Kathleen Rose McGuire
What an amazing woman of God.
The first time that I remember meeting Katie was during a session where we got into small groups of 4 and talked with one of leaders about our past struggles. She remembers me being very quiet and shy. I remember being surprised by her openness and her honesty. We never really talked again until we were put into teams. Right away I felt very comfortable around her. Her spirit was warm and I could see that she had such a heart for the people around her.
Time moved fast between training camp and launch. I became nervous about the dynamic of our team. During sessions Katie was always thinking out loud and I loved every minute of it. I could immediately tell that her words were truth and from the Lord. She became the voice that filled our awkward silences, she became the voice that spoke truth and she became the voice that spoke words that were obviously from the Lord. I was excited to become closer to her and walk on the upcoming journey with her.
Then New York happened. She wasn’t able to get her visa in time and she was unable to leave with us. Our first week in Bulgaria wasn’t the same without her. I was inspired by her perseverance. Instead of not going on the race she pushed through and decided to keep going on the path that God had laid out for her. When she arrived our team felt complete. I don’t think she had or has any idea how important she is to our team.
Through the past months on the race, Katie has become such a safe place for me as well as everyone else on our team. In Albania I was struggling with my faith and I was struggling in relationships. I opened up to my team about it fully in Moldova. Katie was one of the people who I felt that I had lost touch with and she, along with the rest of my team, prayed for me. I specifically remember Katie’s prayer and how it affected my heart. Almost immediately after, a weight felt like it was lifted off of my heart. It wasn’t completely better but I remember feeling that my faith and relationships felt somewhat renewed after that night.
She is so open to change and she is so open to growth. She sees what she wants to change in her heart and she goes for it. If she notices that she doesn’t see herself as a servant, the next day I see her serving others so well. If she feels that she doesn’t give others space to talk, she stops herself and willingly gives people freedom to speak. She goes to prayer for everything. She is constantly pointing people to God. She encourages the people around her. She has blessed me so much. Even when she is struggling she gives the most amazing advice and wants to hear what people have to speak into her life.
Katie is a prayer warrior. She is beautiful. She is needed. She inspires me. I truly believe that this world will change because of her.
She is always reminding me of 2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
Please consider supporting her.
