Our God is a provider. I can’t express how much I have seen His provision in my life, during my journey in becoming a full time missionary. As does many things in our lives, plans can change. Sometimes, those changes are significant, but this I know, God’s plan for our life never changes.
This summer I had an amazing experience, spending 6 weeks in Ethiopia discovering more of what God has in store for me. During my visit, I came across a local non-profit called Shamida. My time with Shamida was truly eye opening. I had the opportunity to sit down and show love to children who have no home, no mom or dad, and may very likely be in poor health. It was a significant moment in my life the minute I was handed a newborn baby who was just brought in after being abandoned. This was one of many instances during my stay that I felt the call from God saying this was where He desired me to call my home for the sake of His ministry.
I have since been offered a non-paid position as a Program Specialist, with Shamida. This orphanage oversees the daily care of 150 newborn to 8 year olds. I am honored to be in a position that serves the enormous needs of so many children, and along the way make a demonstrative difference in their life for Christ.
Along with my position with Shamida, I will also be working for my church, Central Church, located in Sioux Falls, SD, as their Director of Ethiopia Operations, where I will help coordinate projects with our partners and host teams as they travel to Ethiopia. God’s provision and calling for my life has been so evident since I was young. Today, I can’t stop smiling and I am eager to live out this beautiful opportunity He has laid before me.
Here is the challenge…It takes a team to make a big change. I can not do this alone, and I am inviting you to partner with me in God’s ministry to bring hope, purpose, love and life to each of these orphaned children in Ethiopia. This is an invitation to come walk along side of me, in God’s ministry. I am praying for God to introduce me to individuals who are willing to support me in a variety of ways including but not limited to prayer, letters of encouragement, gifts, and financial donations.
Might you be that person willing to walk along side of me? Every global missionary goes through the season of support raise. If you decide to be part of this ministry with me, I want this to be a season of blessing for the orphans, you and me. Your decision to partner with me needs to be one that allows you to realize that your blessing of giving to this ministry is every bit as great as the blessing it is to the orphans. It is my deliberant intention to help you feel as much a part of this ministry on a daily basis as I feel.
It is my prayer that you will give careful and prayerful consideration to partnering with me in this ministry. Thank you in advance for your time, prayer and consideration.
If you would like to learn more about being on my team, please reach out to me at kendra@shamidaethiopia.com. I would love to talk on the phone or get together with you, in person.
I can never fully prepare myself for a trip to Ethiopia. I can try to pack everything I might possibly need or something a team member might need in any situation. I can pray for the Lord to prepare my heart and my mind for what He has in store, but in all reality, I will never have everything with me, I’ll always forget something and God won’t reveal all that He is going to do, because what’s the fun in that! Where’s the surprise, excitement, and in the moment feels if I was 100% prepared. I knew God had something great in store for the team and I, but what I didn’t know was just how impacted I would be from it.
As I landed in Ethiopia, I was listening to the song Only Jesus by Casting Crowns. This song set my heart for the two weeks God had in store. I was there to make an impact, a change, to be a blessing, but not for people to see me and remember me, but to see Jesus and be reminded of who He is and what He can do!
During the 1st week, we brought a team to help teach pastors, priests, and evangelists material that can help us spread the Gospel! This time was an incredible time for us to teach them and for them to teach us. We came together in miraculous times of worship and study so that we can go out and make a change in the name of Jesus. You wouldn’t believe how many homeless kids and adults there are. My hearts breaks as we travel down the streets and the amount of kids I see, sitting on the side of the road or walking up to your car window, knocking, and putting their hand out to receive whatever you have to offer. Through a new ministry partner, MKA (Mabkat le Kristos Agelgelot – Equipping for Christ’s Ministry), we are able to freely share the Gospel. Praise God for all He has done and will do through this opportunity. On day four of meeting with the evangelists, we went out to the streets and invited the homeless to an event we were hosting. An event where we will tell them about Jesus, provide them a meal, and give them a blanket to take with. Nearly 300 men, women, and children attended this event and just over 60 of them gave their life to Christ and stayed to learn more! Hallelujah, Praise God! This was incredible to be a part of and eye opening to the Kingdom Movement that is happening!
Week one came to an end and it was time for the team to leave. Yes, the team was leaving but I got to stay for another week to travel down to where I’ll be living and visit our students. This was a big and exciting moment for me, to be dropping a team off at the airport and to not be leaving with them. I could have only hoped for how I would feel then, not sad or fearful to be staying but overjoyed to not have to leave a place that I soon will call home. I felt just that, I was thrilled and at peace to stay. So I gave hugs and waved my hands as I said goodbye to a team that was a huge blessing to the people in Ethiopia. That wasn’t the only big moment for me at the airport, but two days later, my mom and another team flew in to be a part of the second week. This too was a reality in my future. Not only sending people off, but welcoming my family here and being there when they arrive. I loved being outside the airport, waving my arms at my mom as I see her walk outside, and welcoming her with a big hug to a foreign country, I will soon call home. These two moments of sending and receiving are moments I will cherish in the days of my future.
Day one of week two… I always love the long bumpy five hour drive from Addis Ababa to Hossana. There is so much to see but in all honesty, the ride is way too bumpy to sleep, so I don’t see another option except enjoy the view. Lol, but seriously how could anyone sleep. I can’t take my eyes off the beautiful mountain views, glorious trees and nature, cultural houses, herds of goats, cattle, and donkeys to maneuver through, and kids playing tetherball with a stick, string of some sort, and who knows what the “ball” is made out of. Driving through the countryside of Ethiopia is a wonderful time. But I never fail to ponder what it would be like to live, literally in the middle of nowhere. I see women and children at work outside their home, in the middle of the field, or carrying something on their back to take to their family. The work they do everyday just to live is astonishing. It breaks my heart to see how little they have and what they have to do to even get what they do have, but is inspiring as I know that they are so grateful for their lives.
