While on the race, and I guess for most people my age, a lot of time is spent thinking about what’s next. You’re constantly asking yourself what it is you want to do with your life, not to mention everyone else asking you, and it’s a pretty tough decision to make.
While I was in Myanmar this past December, our ministry was working at an international school to help teach English through Bible stories. However, there were some miscommunications, and long story short we ended up teaching for only three days before the kids went on Christmas break. There were only a handful of people in the town who could speak English, so quite honestly there wasn’t much we could do. Because of this crazy ministry mishap, we ended up spending a lot of time prayer walking.
Over and over again I found myself praying for my future team. Now I had heard about the Holy Spirit interceding for us, and I knew that was something He does for us, but this was one of the first times I recognized it. That prayer stuck out so much to me because I wasn’t sure what praying for my future team even meant. “Lord, would my future team be united in friendship.”
I sort of kept it to myself as I started to ask the Lord what He meant and what He wanted me to do with all of it. A few days later as my team and I were walking up and down the hills of our cute little mountain town, I was processing out loud with a few friends about what the Lord was stirring up in my heart. Maybe it meant becoming an Alumni Team Leader? Maybe it was for something completely different? We came to a mutual agreement that I needed to talk with leadership and continue asking the Lord about team leading.
As I started to pursue this idea of what my future might look like after the race, the enemy started working too. Fears and nerves swarmed in my head. Doubt made its way into my heart and I really withdrew from the Lord.
We moved to Thailand in January and my heart hadn’t really changed. I didn’t really want to team lead, but was keeping myself just a little bit open to the possibility. I threw myself into different opportunities, including applying for another program that I was eventually accepted to. My head was clouded with different opinions, and I tried to keep my mind off of everything by working as hard as I could at ministry and entertaining myself with movies and exploring the markets at night. My heart posture eventually shifted towards the end of my time in Thailand, and it was abundantly clear that I was supposed to team lead in the fall.
My friends and leaders were all super supportive as we moved to Nicaragua and eventually came home early due to COVID-19. I applied for an Alumni Team Leader position a few weeks after coming home, and after all the interviews and phone calls that came with that, I was accepted! The Lord has been working in my heart and has also provided a few new, faith filled friends that I have been able to surround myself with as I prepare for this new season.
As an Alumni Team Leader, I was supposed to leave for Costa Rica and Guatemala in September 2020, but like so many other plans this year, we have had to move to a plan B. The World Race has moved their gap year program to continue at their headquarters in Georgia and there they are planning to keep the program similar to what it would have looked like overseas. There will be domestic mission opportunities, a bigger focus on teachings, and preparing for life on the field.
My role as an Alumni Team Leader will stay the same as I lead team times, create a culture of community, and work with my new squad to dive into life with Jesus. I will be leaving at the end of August for leadership training, and my commitment will finish in early December 2020. Even though Georgia is no Central America, I can honestly say that I’m very excited! I love saying yes to the Lord and yes to as many opportunities as I can. Be sure to subscribe to my blog so that you can keep up with me and this new adventure!
I would love to start meeting with family & friends to talk about the race and what’s coming next for me(: love you all!
Kate
https://www.fumcpeoria.org/podcast-ep13
Click the link to hear me talk about the race, as I was a guest on my church’s podcast!
So excited about the opportunities for ministry awaiting you in Georgia. Glad to know God was in no way surprised by the turn of events (“oh no, now what will Kate do in Georgia now that she can’t go to Central America?”??) He’s been working to prepare hearts and minds for your arrival for some time now I’m sure! Praying for His continued grace and provision on all your next adventures.
We miss you.
You will be an awesome ATL.
We are excited for your journey, but it was hard to let go of the expectations for your team and squad for Nicaragua and to see you all again at final debrief.
Good to hear you are living God’s faithfulness.
I wish you all the best in your upcoming adventure and saying yes to the Lord. Also thought you did a great job in your interview with Greg Fish.