 Our
names are Ken and Erin Jensen, and we have been married
eight years. We have three children (Jaden, 5 years old;
Jett, 2 years old; Ava,1 years old). Click
here for "little known facts" about each family
member»
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, we dated through high
school. With Ken being three years older than Erin, our
relationship was serious from the very beginning, and we
were married in 1999.
However, before getting married, Erin went to India for
6 weeks after graduating from high school and served in
Mother Theresa's Home for the Dying. Ken also taught high
school for a year in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Six months after being married, we moved to Peshawar, Pakistan
to live with long-term friends for several months who had
careers in education and medicine.
When the time was finished, we came home to pursue degrees
in teaching and nursing. It was during that time we had
three children, graduated from college, and gained a few
years of experience in our respective fields.
Ken felt called to teaching as a profession, understanding
how important education is in a developing world. Erin became
a labor and delivery nurse knowing that the skills would
be invaluable to Afghanistan.
Ken is teaching secondary science hoping
to inspire and educate the future leaders of Afghanistan.
Erin is a labor and delivery nurse, planning
to continue work as a health professional hoping to increase
the quality and accessibility of health care for women in
Afghanistan. Erin will also be working to open
and establish the Kabul Dance Studio.
Our three children - Jaden, Jett and Ava - are having an
adventure of a lifetime!
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Profession: Science Teacher (see
his class web site:
www.oldschoolphysics.com)
Education: Bachelor of Science and
Masters of Science in Secondary Science Education
Little Known Fact: Isn't afraid to
beg anyone for anything
What he misses the most: Copious amounts
of warm water in which to take excessively long showers
Best part about moving to Afghanistan:
Attempting to matter
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Profession: Registered Nurse (Labor
and Delivery , High Risk Obstetrics, Women’s Health)
Education:: Bachelor of Science in
Nursing
Little Known Fact: Likes movies with
depressing endings
What she misses the most: Internet
shopping
Best part about moving to Afghanistan:
Using nursing where nursing can be most used
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Profession: Bug Finder
Education: University of Our Backyard
Little Known Fact: Knows how hot the
surface of the sun is
What he misses the most: Grandparents
Best part about moving to Afghanistan: New
species of snakes to find
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Profession: Mud Roller
Education: College of Hose and Dirty
Area
Little Known Fact: Can eat random food
particles off the floor without getting sick
What he misses the most: Cheese
Best part about moving to Afghanistan: New
species of dirt
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Profession: Eater of Bananas
Education: School of Not Chewing Bananas,
Swallowing Whole
Little Known Fact: She has more shoes
than her dad...and she can't walk yet.
What she misses the most: Clothes delivered
to her doorstep from the Gap
Best part about moving to Afghanistan: Not
being about to date ever, but spend more time with her
daddy
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Why are you leaving?
We are moving to Kabul, Afghanistan. Ken is taking
a job at an international English speaking school in Kabul.
The school is funded through federal American grants hoping
to help rebuild the country of Afghanistan. Ken will
be paid a salary along with other benefits. This has
no connection with the military. We will be living
on the school grounds and Jaden (our oldest) will go to
Kindergarten at the school.
Erin will be volunteering at CURE international hospital
in Kabul. She has been asked to help assist/train
the lay midwifes in both the hospital and a prenatal clinic.
Afghanistan has a high maternal mortality rate of 1,600
maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and preventable
complications related to childbirth cause more than 85%
of the deaths among women of child-bearing age.
Why Afghanistan?
For us, we have always known that we would give our time
to serving overseas. The experiences we have had,
the skills we have acquired, and the opportunities that
have arose all lead us to the country of Afghanistan.
How did you find out about this?
We have traveled before to this area of the world.
We were looking for an opportunity to return and came across
this American school in Kabul.
How do we feel about going?
It depends on the day. Most days we are convinced
we have completely lost our minds. The reality of
what we’re about to do and the thought of leaving
our family is very overwhelming and difficult. We
are very happy with our life here and leaving will not be
easy. All that said, we have a very strong peace about
moving to Afghanistan and there is no doubt in our minds
this is what we are supposed to do.
When are we moving?
We will be leaving the first week in August. We will
spend the summer packing up our things and going to a two-week
training/orientation in Memphis. School starts for
Jaden and Ken at the end of August and Erin will start volunteering
the first week in late September to early October.
How long are you going for?
We are making a long-term commitment to the country of
Afghanistan. We will be coming home next summer for
6 weeks and will evaluate at that time how the children
did and what we feel about the next year. We both
have a sense this will be a long-term commitment, however
we are not locked into anything.
What do you plan to do with your house and your possessions?
For now Erin’s Dad, Steve, will be renting our house
while we are gone. We plan to sell most of our possessions
at our estate sell in late July to help pay off our student
loans.
Do we know what we’re getting ourselves into?
Sort of. Right after we got married we spent 6 months
living in Pakistan. Living in a Muslim culture as
a woman is very oppressive. It was difficult, but
we loved it. The people we met were amazing.
Every day was exciting and fulfilling. We became a
nurse and a teacher because we wanted to travel and live
in places where people did not have access to healthcare
and education. We have always known that eventually
we would be living in another country.
Where will you be living in Kabul?
The school is providing a home for us. It will be
two houses down from where the school is located.
We will have amenities such as high-speed Internet, security,
a generator, and even a western toilet as many of you have
wondered.
How does your family feel about you going?
This is the hardest part about going. Our family
is of course sad to see us go, but they know this is something
we have always planned on doing and because of that, they’re
being supportive. Erin’s mom, who has been a
nurse for 31 years, will be retiring and she and Erin’s
step-dad will be moving to Kabul with us. They will
be going with a different organization and will have different
agendas, but Erin’s mom will be available to watch
my kids so she can volunteer at Cure hospital.
What about all the crazy Terrorists...doesn’t
Osama Bin Laden live in Afghanistan?
Security is of the biggest importance and we plan to always
be smart and avoid foolish and risky behavior. But
from experience…there are many more good people living
in that area of the world than there are evil. Unfortunately,
just like here, the evil people get all the attention.
What do our three kids think about living in a war
zone?
Our oldest son (Jaden, who is 5) is the only one who has
any concept of what we are about to do, and even he doesn’t
fully understand. We are excited for our kids to experience
another culture and go to school with kids from different
countries. Our children are more important to us then
our own lives and we would never do anything to jeopardize
their safety.
We ask that you would join in supporting
us as we embark on this adventure.
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