When entering the school, the kids always there with a flowers and a warm welcome for the visiting team. As we walked into the gate with the team, I was pulled aside to be told, I am no longer a visitor so I don’t get flowers. As sad as that seemed (to not get any flowers) a big smile was drawn to my face. I am no longer a visitor to this place and to these people, wow, that beautiful reality made me so happy!
We had our third annual graduation ceremony for our seniors in Hossana. There was a handful of students in this class that are my good friends and I am beyond excited for them and their future but also sad to see them leave our school. It will be weird not having them around but they are off to make a difference to where God is calling them!
When it was time to visit our kids in Ottoro, we hopped in our land cruisers and headed up the mountain. The road is a big challenge and becoming nearly impossible to get through, but we made it. The kids were overjoyed to see us and welcomed the team with open arms. Almost too welcoming at points where we felt we were being trampled over. Oh the love and excitement those kids have when we go see them is so amazing to experience. While there, I got to visit two special kids and their families at their homes. One being my mom and I’s sponsor child. We were excited to see Bogalech and meet her family! What a wonderful girl she is and great student in school. She has a beautiful home on this open farm land where she lives with her mother and father. The second child I had the honor and joy of visiting was my friend’s sponsor child. What a joy it is to get to know some certain kids so well that they become family.
Bogalech and her family
In Hossana, I got to visit another friends sponsor child and then my own. My little girl names is Sitota. My mom and I met her in April and completely fell in love. After many trips to this country, I knew the Lord would open my eyes to a special child to sponsor and I had finally found her. Sitota calls me mama and is pure joy! Words can not describe the love I have for this little girl. When she was a baby, her biological mother used her on the streets to beg for food and money. This poor girl was not cared for well, but praise the Lord for her current mother, who found her, fostered her, and cared for her the way she needed. I am forever grateful for Sitota’s foster mother.
When I visited Sitota back in August, I met another little boy who was also being fostered by this saint of a mother. We call him D. I couldn’t help but be drawn to him and see there so much need but I didn’t know what. After asking further questions about this little boy, I found out he was harmed as a baby and also used to beg on the streets. I was told about his right foot, that it was not formed properly or taken care of. It may look like clef foot, but it’s so much more than that and needs medical care. I told the family and little boy that we will get him help. After I returned to the states, I began researching, visiting with doctors, and after having discussion with the right people, we were on track to getting this little boy some help. Knowing he was in a safe home was step one. I come back in October to Sitota’s home with no D. D’s brother came to get this little boy, threatened Sitota’s family so much that they became fearful and let him go. D’s biological mother was in a motorcycle accident and bedridden. His brother wanted this four year old little boy back so he could bring his mother water and keep her company, because she was lonely. I’m sorry but this child is young, disabled, and has a chance at getting an education and medical care, and his bio mother and brother think it’s okay to take that away from him so he can keep his mom company… I was angry at the women, the brother, and the situation. Mostly because of how it all started, abuse and neglect. I said, “This is not okay and we are going to go find this little boy, whatever it takes!” I was told it was going to take a motorcycle ride to get to his home but it was possible. So we went! When we pulled up to his house, D was the first outside the gate to see what was going on. I mean five motorcycles arriving to his house way up in the mountains draws a little bit of attention. He stopped as he stepped outside the gate, looked around in awe and it was then we made eye contact. He paused and stared at me. I can’t imagine what was going through that little boy’s head. After a moment, he went up to me and wouldn’t let me go! I picked him up in my arms and walked into this home with the Lord’s authority, strength, grace, and love upon me. After a long conversation with this family, and a mighty prayer, they were not budging to let me take this child. Before leaving, I told them I need a moment with D to give him some things. I brought him clothes and new shoes. Back story, I had held this little boys foot in August but only by an eye view and picture did I have to figure out his shoe size. When in the states looking for a good pair of shoes for his deformed foot, I brought over three different sizes, being told many times, “It’s nearly impossible to just guess a kids shoes size.” Turns out, two of the three sizes I bought were perfect. Yes, two, not just one. On his disabled foot, fit the smaller size shoe and on his good foot, fit the medium size shoe. What a miracle that was! So, I took off his rain boots that were causing blistered and sores on this disabled foot, washed his feet, put on socks for the first time in his life, and fit him with his new shoes. I don’t think this kid has ever smiled so big! He walked around and even ran in his new shoes! Thank you God for working in and through us to help this child.
Please be praying for this little boy and his family!
When we were at the school in Hossana, my friend Y (who was in the graduating class) and his little brother J (who hasn’t been to school yet but hoped to attend our school) were talking to me. They mentioned they had to enroll Jin public school because our school was full. I was heartbroken as they were by this. I thought, there’s got to be something we can do. A committee was able to get together, re-evaulate his application and see fit for him in the school.
Now I don’t tell you J or D’s story to say “hey look what I did.” I tell you their stories because these two moments opened my eyes to what my future holds in this country! I saw needs that no one else saw or knew of and together, as a team, we were able to figure out how to meet them! In this trip, I saw how much authority God has given me to make a change and be a leader. It makes me so excited and anxious to be living in Ethiopia full time. As I always say, patience is key. With all that being said, we had the opportunity to pick land for my home and our missionary house to be built. It is a beautiful piece of open land with trees and grass all around. This will be my new home and I can not wait to live in it. I will 8,470 miles from my family and friends, but I know now more than ever that my heart yearns to be in Hossana to a blessing and a vessel of God’s love.
I have to say, I know I am at the next step to being a full time missionary when going to the bathroom behind a bush on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere is normal and I am 100% okay with it!
I would like to announce my Ethiopian name given to me by my Ethiopian fathers. Yes that is plural! I am so loved and on this trip I found out that there are many of our Ethiopian staff, men and women looking out for me and are now called family! My name is Kalkidan which mean covenant. My nicknames include Kal or Kali with my Ethiopia name. With my American name, they call me Kenny, Ken, or Kendi!
