This is a blog written from a mamma’s (My Mamma’s) perspective of Parent Vision Trip (PVT). I hope you enjoy her insight on the world race experience.
My hubby often says that I live in Kathyland. Kathyland is a beautiful place. There is no bad news because I don’t watch the news. It is a happy place because I love to be happy! There are no troubles and trials because sometimes I just let reality escape me. During my trip to Romania, God kicked me out of Kathyland! He used my son, Kyle, to get me out of my comfort zone.
I have never had a desire to visit another country. I have never had a desire to fly in an airplane and have only done that once. Too many bad things happen in other countries. Planes crash! Planes are highjacked! I struggle with fear that something might happen so I just play it safe and stay in Kathyland where everything is safe. Then Kyle told us he was going on The World Race-11 countries in 11 months! Kyle had told me that there would probably be a parent trip at some point and I could come and see him. I was thinking 11 months is a long time to not see and hug my son, but I could never fly around the world!
I have never been on a mission trip. I have wanted to go on one but, besides all the fears of flying and visiting a foreign country, I also have stomach issues that treatment for it lowers my immune system so I just never thought I would be able to go. But with Christ ALL things are possible!
When Kyle sent the invitation to come and visit him I didn’t want to disappoint Kyle and not visit, but the fears were overwhelming. I asked my doctor if I could go and he said, “Yes, I wouldn’t keep you from going.” What? Really? There goes one of my excuses! OK, next excuse, Terry would never let me go by myself so I asked him what he thought about me going and he said, “Yes, I think you should go.” What? Are you kidding me? Next excuse… We just don’t have that kind of money for me to go on a one week trip around the world. I put out a notice on facebook that some people had mention they would like to help with my trip and the next day I got a note from a friend that she had paid my balance to Adventures in Missions for my expenses! Then Kyle’s church gave me the money that was left in his account which covered half of my plane ticket. I seem to be running out of excuses so I decided that God did want me to go on this trip so I embraced it! The fears were still there but I was given Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” He was telling me not to be afraid he was going with me to Romania. What more could I ask for?
God helped me with my fears of traveling alone and flying by supplying some great travel buddies- Tom and Linda Cashin. I posted on our facebook parent site if anyone was traveling out of Atlanta and Linda invited me to travel with them. I can’t tell you what peace it gave me to know I could travel with them. I was very nervous and anxious as we were driving up to the airport but once I was with Linda and Tom they made me feel so welcome and my fears just melted away.
