Hey everyone! We’ve been rerouted, and the next country we’ll be serving is… drum roll… the U.S! Haha! “YES, Lord!” Thank you so, so much for your prayers as my squad and I traveled back to the U.S. last week! I arrived home with my parents late last Wednesday. Originally we were planning to have debrief in D.C., but so much was changing while we were literally in the air, that we were told to schedule flights home during one of our layovers, so that when we arrived in D.C., we could immediately get on another flight. Thankfully, my parents were able to book a connecting flight for me, and I got home that night. Wow! What. A. Ride.
Since I’ve been home, I’ve just been resting, recovering from a gnarly sinus infection. I’ve been listening to International House of Prayer’s 24/7 livestream and I also like to tune into Upperroom’s morning worship livestreams, both on Youtube. If I feel well enough, I’ve started learning how to play piano again and do core exercises. Since my siblings still have school online and other responsibilities, our family has decided to schedule family time for meals (shout-out to my mom for making some AMAZING food!), during the evening, and on Sunday mornings. We’ve been just sitting around talking or we watch a movie together.
I’ve really appreciated how supportive and committed everyone from our organization has been to each other! My squad stays active through a 24/7 group message and my team has started a Bible study together. Our squad mentor Amy, our coaches Keith and Karen, and my worship coordinator coach Erika, remind us they’re praying for us and want to set up a video-chat with each of us. Ah. Ya’ll have been IM-PRESS-ING and BLESS-ING me so much! Adventures in Missions, as a whole I applaud, because they have taken such good care of us. My friends from home have been checking in on me too, so I feel really connected and have appreciated all the support!
Upon reflection, my squad’s last month serving in Penang’s House of Prayer prepared me for this season. We spent hours interceding for needs around the world and ministering to God’s heart through worship. I’m convinced that is also my role now that I have returned home, while I am in quarantine. It’s not a time for the enemy to create division and gain a foothold in our lives, but rather a time for our intimacy with God to increase.
God has repeatedly told me to rest in His Word.
There are a lot of voices giving hourly updates on the virus and telling people how they should respond, and all that information can get overwhelming and send our imagination racing downward real quick. But there is a place our mind and heart can rest. We can turn off the “noise” and meditate on God’s unchanging promises and unchanging character. Because anything in this world that can be shaken, will be. But God’s Word remains a fortress where we can take refuge (Psalm 46:1-3). Whatever emotions we are feeling and concerns we have, we can bring them to the Lord, because He carefully watches over us and understands our hearts (1 Peter 5:7). CAST OUT the pressure to strive and to “figure it all out” because our truest reality is resting in Christ’s finished work on the cross (Hebrews 4). He warned us we would face trouble, but that His children should never lose heart, because He HAS overcome the world (John 16:33). All those chapters are so relevant for today.
Thank you all for giving me some space to get settled back at home and to process everything. I now feel ready to resume communication as usual! I’m glad to answer any questions you may have! Please write them in the comments below, to prevent repeating the same questions : ) . To answer some obvious ones:
What’s next?
Bob Mudd, the president of Adventures in Missions, notified us yesterday that we can expect 60 days to pass before the company gives missionaries solid answers about if we can return to the field and what will happen to the money we have fundraised. In the meantime, I’m going to try to return to teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) to Chinese students online, which was my former career. If ya’ll know of job openings in Holton, let me know, I’m interested!
Would you relaunch with WR if you could?
I remain unwavering in my desire to return to the field as soon as they will allow us, and to complete my commitment to serve on the World Race. This last year working with them has been such a good fit for me and I have really been challenged and flourished through their discipleship program. My bag remains packed, so when they say it’s time to go again, I’m ready!
What if relaunching is not an option?
If after the 60 days, they say we cannot return to the field and the money fundraised is naturally donated to Adventures in Missions, then I will also feel peace and God will recalculate our plans. I feel that way, because this mission was never about me and it was never my money to control. It was always purposed to share the Gospel and help people according to God’s will and I did not earn my fundraising goal, it was graciously given to me out of God’s gracious abundance. He will do with my life and the money fundraised what is best. I trust that and I regret nothing. I’m still wildly excited about following Him and His will! All that being said, I do want to serve abroad at least the next couple years of my life. I will be praying about how God wants that to look.
So…
I am still quarantined for 7 days. After that, I am concerned that people in our community will need assistance getting supplies, being lonely, etc. the longer this lasts. I want to be available through our church to assist older folks, those with disabilities, or those whom the virus is more of a threat to. I also thought it would be beneficial to start a 12 hour rotation during the day in our church’s sanctuary, for prayer and worship. I would love to sing and play guitar there for several hours a day and be available to pray with anyone who comes in. Ah! That would be SO LIT!
To conclude, let me know if you have any questions or if there is a topic in particular that you would like me to write a blog post or record a video about. I am working on editing the videos I took while on the field to share with you in the coming weeks! I do think we can be most effective during this time through prayer and connecting with our friends and families through technology! I’ll keep you all updated here! Love you all and am praying for you! Stay well!
Prayer Requests:
- For the nation’s leaders to be given godly wisdom to act with charity and genuine concern for the well-being of the people they serve.
- For doctors, nurses, researchers, and all medical professionals who seek to heal those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process—prayer for protection and peace.
- For the families of those who are sick or have died, defend them from illness and despair. Help them know Your peace.
- For the repentance of all peoples. That this uncertainty would open their hearts to turn to Jesus.
- For continued healing of my sinus infection. Never a fever, I’ve been monitoring that, but if my difficulty breathing and cough increases, I will have to contact my doctor. But! I would prefer to just recover, and get after the projects I’m excited about doing while I’m home!