“Be strong” they say. In moments of sorrow, pain, sadness, anger, I hear, “Be strong.” It’s not easy to not want to scream in anger seeing all the hurt and pain some of these kids go through! But I will be strong for them and push harder so that their lives may be changed by God’s goodness and love.
While on this trip, my friend sent me the song, Send me by Bethel Music. If you want to understand my calling better, listen to this song. I literally can not explain how perfectly written it is to the call God has put on my life! I love God so much that I will go anywhere and do anything. “I live to hear you say, “well done my good and faithful” because I love you. Here I am Lord, send me.”
I’ll be honest, I cried a few times in the airport when I landed in the states. I am blessed beyond measure with family and friends who love me and a safe home here. But that doesn’t mean I won’t miss there. Please be in prayer for me and God’s call on my life. That His will is done in His timing. Pray for a patient heart in me and that I do, all I need to do in the states, so I have longevity in Ethiopia.
It’s taken me a week to find words and even now, as I write, I struggle to form my thoughts and emotions.
All my life, I’ve had such a tender, sensitive, caring, and loving heart! Even the littlest thing might bring tears of joy or sorrow to my eyes. Growing up, I hated how much I cried. I always felt like I had to apologize for my emotions or deep desire to help. Over the years, I have learned how to control my tears but I will never hold back passion to love and care for people and in that, express my emotions! I went from asking God why I am such a baby to thanking God for the sensitive, loving, and caring heart He gave me, because I gained so much freedom and understanding that emotions are good and they show deep love, care, and concern for that something or someone. I’ve learned that tears aren’t weakness but strength!
One week ago, I returned from leading a team on a ten day trip to Ethiopia for our annual Vacation Bible School. Leading a team to the country I have begun to love, was an honor and joy. Preparing for this, was not an easy task. One problem after another came up to a point where people began telling how they think we shouldn’t be going and how God is trying to tell me something. I refused to hear that as I knew that if God did NOT want us to go, He would shut and lock the door, not keep it cracked open. In every obstacle, there was always a way but no way, these “ways” were possible, without God. Like using a blind man (I have never met) to retrieve our last team members visa and passport TWO days before departure! I planned and implemented everything I possibly could to make this trip successful for the team. But nothing went as planned. You name it, I bet you it was an obstacle we ran into. I can not express enough that God’s plan is so much greater than any plan we can ever create. Let go and let Him take the lead. Because of God’s grace and goodness, 500+ kids in Hossana, Ethiopia heard the Gospel and experienced the love of Jesus! I believe that Satan was terrified by what God had planned for this team, that he tried stopping us from going. I could not have asked for a better team and am so thankful for the process God sent me through in preparation for, during, and even after the trip. God’s theme of this trip was “Do you REALLY trust me and have as much faith as you say you do?” Even in the toughest moments, I gave all I had to God and believed with all my heart, that He was in control. Time and time again, God was good and He had everything in His hands.
As I remanence on the trip, talk about it, and look through pictures, I find myself getting emotional. For the last 11 years of my life, I have poured into short term mission trips. I have pursued opportunities to spread the love of Jesus to people all over the world. And in all that, I am just dreaming of the day I find my forever home in an impoverished country loving on children and families who have never been loved the way Jesus loves. I truly believe Ethiopia is that place. I am completely in love and feel so a part of that community. Words from the Ethiopians on my most recent visit… I am officially a half-esha or habesha (part Ethiopian). I have been accepted by the people themself to be a part of what God is doing there. God has blessed me with so many incredible relationships in a place I have only visited a few times. I can’t fathom what God is going to do when I live there. YES, live there and it is so close I can finally see this reality! Since I was 10 years old, I knew God had a plan for me to submerge myself completely in the lives of children and families living in poverty, who need Jesus. My whole life, I have been abundantly blessed with family and friends who deeply love me. It kills me that the reality is, that’s not the same for most children and families. AND because of the huge heart God gave me to love people, I will do just that!
My heart misses Ethiopia! My heart yearns to be back! My heart cries out to God as that country fights for freedom through a Civil War. Please pray for my Ethiopia friends and family!
Disaster is striking this world and we need to be on our knees and hands lifted high for God to come in like a ROARING LION. Be praying for our brothers and sisters around the world!
How deep are you willing to go and how dirty are you willing to get to show someone how much Jesus loves them??
For many years now, I have been dreaming about going to Africa. If someone told me that they have been to Africa, anywhere in Africa, I would feel as if they had told me they won the lottery. Africa has always been an important place in my heart and I never knew why until June 23rd, 2019 when I saw Ethiopia, Africa with my own eyes. When I could smell the African air, task their food, hold the hand of a precious African child, and hear God’s gentle but powerful voice speak to me.
As I stepped out of the airplane, the heat hit my face, and I smelled a different smell, African air. I really don’t know how to describe what it smells like, but I knew it was a smell I could get used to. We continued our way through the airport to get visas, bags, and find our ride. My heart was racing on the inside but I think I was pretty calm on the outside. I couldn’t believe that I was actually in Africa. All I could say was, “Thank you God, thank you so much for bringing me here.” “Oh just wait my child for what you are going to experience this week.” I felt Him express to me.
I couldn’t believe my eyes as we drove through the city of Addis Ababa. There were so many homeless children, mothers, and elderly people. It seemed like a wealthy city… big buildings, hotels, businesses… but beyond that, my eyes were drawn to that little boy, laying on the side of the street who looked like he hadn’t eaten for days, and that mother carrying her baby on her back, begging for food. If your car came to a stop, you would find a young child or mother knocking on your window begging for anything you would give them. I couldn’t help but give them what I had. 1 burr, 34 cents, could get them a loaf of bread, and that’s all they wanted, that’s all they needed to allow them to walk away happy and blessed. My heart broke for what I saw just minutes down the road. I already knew this was going to be an emotional week for me.
