Jahswel & Cheyenne Mpagaja Newsletter (Fall 2024)

Greetings! Did you have a good summer? We hope you enjoyed it!

SUMMER UPDATE

We first want to start by thanking you for your prayers for us as we prepared for our trip to the Dominican Republic and during our time there. We ended up having a team of 18 teens, five adults, plus Jedidiah and Lazarus. Jahswel was with the team day and night during the Boot Camp intensive training, which was about 10 days here in Florida, and I was home with the kids. Several of the team members were sick during Boot Camp, adjusting to a new environment; sleeping in a tent, running an Obstacle Course every morning, washing laundry by hand, etc. Jahswel felt sorry seeing the team members sick and struggling, and it was a bit discouraging to the team. One of the girls even went home because she needed more time to heal. As the days went on, the team members got better! Three days before leaving for the DR, the team was finally back at full strength, which was the encouragement that they all needed to finish Boot Camp strong.

Four days before we were to fly, the boys and I were there for lunch to visit Jahswel and the team. I was wearing Lazarus in the carrier on my chest, and I did not see underneath the brush where I was walking. I stepped on a root and completely rolled my ankle and fell to the ground, doing my best not to fall on Lazarus. He bonked his head a little bit but was fine—praise the Lord for that. And, had I not been wearing construction boots (that is required on property during Boot Camp), I would’ve wrecked my ankle pretty good. Praise the Lord it wasn’t worse than it was! I struggled to accept that this happened (I haven’t fallen in YEARS), when I still had so much to do before our trip, while also taking care of my toddler and three-month old. But I was greatly encouraged by my dear friend who was so kind to send me a medical boot that arrived the very next day. This blessed me so much! I managed to get everything done and we joined up with the team at the airport.

We arrived in the DR after a smooth two-hour flight with all our duffel bags. We had about a 40 minute bus ride to the Child Evangelism Fellowship campground where we stayed for the duration of the trip. We faced with a couple of challenges upon arrival, one being that no one there spoke English! But thankfully, one of our leaders spoke Spanish, so she was quite busy keeping up communication between us and the host missionaries. Jahswel was also able to use his phone to translate and communicate. We had a slow start getting our project underway. But the team ended up completing the three projects we were given: painting the tires around the playground area, repainting the basketball court, and building screens for windows and doors in several of the buildings around the property. The team members were proud, and our host missionaries were very grateful for the work they accomplished!

We were also given ample opportunity to present the Gospel! The team ended up doing a total of 11 presentations in different churches! That was a highlight for the team members as they enjoyed ministering to children and adults using dramas, puppets, sharing personal testimonies, and singing songs. We believe many seeds were planted in the hearts of the Dominican people that we met.

We were also blessed to enjoy Dominican food at every meal, as the ladies in the camp kitchen cooked for us all! It was an adjustment for all our stomachs, to say the least, but the food was DELICIOUS! It was such a cool opportunity to experience the culture.

I personally struggled at first to find the balance of taking care of the kids while also spending time with the team. After the first few days of hauling the double stroller around, trying to nurse the baby in the humidity of the Caribbean, and feeling like I could never really connect with the team members as I missed out on most of the programs having to leave early for nap time and bedtime, the Lord reminded me why I came—to support my husband as he leads and ministers to the team members, and to take care of our boys. That is my ministry, and it looks different than everyone else’s. I’m irreplaceable to my family. Any additional opportunities to serve were an added blessing. And as I embraced that, it was like the Lord then started giving me those chances to have good conversations with my fellow lady leaders, and with the girls on the team, sharing my heart with them as a wife, mother and missionary. And the days when I needed it the most, the Lord reminded me that He sees me. He would bring someone to encourage me by letting me know how thankful they were that I had come on the team. I learned that even when I struggle to feel like I have a purpose, I am still a walking testimony as I simply take care of my family day to day and embrace the role God has given me. And the Dominican ladies adored Jedidiah and Lazarus, which was a great blessing to me!

TESTIMONY FROM JAHSWEL

Through the time in the DR, I saw God doing great work in the lives of some of the team members. They shared their testimonies with me, and God used me to encourage them, counsel them, and point them to the Word of God and how God wants them to live their lives as Christians. One of the team members struggled with anger; he used to get revenge when someone disappointed him, hitting back with words or even physically. He didn’t know how to control his emotions in the moment. But I can testify that I saw him change before my eyes. One day at the end of the trip, he was disappointed and angry with some fellow team members. But instead of saying something bad back to them, he humbled himself and stepped away, which was a great change in his behavor, because it was so hard for him to do that before. In that moment, I was truly a witness to the fruit of the work God did in his heart.

Before the trip I was nervous to take the team from American culture of which I’m still learning, to a completely new culture. But I saw God giving me peace, and He directed me. He gave me words to communicate between my team and the nationals in the DR. And I had such a great time beyond what I expected. All in all, I learned so much as the head leader of this team. I also believe that it’s because of all your prayers that were answered abundantly in the time we had in the DR with my team. And we appreciate you all for that. People in the DR were open and happy to receive the Gospel from our presentations. That was encouraging to all our team members to see the joy on their faces during our presentations. We felt so united in Christ regardless of speaking different languages. Your support for us is doing great in the Kingdom of God. May God bless you.

IT WAS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU!

We were able to stay with my family up in York, Pennsylvania, for two weeks in August. It was a wonderful time with a full schedule! Our hearts were full being able to meet with many of you in person to catch up, and to share what God did over the summer. We love you all dearly and are so grateful knowing that you are holding the rope for us!

JAHSWEL IS TEACHING

The summer program is over, and the school year is starting! Jahswel has been asked to teach the Poetical Books class here at Teen Missions’ Sojourner School of Ministry (formerly called BMW--Bible, Missionary and Work Training Center) for this fall term. Teaching is something Jahswel is passionate about. It was a great joy to him at the Bible schools in Malawi, and now it is his first time teaching American students! He is nervous and excited all at the same time. He is excited to connect with the students as they learn the word of God together. He is already learning so much as he is studying the poetical books--Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations. Please pray for him as he studies and teaches the word of God!

AT HOME WITH THE BOYS

Jedidiah and Lazarus continue to grow and change and learn new things on a daily basis! Jeddy will be three-years old in December, and Lazarus is a big boy weighing in at 19 lbs at five months old! Jeddy is right by my side in the kitchen wanting to help make food every day, and most of the time you will find Lazarus in the carrier on my back, his favorite place to be (and allows me to be hands-free)! I love our babies so very much!

WOULD YOU PARTNER WITH US?

We are grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and support as we continue this journey serving the Lord with Teen Missions. We wanted to share that we are currently at 62% of our monthly financial support goal. Our goal is to have $3,500 of monthly support from those who choose to partner with us, and right now we are at $2,200. As we press forward in the work God has called us to, we ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with us financially. If you have ever wanted to be a missionary or serve in ministry but are unable to do so at this time, partnering with us is a powerful way to expand the Kingdom of God. Your partnership is vital in helping us reach the people and fulfill the mission before us, allowing Jahswel to teach at the Sojourner School of Ministry, lead summer teams, and invest in the lives of teens God has placed in our path, not to mention putting food on our table and gas in our car! Every gift, no matter the size, makes a significant impact. Thank you for standing with us!

God bless you as you continue to serve Him!

Love, The Mpagajas





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