{FRIENDS & FAMILY}

I write this with great excitement for the countless opportunities Father continues to put before me. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians "But, as it is written, What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, not the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him." Just today our team went to Ghana International School. This was the school everyone said we would never get into the full school day, so they only allowed us in the morning devotions. Now we are invited to teach PE classes everyday, attend service clubs every Wednesday, and even teach in their Primary Schools. I am reminded that when people say, "Never" our Father's power will always surpass it!

Everyone one of the Missionaries on the Pais Project are required to mentor and disciple 3 students. This would make sense as our Mission Statement is "Missionaries Making Missionaries". This means that over 70 Christ following students are being poured into across Ghana. For these students we put on a conference called M4. This conference challenges them to take God's word and be a missionary to their own friends, family, and community as well as giving them practical tools to do so. Who is in charge of this conference you may ask.......well yours truly.

I have an opportunity to make this conference far better than it has ever been before. Not on my own accord of course, but rather through sowing into the field the Lord has given me. Pais has offered me the chance to go and learn about this conference from the Great BritainTeams, who have gotten their students in the next Olympics they have done this conference so well. But this would require raising more funds. 

I am so grateful to those that have consistently supported me in this journey. I am asking that you spread the word to those who want to be involved in making missionaries of this generation and raising up young leaders to be the positive example we need. I need $ 600 dollars for the flight and $ 200 for expenses while I am there. I know if the Lord wants me there HE will make it possible. 

If you would like to support me or know someone who would....

please send the money to: 

6293 Pacific Pointe, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 

{with the checks made out to Jessica Wonser}

Thank you so much for making my stay in Ghana possible, and allowing me to be apart of the BIGGER picture of what Father is doing.

Jessica Wonser

Some girls in the neighborhood showing me how its done!

Teaching the African's how white girls dance

Praying with the students at Ghana International School

This is our hearts desire...students praying for other students...missionaries making missionaries

Yep, this is my job.

We got to serve by cleaning out a room for one of the teachers at
 Ghana International School

BEFORE

AFTER

Doing Devotions with some of the students. This Netta, she was born to be a leader.

Some of the beautiful faces of students who passionately love Father

Doing devotions at the beach....tough life...I know

the {ART} of sitting.

Why do you try so hard? 

Why do you feel that you must earn my love?

Why do you think everything I ask of you must be hard? 

If I were to have sit down conversation with the Creator of the Universe I am pretty sure it would go something like this. Him showing me that I make everything so hard, and all he wants me to be is like Mary anointing his feet. In essence He is saying:

Let ME help you.

Let ME show you a love that redeems. 

Let ME remind you that I have already earned everything for you.

I never really understood that story of Mary. I mean it sounds nice. When I think of her pouring out her precious perfume, I think how did she know what to do? did she know she was suppose to do that? I always make it something that should be figured out or accomplished. Not realizing that as you get closer and closer to the heart of Father, it is something that just comes from you. No one told Mary what to do. She couldn’t help BUT do it. It came from the outpouring of her heart. In her mind nothing else mattered, but sitting in Jesus’s sweet presence and adoring him.

That is where Jesus has brought me. He has reminded me that I have tried and tried and tried to earn what i cannot earn. Through that I have become so tired and weary, so confused and frustrated, and completely and utterly unworthy...but isn’t that what I already am? 

As I sit at His feet now He smiles and reminds me this is where He has always wanted me. That in my coming and going and trying, I am missing all the beauty that He has for me. 

In light of sitting at my Creator’s feet I have seen the picture He has always intended for me, but I have constantly been missing. I have seen prayer answered like never before, because I had to rely on Him to answer. I have seen doors open to schools that were said would never open. I have seen the freedom of the cross. 

....as you read the prayers answered may you not just say, “that’s amazing!” but may you sit at our Abba’s feet and thank him for your answered prayers, and thank Him for His faithfulness:

• My mom needed surgery on her knee. we prayed that she wouldn’t need surgery, and now she no longer needs surgery. We are now praying for a full recovery.
• We prayed for my friends stomach illness, and she said as soon as we prayed she felt a complete difference. We are now praying for full healing and know Father will do it.
• We had team members that didn’t have money for transportation. That morning a teacher gave each of us 5 cedes (dollars) each. 
• We prayed for more availability in Ghana International School because we were told we could only meet before school starts. We now have teachers that have invited us into their classrooms during school hours, and are planning to join a school field trip to serve the community.
• As we have prayed for specific people the Lord has brought us to certain passages and words that when we tell those people they say that it was exactly the word they needed to hear.
• Before I visit a team I pray for them. The Lord brings to my mind certain things that need to be addressed that I know nothing about. One particular time the Team Leader said it was the exact issue he was praying about the night before. 