I didn’t want the week to end. I didn’t want to leave the people I met and began to love. I cried, a lot… But as each day went by, I felt more peace about leaving as I knew that one day, I will be back. I miss everyone I met there, but all I can do is pray for them, that they got to have some food today and a loving hug and kiss. Every child should go to bed with a goodnight kiss from someone who loves them. Be sure to hug and kiss your little one as they close their eyes, and be sure they know how much they are loved. Be sure to hug and kiss your mom and dad, and tell them you love them. Even us teenagers who may reply to you with, “yes yes I know you love me,” we mean that in the most loving way. We love you too, even in the tough times of growing up.
Some people say, “I wish I could help them, but I’ve got a job and family here to take care of, I can’t help over there.” You don’t need to dedicate your life to a country across the world to help, but I do feel that everyone should take the opportunity to travel to a third world country and experience this at least once in their life. To really see how these people live, as they don’t know any differently, to experience the diverse cultures in this world, and to look into a little ones eyes. Tears fill my eyes as I write this. Words can’t express how I feel when I am in a nation across the world, and when I look into a child’s eyes. My heart melts and all I want to do is pick them up, bath them, give them clothes to wear, and feed them. I am determined to one day be a mother to many and do just that. To show families around the world, who Jesus Christ is and how He change their life!
SO Ethiopia, there is so much that Adams Thermal Foundation is doing down there to change these children and family’s lives. The joy that I see on these teenagers faces when we tell that that there is a high school being built for them to continue their education and then go to university. For that entire community to now have running water, and for that teacher to have a job and money to provide food and clothes for their family. It was so amazing to see God’s work through this foundation. I am looking forward to the day that I can go back and do more. My heart melts and tears form in my eyes when I think about going and doing God’s work across the world, but until then, I am to do God’s work here in my everyday life. To love and help the people around me.
Many people have asked how I would compare Ethiopia to Haiti… I couldn’t compare. Haiti is much more different in my eyes. Haiti is crazy, the poverty looks different, and the culture is different… but God used both countries, and every nation that I have been to, to touch my heart in significant ways. He has grown my faith and wisdom about this world through every experience I have been through.
Every country is just different, but man, there are so many nations in this world, 197 to be exact, and millions of people who have never heard the name Jesus, and who have never felt His unconditional love. Think about that… Or how about this, no running water, no electricity which means no air conditioning, no wifi… People all over the world live a life full of “nos.” Could you live that kind of life, would you choose to live that kind of life if it meant you were sharing the good news of Jesus Christ every day… Well I have news for you, the millions of people that have not felt the unconditional love of Jesus Christ may just live in your community, work with you everyday, shop at the same grocery store you shop at… There are so many people out there that are hurting and yearning for someone to come into their life and help them. Be that person. You don’t have to travel across the world to reach the hurting people! Take a moment and look at your life, the people you encounter everyday, the things you say and do… Is what you say and do, good, loving, and caring? Are the people you encounter happy or sad, struggling or thriving, living a life with God or not? Take the time to know the answer to these questions if you don’t know them already and seek God on what to do next. God puts blessings and challenges in your life everyday, but it is up to you on how you react to them and what you decide to do next. Do you walk away from it or do you face it, and possibly change someones life and change your own life? Don’t live a life without God, live a life with Him, but it’s not just any life, this is eternity.
For those of you who have been called to do missions across that world, follow that calling! Listen closely to what God says, and obey. He is so clear and will be with you every step of the way! Trust and have full faith in Him!
I’ve known for a long time that I want to be missionary, but everyday brings new challenges and questions. How can I just step away from what I have here in America to go live a life full of nos? Who in the world would want to do that?? With tears in my eyes, I tell you that “I do,” I would be honored to live a life of nos, because with God I have everything I need. I say this with full faith and trust to God that my life with be full of yes’s and hearts all over the world will be touched and changed… but for me to do this, you need to do the same here in America. Your mission field is here, while my mission field is there. So please do me a favor, be the light of Jesus everyday of your life. When life gets hard, stop and pray, remind yourself that God is greater than all things. We are all missionaries, don’t ever forget that!
Going into outreach, my heart and passion was to be a missionary. It’s what I wanted to do. I had other things in mind, but over all, that was my lifelong dream. As I have now graduated from my DTS, I know that my dream and passion to be a missionary, is not only what I want for my life, but it is what God wants for my life too. On outreach, God spoke to me, that this is my lifelong calling. I am very happy and excited for my future as a missionary!
Thailand was absolutely incredible! Words can’t describe what I experienced in the last two months. I could tell stories and show pictures all day, but putting my emotions and feelings into words about everything that happened, would be slightly challenging. God did so much to me and the people I worked with. He spoke to me and my heart, about who I am and who He is. Love was a theme that I noticed a lot about what I did and why I did it. Giving, seeing, and receiving so much love in Thailand. I didn’t have to be there… Nor did I have to interact with these people, but I wanted to be there, and I wanted to interact with them because I love them just as God loves them! God really poured His love into me so that I could pour into those I encountered. Yes, it got difficult sometimes. Whether I was tired, hot, sick, emotional… Whatever I was feeling, God gave me strength, especially in the hard times to move forward and LOVE as much as I can!
Throughout my journey in Thailand, my heart grew for older girls at risk. I wanted to meet girls my age and build a relationship with them. We had this opportunity about halfway through our trip, but I just wasn’t able to grow close to these girls. We played games, laughed, and had lots of fun together, but we didn’t connect like other people on my team connected with them. I asked God, please, I want to go home with friends that I can text back in Thailand and stay in contact with. It was in our last location that God answered my prayers. I met and engaged myself with a group of girls that I love so dearly. We became great friends. I poured my heart into them. Staying up late with them, making cake to celebrate their birthdays, and just giving them lots of hugs and kisses, meant the world to them. How do I know this? I always give hugs and kisses, even though I may not know whether they are receiving the love. But this time, I know they did. The girls went to our contact with big smiles saying how they feel SO loved because they are being greeted by me with hugs and kisses. That made my heart melt! Those girls know how loved they are, and that’s all that matters to me! I never want anyone to forget how loved they are by the people around them and by their Heavenly Father! I still text them to this day, and I can’t wait to go back and see them again!
