2016 testimony

I easily both remember and forget the past in the worst of the ways. I remember the hard things and can easily twist them to keep me in bondage, but I easily forget the grace in the things that have happened. 

So, I felt compelled to remember the whole picture of the past few months. And, I wrote. I wrote for about an hour. 
To remember. 

I want to tell you my most recent story. Not because of me, but because sharing what has happened to me will encourage others, because it is so so so much bigger than me. 

Stories make us remember. 
They make us remember who we are and remind us of truth. 
They give us perspective. 

So, hello. 
My name is Kaitlyn. 
Some of you may know me and some of you may not. 

I am going to rewind back to this past July of 2016 and give you some of the story of what God has been doing. 
It was the first week of July and summer was crazy. 
I was working 3 odd jobs and other little side jobs, then hanging out with friends in the in-between-times. 

***Backing up even more, I graduated last December of 2015 with a degree in Music Education; so what does that mean? Well, you become a music educator, right? 
But, see, I was TERRIFIED and so incredibly anxious about teaching. It's not that I couldn't do it, in fact, the Lord provided a job in February for the spring semester of 2016 to teach at Caywood Elementary School in Lexington, TN. It was an incredible experience. My degree and my experience proved that I could do it. It wasn't about "open/closed doors" or "ability." 
I just didn't want to teach and something in me said, "NO WAY." 
It had nothing to do with not loving kids, not loving music, not loving learning or anything like that. It had everything to do with me being in the position of being a teacher. 

More context: my parents are wonderful. Some of the best parents in the world and the love the Lord dearly. But, we have fought about (well, its more that we have disagreed SO much) about me staying in Jackson and sometimes about job situations (which is understandable, because they had just given and sacrificed so much to help me get the degree that I had just earned.) I want nothing more than to please them and to get along with them, but this is in conflict with my heart and what the Lord has been pressing on it. 

BACK TO JULY 2016: 
So, I am working all these odd jobs and I am miserable doing it. I just wanted to quit, stop and just be at one place doing something that I loved. 
The Lord made it very clear to me that He wanted me to stay at my church, Cornerstone Community Church because it was my home, family, friends and community now. So, that meant staying in Jackson. I had never grown so much as I had here, and the Lord helped me realize that I have a lot more growing to do before I can leave.
This was very hard to explain to my parents who had just moved back to Colorado. After all, what am I doing in Jackson instead of being at the foothills of the mountains? 

I decided, why not nanny? An opportunity came up that I was hesitant to take for all of June (after all, I wanted to be sure but too way too long). I called them at the end of June and then they took some time to think about it. Finally, after it all, they got back to me and I had the job. I was so thankful. Praise God! It was definitely a crazy cool God-thing how it all worked out. 

But, then one week later, during Union University's annual music camp, I received a call saying that the job actually wasn't going to work out. I was so tired and frustrated. I remember I was about to leave my mentor/dear friend, Alice Nettles house and knocked on the door to process it with her and another friend. It was rough. 

A couple days later, I went home for a week to Colorado to go hike and camp in the Rockies with my dad for his birthday. I was going home with no plan and no job. Well, you can guess what my parents said and suggested. 
But, I knew I was supposed to be in Jackson. 
Well, when I was out there, I met all sorts of wonderful people out there from my parents church, Storyline. Ben Mendrel from Englewood in Jackson, TN planted a church out there and my parents, of course went to this church. Crazy, huh? Definitely not coincidental! Maybe the Lord wanted me there in Colorado after all? I felt so confused. 

I came back to Jackson, and there was one week left of July. I had no job, no plan, my rent was up by the end of the week and I had no place to move to. My parents wanted me to move back to Colorado, and while I felt like I was supposed to be here, I had just quit the Lift and reduced my hours at Old Navy. 

I had no idea what was going to happen, what I wanted to do or what I was supposed to do. I had always felt as though a job, a home, finding a husband and knowing my purpose would give me security, an agenda, a plan, status, love, fulfill my needs and give me an identity.  
And through all this crazy not-knowing, the Lord so sweetly and gently reminded me that He fulfills all those things and graciously pursues me as I willingly run after things that will fade away and not sustain me. 

