Jenny Ryan is an Oxford local who graduated in 2004. She went to college at Albany University and graduated in 2008. She completed her masters at City University of London for human rights in 2009. Jenny’s passion for helping people and travel led her to teach in South Korea for two in a half years.

Recently, she has returned from Korea to join YWAM Orlando. YWAM is a Christian organization that trains women and men to go to the nations for mission. YWAM missionary professors, Christian authors and reputable speakers come from all over the world to speak each week. Jenny is getting ready for an exciting mission trip to Haiti and Dominican Republic after Christmas.

YWAM was one of the first organizations on the ground after the 2010 earthquake. Due to their efficient logistics and relationships, they were breaking ground for shelter after just two days of the quake. YWAM was also responding to rescue missions. Ernso, a young Haitian boy, was assumed dead when found in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Like so many other bodies, Ernso’s was taken to a makeshift morgue. Hours later, a relief worker walked by and heard a faint knocking sound at the door of the morgue. The young boy, left among the dead, was alive – barely. Ernso was given a safe place to recover at YWAM's property in Haiti.

Earthquakes and hurricanes have caused many like Ernso to be in desperate need of basic food, housing and sanitation. Most Haitians live on one dollar and one meal a day. While Haiti’s physical needs are obvious, the country also has deeper spiritual needs. Although God is known in the country, it is many times mixed with voodoo.

Today, YWAM continues to respond to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals like Ernso in Haiti and to the many refugees who have crossed the Dominican border.

Jenny is excited to travel to Haiti because there is such a need for basic humanitarian rights such as clean water and shelter. She is passionate about serving locals and teaching them how to make their own shelter and produce clean water.

“So many NGO’s and INGO’s have been providing services while disease and hunger are still rampant,” she said.

Although Jenny feels the physical needs are great, she is excited to make relationships and tell people about a God that really loves them and Jesus Christ who died for them.

Jenny will be spending 12 weeks in Orlando preparing to go on outreach by instilling the values of YWAM so she can be an effective daughter of Christ and missionary.

While at Orlando, Jenny has been learning about hearing the voice of God, Lordship and Forgiveness. “The most important thing I have learned is that I have to repent and deal with my own garbage before I can help others,” she said.

Jenny knows that she can’t do this mission trip herself. She would like the prayers from her community and church to bring hope to these people. Jenny is also raising funds in order to go to Haiti. If you would like to help contribute, go to http://www.ywamorlando.com/. Click on “donate/pay,” then click on “payment.” Then choose “payment for a student.” Jenny is a DTS student.

If you would like to follow her on Facebook, she will be keeping her page updated with news and photos.