The past few days have been incredibly eventful. As many of you know my time on the field overseas came to an abrupt halt on March 13. Let me give you a glimpse into what my life looked like between March 12 and March 16!
Timeline:
March 12 – A squad was given the news that we would not be going to India and that the Parent Vision Trip was therefore canceled. Therefore we would go to Nelspruitt, South Africa for debrief and from there we would figure where we would be going.
March 13 – We arrived back to our homestead from our day working at our ministries. We were preparing for dinner when everyone was called to a squad meeting. Our leaders told us that we were going home and had to be packed and ready to leave by 8:30 AM on the 14th.
March 14th – Traveled by bus to Pretoria, South Africa.
March 15th – Arrived at the airport and began flying home.
March 16th – Arrived in D.C. around 6 PM!
Let me be clear as to why we were being sent home. Yes, we were sent home because of COVID-19. This decision was not made out of fear. It was prayed over. In the 24 hour period of being told we could not get into India there were more border closings happening around the world. On the morning of the 13th Lesotho had closed its borders and eSwatini and South Africa were talking about doing the same. Therefore, for our safety it was better for us to be brought home so that we did not get “stuck” in a country that did not have the capacity to take care of us if someone did happen to get sick with COVID-19.
Since arriving back in the US and driving home I have been processing how to tell you all what is happening. It is simple, until we are clear to travel again I will remain home. However, in 60 days we will be told what the possibility of relaunch looks like. This means I could be sent back out whether it is the mission field here at home or abroad.
I was deeply heartbroken at what looked like an unfinished mission but God knew the whole time that I would be sent back home amidst a pandemic. Since arriving home I have seen a small glimpse of why we were brought back. America needs hope. They need to know the love of the Father. We need to be pointed back to the cross. I was sent home for one reason: REVIVAL!
I want to thank you all for your prayers over the past 6 months and also your financial support. During my time home I will update you about what A squads relaunch will look like as we continue to get information from Adventures in Missions.
To end this email I just want to share some scripture that I have been meditating on since arriving home. Also, please let me know how I can pray for you through this season!
With Love,
Katlyn Benton
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:19-20 “But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck you up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.”
Exodus 20:4-5 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God…”
2 Chronicles 7:21-22 “And at this house, which was exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore he has brought all this disaster on them.’”
Hebrews 12:10-11 “For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Psalm 91 (this is a little long so please find a bible and go read it!!)
