Jolea Jensen

April 2011

Dear Praying Friends:

On April 1, 2011, Bob Jones Memorial Bible College held its 20th Commencement Exercises. We had our largest graduating class ever, with 23 graduates. Seven of these graduates completed their Associate in Music Ministry. I had the privilege of teaching four of these students personally in piano lessons. What a joy to see these students reach the end of their studies and eagerly go on to serve the Lord! Two graduates, Regine and Stephen, will join the music faculty at BJMBC for the 2011-2012 school year.

March 26th was our last day of Bible Club. My assignment was to prepare games, so I planned a relay race using water, buckets, and plastic spoons. Each child had to carry water in a plastic spoon, drop it off into the bucket at the end of the line, and return to spoon to the next person in the row. One little boy had just bought a pet chick; his chick was dyed green, as Filipinos like to dye baby chicks different colors to get people to buy them. In the midst of my game, the little boy kept trying to dip his green chick into the water to give it a drink! After games, the children sing songs, learn a Bible verse, and split up into different age groups to hear Bible stories. We had over 80 children in attendance from age 2 up to the teenage years. Please pray for these young children to understand the Bible lessons and to see their need of a Savior.

Monday, April 4, was a long day for me. I left my apartment at 2:30 AM to go to the airport. The date was still April 4 about 28 hours later when I arrived at my home in New York State! I praise God for safe travel once again across the Pacific Ocean and most of the continental US. My seatmate on the long international flight was a Filipina named Esther. She was not very open to the Gospel at all, claiming that she believed what she saw on the History Channel on TV more than she believed the Bible. One statement she made was, “Is there a Heaven? How many times have you flown overseas? Do you see Heaven out there? No! Just clouds and more clouds. How many astronauts have gone up into space and not found Heaven? See??? There is no Heaven.” She did not want to keep the tract I offered her and gave it back to me. Oh, that God would soften her heart to understand the truth!

There was a lady across the aisle from me on the plane who was very nice and wanted to speak with me. She was fascinated that I spoke Tagalog and shared with me that she was from Malaybalay, Bukidnon. As we spoke, I discovered that she knew my friends who are missionaries there. I mentioned to her that I had just been in Bukidnon over Christmas break. This Catholic lady, Bebe de Sagun, joyfully received the tract I offered her.

On my connecting flight to Albany, New York, from Detroit, Michigan, my seatmate was a Jewish man named Jonas. As he said, his name was “Like Jonah and the whale.” I was excited to discover that he was Jewish and mentioned that I was privileged to meet one of God’s chosen people. He was very open and curious about my ministry in the Philippines; he himself was flying to the States from a business trip in Shanghai, China. I was able to share my testimony with him and asked him about what his view of God was. He answered, “You know, that’s a very good question. My kids ask me that all the time. I’m not really sure what I believe about God.” Please pray that God might use the short one-hour conversation we had to open his heart to his saving Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Please pray for the following requests:

1. Safety in travel: I anticipate traveling about 2000 miles each month from April-July.
2. Opportunities to witness: I would love to meet some Filipinos as I drive through several states!
3. Financial support: my level is currently at 88%.
4. Good health
5. Four ministry teams from BJMBC traveling to different parts of the Philippines during April/May

My deputation itinerary for April-May 2011 is as follows:

April 10-13 Friendship Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa missions conference
April 17 Heritage Baptist Church, Keosauqua, Iowa
April 27 Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, Illinois
April 28-30 Victory Baptist Church, Corydon, Iowa missions conference
May 1 Adelphi Calvary Baptist Church, Runnells, Iowa
May 4 Calvary Baptist Church, Ottawa, Kansas
May 7-8 Grace Baptist Church, Stillwater, Minnesota
May 15 Avoca Bible Church, Avoca, Wisconsin
May 18 Faith Bible Church, Bellevue, Ohio (supporting church)
May 29 Fellowship Baptist Church, Greenville, South Carolina

I am excited about traveling once again to share about God’s work in Manila, Philippines. I am in the States from April until July 21st when I will once again fly over the Pacific Ocean. Thank you so much to each of you for your faithful prayers and financial support.

