For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a desire to spread value. I love to meet new people and see new places. And yet, I battled depression and substance addictions most of my teenage years. My path to escape reality through sex, drugs and alcohol was hard to walk away from. My experiences helped me realize I would rather hurt myself than my family or the friends around me. Through learning what I hated, I found the things that I love and bring true happiness to my life. It has been quite a journey, but by rebuilding my relationship with God, I no longer felt the pull of drugs, alcohol and sex because I found fulfillment.
I can now see that many times in my trials, God tried to reach me, and I’m so grateful that I finally humbled myself. I was living in a basement with spiders and no bathroom when I began working as a janitor and teaching myself how to record music. I worked so hard on my music that my friends started to take notice. My heavy dreams of traveling caused me to sign up for the World Race. I paid my deposit, only to be told “you’re just not ready for this type of experience, I suggest you quit drugs, alcohol and sex for a year and learn what it is to have a real relationship with Jesus.”
Sitting at a Riverside bus stop, I kinda knew about Jesus, but I was dazed and confused about imperfect churches and a perfect God. I had $300, one change of clothes, an old laptop, a microphone and an eagerness to learn more about myself and I guess this Jesus that apparently wanted to talk to me again. A month of wandering later, I landed with some family friends in San Diego for Thanksgiving. Over Jack Daniels and making beats with my host, I shared my struggles and why I was running. He told me his story, but I will never forget that he said “if you form a relationship with Jesus, everything will naturally fall into place.”
Unfortunately, I had a string of downward spirals after that. With no place to turn, I found myself at church, hella high, in front of a giant sign that read: MEXICO. Having just gotten my tax refund, I dropped $500 on the spot for a 10-day Spring break mission trip to Mexico. In a matter of days, I blindly jumped into a car packed with Christian people, afraid to share my story. During the first night worship in front of 800 people, I felt the Holy Spirit tell me it was safe to let my guard down and connect in a transparent way. I continued to feel the overwhelming presence of God. The old Grant stayed in Mexico and the new Grant enrolled in a year-long discipleship program.
Today my heart and soul sits with mission trips – and I have been accepted into the World Race – an 11 month mission trip that will take me to 11 countries to serve those in need and to share the love of my amigo Jesus. It’s wild how God uses mission trips to create a two-way street to grow those of us going to serve and those we go to help. I believe God has called me to the World Race to become a window for Americans and the rest of the world to look through and see similarities, difference and the opportunity to peacefully communicate through the bond of the Holy Spirit.
I am excited to not just tell people about Jesus, but to show Jesus in action and how he works on a larger than life scale. I want to share God’s love by simply taking the time out to connect with people and through music, prayer, love, and service projects. My prayer is that people will come to know just how down to earth and out of this world God can be.
I am writing to ask you to join my World Race journey and my incredible roller coaster of life with Jesus. I have 100 days to raise another $17,850 – I have already raised $1,150. I know this seems crazy and I know all things are possible with God. Here’s how you can help:
1.Tax-deductible Financial Donation: Every donation is such a blessing! I would not ask if I did not know this is how God wants to use me for the next year. Here’s the link:
https://grantkaestner.theworldrace.org/
2.Prayer: Please join my prayer team – shoot me your email and address and I will send you a prayer card.
3.Share My Story: This is going to take a body of Christ effort and you can help by letting me know family or friends who I should reach out to about my epic World Race journey.
Thank you – I cannot put my gratitude for your consideration into words. I am humbled and beyond excited for all that God’s up to in all of us on this World Race adventure.
Much love,
