Hi everyone! My name is Kayla. I am 24 years old. I grew up in Houlton, Maine, but was actually born in Newport Beach, California. Over the years my family moved back and forth between these two areas (four times total, talk about a long car ride ;)) I love sports and outdoor activities. I exercise a lot. I love my family and my friends. I love people, getting to hear their hearts, their trials and successes and just about their heart. I have a dog, Diesel. He's my boy and I love him dearly.
My parents are Christians. I grew up going to church every Sunday until I was about 16. That's when I decided to turn by back on God. I had my drivers licence, so this made me a little more "independent". I started working, I got myself a boyfriend, and it was all kind of downhill from there. It wasn't until much later that God finally pulled me back into His arms. I was 21 when I dedicated my life to Christ and that was the moment I truley was saved. I've been a Christian for about two and a half years now.
I went on my first missions trip to Palestine and Israel in the summer of 2011. I coached basketball camps with kids there for three weeks. And I absolutely loved it! Getting to know the people, to share with them, and hear their stories. To learn about their culture and what their hearts long for. It was an amazing experience that will stay in my heart forever. It was before making the decision to go on this trip that God first spoke to me, saying that He was calling me to the nations. I did not believe it at first. It was a scary thing for a "new" Christian, afterall. However, when I was in Palestine I realized "Yes, this is what I want!" I felt like I was a part of something bigger than my own little world. I was able to make a difference, to speak to total strangers about Jesus! God spoke again. "I'm calling you to the nations!" I found myself asking, "But God I'm not ready, I'm too young. I haven't been doing this whole 'Christian thing' long enough" And He reminded me of when He first called Jeremiah.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as prophet to the nations." "Ah Sovereign Lord, I said, 'I do not know how to speak: I am only a child." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say you are only a child. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you." declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out His hand and touched my mouth and said to me. "Now I have put my words in your mouth. See today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." -Jeremiah 1:5-10
And I realized that I am more than capable because of Him who makes me capable. He empowers me. He is my strength. He gives me wisdom. He is Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider. He is my everything. So you may be asking who am I? I am His servant. I am His beloved. I am His daughter, His princess. I may not be sure of who I will become on this race, because I know that He will change me during this adventure and I will be all the more better because of it. One thing I do know, now and forever this will never change: I AM HIS.