Joyfully Serving,
Jolea Jensen
GFA Missionary to the Philippines

Dear Praying Friends:

The time is twelve o’clock noon at the mall, and everyone pauses to listen to prayers coming across the loudspeaker: “Holy Mary, Mother of God…” and another one with references to God and Mary all mixed up together. The sing-songy voice does not sound very sincere to me; rather, it is but a vain repetition of words said without thought. The jeepney driver crosses himself before taking off down the road; the lady across from me crosses herself several times during the 8-minute trip. Another lady looks at me while holding her rosary beads and moving her fingers across each one individually. A large sign along the road proclaims, “Pray the Rosary.” Icons of Mary and others dangle inside tricycles, taxis, and jeepneys with signs such as “God Bless Our Trip” placed above them. Babies wear rosary bracelets or necklaces to elicit protection on their lives. I ask a lady how one can know for sure if she is going to Heaven, and she responds, “You must do good works, attend mass, give money to the poor, and do the sacraments.” My next question is, “Are you sure you are going to Heaven?” Her reply: “No.” I proceed then to explain the true Gospel from God’s Word and to share with her how I know for sure I am going to Heaven and how she can know for herself as well. Please pray for Caring (KAH-ring) and Ann (Caring’s granddaughter) to understand the truths I shared and to place their complete faith and trust in Christ as Savior. Please continue to pray for more opportunities to spread the light of God’s true Gospel to those still struggling blindly in the darkness of sin.

We enjoyed having Dr. Bob Jones III return to speak for our Baptists for Holiness conference at Gospel Light Baptist Church. He and others challenged us to stand firm on doctrines found in the Word of God and not to compromise in an attempt to please man. God is holy, and those who worship Him must come before and serve Him in a manner that honors Him.

March is a busy month for Bob Jones Memorial Bible College students and teachers. We had a Faculty Concert (March 3) and a Choir/Orchestra Concert (March 4). Final exams (March 22-25) and Graduation (April 1) mark the end of the semester. Please continue to pray for each of our students to be able to finish well. Ten students will graduate, Lord willing, from our music program; these students are all seeking God’s direction for their future ministries.

Language school continues to be challenging. Tagalog includes some rather long words, some of which are tricky to pronounce. For example, “pananampalataya” or “pah-nah-NAHM-pah-lah-TIE-yah” means “faith” and “mapangangaralan kita” or “mah-pah-ngah-ngah-RAH-lahn key-TAH” means “I will correct/reprimand you.” Sometimes people around me speak so fast that it is hard for me to tell how many “na-na’s” or “ngah-ngah’s” there are! The words just seem to roll off their tongues like Jell-O as if they are really easy to say! I, on the other hand, am trying to carefully pronounce each syllable and still trip over my tongue; I will be very glad when someday the words come naturally. One of my recent assignments was to ask several people about going to church in the Philippines. This gave me an open opportunity to share the Gospel; it was exciting to see how God helped me witness in Tagalog. I have also been able to assist with children’s ministries, using my Tagalog. Please continue to pray for comprehension and recall of new vocabulary I learn each day.

I will be flying back to the States on April 4, 2011. The Lord graciously provided more support this month, raising my percentage to 88%, and I am eagerly waiting to see how He will provide the remaining 12% that is needed before I can return to the field full-time. Please pray for safety as I travel again across the eastern half of the United States.

My deputation itinerary for April-May 2011 is as follows:

April 10-13 Friendship Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa missions conference
April 17 Heritage Baptist Church, Keosauqua, Iowa
April 27 Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, Illinois
April 28-30 Victory Baptist Church, Corydon, Iowa missions conference
May 1 Adelphi Calvary Baptist Church, Runnells, Iowa
May 4 Calvary Baptist Church, Ottawa, Kansas
May 7-8 Grace Baptist Church, Stillwater, Minnesota
May 15 Avoca Bible Church, Avoca, Wisconsin
May 18 Faith Bible Church, Bellevue, Ohio (supporting church)
May 29 Greenville, South Carolina

Thank you very much for your prayers and financial support.

