Hey everyone! So much has happened since I returned from the World Race in May and (spoiler alert) I am currently in Guatemala. I want to share with you all how God brought me here and what I'm involved in now.
When I first landed back in America, I took some time to visit family and friends and to attend an event called Project Searchlight (PSL). PSL is an opportunity to meet back up with your squad, discuss how re-entry is going, receive encouragement and support, and to offer wisdom and guidance on how to take this experience of the World Race and apply it to life back in America. About a week before PSL, I felt the Lord putting squad leading on my heart as the next step of my life. Honestly, I didn't want to think about it at the time, but God had other plans as I arrived at PSL. The community and fellowship was incredible and in multiple ways God called and confirmed that I would be squad leading in September, just 2 months away. I was interviewed and shortly after, accepted.
I'm sure you might wondering what a squad leader actually is. Every squad that is launched on the World Race usually has anywhere from 35-50 participants and 2-3 squad leaders. Squad leaders typically have already participated in the Race or other programs associated with Adventures in Missions (AIM). Squad leaders use their abilities and experience to lead, guide, advise, encourage, challenge, and support those on the field doing the WR. As a Gap Year squad leader, I will be serving with and walking alongside 47 World Racers between the ages of 18-22. My 2 amazingly incredible co-squad leaders and I will be spending the next 9 months with the awesome Gap C squad in Guatemala, Malaysia, and Botswana (3 months per country).
I'm passionate about this call on my life for multiple reasons. The World Race has impacted my life and my relationship with Christ in unbelievable ways. It was a fanatastic tool to break chains of fear on my life and brought freedom in so many different ways. The leadership and mentorship I received was especially impactful and really shaped my Race into the best experience possible. I want to be able to do the same with this group of young adults. I want to love them with the love of Christ and direct them to God in every step they take. I want them to know more fully who God created them to be and to walk confidently in their identity as they share the gospel with the world. I want them to experience God in ways they never have before and I want God to blow apart that box that the world has put Him in. I want every part of them to be completely alive and ablaze for God. Of course there's no way I can do this. But I'm totally up for being a tool in this process. I fully believe and expect the Holy Spirit to show up and work on all of our hearts through this 9 month journey.
I am currently in Xenacoj, Guatemala with 3 of our 7 teams. We are working with schools, orphanages, and the community to run a feeding program for children, orphans, and widows. Tomorrow (Sunday) we even have the opportunity to work with the Wycliffe organization to distribute Bibles in the Kaqchikel language as we pray for those who receive them. We are learning more Spanish everyday and have been able to interact not only with the widows and orphans, but also the locals in the town that we're staying in. I've loved getting back into community and ministry. It's almost like I never left! I'll be updating everyone along the way so subscribe to my blog at kaylavanes.theworldrace.org
Also, I am raising support to fund the next 9 months that God has called me to. I will need to raise $3,500 to be fully funded. Just a drop in the bucket right? I've currently raised about $400 so I need just over $3,000 to reach my goal. If you would like to partner with me and invest in what God's doing through my squad and I, please prayerfully considering donating to my World Race account through my blog at kaylavanes.theworldrace.org. Even if you are not financially able to give at this time, I would ask that you would support me through your prayers. Please pray for protection. Pray that the Holy Spirit would be alive and active through our words and actions. Pray that our hearts and the hearts of those we interact with would be soft to His Spirit. Thank you for all the love and support you all have already given! I can't tell you how much it means. Here's to 14 countries in 20 months! #14n20
Kayla
"So we are, spirit and flesh, clothed head to toe, in the goodness of God."
– Julian of Norwich