I am so glad you are home!! you have been on my mind and in my heart!! Know you are disappointed but God has a plan!! will continue to keep you in my prayers!
Hi it is so good to see your smile. It is good to see your family all looking well,they are so happy your home. What was one thing that impacted you the most? Im so glad your home safe. Rest up . Linda
I am so glad you made it home safe. If you or your family need anything during this time, we can drop it on your porch.
Thankyou for your encouraging words! Glad you can be home during this time. Will pray for that sinus infection to get outta here! And prayers that you can continue to do the Lord’s work!
Just a quick comment this week as I’m heading to bed .. when you said you were derailed form you adventures in ministry. I went straight to prayer. Seconds into praying for your team. I was so filled with praise. God assured me your trip was not over. He just rerouted you to the country you needed to be at the most. Thankful for you to be back, and hope you feel better. In Christ name. We look forward to reading and watching your videos.
So good to know that you have arrived home safely, Kaitlynn. Your positive posts have been absolutely uplifting all throughout your journey. You are a gifted communicator…God has used (and will continue to use) you for His purpose.
Also, really good to see the smiling faces of your family! They have been in my prayers too as they have missed having you around and worried for your safety as you traveled the world. Please give them my greetings as well.
So proud of you and your faith. And I love what you wrote saying anything in this world can be shaken but Gods word stands forever. Amen !!!! Thanks for being such a light and encourager to us all.
Sorry that you had to cut your journey short. Good to know that you and fellow travelers are home safely. Met your mom in Netawaka and know her cousin Joyce. Wishing you and your ministry family good health and that you all are ready for your next ministry experience. Now to Psalm 16.
Kaitlynn, there is so much I love about this blog—your perspective, your intentionality, your heart for the Lord and for others. But this is my absolute favorite part: “It’s not a time for the enemy to create division and gain a foothold in our lives, but rather a time for our intimacy with the Lord to increase.” Amen, dear heart. Love you much!
We are crazy about you, Kaitlynn. The kindness and wisdom throughout this blog show the real you…the one that helps make C-squad such an amazing community. Can’t wait to see how God uses you in this crazy “in between” season.
Also, not gonna lie, a few tears fell when I read this: “when they say it’s time to go again, I’m ready!” Let’s go!!!!!
So glad to see you at home with your family. Disappointed for you and having your trip cut short but grateful that God allowed you to come home to your family. It just makes a momma’s heart do the happy dance. (We can’t help ourselves it is built into our dna to worry over our children!) I love your mom’s and dad’s faces. they seem pretty tickled to have their children gathered together! You all stay safe and serve as God asks…Sometimes His response to our plea, is WAIT! Wait upon the Lord! and His perfect timing!
Hey Linda! Thanks so much! Great question! Gosh, there’s a lot of things I could talk about that gave me a new perspective or altered the direction I was going. I could mention some images that have stayed with me: In Kuala Lumpur I saw a man who had over-dosed on drugs laying facedown on the side of the street (screaming uncontrollably, then falling limp again), a man digging through trash and eating it (while I couldn’t help but gag just by walking by the smell of the trash), and a woman who had schizophrenia angrily yelling at a wall in a coffee shop. Sorry, those aren’t pleasant images. But they remain with me–because I’ve never seen a human being presented so opposite of their “weight of glory” (created in the image of God), than in those moments. I was changed to see their situation, to realize that the world is so much bigger and complicated than I imagined it to be. The most I can do for them is pray for them. But I wonder how many people in the world are in the same condition? And whose sons and daughters those people are? I know God’s heart is broken for their condition. And I pray that God breaks the hearts of people who see them in Kuala Lumpur, and elsewhere. And shows them how to help. Thanks for asking Linda! I can share lighter impactful memories I have too sometime! : )
Hey Steve, thank you, that’s really kind! My quarantine time just ended, so my family is able to get groceries now. But we’ll let you know if anything changes, and let us know too if your family needs anything!
Hey Erin! Good to hear from you! I get to watch Andrew’s videos on Youtube from time to time. : ) Thank you so much for your prayers–that sinus infection is long gone now! Praise God! Yeah, I’m hopeful for what’s ahead.
Thanks for your dedication from the beginning! I really appreciate it! That’s really encouraging too! I’d love to go back as soon as they’re ready for us to! Here is a vlog I just uploaded yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KFrk2WYQp4&t=22s. Thanks again for supporting me through prayer! : )
Hey Terry! I’m so glad you’re along for this journey with me! Thank you for pointing out my strengths to me! It’s really helpful, because I’m unaware unless someone tells me! : )
Thank you for praying for my family too! We are all glad to be back together. They were happy to hear you were thinking of and praying for them! : ) Hope you and your family are staying well too!
So sweet Ciera! Hope you and your family are staying well!
Hey Justine! Really nice to virtually meet you : ) I’m happy you’re here! Thanks for explaining how you met my mom, haha, that makes a lot of sense! Thank you for your kindness! Stay well
Thanks so much Karen! I can always tell you read my posts really in depth, it means a lot to me! It was really good to see you and Keith on Zoom recently!
Thanks so much Keith! I love my C-Squad fam! It was really good to see you and Karen recently on Zoom! : )
Thanks so much Sharon! That’s really kind, I really appreciate your prayers!
Cathy you are absolutely right! It is a tremendous blessing to be able to wait out the virus with my family, and at home. Haha, yeah I can imagine my Mom and you doing the happy dance ; ) It’s really good to hear from you! Miss you! Much love