Post Grad

Oh man. Where do I start? There are 13 days until Christmas break and 156 days until graduation -- Crazy! This leads me to the question of what am I going to do post-graduation. If I'm being honest, I have been half talking to God about it. I know that it should be fully but right now it's really hard to ask what He wants me to do with my life. There's a song from Hillsong called, "Oceans" and it says:

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior

This is a terrifying thought... but so exciting at the same time. Do I finish my application for IdRaHaJe or search out another camp? Go home? Stay at Connections and help them move and work with those kiddos? 

I was talking to Mum and Lee about working at IdRaHaJe this summer and my general thoughts about what to do and the answer was one that I will always love my family for: We will support you and never stop praying. So now I guess it's time for me to spend some quality time with my King only to lay my requests before Him and wait in expectation (Psalm 5:3)

In the mean time, the question comes back around to: what should I do this summer? Next year? 

The answer: Praise my Savior. Go wherever He leads. Love His children and be a listening heart both to others as well as to the Spirit.  If I am willing, God will use me. 

Running

It's so easy for me to always run to a person rather then the Lord.
Today is Sunday the 11th and I was supposed to be moving into the new condo but apparently the carpets aren't done yet and we can't until tomorrow. This wouldn't be such a problem except I have teacher meetings at 8 in the morning with Kullerstrand and Denver traffic is a beast so I'm not staying at my previous stay.

Who do we talk to when things go bad? Who do we rejoice with with things are good? Yeah, the Sunday school answer could/should be the answer: Jesus. I don't have much of a point but.. We need to be running to God when life gets confusing, frustrating, unsure, great, relaxing, or set in place. Earlier today was good but right now that I'm trying to figure out where I'm staying the night, my emotions/faith is shaken. Am I really that weak? Or am I that proud? I know that God has my back in all situations but I discovered yesterday that I am scared of making the wrong decision -- but that's for another time.

Today at church we talked about fearing God not life around us be it family, people, situations, life. It was what I needed to hear because when I fear God, I shouldn't fear about where I am in life. How much more precious am I than a sparrow?

80 Days!

So as the title presumes, we're leaving in 80 days!! I am so excited! There are two weeks left of school including Finals and then we are all headed to our summer places only to come back and meet up in DIA on the 15th :) I'm curious to see how God will prepare us in our separation just as he has in together-ness.

I have talked to Kevin, our contact in Russia, and he was very positive and excited for us to come. It was great to see the face of those we will be serving!

I know this is small but I wanted to write something because 80 days is pretty close to the actual day :) Please pray for the unity of our team under Christ and that God will be growing us together. Also, for Kevin and his family as they are over in Russia year round that they will have a good beginning to their summer in preparation for our help.  And lastly, for the Russians we will meet and talk to, that we will be able to build relationships and speak truth into their lives to the best of our ability.

Во Христе (vo khrestya -- In Christ),
Kait

Needs Met

Today I feel like I should write about a topic which no one really likes to talk about... especially if you're the one asking: Finances. :)

The hard part of this is that it is a necessity of missions but the most amazing part is that God is in complete control! When I first brought this trip idea up to Kelly, I had no idea what I was getting into but I simply knew that God was telling me plain and simple, "Say yes, trust Me." Then the time came to talk about how much it would cost; we talked about the budget. Through that conversation, I realized a couple of things: 1) I have no idea about the administration part of this 2) I am so glad that Kelly is going with us ((he has been in Russia for about 10 years, missions for 15)) 3) the price was apparently "good" and 4) God has this. The price was looking at $2,642.50 for about 15 days sometime in July. This is what I advertized for when looking for a team.

After some really great interviews, I had my team ((so I thought, as explained in previous entry)) but then I had another budget meeting with Kelly and found out that the team has to pay for the way of the staff leader who goes with us, and because of the small size we were, the price jumped to an estimated $3,300. this was a large jump and flexible stretch for the team but we dutifully sent out support letters early on trusting in God's plan for this trip and our lives.