OK. But, you are probably wondering what happened to me that last week of July, huh? 
Well, the Lord also very graciously and miraculously provided for those things, too. 
In 24 hours, I found a house, met all my new roommates (I knew 2 of girls, but not the 3rd girl, and they all didn't know each other too!) looked at the house, decided to live together and live in the house, got all of the paperwork together (THAT WAS SOOOO CRAZY, never doing it again) and started moving in  to the house. All a couple days before we were done with rent at the previous house. And, we all had our own rooms: PRAISE. It's a dreamy little house. 
The same weekend, I got another job as a nanny. 

It was a roller coaster and I was exhausted, but so grateful. The Lord taught me so much about Himself, myself and the body of Christ. I had so many friends and church members praying, encouraging and helping me during all of this mess. I had to ask for so much help and prayer and they were all so gracious with me. 
The Lord showed me how He works through the body to support and provide need. 

But, He wasn't done yet. (Though, honestly, He isn't ever done with us, at least not until, Christ comes back!!!) 
One month of working as a nanny and I was burnt out, wanting to press on but also wanting out and discouraged: 
The mother that I worked for was pressing and trying to convince me of things that were completely against the gospel and contrary to God's word daily and I was worn down. But, providentially, I was not able to stay with them because they couldn't keep me on because of re-evaluating finances. 
So, I was jobless again. 

That Tuesday after finishing my last week with them, my car broken down and I had to put about $1,000 into it and the same night, our family dog of 12 years died. My roommates and I were having house maintenance issues: mold, moisture and the dishwasher leaking. 

I was needing to trust the Lord and that He would provide for my needs and that HE was what I needed even more than these pressing monetary and physical needs. 

Thankfully, I had enough money to fix my car and I had so much help from my mentor and her husband (my small group leaders, Alice and Dr. Nettles.) The Lord provided in small ways but significant ways during my time of not having a job through different odd jobs and picking up some piano and voice students. 

Also, as some of you may know, my church, Cornerstone, went through a MAJOR move in October and it took SO MUCH work to make it happen. 

Well, the great thing about not having a job (though believe me, not having a job is NOT great!) is that you suddenly have all this time available. 
But, then suddenly, I had NO time because I was at the church doing whatever I could to help or I was with people from church, spending time with them or helping them or I was applying for jobs. 
**I am not saying this to brag because if it was me doing this, it would not have been possible and I would have been bawling my eyes out, stressing out and paralyzed, unable to function. (Trust me, I have been there before!) But, He told me to get up, stop moping and to trust Him. So, I applied for jobs and worked at the church. 

He kept telling me that I needed to pursue knowing Him better more than I needed to pursue anything else. 

Well, Lili Tankersley, Pastor Lee's wife, told me about a job one night, while we were painting trim in her husband's office in the new building. The lead receptionist at Birth Choice was pregnant and her husband wanted her to stay home with their baby. They needed someone to fill the spot very soon. I thanked her and mentally said to myself, 'Well, you've been running from teaching and that's what you are supposed to do come October.'

You see, there was this music teaching position opening in October and I had applied for it. I was hopefully going to get it, but the Lord kept bringing to mind the job at Birth Choice. He kept reminding me to pray about where He was working and where He needed to work in me. 

He caused me to realize that I was supposed to turn down the teaching job and work at Birth Choice. This all happened only a couple weeks after losing my nanny job. I would not start until mid October, but the Lord was gracious to show me where I was to work to start preparing for it and providing small odd jobs to sustain me until I started this new job. 
When discussing this with a dear friend, Tina, who had hosted me, allowing me to live with them the previous summer, she told me that she was close to the lead receptionist, Britt, whose job I would be taking and that when Britt had first become pregnant, they prayed together that if she was supposed to stay with her new baby, that the Lord would provide the right person to take the job. Tina told me, "Kaitlyn, I had no idea that I was praying for you! It's so amazing how the Lord works." 
The more I talked to people and prayed, the more I realized that the Lord wanted me at Birth Choice. And, He was gracious to bring me right when they needed someone very soon. So, mid October, I started training there and this past week of November was my first week by myself! 

The Lord has already used this job to show me even further than before that my purpose and calling is to follow Him, to know Him deeply and to make Him known. 

I was scared and crippled for so long by my fear of not knowing what I was doing, what I was good at, what I should do, how to encourage people or how to reach out to people at church. I was doing a lot of striving and masquerading and not very much praying or seeking my identity in Christ. 