Joyfully Serving,
Jolea Jensen
GFA Missionary to the Philippines

www.joleajensen.com

Dear Praying Friends:

“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.  Sing unto the LORD, bless His name; shew forth His salvation from day to day.  Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people.  For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods,” (Psalm 96:1-4).  I praise the Lord for the opportunity to return to Manila this school year.  It has been exciting to see how He has worked in the lives of students I taught when I was here from 2006 to 2008.  This past weekend I had the privilege of helping out again at a Bible club led by the Bachoriks and the Berreys; four BJMBC students also helped.  One of the young ladies entered BJMBC for the first time in 2006; at that time, she had a spirit of rebellion and did not stay long in Manila.  She returned and now has a tender heart and desires to serve the Lord with the talents He has given her.  By God’s grace, she and nine other students will graduate this coming April from our music program.  Each of these students is involved with important ministries in their local churches.  Please pray for our graduates as they seek God’s will for their future ministries.

On April 4, I will fly back to the States to continue deputation meetings.  God graciously raised my support this month to 85%.  Please continue to pray with me for God’s provision of the 15% support that I still need before I can return again to Manila.  I would also appreciate prayers for guidance as I continue contacting pastors and scheduling more meetings at new churches.  Catherine McQuaid, GFA career missionary to Papua New Guinea, came to the Philippines in January to assist our ministries here while waiting for her visa to return to her mission field.  She has been a big blessing to each of us and is helping me prepare a new DVD presentation.  Please pray for wisdom as I seek to create a good representation of God’s work here in Manila, Philippines.

Language school has become more challenging as my level advances.  Last month I passed my first proficiency test and anticipate another this coming week.  Thank you for your prayers for my language acquisition; I am very thankful for the help of all my teachers.  One day on my weekly shopping trip, I witnessed to a guard at a fast food restaurant, using my Tagalog.  He was impressed with my knowledge of the language, but I know I definitely need to learn a lot more!  This past weekend, I taught the Bible verse to our Bible club children; this was my first time to teach a verse in Tagalog.

We just passed the middle of second semester, and students and teachers are all busy, trying to keep up with responsibilities.  I am thankful for the grace God gives each day.  Even though I have been sick for the past four weeks, God has enabled me to continue teaching, studying, and helping out with my church ministries.  The last weekend in January, six of us single lady missionaries took a much-needed vacation.  We spent three days on the island of Mindoro, just off the coast of Luzon where Manila is located.  I was able to share tracts with different people I came in contact with, and one of the other young ladies had a good witnessing opportunity with a Muslim individual.  Please pray for God to use His Word to draw these people to Himself.

Please pray for the following requests:

1. Opportunities to witness
2. More understanding of the Tagalog language.
3. God’s provision of my remaining support need.  My level is currently at 85%.
4. Good health
5. Salvation for Mae, a young lady I met while in transit to downtown Manila in December.  She continues to keep in contact by texting.  Please pray for another opportunity to witness to her in person.

Thank you very much for your prayers and support for my ministry in Manila, Philippines.  May God bless you richly for your faithfulness to Him.

Joyfully serving,

Jolea Jensen

GFA Missionary to the Philippines

www.joleajensen.com

January 2011

Dear Praying Friends:

During Christmas break, I read a missionary book by Isobel Kuhn entitled Green Leaf in Drought Time. This is the story of the Mathews’ family and the hardships they endured at the onset of a new regime in China. This family moved into the deep interior of the country just as the Red Party took control of the government. They unknowingly stepped into a trap set up to hurt them. Soon after arriving at their long-awaited field of ministry, their mission agency (Overseas Missionary Fellowship—formerly China Inland Mission) ordered evacuation for all its missionaries in China due to increasingly insecure situations. The government made it impossible for them to leave immediately, and kept them under house-arrest for over two years. God used this time of hardship to grow them spiritually and to build up the young Chinese Christians who watched them suffer. As I read the book, I wondered how I would respond if I were to go through a similar situation. Would my faith grow as the Mathews’ faith did as they endured ridicule and starvation? Would God be honored with my response and use my life as a testimony to draw others to Him even if I were forbidden by human authorities to speak to those around me?

