“Spirit, lead me where my trust is without boarders.
Let me walk upon the water,
wherever YOU would call me.”
I’ve been trying to process the last few months what my life is going to be like being away from home for nearly a year. It’s so hard to imagine all that can and will take place. The endless possibilities, the wide range of opportunities and all the unforgettable experiences.
With this trip, I feel there are some natural emotions and thoughts that could keep me from continuing on this adventure. While some might phase me more than others, here is a quick list:
- Financial Issues (raising thousands of dollars)
- Leaving my family/friends for so long
- Putting my career/schooling on hold
- Fear of safety (or lack there of)
- Possibility of getting sick, (with no cure available..)
- Negative comments, from loved ones wanting to keep me “safe”
- Fear of becoming homesick (likely)
- Where and WHAT will I’ll be eating
- Where will I sleep..
And the list could go on and on..
However, this verse jumps out to me over and over again, and has never been more applicable to my life more than it is now..
“Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
–Philippians 4:6-7
These verses are the perfect go-to verses when these (stupid and frustrating) emotions start creeping in. I’m constantly reminded that no matter the circumstance.. big or small, super important or slightly subliminal, God always has my back, and I can always turn to him for peace, safety and comfort.
Now, let’s talk some logistics.. In my “About me” blog, I described a little bit about the WHO ((I am)), and the WHAT ((I’ll be doing)) aspect of my upcoming mission. Now I wanted to focus on the WHERE, and WHY?
WHERE?
11 total countries, all to Central and South America. Here’s the breakdown in (somewhat) order that I’ll be serving:
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua*
Costa Rica*
Panama*
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Bolivia
Chile
The three countries with asterisks by them are the countries I’ll be returning to for my second time. March 2013, I served with Journey Church out of Norman, OK to the beautiful country of Nicaragua. While I there, my team and I did street evangelism, small conferences and helped dig a well so they can have water on the property where their church was planted. My trip to Nicaragua was my first international mission trip, and the first time that I believed that my long term mission call would be to this specific part of the world.
May 2013, I went on a 12 day study abroad trip to Costa Rica. While this trip wasn’t necessarily “mission based”, I still learned a lot from it. I learned more about the hispanic culture, the language, and their rituals and customs. This trip further confirmed that Latin America area is where God wants me.
Fast forward to June 2014, I went to Panama alongside six other young ladies for a week and a half. This trip was the perfect final short-term mission trip before the Race. God expanded my faith in those 10 short days more than I thought ever to be possible.
WHY?
A call to missions is somewhat indescribable. It’s not necessarily logical, and listening to that call requires a whole lot of faith and obedience. As I try to describe this call to missions to my parents (or anyone for that matter).. I tend to get emotional. For those of you that know me, I am (was) rarely emotional. However, through the mission trips that I’ve already been on, the Holy Spirit has changed me. Opened my eyes. Stretched my heart. Broken and rebuilt me. And yes, even opened up those dried up tear ducts of mine. My love for my God, and the excitement within me when he moves is out of this world. My desire is to see a revival in my life time. In my family, my church, my city, my state, my country and the rest of the World.
In conclusion-
Some are called to GO, and some are called to SEND. I still cannot do this on my own. I have already had some people give some very generous donations, and to them.. I CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH! If you still want to support me financially, it’s not too late. At the side of this blog, click on the “Support me” tab, and you will be walked through the rest of the steps from there.
Continued prayers will forever be welcomed and accepted. I’ve had people randomly text me and say, “Hey, praying for you and your upcoming journey.. Just wanted to let you know!”.. That kind of text or phone call is the kind of thing that long term missionaries need so desperately. For those of you that have done that, I also CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH!
If you’d like to talk to me further about this trip, or just need someone to chat with.. PLEASE contact me! Via email, Facebook, text.. Whatever floats your boat!
Gloriously Ruined,
Kaitlyn