Sense then, I get to have the opportunity to tell you a wonderful miracle has happened! Once day  I was called into a meeting with Kelly and he informed me there was an anonymous supporter who said they would pay his way! This meant that our price was dropped back down to 2,642! I can honestly tell you I was close to tears as Kelly told me this ((And I don't normally do that)). I was reminded how God is good and if He wants us to go, He will create a way. But wait... there's more!

We bought tickets this last weekend and I was worried ((silly me)) that the price was going to be more then the estimated $1,600 we budgeted but instead, when Kelly called me on my break, I got the wonderful news that our tickets were actually $1,555! I know it's not much but I will take the 45 dollars off as a great gift from God.

Soooo if you can do the math, and if I can do it correctly, our grand total as of now is.... 2,597!! My heart is elated and I can only thank my Father for this as it is all for His glory! The telling is the easy part... the asking is the hard part :) If you can donate anything, 1, 5, 10, 20, 100, or more, please  partner with us on this journey to Istra, Russia by giving what you can :) 

I know that the total will be met for each of the seven of the members and I am excited to see how God does it :) One way or another, Russia here we come!

К Филиппийцам 4:19, "Бог мой удовлетворит все ваши нужды через славное богатство во Христе Иисусе" 

 

1 Philippians 4:19: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." 

In the Midst of Them.

Just finished a meeting with the team and it made me realize how good God is. He knows us better then we know ourselves... and He knows others better then they know themselves. I guess the reason I was reminded of this was because as most of us were all sitting in my apartment, working on learning Russian, laughing, struggling, and succeeding, I was hit with the full understanding that theses are the people who will be with me in Russia -- I was stoked! God is working with us and through us in ways we don't even see yet... ways that we can't even imagine.

A couple of weeks ago our team gained two new members. Sadly the India trip was canceled but it was a reminder that God knows best because we gained two new members because of it! Team India will still be going out but simply not this year. As I was talking to one of the leaders of that trip, she was explaining to me how it really was a blessing because India is  going through a chaotic time right now -- so keep them in your prayers! Whitney and Katie are a blessing to the team and it seems right that they would be with us. This makes our team a total of 8 including Kelly as the Staff Leader and myself as the Student Leader. God has plans and I'm excited to see them play out!

Also, two prayer requests!
-- Whitney fractured her back this weekend so if you could be praying for God's healing hand, that would be greatly appreciated!
-- Andrew W. is on his way back from Debate (which they did great in!!) so for his traveling safety.

Thanks!

"ибо, где двое или трое собраны во имя Мое, там Я посреди них"
  -- От Матфея 18:20

Adventure is Out There!

How to start...?
Ever since I was little, I have wanted to go place where people were. I would ask Mum if I could go to friends' houses or to the park or anywhere outside of  home so that I could meet people. Little did I know what God would have in store for me... What little I do know of what God has in store for me.

Growing up the youngest of 5, in an old country home built by my great-grandparents, home-schooled, and running barefoot, I learned a lot about life -- Work ethic, relationships, God, perseverance, and a deep rooted love of people that I will never shake. With this love for people, I grew and learned the hardships as well as the joys of caring so much about life. I'm not done learning and that's for sure, but I do know that God has plans better then I could ever believe! Now that I'm in my Jr. year of college, I do get homesick and it is hard to leave  home when I do go back but God has instilled in my a joy that comes from Him and Him alone. Wherever I am, I am home because I have God.

Adventure is out there! The movie Up says it so well thus, I say it now. Adventure is out there and with that thought... I'm going to Russia! This summer I have the opportunity to go back to Russia with a team of 8 (counting me) for two weeks and I couldn't be more happy. I am actually leading the trip this time which means God has been calling out a lot of responsibility and decision making out of me lately. It is good but hard.

If you want to hear more about why I'm going to Russia, I will be posting more in here randomly or simply ask me! I would love to sit down and share about the heart God has placed in me for that country and those who live there.

The big thing that I need to remember throughout all of this are:
1) We make plans but the Lord determines our steps (Proverbs 16:9)
2) Where He leads, I'll follow