On New Years’ Day, I returned home to Manila from the island of Mindanao where I spent Christmas break. Another single GFA missionary was scheduled to arrive on January 2nd at midnight, and I had to quickly get my apartment ready for her. This was challenging, as not many stores were open on New Years’ Day, and I didn’t have much food in the house! Thankfully, the Kamibayashiyamas shared a little from their vegetable/fruit bin to help me. I returned to my apartment and cleaned. I was just ready to get a good night’s rest when I saw a book that needed to return to its place on the shelf. I opened the door to the shelving and was just about to put the book away when I noticed several little white creatures about the size of ants running around and inside my books. They turned several books into apartments of their own!!! I had never dealt with such a huge termite infestation before and thought they were only on the one shelf. The next day, however, I discovered they were on four of the five shelves in the closet. They enjoyed eating some Ron Hamilton choral music as well as Beethoven and Bach, and my friends said they had good taste! As a result of this infestation and damage, I requested to move to a different apartment. My new location is better, as it is on the fourth floor right next to the other girls who teach with me at BJMBC. I am also enjoying the lovely breeze that blows in from outdoors. Seven of our college students helped move all the furniture and boxes. They now tell me that I can move anytime, and they will gladly help me—they enjoyed the pizza I fed them!

Once a month I travel on the LRT (Light Rail Transit) train to go into Manila for my chiropractic appointment. This often provides opportunities to witness to people. In December I met a young lady who lives near me in Quezon City. She was very interested in talking with me; we exchanged phone numbers and have communicated a bit since our first contact. I gave a tract to her and am now trying to invite her out to various programs at our college. Please pray for more opportunities for me to develop a friendship with Mae.

I spent Christmas break with Asenath Cadavos on the island of Mindanao. We taught together four years ago when I first arrived in Manila, and she will return next school year to teach at BJMBC again. We held a Christmas concert at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in the city of Malaybalay. God blessed the concert by bringing out over one hundred people from the church and school. The pastor preached a clear salvation message.

Language school resumes on January 11. I am anticipating taking the language proficiency assessment test for level one. Thank you for your continued prayers for me as I seek to communicate better in Tagalog. I am enjoying being able to comprehend more and more of what I hear around me. It is truly a blessing to be able to understand more of the preaching that I hear Sundays, Wednesdays, and in chapel at school.

Please pray for the following requests:

1. Opportunities to witness

2. More understanding of the Tagalog language.

3. God’s provision of my remaining support need. My level is currently at 84%.

4. Good health

5. Completion of my deputation itinerary for April/May 2011. I still have open dates in the schedule.

Thank you all very much for your continued prayers and faithful support.

Joyfully serving,

Jolea Jensen

GFA Missionary to the PHILIPPINES

www.joleajensen.com

Dear Praying Friends,

Two other girls and I ride in a taxi to our destination: a housing area where we will hold a Bible Club on Sunday afternoon. We get out and walk along the sidewalk, trying to avoid standing water and other objects that lie in our path. Parents and children stop and stare at me; one baby cries, but stops when her mother points and says, “Look! An American!” My friend buys a snack for the children at one of the many little sari-sari stores along the road, and then we gather children for our Bible Club. We walk down a narrow alley to homes where many are surprised that this American speaks their language. All the children go with us to an opening where part of an old house stands among the rubble. We climb the stairs and hold our club on what used to be the second floor. Roosters and chickens run around below, squawking for food while I teach songs in Tagalog to these precious children. My friend presents the Bible lesson and memory verse after singing time. This was my ministry opportunity on my very first Sunday back in the Philippines. I am praying that God will grant me more opportunities to help with children’s Bible Club ministries.

On Sundays I am helping at Beth Haven Baptist Church, a small church about a half hour from my apartment. One of my former students (a graduate from the BJMBC music program) directs the choir there and desires to nurture an appreciation for quality sacred music among her church mates. I am seeking to build up their music program by training seven young people in piano playing.

During the week, I am teaching eighteen piano students. Many of the college students are already involved in music ministries at their local churches. Please pray for wisdom as I seek to train these young people to be more effective in their individual church ministries. Many churches in the Philippines desire to have good music programs but lack trained musicians to lead or accompany the music. Many of our graduates are now leading the music program in their respective churches. Some graduates and current students have travelled out on mission trips to various parts of the Philippine Islands to train church people in music technique and in biblical music philosophy.

I have started language school and have already attended four sessions. I often attend classes early in the morning. To get to language school, I ride two jeepneys and walk through a market. My first morning going through the market, I figured the fish were fresh because they kept leaping up from the tables they were placed on! The venders had to watch them to make sure they did not flop off! I am enjoying my language study and am praying for more comprehension. It is still difficult for me to understand spoken Tagalog, especially if the person is speaking fast. I was excited one Sunday evening when I was able to comprehend about three-fourths of the message!

