Hey, it’s me! I’m back from boot camp…I mean training camp! Hahaha, oh my friend, what a life, full of surprises.
This World Race training camp was not what I had expected it to be like, or, well, maybe I hadn’t thought too much of what it could entail. Before I got on the plane to fly out to Georgia for training camp, in my head I thought, “this training camp should be a nice change of pace”. & oh MY GOSH. Was I ever right & wrong @ the same time 🙂 Please, let me explain:
I figured we would sleep in tents each night, listen to lots of messages, get more educated on the countries and cultures we will soon be entering, and of course spend lots of intentional time team bonding. Sure, all of that happened but also SO MUCH MORE!
From 6:30 AM wake up calls, to community meal & plate sharing, to cold bucket showers, to sleeping in the pouring rain, to listening to passionate speakers after speakers, to team building activities, to porta potties all day eeryday, to 40 degree weather IN GEORGIA, to greasy hair that did not want to get cold water poured onto, to running 3.3 miles with a travel hiking pack on, to sleeping under the stars, to getting wrecked by peoples stories and struggles, to getting wrecked by understanding more of God’s love for me, to being poured into by leadership, to meeting my squad, to meeting my small group team, it was a heck of a two weeks. It was mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually challenging at times but on the flip side it was an emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual challenge that I needed and came at the perfect time.
I am stoked for this journey, though I do understand more in what challenges will inevitably come with this, it is just a given. When you are learning to live in community so intentionally for a year, entering a new culture each month, carrying everything you have with you on your back, there will be lots to learn even just within that! I am realizing the biggest tool I will need is JOY! & For all your prayer warriors, that is my request, JOY abounding.
I believe that the World Race Journey is going to provide many opportunities for me to grow in discernment, grow in cross cultural communicating, and understanding the uniqueness of Jesus Christ within every culture we go to. Having been exposed to various cultures in this past year for me, has opened my eyes to the reality of how wide, vast, mysterious, and beautiful the creator is! I believe in every culture, there is unique aspects of the character of Jesus to learn from. I can hardly wait to learn from everyone we cross paths with on this journey ?? Of course, while in all this learning, no doubt my heart is to bless every person we encounter along the way by doing our best to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. I believe this is the heart of the father for every individual to encounter the love of Jesus and the heart of the father for individuals to experience the beauty of different cultures within nations too. There is so much to learn in this life & so much to learn from another. I still pinch myself sometimes, being reminded that this is real, I am going on an 11-month journey with the God and a community that will soon become like family in January. ??
Some of you may know, this year has been a rough one for my being! On a mental, spiritual, and emotional level, I feel as if I have been working through a lot, sometimes feeling lower and broken than I ever had in life. We all have those seasons, right? Sometimes we just need the reminder that God loves us and sees us through and through though. & speaking of, I have a cool God story for you:
The other night I felt this prompt to go to Barnes and noble to look around and maybe look for a new bible to pick out, symbolizing a new season, a new chapter on this journey. As I was in the bible section, looking around, in my head I received a vision or a picture of some sort of someone coming up to me and asking me if I needed help looking for a bible. The best way I can explain it is it was like a little movie clip. To my shock, about 30 seconds later a woman came up to me asking if I needed any help looking for a bible or had anything she could help me with because she felt inclined to do so for some reason. This woman was not a worker there, she was a stranger! Turns out she loves God and spoke so much life and love into my heart. We stood there in the bible section and talked for at least 30 minutes and both left with tears in our eyes, knowing that God had set that up to minister to my heart and show me a glimpse of his love again. She spoke the words of encouragement I needed on a very specific situation in my life, the same situation that I struggle the most to understand God’s goodness within it all. Even after she left I stood there with tears streaming down my eyes, having needed that reminder that God is right here with me. & I say this to encourage you, friend, God is right there with YOU too! ?
That is the latest on me, how about you? I would love to listen & hear what is on your heart these days.
For those living in the West Michigan Area, Friday, November 10th 9:30-11:30PM is the roller skate night fundraiser for the World Race Journey! The financial Goal is not too far out of reach, but I do have a little way to go yet still. Thank you for your support through prayer, financials, and simply reading this!
Coming up I still have one more Shopping Day Fundraiser in Holland MI, On Saturday December 2nd from 10-8PM.
Financial Goals update:
Thank you, Anonymous donator who donated a very large amount! My mind was utterly blown. & I so wish I could thank you in person, but this will have to do for now ??. Thank you, all of you who have donated portions of your earnings in effort to partner with what God is doing in my heart and through this journey to the people of the world! I promise, I do not take this lightly, I pray to use every resource with wisdom, appreciation, and honor!
Currently, I have about $3,000 left to attain, but I still know there are some of you who have reached out and expressed interested in donating, so thank you for that ??.
If you have communicated with me your interest on donating and haven’t done so yet, now would be a good time to send those in if you are able ??
Thank you again & stay tuned for more information. May you be blessed with JOY abounding today.
Take care & God bless you today my friend!
With love,
Kailey
