10 Years of HOPE- Meeting Jenni Duncan
I've spent nearly a week trying to put into words the events of this past week. I’m overwhelmed by God's faithfulness, His provision, and how, long before I realized it, He was already at work, preparing to bring beauty from the ashes.
As Jenni Duncan and her mom pulled into the parking lot at the Radiant Hope Community Center I was overcome with emotion. I never thought we would meet this side of heaven, and here she was. The women who followed a stirring in her heart and completely changed the trajectory of my life. We embraced each other with beautiful tears and I showed her the place that she planted a seed to have grown.
Jenni traveled from Ohio to come to our 10 year anniversary event. She gracefully and eloquently shared about how one act of kindness can change the world. I was able to give her a glimpse into how her small yes has created a ripple effect impacting thousands of lives impacted by cancer.
This isn't something you can make up. This is real life. This is the impact of what loving well can do. We share so that you might be inspired to make a difference today. Jenni sent one package, it arrived on my doorstep. It ignited a flame inside of me to just love others. And here we are today. It starts with one. Will that be you today?
We were able to share our story with the crowd and I feel that you too should hear. From a blog I wrote 10 years ago as the package arrived on my doorstep:
Speechless October 2, 2014
I've had a lot of hard days, well hard to say the least. I've cried more tears in the last few weeks than I have my entire life. I think I've said this before. Tears of sadness, tears of mourning, but also tears of joy and tears of a feeling that I cannot quite explain.
One particular day I just felt down. I have received results that cancer has spread to my lymph system, which I knew was a scary place that I would be in.. well for forever. I needed more scans, tests, appts, surgery, and was feeling weak and scared. Then a package arrived at my door. Other gifts and packages had been arriving but this box was different. When I opened it I was amazed. It was such a well thought of gift. There was something special about it, just something.
Anonymous. Another hug sent by God? could this be for real, like God sent me this just when I needed it and it was delivered to my doorstep from the USPS man? Weird. My mom took pics of the box and then we noticed an address in the corner of the shipping label. Ah ha! Caught! It came from someone! I'm going to get to the bottom of this, I thought. I'm sure someone I know bought this for me, probably from an etsy site, one of my good friends and I need to be able to thank them. I mean they made my day brighter, literally. So I searched etsy. Nothing. Searched Google. Nothing. Searched facebook, ah ha! There is someone by this name on facebook. She lives in Ohio and must have a business. I friend her and leave it for a couple weeks. People are so good. God is using people to comfort me.
Finally I decided to send a facebook message to this stranger that sent me this special and encouraging gift.
JO- Jenni this may seem sorta strange or Facebook stalkerish but I got this amazing basket sunshine package and I swear it came from you. I am a young momma of 4 and just got a cancer diagnosis for melanoma. Anyhow if you sent me that basket and I don't know who else it came from, thank you. And if you have a website or etsy page, which I've searched for and couldn't find, then sent it to me. There have been like a dozen friends that have asked where I got the gift and I don't know! If you are reading this and totally clueless then I'm sorry it was like a huge hug from I don't even know. That was it. I Wondered if I would ever hear back.
Then this is the response received this afternoon...
Jenni -
Hi Joanna,
It was from me. I'm so happy it arrived and you enjoyed it. I heard about what was happening in your life from a friend that is friends with your friend. Amazing how word travels, huh? haha Anyway, you have been heavy on my heart ever since. Talk about stalker...I kind of stalked your blog watching for updates and praying. I have a circle of family and friends praying for you even still. We've never met and probably never will this side of heaven, but you're a sister in Christ and I just wanted to offer any encouragement I could.
JO- Wow I'm speechless. Don't even know what to say. I'm in tears and just thanking God for sending angles like you who have given me true hugs and shown Jesus love to me like I've never experienced before. I will never be able to explain how much what you did brightened my day and is exactly how I'm able to cling to Christ and get through these days.... Bless you and one day, when we do finally meet, I have a huge hug for you.I'm totally going to pay it forward. When and if I ever get out of my bed
JENNI- We serve a great God. You have blessed ME
JO- This one person, a complete stranger doing something that seems so little can impact SO many. Sometimes we sit around twiddling our thumbs trying to find out how to live out our purpose, and sometimes it's a little opportunity right within our reach. This story doesn't end here... I feel so blessed. I wish I could hand out a snapshot of my life to people so they could know this feeling.
I am in awe. And to Jenni, my newly connected to "sister in Christ" thank you. You have no idea the impact you just made...
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