Katelynn Jenkins
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About Me
I am a missionary in Dondo, Mozambique, Africa with Iris Global. Dondo is located in the Province of Sofala. My official title is Base Administrator, which includes; payroll, bookkeeping, base budget management, social media management and photography/videography. I have a bachelors degree of International Business from Roberts Wesleyan University! I am also a worship minister, small group leader, and one on one discipleship focused. Our base works with special needs adults, widows, children, and is a discipleship, worship, and training center for over 300 planted churches in Central Mozambique. Here's some more about our base and the ministry we lead:
The Iris Dondo Base is an evangelism and discipleship training center for over 300+ churches located in Central Mozambique. It is an honor to partner alongside these churches in gospel truck outreaches, conferences, bible schools (School of Kingdom Advancement-SKA), and so much more.
On base, we have a preschool where we serve 53 4 and 5 year-olds who need it most. With an assessment done at the beginning of the year with each matriculation, we target the families who truly benefit from a zero-cost preschool, with Kingdom principles to raise children in the way they should go. We employ 5 beautiful Mozambican staff to teach, guide, and grow these wonderful children.
We also have Mercy Ministries, where we take care of almost 85 disabled adults/widows with a monthly food and monetary distribution, as well as special gifts like grass mats and blankets throughout the year. They receive a biblical teaching at each distribution to ensure spiritual health is also cared for, as well as visits from our team at their houses when needed.
Currently
I finally got on the ground in Mozambique on February 19th, 2023. I have been leading a young adults discipleship group, a prophetic training class, a young adult worship team, and taking part in any and all ministry that I can as my work allows. Sometimes that's ministering to people on the street or sick in the hospital, or speaking at various invitations. Thank you for your love and support as we feed the hungry here in Mozambique.
Daily Life
As base administrator, I coordinate the base finances, worker payroll, base expenditure and serve our base leaders and missionaries in whatever capacity possible and necessary. It is such a joy and honor to live here. We live right by an open market so I cook many organic, fresh meals to fuel the Portuguese and finance filled days. We have an amazing team here consisting of three families and two other single women. Cumulatively from 4 different countries, we are a beautiful blend of earthly cultures bringing kingdom culture to everywhere we go. It is a true dream come true to wake up here everyday and take part in what God is doing.
Gospel Festival & Crusade
At the end of June 2023, we traveled to the city of Muxungue, 4 hours away from home and ravaged by witchcraft and prostitution. It was an honor to help people gain their freedom and salvation as the gospel was preached. We equipped the churches in the morning with a fire conference and led the city to Jesus by night. Over 5,835 souls saved in one weekend, over 22% of the adult population in this city. Praise God!
2023 - A beautiful first year on the ground in Mozambique
Thank you for Partnering in the harvest of over 7,600+ Decisions for Chrst in 2023!
Volleyball with my discipleship group is a great way to build family values and get on the guys' level.
The Deep Worship Team is growing leaps and bounds and worshipping in Spirit and in Truth.
Crossing rivers to reach the lost in a nearby neighborhood called "The Resettlement."
Leading worship at a School of Kingdom Advancement
Preschool Graduation 2023
Looking BAck - My calling and story
I have been called as a missionary for as long as I can remember.
Throughout college, I went on three short-term missions trips to Huehuetenago, Guatemala. Partnered with Story International, we worked with children and vulnerable youth through showing God's love and teaching tangible skillsets.
In May and June of 2018, I lived in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, for 3 months as a management intern of a coffee shop, Fuego. The goal was to employ young adults aging out of an orphanage who needed to establish independence.
Harvest School 30
During the summer of 2019, I participated in Harvest School by Iris Global Theological College. This school taught me more about God, seeing in the Spirit, the bible, worship leading, missions strategies, and cultures. I went to Scotland, Spain, Poland, Israel, Madagascar, South Africa, and Mozambique. During this time the Lord stretched me and confirmed a true call and passion for mission work in my life. It was a challenge but worth every moment and a true opportunity to discover if this was really it.
I have dreamed of being a Mozambican missionary since I was 13 years old.
Even as a young teenager on fire for the Lord, I felt called to the country of Mozambique. I partnered with Spark of Joy ministries and participated in 30 hour fasts to learn about life, culture, and to raise money for the ministries on the ground. When the missionaries would speak of their experiences I felt a desire and dream awaken in my very soul- I knew that was what I was called to and the country I was called to do it in.
Mozambique is in southern Africa. Surrounded by neighboring countries South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania this beautiful country is right off of the coast of the East Indian Ocean. Dondo Mozambique is located 45 minutes outside of the city of Beira which is a port city. Mozambique is considered to be one of the poorest nations in the world. Iris Global has been on the ground in Mozambique now for decades and has multiple bases throughout the country.
Tete, Mozambique
During my outreach trip of Harvest School 2019, I was on the ground in Tete, Mozambique. Working with this base truly helped me realize the call on my life and my love for the culture and nation. I was only there for two short weeks, but during that time the Lord showed me that I would be returning one day to lead worship and the lost to Christ. That I would have the honor and privilege to partner alongside those on the ground to continue the work that they have begun.
Stateside During the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 hit during my last semester at Roberts Wesleyan University and I completed my capstone and degree remotely.
Graduated College May 2020
Shortly thereafter I was hired as a supervisor for the New York State Department of Health and COVID-19 Contact Tracing Initiative.
Team Supervisor
Part-time, I worked as a community habilitation worker and life coach for kiddos and young adults with disabilities.
Life Coach
My contract with the DOH went longer than expected. We went from an end date of May 31st 2021, to August of 2021, to December 31st 2021, and my final extension was until March 31st 2022. I was let go 5 weeks early at the end of the month of February 2022. At the beginning of February, I saw a posting from Iris Global Alumni about an open position for a base admin in Dondo, Mozambique. While I didn't think this was the city I was going to go to, I applied. I received the acceptance email on a Tuesday morning, the contract Wednesday morning, was laid off early from the DOH on that Thursday evening, and the following Monday began a life coaching commitment that would take me through my projected takeoff date.
God's timing could not have been any clearer.
So I gave god my yes.
After much time, prayer, and consultation with my spiritual covering, we have confirmed that this is God's next step for my life. It took almost one year from acceptance to the base to obtain my work visa. During that waiting time I sold or gave away my belongings, began learning Portuguese, and finished out job commitments like babysitting and homeschool tutoring. I continued to lead worship, street prayer and evangelism, and to continue God's call for me in New York. I have been on the ground in Mozambique since February 19th, 2023.
Thank you for partnering with me on this journey and I will be sure to keep you updated on what the Lord is doing.
Blessings beyond measure, my friends.
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