about me
I’m Jenny Goins. I’m 20 and in love with Jesus. I live life with Haitian people. And love it.
I love to go on new adventures and experience new things. This blog is to keep everyone updated on the exciting new adventures Jesus sends me on, and to reminisce all of the things He has allowed me to do so far! I can’t wait to be in Haiti full-time updating this, but until then I will be content sitting wherever Jesus would have me.
my story:
I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 5 years old after an Awana program at our church. As I grew up I began to make my own plans for my life. The usual for a kid, dolphin trainer, school teacher, stay at home mom, etc. I remember when I was still in grade school driving down the road with my mom and telling her exactly how my life would happen. High school, college, married, family, etc. I even went so far when I was younger and prayed, telling Jesus I would do anything He asked me to do except be a missionary. The thought of that scared me, I’d never live in another country!
Needless to say, my senior year of high school things weren’t going as planned. I wasn’t exactly getting into the colleges I wanted to, and I suddenly had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. For my senior trip in December 2008 God opened up the door for my mom and I to travel to Haiti. While we were in Haiti for a week, my heart did a total 180. I fell in love with the country, I fell more in love with Jesus and through a series of incredible events, I realized that I was called into full time ministry. When I got back to the States, I was ready to do something! But I had no idea where to start. I went through the mail that I had gotten while I was in Haiti and I had an application for YWAM-Denver. I had looked into YWAM and thought it was pretty ironic that I had an application for a school that teaches you and helps you understand the purpose of your life. So, after a ton of prayer I applied and heard back in just a few days. I had been accepted, but my finances were pending. No problem, I had 10 months to raise $7,000. Yeah, that’s a ton of money for a 16 year old girl who hadn’t even graduated from high school yet. I prayed about it, finished high school in March, got a full time job as a nanny. For the next 10 months I worked any opportunity that was presented. Babysitting, cleaning, mowing, you name it, I did it. That definitely wasn’t enough, with the help of amazing people all over the country I raised the money and then some!! On October 5,2009 my 17 year old self, 2 checked bags and a carry on boarded an 8am flight to Denver Colorado to take part in 5 of the most rewarding months of my life, thus far.
While I was in Colorado I took part in a Discipleship Training School through Youth With A Mission. Our first three months we had intense training. How to hear God’s voice effectively, how to take part in healthy relationships, spiritual warfare, kingdom culture, we studied the character and nature of God, we had an entire week on missions, it was spectacular.
During that time I made the most incredible friends, they are my family. I learned so much about God, who He is, and what He wants to do with me. On Christmas day of 2009 I left for my outreach part of the DTS. Myself and 17 others flew to Colombia, South America for 7 weeks. While we were there we lived in 3 different cities, did ministry in many parks, prayed with many people, did various things in lots of churches and actually had the opportunity to help lead a mini DTS for kids from the age of 8 or 9 all the way up to people in their middle 20′s. I met people who changed my life in Colombia. I made friends that I still am able to keep in contact with via facebook & skype. It’s been incredible seeing God work in their lives, some of the have even joined YWAM in Colombia!
During that time I made the most incredible friends, they are my family. I learned so much about God, who He is, and what He wants to do with me. On Christmas day of 2009 I left for my outreach part of the DTS. Myself and 17 others flew to Colombia, South America for 7 weeks. While we were there we lived in 3 different cities, did ministry in many parks, prayed with many people, did various things in lots of churches and actually had the opportunity to help lead a mini DTS for kids from the age of 8 or 9 all the way up to people in their middle 20′s. I met people who changed my life in Colombia. I made friends that I still am able to keep in contact with via facebook & skype. It’s been incredible seeing God work in their lives, some of the have even joined YWAM in Colombia!
When I finished with my YWAM school and moved back to Indiana I wasn’t sure what to do with my life until June when I would intern with Awana. The week after I returned God opened up the perfect job. I got a job at Family Christian Bookstore. I had the greatest boss and wonderful co-workers. I was able to share with many people about my time at YWAM and about Haiti. I learned about many ministries and actually made some great friendships from customers that would come in. I loved working at FCS. When June finally rolled around I took off to take part in a two month internship in the 24-7 (youth ministry) department of Awana International. Woah, my time there was wonderful.
Not only did I learn so much about ministry from a totally new perspective (in an office!), but I grew so much in my walk with Jesus. I made friendships that I will keep forever, the three girls I interned with, the guys that organized the internship, my spiritual mentor and a ton of other people on staff. The Lord opened up opportunities for us to do things that we were totally not expecting and blessed the projects that we had actually planned on.
Since my internship, I’ve been to Haiti once more. While I was there God totally renewed my passion for His people and He put me in contact with different people who I know will be vital when I do move there someday. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about Haiti. I’m anxiously awaiting my time to be there. Until then, I am wherever God puts me. Currently, I’m living back at home with my family. I’m going to college and getting my degree in education. God is using me to reach out to people at my school and share His love with them. He has allowed me to start a Saturday morning Bible study with three girls, who I believe will make a huge eternal impact. He is using me at my church in youth group, and in preparation with a college ministry. I am involved with a few different ministries in Haiti. I love that Jesus is using me. I am so unworthy to even say His name, and He is using me. I will never understand it, but I will always be honored.
SPRING 2012
I moved to Haiti on January 10 with YWAM. I committed to staff for 2 years, and then felt I should stay for only 6 months. 6 weeks into my commitment God showed me I wasn't where He wanted me and quickly moved me 5 hours north to Cap-Haitien. I live in an orphanage with 100 children. I love it, but I'm still desperately seeking God's will for my life. I believe He has big things in store for me in Haiti. I love living life with the Haitian people, I wouldn't have it any other way :)
SUMMER 2013
I'm now officially helping to coordinate the launch of Awana in the entire country of Haiti! I have a beautiful promise ring from an incredible guy. :) We blessed to be used by Jesus through micro-loan ministry, food distribution, hosting teams, and Christmas Bags for Haiti. God is blowing me away with His love and faithfulness. And I'm so in love with all I get to do every day! It's always different, like the sweetest adventure.
SPRING 2012
I moved to Haiti on January 10 with YWAM. I committed to staff for 2 years, and then felt I should stay for only 6 months. 6 weeks into my commitment God showed me I wasn't where He wanted me and quickly moved me 5 hours north to Cap-Haitien. I live in an orphanage with 100 children. I love it, but I'm still desperately seeking God's will for my life. I believe He has big things in store for me in Haiti. I love living life with the Haitian people, I wouldn't have it any other way :)
SUMMER 2013
I'm now officially helping to coordinate the launch of Awana in the entire country of Haiti! I have a beautiful promise ring from an incredible guy. :) We blessed to be used by Jesus through micro-loan ministry, food distribution, hosting teams, and Christmas Bags for Haiti. God is blowing me away with His love and faithfulness. And I'm so in love with all I get to do every day! It's always different, like the sweetest adventure.
‘WHEN I STAND BEFORE GOD AT THE END OF MY LIFE, I WOULD HOPE THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE A SINGLE BIT OF TALENT LEFT, AND COULD SAY, ‘I USED EVERYTHING YOU GAVE ME’. - ERMA BOMBECK