This is only the beginning! As I read 1 Corinthians 2:9 “ What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, not the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who LOVE him.” I was in such awe. That is me and you. God has prepared far greater things than this, and all He asks me to do is sit at His feet and watch as He declares and fulfills His promises. 

To say this is freeing is an understatement, because to be honest I was getting tired and warn out. Now I feel stronger and more empowered then ever. Nothing has changed except my perspective and position. I still get up from around 4:30 to 5:20 on a regular basis, and my arthritis has good and bad days...but as I sat in church the other day I began to thank God for those very things. In that and through that I am caused to sit and Jesus’s feet saying, “I can’t do this without you.” 

 A perfect example of this was when I was asked to lead a group of 25 kids in a 30 minute devotion 2 minutes before I was suppose to start. Everything in me wanted to pass it off to someone else, but as I did it I felt the beauty of what it is to let Father lead. At the end of the lesson one of my team members complimented me on the lesson and said I must have prepared it in advance...to which I laughed knowing only the Lord could make that happen.

I have been blessed to hear of students that I have lead in the past understand this very thing. One girl back in Texas, who is quite shy and didn’t like to speak in front of people, got up in front of her entire church and talked of the prayer walks we went on last year. Along with that she encouraged the entire church to do the same, which they all did that Sunday. She gets it. 

She is sitting alongside me saying, “Jesus, here I am use me.” 

I don’t know what questions you have for Father, or better yet what questions He has for you, but I will say that when you Seek Him you will Find Him. I know this is just beginning of the Mighty things the Lord will do in my life this year. Please continue to pray for our teams as we teach students how to study God’s word and empower them to do the same with their friends. Pray that we would never hesitate to share what the Lord has done in our lives and teams. Also let us know how we can pray for you and support you. We are community and we want to be actively involved in supporting each other. 

As I end I think of this song: ‘The more I SEEK you, the more I FIND you. The more I find you, the more I love you. I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hand, lay back against you and breath, feel your heartbeat.’

Friends, there is no place I would rather be.

Jess

Don’t forget to check out my video’s and pictures on my blog: http://jwonser.blogspot.com/ 

[this IS africa]

SHAKA....teaching the local kids some worthwhile things

Keneshie. a local transport station

One of the schools we will work in

At the Orphanage with Erika and Kobby.

RED light GREEN light

GHANA

a WORTHY struggle

 I always thought....

STRUGGLES are meant to be AVOIDED. 

they mean I have FAILED and done something WRONG. 

and that I might as well GIVE UP and try again.

but where has this definition come from? Father God says to consider it pure joy when I experience struggles of any kind {JAMES 1:2} Why can’t I just share in the joy. in the happy times. I like smiling and laughing....can’t I just have that part Jesus?

To say Africa is not a struggle would be a complete and utter oxymoron. I am pretty sure when you look up the synonym to Africa, struggles would be right next to it. Everything in me wants to write something that brings the warm and comfortable feeling that I long for. BUT in my search for those thoughts I realize that I don’t grow in those. They come and go and then I search for more fuzzy feelings.

I am currently sitting next to one of the first year Pais missionaries. She is writing a lesson plan for Friday, and this thought completely overwhelms her.  I watched, gave ideas, and watched her struggle through this process. She looked up at me from time to time hoping I would just do it for her. I then realized this is how I look at Father. I say, “This is to hard. I can’t do this.” And He sits and waits. Just like her I pace back and forth, let out yells of frustration, and reasons why I should not have to endure such things. Like her I then come back and start to write my lesson. Realizing the struggle was all part of it. That the beauty is not in the ease of the task, rather the understanding behind it. Knowing [full well] that suffering produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us [me] to shame because God’s heart has been poured into our [my] hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us [me]. Romans 5: 3-5

The last seven weeks have come and gone so quickly. I have learned so much, slept so little, taught often, but spoke little. Each day is a new moment to realize why Father has called me here. Not to prove my worth, or show what gifts I can offer. Rather recognize that through the struggle I realize I am nothing without HIM. That the moment I feel like I have lost it all, is the same breath I feel completely and utterly embraced by Him. 

