The journey continues... Houston

Dear friends,

I now write to you from Houston, TX where I arrived almost 1 month ago days ago after driving all week from my former home in Brattleboro, VT.  It has been quite the journey getting here and I have enjoyed seeing parts of the American south which I have never seen before.  In part, what was interesting is that this plan for me to relocate to Houston was envisaged weeks before Hurricane Harvey came in being.  After the storm, I didn't know whether I would still be moving due to the extent of the damage and disarray created by Harvey.  However, once the floodwaters receded and the city got back on its feet, it was clear that I would still be going, albeit with a slightly different plan in mind.  For me, this experience perfectly captures a part of the Divine Mystery: your plan for your life may not be the same plan that God has in mind.

"Your plan for your life may not be the same 

plan that God has in mind." 

I had originally planned on this move to Houston, and now this big devastating storm had come in a disrupted my plans. While this seemed largely inconvenient and negative, I quickly began to rethink how I could be of greater service to God's people through offering more of myself and my gifts to those in need.  It looks as though my work with Jerusalem Peacebuilders would now be even more crucial in the Houston area because of the growing need for interfaith understanding, conflict resolution, and dialogue between Americans of all stripes.

Introducing the JPB program to Jewish teens at the
Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism

Through the generous support of Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, JPB was afforded a dedicated office space at the church, which I have been using daily to further the work of JPB.  Here I am working with the local youth group, developing an interfaith youth group, connecting with local organizations and faith communities, and recruiting teens for JPB's summer leadership institutes in 2018.  It is a busy, but rewarding time for me.  I continue to discern and listen to where the Lord is leading me through this next chapter of service and peacebuilding.  In January, I will return to the Holy Land and be based in Nazareth to teach in local schools there.  Stay tuned for more updates soon!

In Christ,

Jack Karn