at La Mimosa's. It's a restaurant in town that is a common stop.

A little bit later we went out to see some of our kids in the community. Our first stop was to the LIFEWAY Homes in Chilenje. I got to see precious little Emma. She is doing well and reading soooo good! Below is a picture of us!

Then...we went over to the Kamanga CRC to see my precious kiddos!! Maggie and Susan have grown since the last time I saw them back in August. They both are doing well and seem happy! Maggie just ran and jumped into my arms!

Here is cute little Mags..

We took all the kids some Millimeal, cooking oil, a frozen chicken, milk, sugar, kapenta (little fish), tomatoes, cabbage, soap, washing powder, and some sweets!

Here is all of us!! 

(Left to Right)

Susan, Doreen (I'm holding her), Maggie, Peter, Junior, and Joseph

Our first day here was sooo great! It's very encouraging to see the kids that you love so much and to know that they remember you! I have loved being back already!! 

WOW....PRAISE GOD!!

There are so many things to be thankful for this week and I am not saying that just because Thanksgiving is a week away but for other things that were accomplished this week!! First of all...I am so thankful that it is the weekend! It's been one busy week at work and I am so glad that I have a couple days to relax, watch football, go to church, and see friends. 

I finally finished my massive project I have been working on for the past couple of weeks. PRAISE THE LORD!! I just dropped the last bucket of mail at the post office on my way home tonight. Our precious children in our program throughout Lusaka wrote Thanksgiving Day letters to their sponsors. (There were about 1000 letters that had to be sent!! ) It was a BIG project for me and I got it done!! I am going to try to put one on here so you can just see how sweet, pure, innocent, and authentic they are. That has been one of my favorite things lately that I have been able to read some of these letters. It's almost like I can picture their faces as they are writing...

Also this week... my director put up a Camp LIFE 2009 Countdown.... :) We are at 177 days until we head off to Zambia!! We designed the t-shirts, selected the songs, the versus, the daily lessons, and....discussed what we are going to BLESS the children with!!! I can't wait!! [You Camp LIFE Alumni will love what we are going to do!! And for everyone else reading this...well you just need to come to Zambia to experience it for yourself... : ) ] This coming summer is going to be so amazing and I believe God is going to move like never before in the hearts of every child. To give you an idea of what will be taking place next summer here are few things you CAN know at the moment...everything else will have to wait for the team meetings in the Spring....

Camp LIFE 2009

Theme : Jesus Loves Me

Verse : John 3:16 (main verse)

Daily Lessons: How God displays His Love on us

Songs: All I can say is...HIGH ENERGY, UPBEAT, FUN... 

(What else would you expect?? haha)

Things we are giving the children: I can't tell you.... : )

I wish I could tell you more, but I can't be the one to spill all the secrets. All I know is that this message is going to be so powerful because all of them come from such harsh, discouraging, unloving homes. I am so excited about continuing to watch the Lord move in big ways to make Himself known throughout the country of Zambia. 

Along with the Thanksgiving Letters and Camp LIFE 2009 news....I have some fun updates from my kiddos! Holly brought back all these pictures and videos. It is so amazing to me of how God is in the midst of changing a country by working through the little children. Sooo....here a few (of many) pictures of my kids from Kamanga Community....(Heather and Holly are clearly the Americans with them...haha)

*Heather is at Maggie's House...they are eating ring pops! 

*All the kids outside their home*

*All of the kids...*

*Ok...this is EMMA...remember her from this summer?? 

Well she is just LOVING being at the LIFEWAY Homes...she is such a light and I am so thankful the Lord rescued her from the horrific situation she was in. Oh and she just got "plats"...they are basically hair extensions to braid into their short shaved hair. I JUST LOVE THIS PICTURE AND THIS CHILD!! 

*Here is sweet Susan with Paul...my two favorites (besides Maggie)! 

That about does it for the week...I want to tell each of you...THANK YOU!! You all are so encouraging and provide so much support through your prayers and friendships. I would not be here if it was not the Lord using you. It is such an honor to have you come alongside me and be a part of something so much bigger than we can grasp. Thanks to all of you for your financial support. God is providing and I am so humbled by it all! PRAISE GOD FOR YOU! 

Have a great weekend everyone! Thanks for keeping up to date!! :)

Living for Jesus,

Joy

PS - I am probably going to change my URL address to something more simply like joyjanszen. I will let you know when the change happens but just a heads up. 

You just have to love them!!!

Well this week as been everything but slow and easy...I have so many things I am working on at once and it's basically "crunch time" for me says my director. haha...anyways, keep praying for me. I have to send out a mass mailing to over 1,000 people and so many more things have to be done next week. Besides all of the projects I am working on, I got to talk with my dear friend Holly Scurry. She is an assistant director and is currently in Zambia right now working on things, but today I got to talk with her and her sister on the phone. They gave me the best news.........

They went and saw my kiddos yesterday in Kamanga. They took pictures and videos of them. Just knowing that someone was there with my kids strengthened my heart. While I was talking with them on the phone they sent me a few pictures....more are coming soon plus a video! Don't worry I will share these all with you as they send me them...but for now these are 4 pictures they sent me. Holly said they are doing well, but just still very thin...

*These first 2 are Maggie...

*This is Maggie's house - Look at that precious smile with all her teeth missing!! :)

*This is Heather and Holly with (left to right) Susan, the baby (unknown name) and Maggie sucking on ring pops!

They said that they loved these things...I mean what child would not love a ring pop??

*Here they are...all 6 kiddos...4 of them came Camp LIFE. We didn't know about the other 2 till later.

(Left to Right: little Susan, Older sister, Maggie, Junior, Joseph, Peter, and then little baby)

I just love them all!!! :)

So that's it for now...I have a crazy weekend just trying to play catch up on things that I haven't been able to do since work has been so busy. But just so you know...the Lord has been providing on the financial side of things. I am so humbled and honored to be able to do what I do. Praise the Lord for all that He is providing and what He will provide. He is doing so much in my life and I love what I have been learning lately. I am hoping to share all of that with you in a later post. Thanks for checking on how things are going in my life. I pray that you are doing well yourself! Be Blessed!

Being made more like Him,

Joy