Welcome to my first ever blog.
To quote my all-time favorite character, Lorelai Gilmore, this is how I feel when faced with what to write.
Because my brain is a wild jungle full of scary gibberish. “I’m writing a letter, I can’t write a letter, why can’t I write a letter? I’m wearing a green dress, I wish I was wearing my blue dress, my blue dress is at the cleaners. The Germans wore gray, you wore blue, ‘Casablanca’ is such a good movie. Casablanca, the White House, Bush. Why don’t I drive a hybrid car? I should really drive a hybrid car. I should really take my bicycle to work. Bicycle, unicycle, unitard. Hockey puck, rattlesnake, monkey, monkey, underpants!” #overwhelmed
I had decided weeks ago I was going to sit down and express my heart in why I want to go on the world race. Not that easy. I can come up with a lot more reasons why I shouldn’t be blogging. All I hear in my head is “You are a terrible speller” “You write like you think, which is erratic” “Nobody is going to want to read all that” “You aren’t creative enough, interesting enough, clever enough” But those are lies. Those are the things the enemy wants to speak over me to keep me from sharing my heart.
The truth is, yes I write like I think & speak, but thats me. The truth is God has commissioned me and is going to use me to reach people all over the globe. I pray this blog may be a platform for my supporters and whoever wants to read it to experience God with me as I step out into this incredible adventure.
Here are a few simple things I do know to be true. I was made for something like this.
Over the years I have truly begun to see people are made completely different. I love traveling more than anything else. Some people hate it. I love new places, new cultures, new people. Some people would be content staying in the same town their entire life. I was made to do something like this. Now, I never imagined living out of a backpack and sleeping in a tent for a year but 11 countries in 11 months? SIGN ME UP! I love that I get to be in each country for a month. Just enough time to be rooted but not too long where I would never wanna leave. I love that I get to see 3 different continents. When trying to explain this to some family and friends they might think I’m just asking for 20k just to go on vacation. If you only look at the Instagram it looks like all they do is dance on the great wall of china and ride elephants and board down volcanoes all day. But I know the World Race is going to be hard work. But I don’t think it’s a sin to be excited about those things too! This year is going to be a wild adventure and an emotional roller coaster.
I’ve been praying for this for 2 years. I have been seeking the Lord and I have decided to give a year of my life. What that truly looks like, I don’t have a clue. But I know it’ll be worth it.
Two major things I have learned in the two years I have been praying for this.
1. The “gain” is greater than the “giving”
I spent weeks whining about all that I was giving up. I have to sell my condo. I have put IMMENSE strain on my relationship with my parents. I have to say goodbye to my friends. I am missing most of the first year of my first niece of nephews life as well as the two (soon to be three) babies that pretend to call my own. I am going to miss out on a lot of engagements and marriages and big things in the lives of the people I love. Thats a lot of sacrifice.
Then God comes at me with this:
“And so whoever is not ready to give up all he has may not be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
Being a disciple is hard. It means loving Jesus more than my family. It means selling all that I have if I have to. It means dying to myself. It means picking up my cross. It means being uncomfortable. It means being uncertain of how its gonna all work out in the end. It means trust. But the reward is so worth it. It’s not about what I’m giving up. It’s about what God wants to do in me and through me.
People coming into the kingdom of God: worth it.
The Joy I will give and receive: worth it.
The experiences and memories I will have forever: worth it.
Making a difference in even a single person’s life: worth it.
Sharing the Gospel of Hope: worth it.
Seeing the sick be healed: worth it.
Stepping out of my comfort zone to grow closer to God: worth it.
2. A dream & a Word will keep me grounded.
“Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful.” Judges 18:5
More than a year ago, I circled that scripture and wrote “The World Race” simply saying “Okay, God. I’m inquiring of you. Is this trip of you? Show me your will.”
I have no memory of the verse immediately after.
This July, right before an important conference call. I begged God for a “Word”, one scripture, that would set my heart ablaze. One scripture that I would know so clearly what his will for me is. One clear cut Word that would drive me in the right direction. This same scripture was the selected reading plan for our group. However it was the verse behind it that made me burst into tears.
The priest answered them, “Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD’s approval.” (v.9)
God had answered my prayer. He had given me and answer.
This journey has barely begun and it has been hard. But at night I often dream about dirty little feet. I don’t remember much about the dream other than I wake up filled with joy. I have been commissioned to go wash those dirty little feet. I get to spend a year showing love to widows and hugging and kissing on sweet little babies. It may not be glamorous but oh, how those dirty little feet I am constantly dreaming about fill me with so much joy.
When my life is chaotic and there are so many options and thoughts and concerns all around me I can remember the dreams. I can stand firm on the promise God gave me in scripture. And the hundreds of other promises He has made. My God has given me his stamp of approval and he will never leave me or forsake me. Thats all I need. I can stand on the dream he placed in my heart and the Word he has used to send me to fulfill those dreams. He is faithful. World Race 2016, HERE I COME!
I AM PRAYING FOR 35 people to give $50 a month until I leave in August. If you are interested in helping me reach my goal so I can reach these countries please contact me via email.
For those of you interested this is the route I selected. Please pray for me and pray that I can be used mightily in each of these countries.
Cote d’Ivoire
Ghana
Burkina Faso
India
Nepal
Cambodia
Thailand
El Salvador
Honduras
Guatemala
Belize
If you would like to contact me email me at [email protected]
If you would like to donate you can do so at the top of the page
***If you would like to donate MONTHLY email me and I can give you a different link and instructions
XOXO KG
