“So… What’s next?”
I’ve gotten that question a lot since being home. People wondering if I’m going back to school or pursuing missions further or just going into the workforce.
I finally feel like I’m at the point where I am confident enough in what the near future looks like for me to share! I’ll explain what I am doing and then give a little background behind it for people who want more information. 🙂
This fall, I am planning on doing a Discipleship Training School (DTS) at Youth With a Mission (YWAM) Orlando with a focus on worship! This includes three months in Florida and then two months overseas. The three months in Florida will include classes/sessions and ministry in the area followed by two months of ministry overseas.
How did I get here? Honestly, it’s kind of a weird, but cool, story.
Before I left for the World Race, I applied for YWAM Orlando as a back-up plan. If I couldn’t figure out what to do, then I would go and do photography and videography at YWAM and continue missions and ministry. I was accepted over a year ago before I even left on the World Race.
Throughout my entire race, I hadn’t really thought about it. It came up once in Africa because we began talking about what we were going to do after the race, but I didn’t think much about it other than that. God put it back in my mind briefly during our time there, for sure.
Then I went home early. The idea of going back into missions scared me; I felt weak and incapable of continuing on with what I felt called to and what I was passionate about. It took me a while to get adjusted to life back home, and once I did, God really hit me with the “don’t you dare forget what I did in you”.
I started reading through my journals from Costa Rica and South Africa. I wrote down everything; the struggles, the faithfulness, the God moments every day. It brought me right back into the mindset I had while on the Race. He reminded me of the difference between the person who left home in September and the girl I am now.
My passion for missions and worship has grown since being on the Race. Just because I went through struggles and God gave me peace about coming home doesn’t mean that’s the end for me. In fact, it’s really just the beginning. If I didn’t come home early, I’m not sure I would be prepared for YWAM this fall.
About a month after I came home, YWAM Orlando actually called me. They asked if I was still thinking about doing a DTS with them this fall and they prayed for me over the phone. That day it all hit me. Since being a worship coordinator for my squad on the World Race, worship has been an enormous passion of mine and something I put into perspective in my everyday life. I looked at the worship elective they have at YWAM Orlando and fell in love with it. So I switched my elective (focus) and went back and forth on this decision for a long time.
Right now, I feel God’s pull towards this more than almost anything I’ve ever felt. People have reached out to me to talk about it from the base and I’ve asked questions and prayed over and over for clarity and for strength. God is really dang cool let me tell you, every time I think about this decision I get peace and hope and I am SO excited to move forward with what God has for me.
So, long story short, I am going back into missions! Being home has opened my eyes a lot and helped me realize how much I’ve changed and grown to love bringing God’s kingdom to earth.
I need your help. Please, please be praying for this upcoming step in my life (and also for a job because I’ve been searching and searching and getting loads of rejections) and since it is missionary work, just like the World Race, I need help spiritually and financially. I need to raise around $6,000-$7,000 total for all 5 months I will be gone. I ask that you pray and see if the Lord puts it on your heart to donate (anything helps!). I’m so thankful for the Lord’s provision and faithfulness through my supporters (both spiritually and financially).
Also! I will be sending out a newsletter to update family, friends, supporters, and anyone interested in this next step of my life before I leave at the end of September and while I am gone! If you would like to be sent one, feel free to comment or message me your email address that I can send it to. 🙂
Thank you so much for all of your support and love in this transition period of my life!! I am so thankful for the wonderful community of people around me.
Feel free to message me with any questions you may have or if you would just like to catch up or talk!!
Thanks again 🙂
-Katie Ericks
(Here is a link to donate (you have to put Katelyn Ericks: https://www.ywamorlando.com/pay/ )
(Here is my email to get ahold of me: [email protected])
(Here is YWAM Orlando’s website if you would like to look at it more: https://www.ywamorlando.com/ )
