Well… here goes! I'm Kaitlyn. I'm 22, and from the small town of Star, North Carolina. I graduated with a BA in Psychology and Religion from Mars Hill College (nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina) in May 2011. My four years of college, well.. I wouldn’t trade the experience I had there and in the community surrounding as I've been challenged and stretched to think outside the box. I gained some of my best friends there, a solid education, worked with various people, surrounded by beautiful mountains every day. I mean I was usually in awe of how beautiful everything was.
I’m a thinker & analyzer & am always up for learning something new. I know that God has a bigger dream for my life than I could ever have for myself, and this is me being open and continuing to chase after Him, wherever that may be. I know I’ve been given this short time to make a difference and whether that be instilling hope in the life of a child, educating people about making positive life changes & understanding poverty, educating people about fair trade, listening to the broken, making sure that people have the necessities for life, or exemplifying empathy, then by graciousness… I’ll do it. 🙂 You may find me with my Kodak, looking for rocks, going on an adventure, making new friends, dancing in a rainstorm, soaking up some sunshine, or keeping life colorful.
If you’re still reading (thanks!) … here’s more about me:
I grew up in a Christian home, and came to know Christ at a very young age. When I was 16 I went to Gulfport, Mississippi to help with Katrina Relief (Oct. ’05). God used that week to break me and enabled me to see how He works beautiful things in the midst of brokenness, and how He was being glorified even in the remnants of a hurricane. I returned in January of ‘06, and for a month during the summer of ‘06 (I just couldn't get enough of it!). I have since spent time in various parts of the country volunteering, as well as being invested in the Asheville community through partnerships with my scholarship at school. Two summers ago I spent 10 weeks in Waco, TX working with Mission Waco. To say that my eyes were opened would be an understatement. Mission Waco ROCKED.MY.WORLD! There began deep time invested in biblical learning, being in charge of planning daily activities at a children's day camp, working at a fair trade cafe, teaching bible studies at a homeless shelter, and learning more about poverty around the world. Through poverty simulations I began to learn about the people of India, Mexico City, and Haiti– God’s love for the poor, and just where I could find myself in the midst of it all. I began to feel called to India; having learned of a world of brokenness there. I went to India, in the summer of ‘10 for 6 weeks by myself partnering with a ministry and volunteer organization there.
I cannot begin to describe the differences among American society, and Indian society. Its truly another world. I think it takes us getting out of our comfort zone, and existing with others to help us find answers, ask questions, and to enable us to love beyond ourselves.
In my time there I worked with Asha House, a children's home where some children are orphaned and some have families that cannot financially support them making about 30 cents (USD) per day, and a leper colony. I also spent time in the Himalayas teaching English. During this time I was overwhelmed, not by the poverty or livelihood– it was extreme yet reality for most, but I was overwhelmed by the numerous unreached. We would drive by THOUSANDS on the streets and I was broken that I would never have the opportunity to share my God's love with all of the people, and if I was THERE and wouldn't be able to– then who? I didn't see another American for the first 3 weeks I was there. I'm still moved, and broken by this. There is a desperate need in this world for people with minds and hearts willing to go and serve and genuinely love. I feel that there is urgency within the gospel, and there's no time to waste. I want people to know of the love of my Savior and believe God is equipping me each new day to chase Him even further into this unpaved world down a challenging path, that meets my deep joy and His heart of reaching after the people He loves and wants to love Him back with a radical love. I’ve seen my call to the nations.
I’m going on The World Race because I desire for my life to be giving God utmost attention, affection, adoration and worship. I don’t want my goals to be anything but after God’s own heart. Even if that means being stripped away of modern American amenities, living out of a backpack and camping for 11 months. I feel that takes me seeking people in their hurt, brokenness, & pain, finding the best way to exist with them, and working to bring them restoration and hope of the Father's great love.
