Dear friends, family members, and strangers,
You got me here. I have had the immense privilege of traveling the world to share the gospel of Jesus. I have seen people take their first steps following him. It is a beautiful thing to see. This world that God created is beautiful too. Because of you, I have been able to see corners of the world that few of you might ever see. From African villages, Cambodian floating villages to a humble farm in Thailand, I get to live in the most stunning places.
I have also gotten a chance to see the immense brokenness of the world. I have seen true poverty in action. I won’t lie to you, it has broken me. It pains me that I can sit here and write to you on my $800 cell phone when 40% of the world lives on less than $2 per day. The thing is, I knew this before I left. I was obviously sad that the statistic was accurate, but I wasn’t as convicted as I am today.
All of this to say, I want to thank you. I am officially fully funded to continue on the mission field until December. This is the biggest blessing. Even as my heart is breaking for the spiritual and material poverty of the world, Jesus has been sanctifying me beyond belief. The pain and the hurt of the world is nothing compared to the joy he offers them, and us. He is truly ruining my life so that it isn’t mine anymore. We all want to live for ourself. It’s human nature since the fall in Genesis 3. But when God ruins your life, you don’t live for yourself anymore.
I am learning how to not live for myself, but live for him. I am pouring out buckets of our team’s sewage onto mango trees. I am teaching in extreme heat. I am convicted as the world serves me when I came to serve them. I am challenged beyond belief by biblical community. I’m learning who I am and where I fit into the Kingdom. All of it is beautiful.
Thank you for being a vessel used to ruin my life. I am genuinely, eternally grateful. Some of you know and follow the Jesus that I am living for, but some don’t. This is even more remarkable to me. I’m sitting here crying just thinking about how abundantly Jesus loves each of you. I wish I could look each of you in the eyes and tell you personally.
So, supporter, thank you for sending me. Thank you for playing a part in ruining my life. My prayer is that he ruins yours too.
With all the love I could find in this world,
Kristy Kep