Before going into our last location, we were told by intercessors that the “Sea Gypsies” would make a huge impact in our lives. This is very true! The “Sea Gypsies” are a group of people living along the coast of Southern Thailand. They have experienced much heartache, tragedy, and injustice in their lives. Not only were their homes taken out by the Tsunami in 2004, but their homes were also taken by the tourist industry. The Sea Gypsies are in the process of rebuilding and recovering from this hard time in life. My team and I poured our hearts into all generations of these people. From the little kids, to the grandparents, we did everything we could to love on them. We listened to their stories and where they are at in life. The stories I heard, the smiles on their faces, and the perspective they have in life, is inspiring. If they have food to eat that day, and a roof over their head… They are happy! This location reminded me a lot of Haiti. The people that I met, the environment, the things I got to do. I never wanted to leave and that’s how I feel in Haiti too. God really showed me in this last location that there are people and places all across the world that I can love and feel at home with.
Now these two little boys, Chit and Bon stole my heart!! Their laugh, smiles, the way we played together, I love them so much! I would chase them down to get a hug and kiss, and they would try running away laughing so hard, they would fall down! So many precious moments that will always be close to my heart! ❤ I can’t wait to see those precious boys again!
I never thought that one day I would go to Asia. It’s just so far away. Let alone, go there for two months, and want to live their for many years! I truly fell in love with the people I met, the places I got to go to, and things I got to do. What an incredible experience it was, and the way God opened my eyes and heart is amazing. I will be back in Thailand some day doing more things that God wants me to do. Thailand is a beauty country with beautiful people!
Now the question everyone is asking, “what’s next?” All I know is that I am home, back in Iowa. My plan is to work hard to get healthy. Work out with my dad and feel better physically and mentally about my body. This will be hard, but ” I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Prayers are so needed as I work through this transition in my life. Most of you know, I also have many health issues and we are discovering more when it comes to food. I want to learn and understand what food allergies I have so that I can move on pain free in this area. I am not going to get sick, anymore!
There are so many places in this world that I would love to travel to! I am now just waiting till God opens those doors for me to walk through! Prayers would be a huge blessing as waiting is not an easy thing for me to do. I like to go go go. If I got an idea, I want to do it. But in this time, I will need a lot of peace and patience to wait for Gods call.
Thank you so much for reading my blog! It really means a lot to me! I hope all is well! Please contact me with any questions you might have. I would love to answer them! Have an amazing day!
I have now been in Thailand for over a month. It has truly been an incredible experience with ups and downs. I have fallen in love with the culture, the food, the people, each location, and this nation! I have been to Chaing Mai, Chaing Rai, Mae Sai, Lampang, and I am now in PangNga. What a journey from north to south. I have been working with lots of kids ministries, teaching English to all ages and even at a university. I have enjoyed street ministry where I was given the opportunity to distribute bibles and pray as I walk the streets of Thailand. My eyes were truly opened to their everyday lives in this time.
God has taught me so many things. The one thing that really has been hitting me hard lately is that I “can” live life and love what I am experiencing without God but it is so much better to experience it with Him. It was last week that I broke down realizing that I felt so alone and terrible for not taking time to share with Him my thoughts and emotions. I have walked through these past few locations without processing with Him. That is really tough for me to say as I would hate to admit that I do anything without God but I wasn’t giving Him my full attention. I was just trying to enjoy each moment as time is flying by! So I stopped, I stopped thinking, I stopped everything. I then cried out to God and said “I’m sorry. I don’t want to do this without you!” He’s been with me the whole time as He is non stop speaking to me, but I was not giving Him my full attention. I would listen, obey, but be done. But my heart is to talk back, to ask questions as I go, to process with Him! I’m learning and that’s okay. I asked God to give me a song. I’ve never heard of this song before. It was “Overflow” by Red Rocks Worship. In this song the singer is expressing exactly how I was feeling!! “Lord my cup is empty. Fill me with your spirit!” I would highly recommend you to listen to this song. It is the only way to explain what was happening in my heart.
My heart is to listen, to obey, to do what He would do, to say what He would say, to love how He would love, to be a missionary, to tell everyone about God, giving them the opportunity to know and be filled with His love! To experience what God has to offer!! It breaks my heart knowing that there are so many people in this world that deny God’s existent but what breaks my heart even more is the large number of people that don’t even know about God. That haven’t even had a chance to know about God. That there, is my mission. My mission is to reach those people and share the love of God. To share His word and who He is! I want everyone to know and have a full life knowing Him! ❤️
Thailand is truly a beautiful country and again, the culture… LOVE IT! I really don’t want to leave Thailand. I love being across the world being God’s hands and feet. I feel so much peace and comfort doing His work. It helps to have a support system which I couldn’t have asked for a better support system. Thank you family and friends for all your support! I wouldn’t be able to do this without you!!
I’ve been asking myself and God what the next journey is going to look like. To be honest, I haven’t gotten and answer from God as I know right now isn’t the time but I am anxious to know where He will send me next. What will I do. I have SO many options. Nursing school, YWAM, long term missions, short term missions, work at my Church, travel to my favorite country that I like to call home (Haiti)… I have so many options and all I want to do is make the choice that God wants me to make. So prayers that I will hear God so clearly about what I am to do next.
This journey to Thailand has been amazing and I will be home before I know it. I leave Thailand February 22nd and will arrive to America February 22nd. Yes I will live that day twice as I am 13 hours ahead of time. I will then be in Wisconsin for a few more days for debrief and I will graduate March 2nd. Then I plan to be home for a while. I am excited to see everyone again but Thailand will always be in my heart and I plan to come back some day.
