76 days, to be exact. That’s how long I have until I return to America.
WHAT.
Didn’t I just finish fundraising? Didn’t I JUST leave for Spain?? How is it that time has gone by so quickly. I’m going to blink and these 76 days will be over!
A lot has happened since my last blog update. My best friend in the entire world got engaged, we moved to a different city with a new ministry host in Kazakhstan to wrap up the month… and my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. It has been a busy time of traveling and experiencing many emotions. My team has been the biggest support and cheerleading squad that I could ever need during this time, and truly the Lord has been my sustainer. Thank God my Gran is doing better and is getting the treatment that she needs. It’s just hard being away from her right now.
At the beginning of our month in Kazakhstan, we arrived in Atbasar and hit the ground running. Most mornings we served disabled adults in the community and taught English lessons to teenagers. It was a really sweet time of connecting and building relationships. We also had the opportunity to speak to members of a drug rehabilitation program. During the meeting we attended on our first night, we prayed over each person individually and witnessed prayers being answered almost immediately. Because of what was happening during the meeting, we were taken into a room connected to the meeting place where disabled men were living. While in there, we prayed for men who were completely blind, lame and deaf. There was not a single dry eye as the Holy Spirit moved and completely changed the atmosphere in that small room. My teammate Kelly wrote a beautiful post on that night.
Our ministry host in Kazakhstan then asked us to go and serve in the city of Karaganda, so we got on another train and spent the end of our month there. I am not exaggerating when I say this was my absolute favorite time on the Race so far. I’m not exactly sure what happened, but beginning day one I was branching out and doing things that I don’t find very comfortable. By choosing to get out of my comfort zone, I found so much freedom and joy that I do believe God has been inviting me to walk in this whole time, but I kept coming up with excuses as to why I should play it safe and not step out in confidence of my abilities. If anything, I’ve learned just how much I need to believe in myself and hone in on the gifts God has given me!
Right away we made friends with young adults who were serving in the same ministries we were asked to work with while in Karaganda. After an event that was held to celebrate the Kazakh New Year, our new friends asked us to dinner and to go ice skating, which I was very timid about doing due to possible embarrassment. I decided to get over myself and go have fun regardless of if I wiped out on the ice in front of everyone. I had such an incredible time with our new friends and I believe that decision I made to go was just the beginning of choosing to “be brave” the rest of our time in Kazakhstan.
I taught an English class all by myself. Usually when we teach or do anything we’re with at least one other person from our team, but this time we all had to be in different places, so I had to manage on my own. It was a time of so much laughter, friendship and learning! I’ve enjoyed teaching English in the countries we’ve taught in, but this time felt extra special and I realized that God has given me the gift of connection.
I voluntarily told a part of my personal story to a group of people. I’ve shared my testimony one-on-one with people and with my teammates, but this time I shared with a group I barely knew. With the Holy Spirit’s lead, I didn’t hesitate to share the really hard and the really good. Afterwards, I had people tell me how my story impacted them and thanking me for sharing it. Obedience will always be hard, but it’s gotten so much easier to understand how obedience and vulnerability change things and bring people closer together.
I have been to some incredible places this year, but what really makes the countries so amazing are the people who live in them. I fell in love HARD with the people of Karaganda. I truly felt like I was a part of a family and realized what I want my community to look like when I get back home. On our last night, our friends gave us t-shirts that they had made so we wouldn’t forget them! It was for sure my hardest goodbye to date and I even expressed my interest in coming back to Karaganda. If it is the Lord’s will, I will go back to Kazakhstan, whether it be short term or long term.
Now we are in Kyrgyzstan, teaching English at an English center as well as teaching classes at the universities in town. We have been making connections in the classroom, but then build true relationships outside of class. It has been a super busy week so far, but Kyrgyzstan is beautiful and we’re excited to be here!
With only 76 days left, we are being encouraged to begin thinking about plans post-Race. While I don’t know the whole plan for my arrival back into the U.S., I am continually speaking into myself about what is real and not finding my value in what I will do. Easier said than done, but this planner is improving in trying to have control and dying to the “need” to have a plan. Rah!
Thank you for your continued prayers. I miss you, I love you and I’ll see you SO soon!
Xoxo, Austin
