Pieces of my heart

 

Alyssa is the sweetest soul you will ever meet! Our hearts connected to each other’s immediately after our first conversation at training camp (it was a conversation about Aliens which makes it even better). She is one of those people that every time you see them your heart gets happy! We have had so many great adventures together, and although we were never on the same team she has most definitely been my best friend on the race! We bond over silly things like pineapples, painting, frozen popcorn, and crazy conversations! Our conversations about God, life, missions, and babies not only bring me enjoyment but also challenge me! She pushes me to be the best person I can be while also loving me where I am at! She not only made my race more enjoyable but will forever be one of my best friends! (Squad mate)

We only spent a few hours together but Pravin helped me realize how much I love painting. I might not be good at it, but I loving seeing what artists can do with a few blobs of paint. They take the things that we use and turn them into an incredible masterpiece! Pravin specifically painted the beautiful mountains of Nepal and specifically painting me standing in front of the same range that he knew I would see in Pokhara. Not only did he ignite my passion to paint on the race, but he also took a piece of my heart. He shared his life, his passion, and some hot tea with me! What great afternoons we had in Nepal. (Nepal)

Liz is a deep soul full of so much love, wisdom, creativity, and passion! She started this journey with our team and called us to grow more and go deeper with each other and God. She continued to share her life and wisdom with us throughout the rest of our trip. She also is incredibly gifted at knowing exactly what you actually need (not just what you want) when you need it. Whether that is an invite to have community introvert time, holding you as you cry out to God, or just being a weirdo with you and your team, she is a powerhouse for the Kingdom of God and a life long friend! (Squad leader)

Phuc is one of the most on fire Christians I have ever met. She was our host in Vietnam, a country closed to Christianity, yet she lived her life unashamed of Jesus Christ! She is the boldest, bravest, craziest Christian I have ever seen. In a country where it is wise to keep your Christianity on the down low, she was the woman screaming at the top of her lungs how Jesus has changed her life. She lost her husband a few years ago to a heart attack, is raising her daughter as a single parent, is running a campus ministry, is super involved in her church, and is hosting missionaries like us! Her zeal and passion for living life to the fullest is evident in everything she does! I love Phuc and love the impact she has on this world and my life! She will forever be that ray of sunshine, that bright yellow coat on a foreign face that brought us so much comfort as we arrived at 4am in Da Nang. (Vietnam)

Now it’s time to explain my little sister Kieu! She was our adorable receptionist in Vietnam who would always laugh at me because I would go to the beach everyday, multiple times a day even if it was pouring down rain. She would ask what we were doing, why we were here, and why we were so different. She took Sarah Kate and I on an awesome coffee date where she asked some of the best questions I have heard on the race. She wanted to know our passions, our dreams, and why we gave up so much to do what we are doing. We got to swap stories, inspire each other, and share a lot of laughs over goofy stuff. When she left she asked if we would be her big sisters, the kind of people who you can always come to with questions and share your life with! I love this girl and I am so thankful to get to share my life with her! I am excited to watch as the Lord pursues her and watch as her dreams of going to a University in Canada come true! (Vietnam)

Zoe made me realize how it feels to have someone love you so deeply! We couldn’t have deep meaningful conversations (major language barrier); we couldn’t learn about each other’s families or favorite colors; we couldn’t even communicate what game we could play next. All we communicated was a deep love for each other. Our friendship consisted of her yelling Kate and me yelling Zoe back (We would say, I mean scream, each others names about 80 times a day to give you an idea). As the month progressed our friendship grew into her running as fast as she could and jumping into the air expecting me to catch her every time. It grew into her dragging my arm around trying to point as a way to explain the new game we were going to play. It grew into her hugging me goodbye before she left to go back to her home everyday. I have never felt a love so deep than when I would hear her scream, “Kate!” She will forever hold a piece of my heart, and although she probably won’t remember me as she grows older, time can’t take away the way this little girl has made me feel. (Cambodia)

Ellie is a burst of joy to everything around her. She loves people, adventure, and God so much! Although one of the youngest people on the squad, I think she is the smartest person I know. There are many questions that she asks about God that completely go over my head! More than being intellectually stimulating, I love her freedom to be who she is. Sometimes she is the crazy outgoing person in the middle of commotion, other times she is the quite introvert in the corner needing her space, and other times she is having a vocal outcry of the crazy contrast between the wisdom of the world and how upside down the Kingdom of God is. I have learned so much from her about what true freedom looks like. So many times I get caught in my head with all the reasons I can’t be free (too burdensome to others, they won’t understand, they will not accept me because I’m too much or too crazy) but Ellie is a reminder of how those are just lies from the enemy. Her brain works very similarly to mine, so if I absolutely love her and all her freedom, then if I keep myself trapped, I am depriving others of the same kind of love I feel for Ellie! I don’t know if that thought makes sense, but overall my love for Ellie and her freedom gives me (and others) permission to live free. (Squad mate)