I would say so much more about this trip but telling you everything in a blog post just won’t do justice to this experience God has blessed me with so you’ll just have to visit my in person when I get home to hear more. 😁
Love you all. Continued prayers would be much appreciated as I do have two more locations (including the one I am at) that won’t be the easiest. The last location, I will working with the communities in poverty. My heart will break and ache but God will give me strength to love as much as I can for as long as I can. ❤️
God Bless you all and see you in March! Enjoy these pictures 😍 Enjoy the crazy cave adventure video too 😶
Sawatdeekah! Hey Friends and Family! I am in Thailand and doing very well! I really do love it here! The country is SO beautiful and I feel like I’ve seen SO much already in this short time. I’ve been in the middle of the city, out traveling on a bus in the mountains, and now at a small children’s home in the middle of no where. The culture here is so unique and beautiful! The different things they do to show respect and the things they don’t do are things that in America are natural and not a big deal. For example, the head is the most precious part of the body. You do not touch someone’s head nor reach over it. When playing with kids, it feels so natural to touch their head for any reason…. that’s a no-no. I’m learning. Feet are the dirtiest part of the body, so sitting properly on the floor for a long period of time tends to not be easy as I just want to stretch my legs, but can’t because I will show the bottom of my feet.
Thai people are SO incredibly nice and have wonderful hospitality! They want to make sure all your needs are met. Their smiles are unforgettable!! Oh and the food!!! God has truly been by my side and blessing me through this. So y’all know I can’t have gluten (wheat)…. here, NO GLUTEN! I mean you eat rice, rice, and more rice. Maybe add some rice NOODLES in the mix. I LOVE IT! I mean maybe after 3 meals a day for two months, I will get tired of it but hey, if I don’t get sick from food for the next two months, I’m down!
So I love navigating directions and paying attention to the roads and where we are at. First off, to get from place to place, we call these guys that drive little red pickup trucks with benches and a hood in the bed. One day the driver dropped us off in an area that we hadn’t been to yet but we were close to our location. The team had absolutely no idea where we were but I did even though we had never been there before. So we got out of the truck and I led them to where we needed to be. They were so amazed and wouldn’t stop talking about how I possibly did that. God truly blessed me with the skills to navigate. I just trust in God to guide my paths.
The traffic here is pretty put together but crazy at the same time. The driver seat is on the right side of the car so they drive on the left side of the road. So that is new! When crossing traffic by food, you just run in between the cars. I was totally okay with it, but everyone else was freaking out when a few of us just started running through traffic. There are lots of people riding motorcycles here too. The city truly is beautiful with big buildings. Oh, and their temples. So if you are Thai, you are Buddhist. That’s what they all say. So they have temples that they worship at that are so beautiful! They really are. They are huge and made of gold! They have big temples and even real small gold structures at random places. I haven’t been to one but we drive by them. Some men are what they call monks who dedicate their life to the temples. They wear orangish brown cloths. You respect and wai (bow) to the monks! Now, the squatty potty. It’s initially a hole in the ground that you do your business in. It’s so interesting to use. One tip… don’t sit on it!! Just squat.
Some songs that have been speaking to me while here are “Take Courage & Isaiah 6, here am I, send me” by Lindy Conant. Lindy is a former YWAMer and she truly speaks the heart of a missionary in these songs! It’s like she could read my thoughts and put them into a song!
We are currently at a children home called “The Limitless Love Home.” This Family is so incredible!!! It’s a couple that have three kids of their own and felt they were to do more for the kids in the tribes on the mountains. So they took in 28 kids with the mission of education and knowing God! These kids and couple were thrilled when they found out we were coming!!! We do lots of worship with them… they love my ukulele! It is so fun to play it for them and sing! We have been teaching them stories from the Bible everyday. We play football (soccer), volleyball, and so many more fun games. They also LOVE uno. I’ve been learning the kids names and I think I got them down. Some are more difficult to pronounce but I’m working on it.
So here’s an incredible moment that I had with God and this woman: I was sitting in church when I turned around and saw an old women being carried in on this man’s back. The Thai lady behind me that spoke some English told me, “She can not walk.” I nodded and turned forward. The Holy Spirit hit me and said “It’s time. You are to lay hands and pray for that women!” The thought never left my mind the entire church service. I continued to look back at this beautiful lady. Her face will never leave my mind. Church finally ended. I asked my team if they would lay hands with me. I then went to the pastor and asked if he would ask this women if we could pray for her. As I walked over to the lady, the pastor asked, and the women’s response was unforgettable. She began to hit her right arm and leg showing me she can not move it. She began crying out to me. I knelt down and layed my hands on her. As soon as my hand touched her, tears fell from my eyes. Emotions rushed out of me and I felt so filled with the Holy Spirit. I prayed and declared healing for this woman. We both were crying out together. As soon as I said amen, she began speaking Thai to me and crying… but the thing is, I understood her! Let me be real, I do NOT speak Thai but I understood what she was saying to me. I felt her pain and her sorrow!! I cried even more! She said her husband died a year ago. She has been lame for a while but I will never forget her emotions and what God did for both of us in that moment. I did just what Jesus would do. I layed hands on the lame. I asked God for healing in that woman. Only God can heal her! I thank God every day for bringing that woman into my life and giving me the opportunity to lay hands on the lame.
At the children’s home, we painted their buildings. The kids LOVE it! Their reactions were precious!!
A few thoughts have been going through my head as being here… well many thoughts, but I’m gonna share one. “What does God have for my future? Am I going to live in a stable place for a long time? Will I move from place to place? Where is God going to place me?” I trust God with all of my heart in all my ways that He will do what is best for my and that He truly does have a plan!
I hope everyone is doing well back home!! I am doing great here! I really love being a missionary and having the opportunity to be Jesus’s hands and feet! Thank you for reading and praying for me! Continued prayers will be a blessing! Thank you!! Love you all!
As a little girl, I would dream about being a missionary. I would be across the world walking in impoverished villages, spreading God’s word and love to those who do not yet know Him. Holding precious little kids, helping moms, and so much more. Now, it is actually about to happen!
