A Path Made Clear

I came back from the Dominican Republic with a heart for the island.  I knew originally it was more of a  'spiritual high,' as lots of Christians call it, but I didn't realize how long it would last.


I mentioned to my mom and dad that I wanted to go back to the Dominican for awhile after graduation in December. I don't know if they heard me right or not, but they both seemed fine with it.  My mom said, "I know you'll figure it out! You always do!" And with the hand of God, that's just what I did.


Two weeks ago I met with Karen, a woman from my church who is a part-time missionary in the DR.  She and her husband helped plan our summer mission trip and were with us most of the time while we were there.  She knows a lot of the ins-and-outs of being a missionary and having a heart for the nations.  I knew she'd have some good advice for me.


We met at Caribou Coffee, just a few miles from my house.  I immediately went into detail as to how my heart was yearning to be back in the Dominican.  I told her I had looked online for different ministries, job opportunities and internships to be my ticket back there, but nothing had come close to catching my eye, and I needed her help.


As our conversation continued, she informed me that there was a school for girls in La Vega, DR that has a girl interning there currently, but she's leaving at the end of the year and they are in need of another.  The school is for girls living in poverty who can't read, write or do basic math.  A couple from another church in my town knew the lady, Joy, who started this school, and Karen gave me their contact information.


Could this be where God wants me? He provided not only a place, but instant contact information on the same day I was getting frustrated because I couldn't find anything.


That evening I contacted the school, and just a few days later I had an email response from Joy asking for things such as my testimony, what I like to do, etc.  I emailed her back quicker than you could ever imagine!


She responded again asking what I would like to do if I came down.  She also included a list of things they were in need of: "Web design and maintenance, accounting, fundraising, communications, girls mentorship and programing, teacher/perhaps, girl's house mom/perhaps?" First of all, I'm a communications major, who was originally going to be a teacher.  Secondly, I have a huge heart for girls, and get to use that in my ministry here as a College Intern at my church.  


When I read that message and realized how overlapping my skills/talents/passions were with the list of things they needed, tears welled up in my eyes.  I just knew this is where God wanted me.


Last Friday I met, via Skype, with Joy, as well as the woman whom Karen knows from the other church in my city. We talked for about an hour and seemed to really click.  One of the biggest questions I had was about the time commitment, as my mom and dad told me I should only go for about 3 months to try it out.  Joy asked me to come from January until June.  6 months. She explained that once I have made connections with the girls, it will be hard for us to part in the middle of the semester.


The next day I was on the phone calling my mom and dad with butterflies in my stomach.  How would they feel about me living in the Dominican Republic for 6 months? In a country-town that only gets water and electricity on Mondays and Thursdays?  In a school where no one speaks English?  Sharing a dorm with 4 little girls because their home-life wasn't safe, and they had no one to take care of them?  What would they say? 


Both mom and dad said I could go. Enough said.


There is no doubt in my mind that this is where God wants me.  If this isn't a testimony to God's control, I don't know what is.  He completely orchestrated this in a way I could never have imagined, and I cannot wait until January.

Check out this website for more information about the school:

 New Hope Girls Academy (Nueva Esperanza) 

Photo courtesy of http://newhopegirls.wordpress.com/

Safe Place

I came home the other day feeling a bit emotional and overwhelmed.  I sat on the couch and my roommate instantly knew I wasn't myself.  She looked at me and asked, "Katie, what's wrong?"  I didn't have the words to explain at first, so I replied with, "I don't know I'm just...  I feel like crying."  Her response wasn't to hug me or try to make me laugh, but instead she said, "Go ahead and let it out. This is a safe place."

Those words have rung in my head for the last two days.  My new home is my safe place.  It's a place where I can find (my friend's) mom or my roommate (basically my sister) anytime and talk.  I can lay on her bed, and she will pray for me.  She will just listen and not have to try to say the right thing.

With those words ringing in my head for the last few days, I continually visualized this face...

I keep thinking, where's his safe place? Who does he have praying for him? This child is one of the many that we helped serve a meal to in the Dominican Republic.  It's likely that he eats only once a day, and I'm not sure what his living conditions are like.  I can only imagine.

