To All of My Supporters,
Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is because of you that I have been able to serve so many people in so many unique ways over the last few months. Even though I am around the world, you are with me. You have been with me the entire time. I would not be able to do what I am doing today without your love, support, and encouragement.
Since August, I have encountered the Lord in so many ways. I have seen Him through the people I have served, and now I am also seeing the world through His eyes. God has created a beautiful world, and I have fallen in love with His creation. And the only reason I have been able to do this is because of you, so I wanted to share with you what you have made possible: how you have brought light into a broken and dark world.
Month 1 – Albania
This month we partnered with Church of the Nazarene. We spent most of our time preparing and painting a kindergarten for its opening. This was the dream for our hosts, Ergest & Eta Gesti, and it was such a pleasure playing a small part in it.
Even though our assigned ministry was painting, we didn’t stop there.
We were able to minister to the neighborhood children. These children didn’t have much, but they gave us so much. They gave us joy. They gave us love. They gave us memories.
We spent time with them as much as we could. We played soccer. (Yes, soccer is ministry.)
We helped with a youth worship night and shared our testimonies.
We created a three day VBS for them filled with singing, games, arts and crafts, and lessons about how God is so good.
God blessed us with an amazing first month. We made so many great memories and met so many beautiful people. I hope their lives were touched by me as much as they touched mine.
Month 2 – Romania
What an AMAZING month! I absolutely adored our hosts Adi & Ari Rosiu. These people have a heart for serving and a heart for Jesus. This month we helped convert a space into a second hand shop, which would support Adi & Ari’s dream of opening a hospice facility for the community.
With this hospice they hope to share the love of Christ through their medical services, free of charge.
The poppy is their symbol because even though it has a short life span, it’s beauty still brings so much joy. And this is the wish of Hospice Eliana. To remind people of beauty and joy, even in the hard times.
During the month, we laid floor, used power tools, painted the walls (and sometimes ourselves).
We also partnered with their church to minister to the youth. We joined their weekly high school meetings and created two-day camps for the younger kids.
We shared so many laughs with the children, and they will always have a special place in my heart.
This month taught me what it looks like to live with a servant’s heart and to never expect anything in return because that is exactly how our hosts served us.
Month 3 – Greece
This month we worked in a refugee camp on the island of Lesbos, serving thousands of people from 40 different nationalities. It was by far the hardest month, but it was also my favorite.
We partnered with EuroRelief and mainly worked with the housing for camp. Some days we worked with the new arrivals. We handed them clothing and supplies for their stay in the camp. Other days we would move families and their belongings to a new space, usually a tent.
Most days I found myself guarding gates, to make sure people were living in the correct areas. We also would just do odd jobs around the camp whenever people needed something.
We worked long hours, sometimes overnight, and they were not easy shifts. I have never experienced that level of exhaustion, but I also have never experienced that level of passion for a group of people. This picture was taken after a long 10 hour shift. (We had quite a few of those, but we were happy to do them!)
When I learned what these refugees went through in hopes of a better life, my heart couldn’t help but hurt for them.
Since the crisis in 2015 over 500,000 refugees have come to Lesbos.
They came on boats much like this one crammed with 50-60 people from Turkey, when they are only for around 15-20.
They come with essentially nothing and suffer greatly just for a chance of security. It was easy to become caught up in their heartbreaking stories, but these people didn’t want our pity. Even though they didn’t have much, they had each other and that was enough for them. They had a hope for the future and a determination to get there.
I learned so much from this experience and all of the refugees. My life will never be the same. My worldview was transformed, and I saw God’s people through His eyes. I wept for them because of their pain. But I smile every time I think of them, because they all brought so much joy into my life and they all have a hope for something better.
They inspired me.
God has taught me so much and given me such incredible experiences in the first three months of the Race, and I can’t wait to see what else He has in store for us. I would not have had these opportunities without you and I will be eternally grateful but I still need your help and support.
Because of your donations I am over 90% funded! Praise God for your giving hearts and generosity! I am still amazed by all of you and God’s provision. But I am still in need of $1,464 to reach the full $18,017, which needs to happen by December 15th! We are almost there!
So please continue to pray for a financial breakthrough, spread the word, and consider continuing to support me. Every little bit helps! Thank you again for partnering with me and helping me spread Christ’s light to the nations!
Love,
Caitlin