The past three months have been full of learning God’s word, growing as an individual, and understanding the injustice in our world. I now feel very ready to “go out into the world and preach the gospel to all creation!” (Mark 16:15)
On Monday, December 31st, I will be flying to Thailand! Wow, this is actually happening! Now, I’ve been doing “mission work” since I was 12, but this is truly the beginning of my missionary life. This trip will be much more different than any other mission trip I have been on. I will be “living” in their culture, eating their food, preaching in churches, evangelizing, teaching in schools, working with prostitutes and children at risk for two months, not just two weeks. This is what I have been anxiously waiting for. To be God’s hands and feet across the world and making a difference in the lives of those in need.
I am very excited for this opportunity. YWAM has been such a blessing to my life. I seriously love my YWAM family and can’t wait to go across the world with them.
It was so great be home for a few days for Christmas break to see my family! They have been the biggest blessing and supporters in my life!
Continued prayers are so appreciated! Thank you so very much for supporting me by praying, reading my blogs, and just being a part of my life! It means more to me than you will ever know!! I hope to update ya’ll with a few blogs while in Thailand so stay posted. I am also hoping to have service and internet while there, so feel free to message me on any type of social media or text. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Love you all! I am praying for blessings in your new year!
The past two weeks have been a roller coaster if I am being completely honest. So the week of Thanksgiving was a busy week even though it’s technically called “break.” We have a break off from school and classes but during this break we went on an outreach retreat. This is where my Southeast Asia team left for a few days and just got to know each other as a team. I really enjoyed these few days away with my friends! I seriously love my outreach team. I really think we are something special. We have also been through a lot together as a team already through the lecture phase. While on our outreach retreat, we received some news from our head staff here at YWAM Madison about the nation we are going to in Southeast Asia. This nation’s government has been targeting foreigners coming in on tourist visas for an extended amount of time. After they leave the airport, the government will check up with them to make sure they are doing what they said they will be doing. The worst thing that would happen to our team, is that we would get deported. But us being there right now could have a negative impact on the long-term missionaries there. So they have asked that we not send teams to this nation right now. This was really hard news for my team and I to hear as we have really grown a heart for this nation. But we do believe that God put this nation on our hearts for a reason so we are not giving up on going there but we do understand why now is not the right time. What has blown me away in all this heartache is God’s Grace for my team! Nothing seemed to be working for us to get there. We were not being accepted by contacts in this nation nor did my team members have enough money in their accounts to buy plane tickets! All this was happening here, while all that was happening in Asia! We then received the news that it is not safe for us to go as we were trying to book plane tickets! We could have lost $1,300 but instead, God’s timing was perfect and he saved us from more heartache! I am still working through this loss but know God has bigger and better plans for me and this nation! If you have further questions, please feel free to message me personally!
Now I am happily to announce that my team and I will be going to Thailand!! This is crazy as God clearly spoke Thailand to me in the beginning of lecture phase but I never thought much of it. The night of outreach reveal where we found out our location options, I really struggled for many reasons between going to Thailand & Cambodia and the other nation in Asia. Those reasons were both good and bad but I decided to lay down the opportunity to go to two countries, one being one that God told be I would go to, to go to another country that He was also putting on my heart! I clearly heard God tell me that my final choice was the best option and that it was Him telling me to choose the other location in Asia…. Now that I am not going to that location but instead going to Thailand, I was struggling so much because God clearly told me to go to the location I choose. Did I hear God wrong?? No, I heard Him but I have grown so much through this time! I layed something I wanted down for God so He could show me how He can pick things back up for me! I believe with all my heart that God will pick up the other nation again and one day I will go there, but not now. I also want to say one last thing about God’s Grace in this time. Within the first 24 hours of making the decision to go to Thailand, we had our first contact accepted and in less than a week we had our plane tickets booked and visas sent in! How crazy and amazing is our God!
What a week. Once we got back, we spent two days reading the Bible. We read all the Gospels, Acts, Psalms (1-100), Proverbs, & Ephesians (which we have been studying in bible class.) I really enjoyed reading the Bible. I have had so many questions and so much revelation as well! It was also really cool where I asked myself a question in the beginning of the books, and by the end, I answered it for myself. That was awesome! So I had a really fun Thanksgiving with my YWAM family! We had a fabulous meal and then I went Black Friday shopping with my friends where I found skirts, a dress, and a shirt that will be perfect for Thailand! So exciting!
Now back at it with classes. This weeks teaching is about Roots and Belonging. The main revelation I have had this week with this teaching is about where my heart is. I have heart to serve God in everything I do. My worst fear is to disappoint God or do something He did not want me to do. I learned earlier in my lecture phase that ” I can never mess up God’s plan for my life if my heart is to serve.” I brought this back up this week. I was then asked by my teacher, “What have I done this week that I have partnered with God in?” She changed the word serving to partnering. Serving is doing some thing for God and partnering is doing something with God! I then had a conversation with my dad on the phone about my process. He said, “If I am partnered with God… I am serving in the highest capacity for God.” I am seriously so blessed to have my daddy to help bring this kind of revelation to my life as well! This weeks teacher has also talked about humility and what that truly looks like. Humility is willing to be known and appreciated for who you really are. So for example, if someone acknowledges something good about you or what you have done and you reply with, “oh it was all God,” you are not being humble because you are not accepting how God made you or who He mad you to be. He wants you to accept how He made you. There is a difference between accepting and appreciating what you have done and exhaulting yourself above others for what you are proud of. If you exhault yourself, you are not being humble. Now I’m not saying that if you give God the credit in good things you have done is wrong, because it is not. That is how I have lived my life. I give all the glory to God. But I have learned that we need to find a way to acknowledge God without dissing ourselves.
So much I have learned and been through the past few weeks! I thank God everyday for guiding me through the process in my mind and heart! He has been showing me so much Grace and comfort through this!