Today as I lay in my safe place, I pray for his.  I pray that today someone will show him Christ and that he will come to know that he will always be safe in His arms, no matter where he is.

Summer of Love

This summer I was honored to attend three weddings of dear friends.  Each wedding ceremony was a beautiful representation of Christ's love and grace.  Take a look:

The first was Jenna and Mitch's wedding.  Jenna means so much to me as she was the spark that started my relationship with Christ. They were married on May 28, 2011.

Next up was Jay & Eva's wedding.  Jay is a pastor at my church who I've worked with all summer.  A friend and I helped Jay make this for their engagement back in December.  It said "Merry Christmes." He then turned off some of the lights and all that was left was "Merry Me." So sweet!  They were married on June 11, 2011.

Lastly was my bible study leader Liz's wedding.  She and Matt were married at Southeastern Seminary on July 30, 2011.  They were absolutely gorgeous!!

This summer has been one of love and commitment to say the least! I am so thankful for each of these God-fearing relationships and cannot wait to see how God will use them in their new lives.

Congratulations to all of you!

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 

and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

More Mission Trip Pictures

Here are more photos of me and the team in the Dominican!

Romano translated (from English to Creole) so I could lead the soccer camp.
He is a church planter in the Dominican and also leads a soccer ministry for men.

I forgot how much I enjoy this sport!

Praying before soccer camp.

Nobody on the team played soccer, but that didn't stop us. They were all ROCKSTARS and did an amazing job!

A tunnel to the water cooler.

We served lunch one day at a local feeding shelter. These kids get 1 meal a day, 6x a week.
(I was trying to use my Spanish which always calls for hand motions to fully communicate...)

Making crowns after the Esther skit at VBS

90+ kids came to VBS the last day.

This trip just made me want to dance!


And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15

My First Mission Trip

Last night I flew in from the Dominican Republic after a week long mission trip.  Early last week I was nervous and anxious about what was to come.  Was I ready? Had I forgotten something? Maybe I didn't pray enough before leaving, maybe I shouldn't be going, maybe God doesn't want me to go.  All of these thoughts were clouding my mind until we arrived.

Our team the night we arrived.

I would sit here and write about it if I could, but words wouldn't do it justice.  Here's a few pictures from a friend.  More are to come...

We held a 3 day soccer camp in the mornings.

We hosted a 3 day vacation bible school in the afternoons.
(Story of Peter walking on water)

She wore her heels to soccer camp and was beautiful!

We made lion masks after doing skit about Daniel and the lion.

She came from a nearby neighborhood for VBS and
didn't leave my side!

I shared my testimony at a church service Sunday night.
Romano translated it into Creole for the congregation.

I played Esther in a skit.
That woman had COURAGE
(our theme for the week).

This trip was life changing in so many ways.  I had two people in different instances tell me that they'd never seen me so alive as I was on this trip.  I can truly say that I will be back in the Dominican Republic sooner or later!

For more pictures, check out this short video made by the ministry we traveled with.

Achievement

In just five short days, I will have another year of college under my belt.  I have just one more summer break and only one more semester of college to complete.

The other night while driving home with a friend, we reminisced about the past year together.  We laughed about our late night chats and specific outings we had attended.  We realized how last summer seemed just like yesterday and how we are officially seniors.  We also wondered, had we wished our time away?  Did we accomplish what we wanted to this year?

Worry, doubt, fear crept into me as we tried to think of all we accomplished.  We struggled to remember every detail, but the memories that were recalled were enough to put us at ease for the moment.

That night, I crawled into bed and read my journal from the year that had just passed me by and found comfort amidst my questioning.

Yes. I had accomplished what I wanted.  I didn't even realize I had set a goal, but I did.  I didn't realize what I was pursuing, but I grasped it.

In my scribbled journal entries I had cried out to the Lord for comfort, for a closer relationship with him.  It seems that I wrote it over and over and over. I reread the prayers I had written asking God to come closer, just a little closer.

Today I can confidently say I accomplished just that through diligent prayer, a challenging community and faith.  I feel like I have achieved something greater than grades on a piece of paper.  I have received an everlasting gift.

Slow and steady wins the race...

