16 things I didn’t expect in gainesville!

1. OH the BUGS! I don’t know if I was living under a rock, but apparently there are scorpions, copperheads, and lizards in Georgia? I had no idea I was signing up for a few more months of what seems like African creatures. 
2. I deleted instagram! The first week I was here for leadership training, the Lord asked me to take instagram off of my phone, so I did, but only for a day before I got it back again. I just really enjoy seeing what my friends & family post! After a few days I took it off my phone again, and yesterday I fully deleted my account. It was such a huge relief, and a lot of peace came from sinking fully into what the Lord wanted me to do. He spoke a lot into being in His presence more as I’m not spending my time scrolling through instagram. (And just so you know, I don’t have Facebook on my phone right now in case you’ve noticed that I’m not posting updates anywhere.)
3. I’m using porta potties the whole time I’ll be at Adventures in Missions. Their septic system can’t handle 100+ racers & leaders, so I’ll be a pro at using portas in the future. One month down, two to go!
4. On that note, we actually get the joy of leaving campus to do ministry the first week in November! My squad will be in Foley, Alabama to do hurricane relief work through Samaritan’s Purse. Praise God for ministry opportunities! The other day we were splitting wood as a squad for future campfires (the burn ban finally lifted!) and that got me so excited for the manual labor we’ll be doing so soon!
5. I can get mail! WOOHOO!! If mail could be a love language, it’s for sure one of my top few. I would love to hear from you or be pen pals! I am only allowed to receive envelopes, so please keep it small if you send something(: *address will be at the bottom!*
6. The Lord has graciously walked me through so much healing since being here. He has gently pointed out so much blame, pride, and unforgiveness that I didn’t even know I was holding in my heart. Wow there is so much more freedom in our God than we could ever imagine. It’s been really sweet to walk that journey alongside my friends in leadership, as well as with my team!
7. Speaking of my team! There are six beautiful women on my team that I get the honor of leading and discipling. I’m not sure what I expected as I waltzed into this season, but these women are such a gift. They love me so well and make me feel so seen. Their hearts are full of such beautiful intentionality, pursuit of each other and the Lord, and insane curiosity. 
8. This season has brought so much redemption from my race, especially from the last three months that would have been in Nicaragua. We’ve done & have ahead of us a surprising amount of manual labor, which is my favorite ministry! The Lord has continued to bring me through healing in my heart from a situation back home, as well as using parts of my testimony to help disciple some women on my squad. The leadership team friendships have been some of the biggest blessings, and have answered a lot of prayers for me. Thank you Jesus that you’re a God who seeks to redeem and care for His children.
9. Each night I lead a different team time, ranging from the Bible project, fun night, gratitude, feedback, debrief, and worship! On one of our first fun team times, myself and another on my team decided we wanted some face framing cuts! So, we watched a YouTube video and our team cut our hair! It was such a fun and spontaneous night!
10. What’s beautiful about staying in Georgia instead of launching overseas right now is that the World Race created a discipleship training school type of environment here! We have session everyday that approaches a different way of walking in more spirituality, cultural understanding, or learning about different types of ministry. 
11. Something I never knew about leadership was how much rest I would need, and how differently I need to rest here than at home. It looks like spending so much time in the Lord’s presence and soaking up every ounce of alone time I can get. Someone brought up the fact that I’m on from basically 6:30/7-9/10 every single day, so no wonder I need to be fighting for that rest time. No joke, the Holy Spirit is straight up taking me through every single day here, and I love it. Trust me on this one, I do not take my sabbath days for granted anymore. I would appreciate so much prayer that rest would be brought to me emotionally and physically.
12. PUMPKINS! One of my co-leader’s mom brought the entire leadership team a mini pumpkin, and I have never felt more loved. I haven’t experienced fall in over a year now, and it has seriously been the biggest blessing to wake up every morning to the crisp air & fall breeze. Thanks God!
13. About two weeks ago, the Lord asked me to share my testimony with my team. I knew it would be coming, and I was looking forward to leading in vulnerability with that. I shared on gratitude night, because what better way to bring glory to the name of Jesus than sharing everything He’s brought you through?! So many chains were broken that night as my team thanked me for sharing & began to open up about struggling with some of the same things. So much freedom was unlocked that night & shame lost its hold on so many of my girls!!
14. For those of you that don’t know, I worked at a coffee shop before my race! It was by far the best job I’ve ever had; this past week as well as this coming week the team leaders on my squad get to brew coffee in the mornings for everyone on campus! We get up extra early so there’s enough time and portion all the coffee into coolers for everyone. I’m in my element those mornings as I’m making the coffee and spending time with the Lord! These early mornings of brewing coffee have been some of my favorites since being here.
15. I get to use real showers!! Staff here on campus so kindly built the leaders & racers showers in a few shipping containers so that we wouldn’t have to use bucket showers the rest of our time here as the weather got colder. What a gift! Along with that, I’ve also been living in my tent since being here. I’ve grown to love my space in my tent, and really appreciate my cozy sleeping bag! I really thought I was not going to enjoy it, but the Lord works in crazy ways HAHA
16. As most of you probably remember, when I was in Gainesville for training last summer, I had to complete the fitness hike. The same went for the racers this year, except I got to be on the sidelines to encourage, run with those who were struggling, and pass out water. The Lord really used this hike *again* to teach me a lot about surrender. In that surrender was passing over burdens, that aren’t mine to carry, into His hands. What a God we serve who uses things like a hike to teach us some of the most valuable lessons. 

I would love to partner with you in prayer, so please reach out to me if there’s any way that I can join in lifting up burdens and victories. I’m blessed to have such wonderful support, and I appreciate those who have reached out so much! Your prayers and kind words do not go unnoticed. 

If are interested in my snail mail address, follow these instructions please!

Jodi Owens

2613 Windward Ln

Gainesville, GA 30501

Please put Kate Rolffs on the back of the envelope! The address is my mentor’s here in Gainesville and the mail won’t get to her without her name, and only her name, on the front because of her apartment office. THANK YOU! & don’t worry my mom is sending me supplies to mail you all back(:

I’ve loved updating you, and would love to hear if there’s anything else you want to be updated specifically on! My number is 309-370-6479! Text me to say hi or if you have any(!!) prayer requests!! LOVE YOU ALL<3

Here’s some photos that capture my first month!

wood splitting for campfires!

team abandon!

from left to right, Clara Jane, Reagan, me, Bernadette (our squad leader), Briana, Kaitlyn, Abby, Megan

porta potty selfie to try and show you my hair hahaha its the only mirror I have 😀

my homey lil tent with the mini pumpkin on my front porch(:

a common phrase in our team, “thanks God!”

all dressed up for squad church !!

praying over isolation rooms: for people who have covid symptoms or any other type of sickness that could be spread to the whole squad. The Lord has blessed every squad here and no one has had a case of covid, AMEN!

talk to ya later!!

love ya<3

kate