We have had a busy and productive couple of months since our last newsletter update. We have driven 2,700 miles and have been fortunate to visit 14 amazing churches during the last two months. We have also been able to attend several events, meeting hundreds of wonderful people and adding dozens to our team of partners. Every week brings us closer to meeting our budget goal, allowing us to return to Kenya. We are believing that we will be in a position to return to Kenya within the first few months of 2015. That is not a guarantee, but we feel hopeful that we are going to meet our goal by then. This journey of itinerating and fund-raising can be a bit difficult, as there are many ups and downs. There are times of great encouragement, but also times of discouragement, times when we have to focus on putting our trust in God’s provision and timing. We want to thank each of you that support us, especially during this time of waiting. Your continued support humbles, encourages, and challenges us. We love and appreciate you.
Churches Visited Since Last Update:
–Goshen New Life (Faison, NC)
–The Refuge (Conway, SC)
–New Destiny (Greenville,NC)
–North Myrtle Beach PH (North Myrtle Beach, SC)
–Wallace PH (Wallace, NC)
–Clinton Community (Clinton, NC)
–Gospel Tabernacle (Dunn, NC)
–The Bridge (Princeton, NC)
–South Strand AG (Murrells Inlet, SC)
–Hope Church (Clayton, NC)
–Higher Ground (Ahoskie, NC)
–New Covenant (New Bern, NC)
–Vaughan Chapel (Elm City, NC)
–Faith Outreach Church (Hampton, VA)
Events Attended:
–North Carolina Conference Campmeeting (Falcon, NC)
–Goldsboro/Greenville District Meeting (Goldsboro, NC)
–Missions FEST (Burlington, NC)
–Fayetteville/Clinton District Meeting (Eastover, NC)
Click here for more details about our ministry.
Interested in becoming a Partner?
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Recent Happenings…
Jessica is still enjoying the work that she has been able to do serving as Marketing Director at Falcon Children’s Home. In October, Jamie will begin tutoring a few of the students at FCH again this year. It has been great to have the opportunity to pour into this amazing ministry during our time Stateside.
The kids are great. In September Sophie started pre-school. She absolutely loves it and thrives in that environment. She is extremely social, so having a classroom full of friends is the perfect scenario for her. She enjoys making crafts, reading books, and of course playing with her peers. We expected her to have a difficult time making the transition, especially on the first day, but she has had no trouble at all.
Ethan is growing and seems to have made the transition from baby to little boy very quickly. He has started a class at The Little Gym in Fayetteville called “Super Beasts”…which is a perfectly fitting name for him. He is such a natural when it comes to climbing, flipping, balancing, and jumping…so he loves having free reign in a padded room with a plethora of things to climb on, hang from, and jump off of. He also loves having his own teacher, Ms. Miranda (he calls her Ms. Baranda).
In August we had our friends, the Nippers, visit us for a week! We lived next door to one another in Kenya during our first 3 years there, and became extremely close….more like family than friends. It was awesome to spend a week with them and their beautiful girls, and of course Sophie and Ethan loved having friends for the week. Later in August, we also had Melissa and Christian come into town for a Post-Wedding Reception with family and friends in NC. We had a pig-picking (it wouldn’t be a party in NC without a pig) and we had a great weekend with the newly-weds. This past weekend we got a last minute invite (3 hours before kick-off!) to the NC State-FSU football game. It was an incredible game (even though the Pack lost) and a fun-time with friends.
Upcoming…
In the coming weeks we have a lot to look forward to. We have a fairly full speaking schedule, which we are grateful for. In early October we are excited about going back to Emmanuel College for homecoming and the EC Singers Reunion. We are also excited about football season in the States. It is a small thing, but it is something we do miss when we are in Kenya. We are looking forward to going to a couple of Clemson games with Jessica’s family, and maybe even another NC State game as well. Going to D.C. for a Redskins game would be brilliant as well….but that one isn’t quite as possible. Of course, we are looking forward to the coming holiday season…which will be our last one with family for a while, so we want to make the most of it.
A Thought on Love…
We recently came across this beautiful and challenging thought from author and pastor, Fredrick Buechner, that we wanted to share with you:
The love for equals is a human thing–of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles.
The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful thing–the love for those who suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the failures, the unlovely. This is compassion, and it touches the heart of the world.
The love for the more fortunate is a rare thing–to love those who succeed where we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love of the poor for the rich. The world is always bewildered by its saints.
And then there is the love for the enemy–love for the one who does not love you but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The tortured’s love for the torturer. This is God’s love. It conquers the world.
Prayer Requests…
-That we would love God and others as He loves us, and that we will be faithful in all the areas that He is calling us.
-For continued direction, favor, and wisdom in ministry, both here and in Kenya.
-For our marriage to grow stronger every day.
-For Sophie and Ethan…that they will feel a meaningful connection to our ministry and that they both will grow to love and serve Jesus. For the Nation of Kenya, and the individuals, ministries, and churches we support.
-That we will continue making strong connections with partners and will soon be able to return to Kenya.
-For our extended families as we prepare to make the transition back to Kenya.
-For good health, safety and protection.
Can we pray for you? Please send us your requests at jamandjessdunning@gmail.com.
Grace and Peace,
Jamie, Jessica, Sophie, and Ethan
THE DUNNINGS IN KENYA 