Through the struggle I have learned what it is to LIVE SIMPLY with my Lord.

{without hesitation. free of judgement. with a soul at peace. capturing moments of such pure and utter joy. lacking nothing. where being still is no longer something I need to find time to do. rather it is WHAT I do. feeling full satisfaction not by what I have done, but what HE is doing, and knowing I am LOVED. purely and fully}

The other day I sat with one of our teams that started doing devotions with students before they leave for school.The group has doubled, and we hope and pray that it will continue to. It was so inspiring to worship the Lord with these students. We got to walk with them to school, and pray with them before they entered into their classrooms, but the best was yet to come. As we walked back to the church we were greeted by yet another student. She had left everything she had behind to find us. This sweet girl named Abigael, sought us out because she wanted prayer, and knew we could do that for her. 

So as I struggle each morning to get up at 4:45 am, or realize that my feet will never really be clean or not swollen, that I will sweat more than any human being truly should, get bitten by mosquitos and red ants, and that I will be pushed, shoved, and hit my head each time I enter a “tro tro” (public transport).....I remember that it is worth it. I get to watch people encounter Jesus for the first time, I get to empower young people to rise to the call Father has for them, and everyday I see the joy of the Lord embraced through the struggle.

I have no clue what each day will hold, and am learning to find such peace and joy in that simple fact. I travel a lot and get the opportunity to visit all of our six different teams in Ghana. I help with lesson planning, communicate with churches, mentor, and help spread the vision of what Christ has called us here to do. Just today I visited a school and was amazed by how Father opened so many doors. It started with just helping with Chapel on Wednesday morning, to developing a choir and soccer team, and supporting several different clubs, and meeting up with students during their lunch time. Sometimes I wonder why I am amazed. This is the God we serve. This is what He does we call upon His name, and expect Him to show up. This is pure joy.

Friends and family your prayers have and will continue to work wonders in many lives here. Please continue to bring up the teams, our health, the students we are reaching, and the churches we are partnering with. Thank you for sharing in this journey with me. I love and miss you all very dearly.

Jessica

I have an address now!!! It is a PO BOX of one of the churches that is letting me use it. I can’t wait to receive my first piece of mail.....

PO BOX 16135, KIA-GHANA

UN comfortably COMFORTABLE.

[Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever HEBREWS 13:8]

UN comfortably COMFORTABLE.

This word has taken on a whole new meaning here in a land called africa. 

Where there is nothing familiar except my Father.

Nothing predictable except His presence.

And nothing so uncomfortably comfortable 

Dear Ones,

Oh what a journey these last few weeks have been. I literally got off the plane in Accra, Ghana feeling like a fish out of water that was told to swim a marathon  (if fish really swam marathons). Overwhelming is an understatement for all the thoughts and feelings I was experiencing. This town is always loud and always busy. The people in Accra get up around 4:30 or 5:00am every morning and get to bed around 11 or 12 at night. They spend most of their time in traffic for 2 hours going to a place that should take 20. But the most evident and prominent thing I noticed is that they know how to worship our Lord with everything they are. They are like a kid on Christmas morning with every church service they attend. When they worship they truly WORSHIP. Nothing else matters in that moment, they just dance and sing before their Jesus. Scripture is always on their lips and in their prayers. They have taken His word and written it so intimately on their hearts that they can’t wait to share with you. Needless to say, I will learn and be stretched in this new fish bowl. 

My first couple of days here were spent getting ready for training of the incoming missionaries. I have learned what it is to be so grateful for color copies and copy machines in general, as it took me three days to get 40 information packs done. We officially started our Foundational Training on the 29th of August. We have 30 missionaries that we are training to work in six different churches, and hoping to reach over 30 different schools. When we are in worship sometimes I just sit back and think about how incredible this new season is. To know that God would chose me to be apart of something so big leaves me awe struck.