But, praise God that He is a God who we can trust, who loves us, knows what we need and pursues us. Because I was afraid, struggling, feeling out of control, needed healing and humility and the Lord is still working on all of those things in me. He is telling us that we need to seek Him and He will reveal Himself to us. He is our identity because of Christ and we can do nothing apart from Him. 

And I know that this job is one of the best in the world and that I am supposed to be there until the Lord tells me otherwise because I have never grown so much. I have never been able to have so much joy and so much pain without relying completely on Him here. 
But, as soon as this job becomes my identity or I become more passionate about Birth Choice than Christ, I sin. 
Because I exist and live for Christ and because of Christ; to honor Him and make Him known. 

And I charge you, as my brothers and sisters to hold me accountable to this and compassionately and loving pursue me if and when I forget that. 
Because me being me, I will forget, but by the power of the Holy Spirit and the conviction of the Word of God, we can be reminded of the truth, repent, believe and then, proclaim. 

This job completely drains me, makes me so sad, and yet so fulfilled. I am so sensitive and easily crushed. I feel it all so deeply. 

The Lord causes me to see that I seek to cover this part of me up, to change it, wish it away, numb it. But, He has created me this way to do this job and reach women, not trusting myself of fulfilling myself, but seeking Him in all things. It's to know Him deeper and to turn to Him in all things. 
And this is suffering and bearing burdens. 

But I could never, ever, EVER do it without Christ and His Spirit and His Word. It is His work in me. 
I see that He is causing me to believe truth, reject lies, confess sin, turn to Him instead of numbing and give more. 
I know myself better now than I ever have because of His work in my heart and because I know Him better. 

This experience reminds me that to think I know my needs and assume to know God's will without seeking the Lord is to rebel against Him. God knows me and causes me to know Him because HE is my need. 

Unexpected Updates and Blessings

 I haven't been sure how this year would pan out from the beginning of it, but I certainly didn't think that I would end up here. 

So, I start out 2016- a freshly-graduated adult, who is trying to figure it all out. Alright, I thought, let's try and get a teaching job; that's what you have a degree in, that's what you need to do.

So, I did. 

I taught February to May for a teacher who was on maternity leave and it was a good and formative experience, but I was still asking myself: are you really supposed to be a teacher? Maybe. 

Come summer, I have decided, NO! I am not teaching, instead, I am going to nanny and figure things out. After a saga of yes and no's and multiple ups and downs, I have a job, and I am nannying for a family who just moved to town a couple weeks before. 

Praise God, I have a job. 

Well, a couple weeks in, and I am wondering: what am I doing? 

I was more exhausted and spent than ever and very discouraged. 

I was going to stick it out, though. 

But, then, things just stopped. No more job after 3 weeks (almost a whole month.) I was surprised, kinda sad, but mostly, very relieved and thankful. I started applying for teaching jobs and for other various jobs out there. Maybe I had been running away from teaching this whole time. 

Okay, I thought, what now, Lord? What am I supposed to do? 

As I prayed and read scripture, it became very clear to me that I didn't need to focus on what I should be doing as much as I should be focusing on knowing the Lord better. He made it very clear to me in this nanny job that I needed to be more grounded in truth.  

"I love you and I want you to know me better." (John 14:6-7) I strongly felt this from Him. "I want you to stop looking for how you can work for me and let me show you what I want to do in you and with your life." (John 15; Jer. 29:11-14; Is. 61:1-4) 

Okay. Yes. What is this work that the Lord wants to do? I knew I wouldn't get the answer right away. But, reading scripture and praying, the Lord starting showing me that I have been looking for a plan and fitting myself to any plan I could and labeling it: "God's work for me to do" instead of just letting go of the false identity and trusting Him with my whole life. Time to start letting go. 

Outdoor Bible time is really good for the soul

What happened those first two weeks of unemployment isn't what would have happened one month before. I was proactive, putting myself out there, investing in my church, working on projects. Before, I was paralyzed, believing the lie that there was no way out and forgetting that the Lord was in control. This was work of the Lord, reminding me, "I love you and I will take care of you. Fear not, for if I am taking care of your soul, I will take care of means to provide for yourself." (Matt. 6:25-34)

Friends, please, please, please realize that this is the Lord's work. 