I like instant results. When I start a project, I hardly ever stop until it's done. I love the feeling of finishing something and then sitting back and relaxing, taking in a deep breathe of fresh air. (Hence why vacuuming is my favorite chore. Can't get much more instant than that!)

For someone who likes to finish things all at once so she can cross them off the list, you'd think I'd enjoy a job where I can see the progress instantly...

When I first started as the College Intern, we had a quick increase in numbers.  College students started attending our Life Groups and making decisions to follow Christ through baptism.  It was so exhilarating to see how God was using the college ministry each and every day.  But now it's become slow and steady, and I've become anxious and uncomfortable.  I feel like I'm not doing enough. I feel like I'm not being bold enough.

Today I spoke with a few pastors at church and had a nice little reality check.  Doing ministry is definitely not an instant results kind of job, and there's more to it than just putting an X through a bullet point on a Post It.

It's more about His timing than mine.  It's about the glory being to Him and not myself.  It's about loving people unconditionally and letting Him do the rest.

A Baptism

After joining staff at my church doing communication type work, it became clear to me that God had another plan: He gave me a heart for college students.  In the same week, our college intern decided to step down. A few days later, my head pastor and I had a conversation about where God could use me best. After realizing that His plan was all too clear to everyone, I became the Campus Point (our college ministry) Intern.

I had no idea how God was going to use me, but I had big prayers for the journey ahead.  The following week, I was asked to give a girl a ride to church who wasn't plugged in anywhere.  After spending the day with her, our friendship blossomed and she's now in my Life Group.  She also dedicated her life to Christ a month ago and asked if I would have a hand in baptizing her.

Last weekend (March 20, 2011) on Dani's birthday, Dave (our college pastor) and I had the privilege of baptizing her.  I never expected to be a part of anything like this in my wildest dreams.  God is so powerful, and I am so excited to be His hands and feet.

And how can they preach unless they are sent? 

As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Romans 10:15 

Getting Over the Hill

I walked in with a racing heart.

Could today be the day?

I sat on the crunchy white paper, for what seemed like days.  He finally entered, very chipper and smiley.  He told me to rest my leg on the table and he'd have a nurse take out the stitches.  

When he walked back in he took just one look and said just four simple words:

"Okay, you can walk."

I never thought I'd be more excited to hear those words.  It was like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders.  Like a stuffy room, with the window finally drawn open.  Like a girl, trapped in a nightmare, who finally wakes up and realizes everything is how it should be.

I walked out of the doctor's office with my heart still racing and my hand already dialing mom and dad's numbers.  It was a bright, sunny day and I couldn't wait to take on the world.

Just 3 weeks later, I am still walking with a bit of a limp (or 'swag' as some would say), but I don't care.  I am able to be me. Able to take the stairs. Able to rejoice a the new season of life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wrote this last Friday but never published it.


Unbeknown to me, it would end all too quickly.  Yet again, I am back in my walking boot for 1-2 more weeks.  The incision will not heal correctly.  Please, God, let this be the last time.

And Today I'll Write Instead

I've been doing a lot of reading.  More than I'd sometimes like to.  But have you ever vowed to do something, and you know you cannot back out?

Lent started last week, and I decided to be more sacrificial than in past years.  Sure, last year I gave up soda, which at the time was a feat in itself, but was I really sacrificing for the Lord? Or was it just a game to see how long I could last?

Yes, this year I've given something up, but I've also taken something up.  Over the last 6 months I have grown exponentially in my faith, and am so thankful for the ways God has been using me.  I have been in the Word almost every day and it makes his presence that much nearer.

As for Lent, this year I've decided to do something I've been wanting to do for a long time: read every word in the bible.  In light of wanting to do this, I've also given up TV.  (Yes, I know it's March Madness, but I'm not really that fond of the sport...)  Each day I spend about an hour and a half reading large chunks of Leviticus and Exodus. I've found that it does actually make sense if you read it at one time instead of breaking it up into different days! Go figure...

But today, I just felt the need to write.  The need to put my thoughts onto paper, so instead of reading the entire 'assigned' readings for today, I just read half and will catch up tomorrow.

This blog is like a breath of fresh air sometimes, and today I'm going to take a deep breath.