To describe this past week as eventful would be an understatement. I smile just thinking about all the different adventures this week actually entailed. For Foundational Training we are living in a house together. We lost electricity for a day and half and had no water for two and half days. This makes for interesting showers, cleaning dishes, and toilet experiences. I have learned what it is to be grateful for all types of water {drinking, shower, toilet, dishwashing, and hand washing} oh how glorious each one is! The schedule changed literally every day and I learned a whole new meaning to being flexible. Along with that I have had over 30 mosquito bites, and we had a poisonous snake as a visitor. Through it all, time and time again, I realized that nothing and I mean nothing can stop us from worshiping Jesus, and that was clear from day 1. Power or no power, water or no water, Jesus will be praised. 

I have learned that My Lord’s mercies are new every single day. That although each second is so uncertain He will always remain. Each person we will be able to reach will because we are totally and utterly reliant on His provision. For that vision I will gladly be uncomfortably comfortable. 

The song by Jesus Culture puts it best:

[ I surrender]

All to you, I surrender 

Everything

Every part of me

All to you, I surrender

All to you, I surrender

All of my dreams

All of me

I surrender

I surrender

cause I trust you God

I surrender

All my hope is in you

and I surrender

Thank you for making this opportunity possible and for the continued support and prayers. I am more grateful then you will ever know. Please pray that I will continue to surrender and lay everything I am at His feet. That He will be able to use me mightily as I live uncomfortably comfortable for His name sake.

GO and make disciples.....

answered prayer. BAPTISM

Namibia, AFRICA

Leslie & Steven

MARTHA. i get the honor to serve with her in Ghana next year

Roslin. She fearlessly loves our Lord

Morning Assembly

Edison & his buddies that wanted to be in the picture

Roslin's Baptism

JOY.

The Rise to Shine {Abstinence & AIDS club}

Our Team + George

{ FULLY }

full reliance 

filled with boldness

uninhibited obedience

reckless following

sweetly surrendered

Father focused

loved lavished

alive.

Dearest Community.

I am overwhelmingly blessed. I am blessed by the California sunshine, sweet smiles of family, time with my Jesus, tasty coffee, the sound of the ocean's strength, divine appointments, fellowship, and so much more. Thankfulness is a posture I have embraced in the season of living life as the Lord has intended me to. I have seen such beautiful hearts in the places I have been. I am here to proclaim how the Lord so faithfully has answered my prayers and the longing of my heart. 

[ Texas ]

Through the past year I have seen my heavenly Father's heart beat for community. To have people welcome me, a stranger, into their home without reservation and complete trust is what community is. I got to encourage young people in this very same heart beat. In leaving I saw a fulfillment of my hearts desire. One student is faithfully serving during her summer in the children's ministry, and continued to give God the glory when He blessed her with a $16,000 scholarship for college. Another student is going to the Honor Academy to learn how to best use her gifts to glorify our Lord. I could write forever about students living life to the fullest in the town I already miss so much.

[ Africa ]

I have never worked alongside such God fearing, diligent working, and selfless serving individuals as I did in Africa. We had a team of 16 and ten of them were under the age of 16. I saw 14 year old boys lead as men, and 14 year old girls follow after the call put upon their hearts. I taught these kids new ways to dig into Father's word, and in turn saw such a hunger and thirst for our Lord. They taught others to do the same. The Lord also heard my heart beat, and gave me such a sweet time of promises fulfilled. Two years ago He told me that I would be apart of baptism's, but not in Orange County. So when I shared in baptism's on July 4th, and saw over 10 African students commit their lives to Jesus, I was overwhelmed. 

We were also able to establish an Abstinence club called Rise to Shine. This club will now meet every Monday for the entire school year! My desire was to see these kids learning and growing in AIDS education, and this program will do that very thing. One of our very own Huntington Beach kids will be living there until November and keep up with the club. How precious is our Lord's plans! Every Monday we got to feed over 500 kids and help teach bible lessons with the local teachers. I watched as these kids were blessed for being poor in spirit, for the promise is that THEIRS is the kingdom of heaven.

So what is living FULLY alive? For me it looks like this.....

On July 1st we went on a prayer walk. We are sent off in pairs and called to GO where the Lord leads. Connor and I went. As I was listening the Lord kept telling me to let Connor lead. 

'He is 14 Lord, shouldn't I lead? 

'No. Let him lead.'

 So I did.