I hope everyone is doing well at home! So it’s almost Christmas time which means Christmas break! I will be home from December 22nd-27th. I would love to see so many of you while I am home so please contact me if you would like to get together!! I will then be leaving for Thailand December 31st and flying back to Wisconsin February 22nd. The last 10 days of my DTS will be debrief and public speaking to different churches and groups about my journey and experiences. I will then graduate March 2nd. I don’t know at this point what I will be doing after my DTS but I know God will reveal that to me. What I do know is that I will continue to be a missionary and pursue my life in that direction. I have so many directions I can go with my heart for missions so I just continue to ask God what He wants me to do. Continued prayers would be great as I finish off my lecture phase and prepare myself for Thailand!
Thank you so much for reading my blogs! Your support means more to me than you will know! Thank you! God Bless you all! Again, feel free to message me with any questions! Love you!
The past few weeks were some tough weeks. God truly opened my eyes and heart to what is going on around the world. Every Monday night we have Children at Risk class. The past two week we have watched documentaries. The first documentary was about children around the world and what they are going through! This video is called “Innocents Lost” and it crushed my heart! I was so angry with what these men are doing to these girls and how these kids are living on the streets. There is so much heart break and devastation going on in this world! God said to me, “My heart breaks for these children too!” I was not able to put my emotions and feelings into words. I was so angry and had moments of tremble and tears. I wasn’t able to process anything. I felt like there was a wall between God and I. I knew He was there, He always is, but I couldn’t hear Him. My friends were there to support me but I continued to say “I’m fine.” I was also thinking so much about Haiti during this time! I was scared and worried that this is going on in Simmonette to my Haitian friends/family and I was too young to know and understand. Again, so much anger and frustration… (I’m not an angry person, so this was hard to feel this way.) I didn’t process what was going on in my heart. It was a long week.
That weekend my Mama and Grandma came to visit me. I believe God knew I was gonna struggle this week and need my Mama! I did need her to help me process and comfort me! God follows through! I had an amazing weekend with my Mama and Grandma. We played card games, had a picnic in the hotel room, watched movies, I showed them around Madison, we went shopping for my trip to Asia, out to eat, and church! Oh and can’t forget the college life of going to a laundry mat! So glad they came! ❤
Now this week… Our teaching this week is over worldview… YAY 😦 … I mean I love learning about that, but I just got over being so angry with the world, I did not want to hear more… Not yet, but God had other plans. The first few days of teaching were alright. I mean a lot of frustration with not only the world but America too! Who we say we are as Americans and what people across the world think about Americans. Now Christianity is in America (for the most part) but there are so many people in America that call themselves christians but don’t live their life as one. But across the world, those who say they are Christians, truly live as a genuine Christian… SO true! This teacher said so many things that opened my eyes to Christianity itself. Tuesday after class, we went o base worship which is where YWAM Madison comes together to worship. I love base worship. That worship time really hit me hard. I felt so weird during the whole session. Like I had to cry, but I couldn’t. All my emotions are anger where being brought back up to my mind and heart. In the end, my heart just broke and I broke down in tears. I was trembling, full of anger, and tears. My friends were giving me hugs and trying to help but I couldn’t express what I was feeling! This was not an easy day. I then went to Local Outreach which is homeless ministry. So walking the streets and giving hot chocolate to homeless people and building connections. This too broke my heart with what is even going on right here in Madison, Wisconsin.
Day 3 of world view teaching… I did not like his teaching this day. He just talked about some controversial things that I have strong feelings about. Now I am going to share one of them. As I am writing this, I am asking God to guide my words and that those who are reading this, understand where I am coming from. Here we go.
Do you or do you not spank your child? I strongly believe in NOT spanking your child. I understand it is a form of discipline. I do believe that every child is different and it may work for some kids, but do I think it is the best way or correct way, no. We teach our kids not to hit other people as it is not loving but parents think it is okay to hit their kids and say that you are only doing it because you love them?? No child will understand what love really is. Yes I understand it works for some kids and they turn out perfectly fine but I do not think it is right to hit your child. There are plenty of other ways to discipline your child. So with that being said, he talked about how he disciplines his kids. This again just brought frustration and sadness to my heart of how people parent their kids. This teacher is truly a great guy and this is a controversial topic, so it’s normal to have different feelings. Now, I do not despise those who do spank their kids, I love everyone for who they are! ❤
I had talked to my school leader as she knew there was a lot going on in my heart. This week we also watched a documentary on Haiti. It was about how what we are doing to help this country is only helping short term. Giving them all this stuff is not going to help them for their future. Haiti can not just depend on other countries to provide for them! They want and need to provide for themselves. The businesses down there will no longer successful if we continue to provide. We need to teach, train, and provide jobs for these Haitians and other countries around the world too! Anyway, so my school leader told me that I need to have a 1 on 1 with the teacher. I really didn’t want to talk to him. Not cause he’s a bad guy, he really is so nice but he is very intimidating. So I took what Jenna said into consideration and went on with my night. The next morning we had intercession. I left to go to the bathroom and ran into Daniel (the teacher). “Great” I said in my mind. Then I said to him, “Well I think I’m suppose to talk to you but I really don’t want to…” He laughed and said “Why?” “I don’t know.” He then said ” well lets talks. We had an amazing conversation and he brought a lot of revelation to my heart. What he said that really spoke to me is that “It’s not my power that changes the world, it’s God’s power.” But why does God not use his power to stop all that is suffering?! This question as really hitting me hard. “God uses His power in us. If he were to stop all suffering, what would be the point of us as Christians and Missionaries? He uses His power in us to make a difference around the world.” Also, we need to make a difference for Him, not because we want to do something good for ourselves.
I learned SO much this week and have had a lot of revelation. This phase in my life is really important to take time to learn, then I will be able to use God’s power and make a difference in this world… BUT… If I could just make a difference in one life, that’s all that matters! God Bless you all so much!
By His Grace 