I cannot take any credit, for when I was at work, I was moping around and worrying about what was next and falling apart. 
(Eph. 2; 3:14-21; 2 Cor 5:11-21)

Well, it came down to this, the wife of one of the pastor's at my church and I were painting our new church building (actually, I think we were even painting his office, hope that it looks okay! haha) when she mentioned that the woman who was the lead receptionist at Birth Choice was going to be leaving around Thanksgiving. She just wanted to let me know in case I wanted to apply. I thanked her, touched that she would think of me, and sort of dismissed in my mind. After all, I was looking for a music teaching job and was waiting to hear back from a likely prospect.

But, then as I thought more and more about it, I remembered several things. Things that the Lord had quietly put in my heart as He has been pursuing and loving me all of these years. 

1) When I was 15, the Lord strongly impressed on me that women and girls needed to know that purity and healing comes from what Christ has done for us on the cross and is possible because He laid our sin in the grave and left it there when He conquered death and rose again. (Rom. 3:21-31)

2) Numerous experiences happening in my life, causing me to be very against pro-choice, very for the redemption and love of broken women and girls and their healing, very pro-life and very pro-adoption. (Rom. 5; 2 Cor 4 and 5, Is. 61:1-4) 

3) I am extremely relational and very overwhelmed with trying to invest/teach multiple people at once, but thrive in the one-on-one or small group setting and thrive on completing many little tasks exactly as desired. (Rom. 10)

So, I asked my pastor's wife to talk request an application on my behalf, filled it out and went in that Thursday September 15th to meet this Chris lady with my hard copy of my application for the lead receptionist job in hand. 

(Pretty crazy: I had a teaching interview lined up the next day and all.)

Well, Tuesday September 20th, I went back in to Birth Choice to ask to accept the job, if they would have me. 

I will start training under the amazing lady, Britt, who is working there currently October 17th. 

This may seem random, but looking at light

through God's creation is so meaningful.

I am so thankful for all these ups and downs because I see the Lord's providential working in it all and how He has taught me some amazing truths and brought me to some places of brokenness to heal me from lies and to believe more in His truth. Because of Christ, we can believe in the love and the grace that God extends to us and realize the goodness of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3)

He was in all of this. 

And, I am, again, amazed and thankful. 

An Update

For those of you who have been praying, encouraging and enduring with me, and for those of you who have been waiting for an update: 

I have one for you. 

First, I want to thank you all so much for everything: 
every hug, every prayer, every word of encouragement, and especially, every reminder of truth. 
I cannot express enough or adequately how grateful I am. 

Most importantly, I want everyone to know that all of this shows the power of the church and its support of those in its family: we serve, support and love each other because of Christ, to honor Christ and in obedience to Christ. 

And it is ONLY by God's mercy and grace that I am here now. 
It's part of His plan. 

This all has been a miracle. 


Okay, so here's the sitch. 
In 24 hours, not only did we find a house and look at it, but all of the roommates met each other, decided, and jumped a huge leap of faith (very high and very far) to now rent a house that we didn't know existed, let alone was for rent. This house is completely beautiful and exceeds our expectations.
(We are renting a HOUSE, friends!!!) 
But, that is not all, we finished wrapping up all the crazy details in time to move in about 24 hours later! Background checks, rental insurance, lease signing (with two girls out of town and at work!), utilities switched over to my name and THEN we had the keys. 
Some guy friends helped my summer roommate and I move from the old house into the new one that Thursday right after I came back from signing over the utilities. Then, Friday some folks came over and helped me move out the last bit and clean the house. 
Saturday, I drove by a dryer that had the sign reading "free" on it and had help from a family from church who then discovered that we now live close to each other. 
*Phew.* 

I don't write and say this to brag. I write this because it is a miracle. Maybe you think I am being melodramatic, and maybe I am! (It wouldn't be the first time, haha!) But, it normally takes about 2 weeks to do all of this: to meet, decide, view options, think it over, and do all the paperwork, calling and meeting. It is only possible because it was God's plan and because we had so much help, prayer and encouragement from so many. So, I write because I am thankful. 

