Isaiah 61: 1-3 “The spirit of the sovereign LORD is on me, becausee the LORD has annointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives… to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness insted of mourming, and a garment of praise insted of a spirit of dispair. they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
My name is Caitlin Parker and Im 23 yrs old. I currently live in Riverside, California but I was born and raised in Northern California in a small town called Novato. I graduated in 2008 from Cal Baptist University where I was fortuate enough to play volleyball. For so long volleyball has been my passion and focus that is it a bit odd and also exciting that I am about to enter a year in which I will neither play nor coach. I currently work as a Behavioral Therapist for Autistic children. My job is challenging and rewarding, but most of all has taught me how amazing all of God’s children truly are.
I am passionate, outgoing, opinionated, spontaneous, and adventurous. I LOVE to travel. There is something about seeing how others live and the way they interact which fascinates me. I like to smile at strangers and believe that there is always something positive you can take out of any experience or challenge. I am not a morning person, but ironically I love to watch the sun rise. I love to be outdoors and being active, but sometimes I find there is nothing better than curling up with a blanket and a good book. Kids light up my life! I cannot wait to play with and love God’s children in each country we travel to.
I am a beloved daughter of God even though I have not always known it or walked with Him. It wasnt until about 5 years ago that I learned what it was to let God in your heart and transform you from the inside out. Trusting His plan for me has become the biggest and most exciting adventure I have ever taken. A passion for international missions was ignited in my heart 3 years ago when I went to Rehoboth, Namibia. I fell in love with the amazing children; their joy, laughter, and incredible potential. That trip changed my life, perspective, and heart. Putting faces to statistics changed my whole outlook on AIDS in Africa. I saw, felt , and experienced the brokeness and pain, yet also observed amazing resilience, hope, perseverance, and joy. I realized how lucky I truly am. I felt as though I left a piece of myself in Africa, that even now a part of my heart is there with the people I met. I knew that more could be done, that the Harvest is plenty, but workers are few. God burdened my heart and it became very clear He w calling on my life would send me back one day.
At the The Ark, an orphange in Rehoboth, Namibia
Now, here I am prepairing for the biggest adventure of my life and I am so excited to see what God will have in store over the coarse of the next year 🙂
Some Fun Facts:
– As a child I did TV, radio, and comericial work
– After graduating college i went skydiving!!!
– My favorite color is blue
-I broke my hand, had wrist surgery, and dislocated my finger all in the span of a 1 1/2 years. ouch!
-Im addicted to buying movies and own way to many of them… (i think i might sell them to raise support! haha)
-I live with the most amazing family who has 26 turtles, 4 tortoises, 3 dogs, 2 horses, a rabbit, and a bunch of random cats
– I swam with sharks in Belize
-I have been so close to lava that my shoes melted
-I ended my college volleyball career in a national championship match! (but we got 2nd… so close)
– I hate raw tomatoes and cilantro
– I cant stand walking behind slow people
-I regularly laugh until I cry :~)
– The world race is an answer to prayer 3 years in the making!!!