Scarlet and Maya are two girls of incredible strength that we met in Cambodia! Their story is one of great heart break and tragedy that no human should have to live, much less these 5&11 year olds. Yet despite the awful cards they have been dealt, they press on. Scarlet still sticks up for other kids who are being picked on, is one of the smartest girls in her grade, and still does everything to protect her little sister, giving her the best possible life available. Their strength to endure literally anything brought me to tears and inspired me to believe that with God by my side, there is nothing the enemy can throw at me that I can’t handle. (Cambodia)

This is an South African YWAM team we had an awesome opportunity to partner with in Botswana. Each of them were so different from each other but they each brought something incredible to our team. From pure joy and laughter, to wisdom and biblical knowledge, to prayer and discernment… our month was much sweeter because they were in it. Many times YWAM and the World Race get criticized by each other for their differences in approach to training missionaries. YWAM first does 3 months of school then 2 months of missions, while the world race does 2 weeks of training then puts you on the field with training spread throughout the duration of the 11 months. I loved this month of seeing the body of Christ come together with each of our strengths and sharing those with our brothers and sisters in Christ! Their faith, trust, love, and discernment will be pieces that I will forever carry in my life. (Botswana)

These children (and the incredible staff) at the House of Wells after school program taught me what powerful prayer really looks and feels like. On day 1 of being in South Africa, our hosts asked them to pray over us and pray over our lives. Our host told them to pray for us like they were praying over their own lives. I stood there and literally felt their prayers. I heard these 6-10 year olds praying harder than I have ever heard a pastor pray, bolder than I could have ever imaged, and in languages impossible to understand (praying in tongues)! They showed me not only what a real true prayer life feels like but also the power of what God can do with people who are expectant. So often we write off kids as too young to understand all the complexities of the Kingdom of God, when the truth is they are way more qualified to understand it. 

“For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom.” Matthew? ?18:2-4? ?MSG?? (South Africa)

Mason is a man who is literally chasing after God’s own heart! He lives life in such a way that you can’t help but want to become closer with God. He is incredibly authentic, transparent, free, goofy, wise, and discerning. The times our team spent with Mason are the months where we grew the most and where we got the weirdest (I’m not exactly sure why the latter one happened, but it most definitely did). He is a man who you both respect and relate to all in the same moment. He isn’t afraid to be fully who he is and walk boldly on the path God is leading him on. He uses his words and his influence to help make your life better! He inspires me by how he pours his life out for others while also taking care of his spiritual health. He doesn’t shy away from the hard conversations but also leaves the space for God to come in and speak directly to you! He is incredible example of what a mighty man of God really looks like! (Squad leader)

Richard and Kemi… there is so much I could say about these incredible people! Not only did they speak into my life so much, but they are living examples of what a living a life completely dependent on God really looks like. They answered SO MANY of my questions, prayed over me and my life constantly, and really adopted us as daughters into their family (literally they introduced us to the son who came to visit them at the end of the month as his new sisters). They are Christian powerhouses who are absolutely changing the world around them but as such faith filled believers that they are bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth! Ah. I don’t even know how to describe the impact they have had on my life… let’s just say I will forever be “Whatsapp-ing” them questions about life! They will truly forever be spiritual role models in my life! (South Africa) 

Lindo, Lindo, Lindo. Our relationship started off with him telling me it was strange that I didn’t know the meaning of “Katelyn” so he was going to call me Zoe instead. We hung out many nights talking about life, our dreams, traveling, and our faith! Lindo was always so impressed by the level of faith we had, always encouraging us to keep praying bold prayers because they also inspire him. He reminded me that we have been on this incredible journey and have had these incredible experiences… he really taught me that I had something powerful to share. That all of the moments I have experienced God on this race aren’t only for me, but as I share them they encourage others as well! I will forever love his full hearted laugh and how terrible he was at making fart noises! (Swaziland)

