As a Squad Leader, my primary role on the field is to minister to my squad. Sometimes it is hard to communicate what I’m doing as ministry and so I want to write a couple blogs introducing you to the people I minister to – my squad.
Now introducing… KT. She is super fun and goofy and is probably going to kill me after reading this blog and seeing the pictures. So if I happen to go missing her name is Katlynn Anne Arnold.
Also read this blog like a word-for-word transcript.
1. What’s the biggest lesson the lord has taught you so far?
– Katie: “okay two lessons. First one: patient endurance. Um just like, it’s in the Lord’s timing and not my own. And when I continue to be obedient and patient, like, He will show up eventually. Um and I just need to be expectant with open hands. Um, yeah and just how important patient endurance is and, like, in a lot of different circumstances, like, not even when I am praying to the lord and asking him but, like, even with my peers and my environment and circumstances like a bus driver being late. Um just relying on him to show up and being patient in that. And then second lesson is, like, something I didn’t realize that I, I don’t know, really struggled with. Um, like, my desire with control. And letting that go and yeah, idk.”
2. What is one snack or food back home that you miss the most?
– Katie: “um actually kolaches,”
– ME: Wait, how do you even spell that? Can you spell that for me?
– Katie: “Kolache? Haha K O L A C H E. I think thats from Shipley’s donuts in Texas. I’ve been craving that. And matcha. Matcha lattes from Starbucks.”
3. Be honest, do you miss your pets or your parents more?
– Katie: “Hahah yeah my dog died.. But yeah, so I definitely miss my dog more because I will never see him again.”
4. Why did you decide to do the race?
– Katie: “uh. I decided to do the race because the Lord told me so. No, so…my story really quick: I, like, went on a mission trip to Haiti right before college then, like, I had a degree in business, didn’t feel right. So I switched my major, because I wanted to pursue missions, to human development and family sciences. And then, like, around that same time (I) found my personal relationship with The Lord. And found out about the world race through a girl who I done sorority recruitment with. And, like, after that I finished my college degree and then it just kept coming up in the years following. I would follow the race on social media and I had three other friends who did it. And so, um, after I graduated college I was going to pursue a masters degree. And then the world race came up around the same time and I just felt lead to do the World Race instead.”
5. What’s one item you brought that you couldn’t live without?
– Katie: “that I couldn’t live without? Um..besides my phone? That I couldn’t live without? I am so happy I brought my pillow. My real pillow from home. Because the night before I packed up to go to launch I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t decide if I should bring my travel size pillow or my big pillow. Like, I stayed up all night thinking about it. I am so glad I brought my real pillow.”
6. What’s one item you wish you could have from home?
– Katie: *without any thought or hesitation* “my lipstick Hahah”
7. What country left are you looking forward to the most?
– Katie: “Uganda. Because I have a god son from there. And a really great friend that I met my last year of college. Her family still lives there and I am hoping I can meet them when I go.”
8. Tell me about a local you’ve met that’s sticks out the most to you in any country
– Katie: “In any country?”
– Me: yeah any of the three
– Katie: “um probably Evans, our translator in Haiti. Like, he was just, like, instantly a brother to me. And I still think about him today even though we aren’t able to talk a whole lot. Like, he just had such a mature faith for his age and, like, he was a leader in his family. Um, like, despite all that he is going through, all the challenging things around him, he continues to stay faithful and strong in the lord. And also he is just really funny and fun to be around. So he was like a light to us in that month, our first month.”
(Evans = Guy with sunglasses)
9. What’s one of the best things about being on the race?
– Katie: “Shoot. Um..experiencing different cultures. Um..meeting new people. Challenging and growing myself. Um..idk I have just seen like a different aspect to my relationship with the lord because I have had to face many different trials that, like, back home I wouldn’t necessarily have to face. And so thats honestly been cool although it’s been difficult it’s been really cool to see.”
10. What’s one of the hardest things about being on the race?
– Katie: *deep breath* “um.. Haha.. I don’t want to say community because I love community. Like, really, I love community it’s just trying to get other people to get along. Idk, um…and like the smells. You can say the smells if you want to say something silly. The smells are really difficult for me. Yeah.”
11. Has the race been what you expected it to be?
– Katie: “No. Haha um.. It’s been challenging and I knew it was going to be challenging but not in the ways that it has been challenging. And..”
– Me: what did you expect out of it?
– Katie: “I expected to enjoy myself hahaha…this is so bad. Um.. I expected to have fun…haha idk I need to have another answer.”
– Me: I am putting all of this in the blog
– Katie: “no don’t. It’s just been hard to like, idk, uh. How do I want to portray this?”
– Me: it’s funny because I am going to write this blog as if someone is sitting right here in front of us listening. Like, I want them to feel like they are here, listening to your answers.
– Katie: “ok then I will think carefully about what I want to say then. Um..what was the question?”
– Me: has the race been what you expected it to be?
– Katie: “ok, first, in Haiti I was obsessed with the race. Like, I love everything about it. I still love everything about it, it has just become a lot more difficult and challenging and I miss my family now. But, like, Haiti was a really hard month for the rest of my team. And, like, idk during that time I was like, on top of the world. And now, idk. Hmmm.. I didn’t know I was going to be a leader, so that’s cool. I mean I still love my role but it’s just been harder and more challenging than I thought. That’s all, just more challenging in ways I didn’t think.”
Katie is a cool kid. Click on this link to read her blog and follow her along this journey. She still has 8 months to go! http://katiearnold.theworldrace.org
Also thanks to everyone who has supported my trip financially. I only have $4,900 left to raise. Please consider partnering with me! Donate by clicking the “DONATE” button above
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