Oh heyyyy everyone! My time is growing shorter and shorter in the good ‘ole US of A!
Please let me start off by again thanking all of my supporters for your insane amounts of generosity, love and support. You are all so treasured deeply in my heart, and I will be thinking of, and thanking the Lord for you always for helping me chase a dream I have been praying about for over 3 years now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Things have been so crazy! The Christmas season came and went so quickly, I don’t even know where it went! It was so amazing seeing my family, and those I don’t normally see until the holidays. My heart was so full.
I was able to make a trip up to the great state of Iowa for about 4 hours to see some people, and visit the places I love so much. Can I just say, for all those people that think Iowa is a super random state, and it has nothing in it, that the people in that place are seriously some of the most loving people I have ever come across. Like, you can go anywhere and people are smiling at you, or saying hello, or asking you how you are. I absolutely love Iowa. And I was reminded that that is where God put the Race on my heart.
When I moved to Iowa, I first heard about the Race during my trip to Haiti. I had been praying about it ever since Haiti. Then I took a class at my church in Cedar Falls that helped us learn more about who God is and the call He has on our lives, and God continued to put it on my heart that that the Race was where He was calling me. But He reminded me that it still wasn’t the time. I patiently waited. And applied in March of 2016, and HERE I AM. About to leave in a week!
I passed the church where God confirmed my call, and tears flooded from my eyes. I know I’ve talked about this church in past blogs, but I’m so blessed by Orchard Hill Church. And God used the people inside of it to completely satisfy my heart. I’m so grateful.
Guys, I leave this coming Sunday! WHAAT?
This week is insane. I have been attempting to pack, and figure out what clothes, and meds, and essentials I need, and it is DIFFICULT. But I’m so excited about it. The Lord is teaching me the art of minimalism. He’s teaching me that I don’t need to bring all of my worldly possessions to further His Kingdom. I don’t need to bring that super cute top, or those cool white shoes that are going to get dirty in like, 4 minutes just because I want to look put together. In all reality, we’re not put together. God is saying, “look, as much as you think you’ve got it all together, you don’t. I want you to feel uncomfortable. I’m going to break you, and mend you into the person I have created you to be. So those clothes, don’t worry about them. That’s not the point of all of this. Just come as you are. Follow me.” (If Come As You Are by Nirvana popped in your head as you read that, I love you forever)
For years I have been chasing after the verse in Isaiah where he writes “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8) The Lord has put this desire on my heart to go out into all the nations, and spread the Gospel to all of His people. And I am so grateful for this call. I have been jumping and shouting, “Here am I. Send me”, for so long. And that time has come! He is sending ME!
On Sunday I will be traveling to Atlanta for launch. And we will be in India on January 13th!
Our team just got our assignment for what we will be doing in India. We are pairing up with two other teams for a ministry that is going to be very challenging, but SO exciting. We will be church planting and doing village ministry! There are some security concerns, and for that reason I am unable to post where I will be located. However, it is going to be amazing! (If you have questions, please message me!)
Please, family, keep my squad and me in your prayers. The Lord is ALREADY doing amazing things in our lives right now. But the devil has been seeking any possible opportunity to break our focus. This isn’t going to stop when we leave either. So please pray for safety, pray for the people we come in contact with, pray for our hearts, pray for our families, and pray that the Lord works INCREDIBLE wonders through us in these 11 months.
I love you guys so so much!
I will keep you posted!
Peace and love,
Keel