Joe is a person who has surprised me. We spent a month together in Nepal and talked some on travel days, but I never understood the impact he has had on my life until this past month. Joe is a man who not only pursues God with everything he has, but alsohe is a man who cares deeply for the people around him. From honestly answering personal questions to asking insightful ones himself, being around Joe makes you feel important. Joe has been an incredible example to me of how important it is to see people well! He is also my partner in crime in how to trust God without our logic! He is a person who understands how much logical thinking means and how much harder it is to give it up, trust God, and do the crazy things God has asked you to do! (Squad mate)

Mbulelo is one of the sassiest girls I know! We only worked together for 5 days, but our hearts immediately connected! We started off with her giving me jobs to do but ended with walks through the park to get delicious ice cream together! Our friendship was full of laughter, exchanging of food, sassy remarks, and lots of Swatswati (she was determined to make me Swazi so she stopped giving me instructions in English and gave me my Swazi name Mbali)! I also introduced her to tortillas and taught her how to make them as well! It’s hard to explain the impact that she had on my life, but know that she will forever have a piece of my heart. (Swaziland)

Faten & Bashar are a beautiful refugee family from Syria! They relocated to Argentina this past December and now are running their own catering business! They opened up not only their home to us, but their entire lives and what life back in Aleppo was like for them! Some of their family still lives in Syria, and others live in Europe. They shared some of the struggles of relocation, from not knowing the languages, to being surrounded by this very different culture. They have 2 children, the 3 year old Adya is the cutie in the picture. She is very shy at first, especially because she gets picked on at school because she doesn’t understand what the other students are saying, but by the end of our time together we bonded over her painting my nails! I have learned so much from them and my heart for refugee families has definitely grown! Thank you Faten & Bashar for your generous spirits! (Argentina)

And then there is this beauty Amy! She is a friend who is filled with so much wisdom, honestly, and love for people! I’m not sure why she puts up with all of my craziness, from jumping into waterfalls to doing a random photoshoot in the park with the fall leaves, but she is a friend I can always trust to be there for me. More than this though, she is a friend who will always tell me what she thinks, how she really feels, and ultimately points me back to the father! Deep in my heart I believe our friendship will be one that will last much longer than just this journey despite us living on opposite ends of the country. I love this girl with all my heart and I can’t wait to see how God continues to solidify the courageous, passionate, intentional woman He has created her to be! (Squad mate)

Pastor Hector is a man chasing after God with everything he has! He lost his wife 4 years ago and has taken up all of her roles that she left behind… from taking care of his children/ grandchildren to running the church to doing outreaches all around the city! One Sunday morning he opened up his entire service to our team. Two hours where he trusted us, these random American strangers, with speaking life and the power of God into his congregation. There was never a glimpse of concern of what we were going to say… instead he immediately accepted us as family! His passion for carrying on his wife’s legacy displays what true unconditional love looks like. What giving everything you have for a cause really looks like! It’s from that same love that everything else flows… that’s the kind of life I want to live. (Argentina)

Eugenia is a woman of many talents and passions. She recently graduated from the Missionary Ywam School in Mendoza (and I got to be there for the graduation)! I’m not really sure why our hearts connected, but they just did! She speaks Spanish with a little bit of English and I only speak English with a little bit of Spanish, but somehow we had incredible conversations. From talking about our passion for photography to our love for missions to our experiences in India (the only country we have both done missions in). We always had a fun time together. She taught me how to dance, make empanadas, and practice my Spanish while I just helped her with her English! I hope our paths will cross again sometime in this lifetime, far enough away that I can learn Spanish and we can have some super deep discussions también! (Argentina)

Rachel is a woman who love life! She loves every part of it from the people, to the beauty of creation around her, to the systems that make it all run (like business)! She is a woman who brings so much joy, love and laughter into my life. She is one of the handful of people who makes me want to be more of who God has created me to be. She makes me want to ask more intense questions about how things work, to dream crazier dreams, and walk in more freedom and goofiness no matter what the people around me think. She is a person whose life Marianne Williamson’s quote is written about, “And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  (Squad mate) 

Benjamin is a man who makes your heart smile. Although he is currently fighting off cancer, he is a man who loves God with all of his heart! In a moment where I was overwhelmed with all that God asks us to sacrifice, his love for the Father reminded me why it is all worth it. His life reminded me that we are not promised tomorrow, but we have the greatest gift anyone can ever ask for… Jesus Christ today! I will be forever grateful for he sweet smile, his joy filled tears, and his voice of a very deep angle! (Chile)