Hello everyone! I’m so incredibly excited to announce that I will be going to Thailand for a month this summer to do mission work through the World Race Semesters program! Sometimes it just hits me how crazy and wonderful it is that this is actually going to happen, and today’s one of those days. This blog post is just to tell a bit of my story of how I knew God was calling me to Thailand and to invite you on this journey with me.
I first learned about the World Race last year from a friend who knew someone on it. I made a little note in my phone but didn’t think too much of it at first. Then one day I decided to look into the program, and the second I opened the World Race website, I felt all my breath leave my lungs. I just remember staring transfixed as I scrolled through the page, my heart pounding and the only thought in my head echoing, “I want to do this.”
A little background on me: I’m Catholic, raised in the Church with a very religious family, and an active member of my parish youth group. But I’ve never done a mission trip before! I’ve never left the country- I don’t even have a passport yet! But somehow, my heart was screaming to me to go across the world to serve and share God’s love.
So I prayed about it. A lot. There were so many nights when I was babysitting when I’d just read through the World Race website after the kids went to bed and feel this vibrant knowledge of how badly I wanted to go.
This same time last year, I was at the Dallas Catholic Youth Conference- I’m actually writing this from my hotel room at that same conference- and we spent Saturday night in prayer. The music was loud and thousands of teenagers all around me were praising God, and I asked Him if the World Race was His plan for me. There was a moment of quiet, and I felt so nervous that I’d hear a no, but then I felt this resounding yes. Relief and joy just rushed through me. I laughed and cried and hugged my friend, telling her, “I feel called!”
Me at the Dallas Catholic Youth Conference this year- one year after I felt God call me to go on a mission trip!
A year later, I’m getting ready to go and fulfill God’s call for me during this summer. I’m still so amazed that I’m here now and I’m going, and I want to invite all of you to come along with me. You can subscribe to this blog for updates and check out my mission trip Instagram account @katiegoestothailand. That account is also one method I’m using to fundraise! I’ve been stockpiling craft projects to sell since last year. If you feel called to donate and support my mission, you can do that here on this blog or through that Instagram. Any amount at all helps so so much. In total I need to raise $4,600, and I’m not going to lie, it’s a little scary! But I’m also trusting in God and in the beautiful lessons He’s teaching me through the fundraising process. Please pray over this and consider supporting me! I am also in need of prayers as I prepare for this mission!
This blog will have all sorts of stories and pictures as I prepare to go and go to Thailand. I love to write, so I’m actually so thrilled to share this experience with you! Thank you for reading this post and check back soon, there’s more to come! I cannot wait to see what plans God has in store for me in Thailand and to share all of that with you! Kawpkoon (thank you) and God bless!
