Gary (Bear) & Tracy Jessen

Bear & Tracy have been serving in Matoso Village Kenya since 2015.  Their heart is to make a positive change in the lives of the children and young adults in this small fishing village and the surrounding area.  They do this through their children’s ministry, which averages 170 children each Sunday.  They also hold an annual week long Children’s Convention where they share the Gospel message in an atmosphere of fun & games.

When they are not teaching all those adorable children, Tracy is the principal of Sowing & Reaping Vocational Training Centre (SRVTC) here in Matoso.  It is a vocational school aimed at young adults looking to better themselves by learning a trade that will help them to earn a living.  The mission of SRVTC is to minister to the student’s body (through physical education), mind (through learning their trade) and spirit (through the daily teaching of the Word of God).  Bear currently teaches Bible at the school, preaches at Sunday service and is de facto bookkeeper for the school.  Currently, they are spiritual parents to 70 plus students who call them Mama and Baba.

Although the school keeps them quite busy, they still manage to find time to spread the gospel through home visits, preaching in local churches, and teaching the occasional class at other facilities.  Their motto is they are “Blessed to be a Blessing,” so they love to help the people of the village anyway they can, whether it be paying the school fees for a family in need, transport for an elderly widow to attend church, or medicine for sick children.  They love the people of Matoso so much and count themselves blessed to be able to serve in Kenya.