Hi, everyone!!!
My name is Kathryn Githens but my friends call me Kat. I am currently working on my undergraduate degree at Kansas State University in Communication Studies with a minor in leadership Studies. Even though I go to school in Kansas I was actually born and raised in Houston, Texas and my parents currently reside in Magnolia, Texas. I went to Memorial High School and attended Second Baptist Church in Houston from 6th grade until currently. Here in Manhattan, Kansas I am a member of the K State Home Church Network called Ichthus. I grew up in the church but my story isn’t as straight and simple as that. I hope to share with you the journey I’ve been on my whole life discovering and trying my best to walk in God’s light.
I always had a heart for the unknown. Ever since I was little I wanted to move and go explore somewhere new and exciting. I never liked that my family and I lived in the same house my whole life and I knew my parents didn’t either. Any chance my dad could get to transfer he would try and go for it. When it came time for me to start my Junior year of high school my dad had the possibility for all of us to move to Africa. I remember everyone thinking I would be upset but all I could think about was packing up, leaving, and getting the opportunity to experience a new culture. We ended up not moving to Africa but I never realized that this was a passion that God had given me and would carry on throughout my life. I was soon driven by this passion in my decision to go out of state for school. This was one of the hardest experiences for me and I ended up turning away and pushing back on the things God wanted to instill in me. During my second semester of school of my freshman year, my parents soon informed me that my dad had accepted an offer to move to Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada for work and that my parents would be moving there within the next couple of months. This was an extremely trying time because not only was I living in a different state than my parents but now I would be living in a different country. A year later I spent my Christmas break with my parents and we went to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and as strange as it seems that relit the spark I had for going on adventures. This prompted me to go on a search for missions. I had always loved the idea of mission trips but never did the research. I soon learned that my college ministry back home was going on a mission trip to Honduras and I quickly applied.
There are many stories from that trip that I could divulge but this is already pretty lengthy. But what I learned on that trip is that this is what I was meant to do with my life. Maybe not missions exactly but immersing myself in cultures, learning about them, and spreading Gods word. It wasn’t until a few months ago that I found my passion. I had this deep rooted love and drive for something but didn’t have a name for it. What it is is Intercultural Communication Studies and I will be getting my PhD in that field and will be doing research in that field within the coming year.
This passion, drive, calling, whatever you want to call it lead me here. The most appropriate name is the Holy Spirit. It is by no accident that this is inside me nor that the path I’ve been on has lead my to the world race. If you ever want to tell God a joke tell Him your plans or tell Him you would never do something. Well the first time I heard my friend, Carrie, recount her stories from the race and especially the food she ate I said “God, I’ll do anything, anything but that” but a few short years later and her I am on fire for what God’s plan is for me and everyone else on the team within the coming years. Every time I think about this amazing opportunity my heart swells and my eyes get glossy. So please, if you feel called to do so, support me on this wonderful journey by donating and setting up to get emails of my posts so you can follow along.
Have a Blessed Day!
Kat Githens
