My name is Jacob Geerlings, and on August 24 I leave for orientation with the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This program is designed for young adults in the church to get involved for a short-term (one-year) mission opportunity, allowing us to see what the church is doing abroad, to participate in local churches' responses to both the gospel and the needs in their community, and to take time for spiritual formation, simple living, and discernment. The YAV program is a great fit for me. God works in this program, evidenced by the wisdom of the people I see return from it, and so without knowing yet "what I'm doing with my life," I take my next step in the direction of the YAVs in Kenya.
YAVs in Kenya work in partnership with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), one of the fastest-growing denominations in the world. YAVs of previous years have been stationed in classrooms, orphanages, church offices, interdenominational organizations, and halfway houses.
I invite you to participate. To support my trip:
- Pray. For Jesus to work in me and through me, that I may be a faithful servant in a new place.
- Stay in touch--send me email if you wish to subscribe to the newsletter that will go out in addition to this blog. It's heartening to know people care.
- Go to www.pcusa.org/yav/support.htm. Click my name under "Kenya", second to last name on the list. It should say "YAV, Kenya, Position 4" (this website). Then click on "give $." I need to raise $10,000 for the program to cover my expenses. The church doesn't get much money for the people they put to staff orphanages, I suspect. And I need to eat, live, and keep the Dept of Education's student loans division off my back.