As his footsteps stopped in front of a house, I smiled knowing that the Lord had called us to that house. We met two nice ladies that we prayed for, and one shared that her kids did not know the Lord. I asked if we could speak to one that we saw outside, and she said yes. As we walked over to her I knew she would encounter our Savior that day. So we sat on the ground next to her and shared how her Lord passionately loves her, and will ALWAYS be there. We asked her if she wanted this Lord to reign in her life, and she said yes. After we finished praying with her I was reminded of Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice, again I say, Rejoice!" So we did just that. We REJOICED knowing that we will see that sweet face in heaven one day. Later that week Connor got baptized strongly based on that one encounter with our Lord and living FULLY alive.

Imagine if we did not stop there? Imagine if I did not let him lead? There are so many times I follow my flesh, but when I listen to the spirit and walk in obedience THAT is when I am FULLY alive. I am beyond excited for what Father has for me in Ghana. Thank you for enabling me to continue to walk in obedience. I only need to raise about $500 more dollars and I am off on August 16th. The Lord has called me to live FULLY alive, and I will try my best to have full reliance, filled with boldness, with uninhibited obedience, reckless following, sweetly surrendered, Father focused, with HIS love that is lavished. 

because HE is worth every part,

Jessica Wonser

Jessica Michelle Wonser

SURRENDER .

MAY 2011

Everything I am for YOUR kingdom’s cause...

sur-ren-der: to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another.

{LOVED ONES}

That one line encompasses the cry of my heart. To surrender all my expectations and plans, and give everything I am for HIS kingdom’s cause. As I look back upon this year my mind fills with adoration on who my Jesus is. I have seen over 10 students come to know Him for the first time, and seen others truly take ownership of their Father’s calling. I think of Alle Austin, a senior at Judson High School. After a couple of weeks of inviting her to church I saw a fire light within her. Since then she has gotten involved in our youth band, brought both her brothers to church, lead several devotions for her peers, and raise over $500 for relief in Japan. The Lord has been so faithful in showing me the fruit of what it is to invest in today’s youth.

This year we have been able to establish in Judson High School a weekly student led devotion and prayer meeting and have student lead service projects. Just a couple weeks ago we had a student cry out to his peers challenging them to be lights on their campus. I challenged him to do that same devotion during their lunch period. He now preaches every Tuesday during lunch. The stories go on and on, just today a student attended church for the first time. God is so faithful friends!

WHY SURRENDER?

When I think about this word and my theme for 2011 I can’t help but think about the story of Mary and Martha in John 12:1-8. I wonder how often in life I have played the role of Martha. Always trying to make things happen and fit things in the way I think they should. When all the while my Father has asked me to surrender and lie at His feet. Mary was compelled to do just that. Everything in her wanted to surrender her plans, money, and time just to be where Father wanted her. The Lord has called me to do the same. To surrender and return to Africa, and bask in the beautiful plan He has as I worship at His feet.

AFRICA.

This summer I will take two trips to Africa. The first will be on June 23rd . I will help lead a missions trip of 12 high school students to Namibia. We will be working with the local elementary school, Oanob. Along with work in the schools we will be praying and providing food for the poorest of poor in Block e. I can’t wait to serve the beautiful people of Namibia.

The second trip will be from August 22, 2011-June 15, 2012. I will be in Ghana,

Accra. I will be serving with the same Pais organization, and will be leading a team of 4-6 people. We will be working with a local church and visiting an AID’s orphanage weekly. Along with that we will lead short term missions to nearby villages. Our goal is to take God’s word into the rural parts of town and strengthen already developed church families. Lastly, we will mentor and lead bible studies in more than five local high schools.

YOUR ROLE.

Several times when sharing my story people ask me, “What are your needs?” PRAYER is always my first answer. I am constantly reminded that this battle is real, and greater is HE who is in me,than he who is in the world. Along with prayer, I need financial support. Below you will see the financial breakdown. As I look at the number I am tempted to get overwhelmed, but I know my Jesus is always faithful. He has called me, and He will provide. As I think of next year my heart is filled with great joy. I get to serve my Lord and tell of His great love and saving grace! To that I will surrender and say....everything I am for His kingdom’s cause.

jess

Finances: 

[for the whole year] 

Flights

$3,300 

Health Insurance $700 

Phone $800 

Medication $300

 In country costs $1,000

TOTAL: $6,100

Send support to: 6293 Pacific Pointe, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 | checks made out to: Jessica Wonser

EMAIL:

misswonser@yahoo.com

Website:

http://jwonser.wordpress.com/

TELEPHONE

818.429.7669

GHANA, AFRICA & NAMIBIA, AFRICA