November 23-26, 2010, marked the 25th anniversary of Bob Jones Memorial Bible College. Dr. Bob Jones III and his wife spoke for several sessions during our Bible Conference. It was a blessing to see several of our alumni and to hear their testimonies of God’s working in their ministries all around the Philippines. We held a book sale for the alumni. Books are hard for many of the pastors to obtain, so everyone was excited to choose their books. Thank you so much to those of you who donated Bible study books or commentaries.

One day in early November, I was shopping at the mall with Laura Berrey. We had just reached the cash register when Laura received a text stating that there was a fire behind the church/school building. We went immediately home, as my apartment building was also close to the fire. Everyone had evacuated and were waiting across the street, watching the firemen. By the grace of God, the firemen contained the fire within a couple hours, and the buildings were not damaged. We praise God for safety.

Please pray for the following requests:

1. Opportunities to witness
2. More understanding of the Tagalog language. I am enjoying language school, but learning a new language is difficult at times.
3. God’s provision of my remaining support need. My level is currently at 84%.
4. Good health. I currently am recovering from a sinus/ear infection.
5. Completion of my deputation itinerary for April/May 2011. I still have open dates in the schedule.

Please direct all mail to the following address:

PO Box 120-UP
1101 Quezon City
Metro Manila, PHILIPPINES

May God grant each of you a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In the service of the King,

Jolea Jensen

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Dear Praying Friends:

Roosters crowing, dogs barking, cockroaches scurrying, horns honking, tricycles weaving around cars and busses and jeepneys, people selling their wares and crying out what they are selling as their walk by—these sounds awaken me to a new day and remind me that I’m at home in the Philippines. After not sleeping for 50 hours, due to jet lag and travel, I am also glad to have finally gotten a full nights’ rest!

My first day here was quite busy. I am in the process of moving into my new apartment. It is quite small, but perfect for my needs. Mrs. Bachorik and her youngest daughter helped me clean yesterday, and today I plan to start putting items where they belong. On our drive over to the apartment building yesterday afternoon, we were treated to a typical tropical downpour—the kind in which you get soaked even if you dash as fast as you can from the house to the car. Roads immediately started flooding, traffic slowed to a crawl, and children ran out to enjoy jumping in the current that was flowing through the streets. The rain and cloudy skies kept the weather nice and cool at 84 degrees.

Thank you very much for praying for safety in my travel and for adjustment to my life here. The cooler temperatures since I arrived have been very nice; the sun is out today, so it will probably grow warmer as the day progresses. I have enjoyed practicing my Tagalog and surprising my friends here with my new knowledge of the language. I even ordered my purified water yesterday by speaking all in Tagalog to the clerk at the water purification place!

The Lord gave me one opportunity to witness while on the plane. He placed a young Filipina next to me on the flight from Japan to Manila. She is a Catholic, so I asked her if she knew for sure if she would go to Heaven someday. She replied that she didn’t but would like to know. I brought out a Tagalog tract and shared with her verses from Scripture about true salvation and encouraged her to read her own Bible in the book of John. Please pray for Sherie to come to a true knowledge and understanding of salvation through Christ alone.

In my September letter, I mentioned a request to pray for my maternal grandmother, Marguerite West. Her house burned down in July, and she suffered a heart attack. She moved in with my family after a month in the hospital and nursing home. She has gone home to be with the Lord now. Thank you so much for your prayers for her during her illness. I am glad that I had time to be a home to spend with her before she went on to Heaven.

Please pray for the following requests:

1. Opportunities to witness
2. More understanding of the Tagalog language. I am looking forward to enrolling in language school this semester.
3. God’s provision of my remaining support need. My level is currently at 84%.
4. Good health
5. Completion of my deputation itinerary for April/May 2011. I still have open dates in the schedule.

Please direct all mail to the following address:

PO Box 120-UP
1101 Quezon City
Metro Manila, PHILIPPINES

Thank you very much for your prayers and support of my ministry. I am eagerly anticipating working with my new students at Bob Jones Memorial Bible College. It will be exciting to see what God has in store for this second semester.

In the service of the King,

Jolea Jensen
GFA Missionary to the Philippines
www.joleajensen.com