Before you go, here is the second part of the update:
I worked my last shift at the Lift Wellness Center last Friday, turned in my badge and confirmed that I will be nannying for a family that just moved here a couple weeks ago. I will also be doing some piano and voice lessons on the side. 


This past week has been a manic one. 
This has been a summer of learning to trust the Lord when things do work out and when they don't. 

In both, He is faithful. 
He will take care of us and love us in both. 
And you and I both can bet on it, that I will learn it again soon. 

So, when I doubt, please, remind me: 
He loves us and takes care of us. 
And we can always trust Him. 

Lack of Control and Closure

New beginnings of old endings. 

I will start student teaching soon, as will several other education pals. 
What seems almost incomprehensible to me is the fact that many of my pals have just recently graduated and are thrust into the new challenges of teaching and having or pursuing a full-time occupation. Pretty exciting. And terrifying. It feels strange to be done with classes and yet not have the closure of graduating, and yet, I am thankful for the oppurtunity to have more time to figure out what is next: teaching, working, grad school, where I will live, who I will live with. 

I am realizing more and more that this was only the beginning: the end of the start. 
I am excited and thankful for many more adventures. And, yet I also must admit that I am a little terrified, but then, who isn't? Time to seize the day and enjoy it. 

"Why not seize the pleasure at once, how often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparations." -Jane Austen

Jane Austen had grasped something there that I am still learning: while there is need for a healthy amount of preparation, there is also the need to relax in realizing that we cannot control the outcomes of life and that many moments are ruined by needless worrying. 

The Lord is continually reminding me that if He cares about the birds that fly, and the beauty of the lilies, how much more does He care about His children? Will He not provide for our needs? Has He not planned out how He would care for them from the beginning of time? Why then do I worry? 

I have realized it is my constant striving to understand and to grasp for control; He is teaching me that I have never had control, but that He gives me the choice to trust Him and the control that He has. 
It teaches me to see myself as I truly am and to see Him as He truly is, and that one day I will see fully, as will all of His children who believe in the power, sacrifice, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. And I am thankful. 

hilton head, sc

we ride on, I after you.
the sun streams through; 
I see it swim softly through the Spanish moss hanging off the old live oaks, like the wispy tendrils of an old, old man's beard. maybe your grandfather, or your great grandfather, or your great, great grandfather. who knows how old. 
this place is teaming with silent whispers of magic. 
secrets of ancient tales, legends, and histories. 
a religion. 

you have no idea as you blissfully bike on. 
you are here for the ride. 
so here we are. here we go. 

and we enjoyed it. 

Musings on an Autumn Day

Wispy tendrils floating effortlessly on gold beams of the gods

The colors of bright bursts of hot handfuls of hopes dying as the cold climate cuts in

A fluttering feather of orange foliage whirls into my peripheral: Magic! 

Floating high, floating low; following the whimsical winds' wishes

I discover the Magic's secret: a gossamer gliding strand from an unseen arachnid glitters in the sunlight- 

I reach out and grab the leaf with a strong, slender string attached 

Magic discovered is not always magic uncovered 

but Magic tampered with is Magic spoiled 

But, you, dear reader, can decide what my deed was. 

(Is your decision subjective or objective? - I know not the answer.) 

Sometimes in touching the Magic, we lose it

Sometimes in searching for it, we miss it altogether

For it is sometimes when we stop, pause, and are still for a moment that we discover the most enchanting Magic of all! 

Dear reader, have you discovered such Magic? 

I implore you to take a moment to breathe. 

We become robots- nothing more than mechanics in a system of computers and programs 

who don't think, but do

or don't do, but think 

We must do both, dear reader. 

But, sometimes, we must pause

and listen

This is when learning happens- 

not when we empty ourselves, 

but fill ourselves with our surroundings 

as we pause in an a tempo rhythm of life 

To be or not to be? -Is that the question? 

But, do we have so much control on the actuality of who we are 

or are we and we must discover who it is that we are? 

But, is there room to be who we decide 

or are we subjected to He who created us 

and who He created us to be? 

I don't know if I will ever know the answer. 

Do you know, dear reader? 

Will you know, dear reader? 

Some things are best left undiscovered. 

That is the Magic of it. 

Week 6: (July 21-28) Letterkenny BYE team!!! :)

Sorry it took me 2 months to get this update out! (One more to go!) 

My last full week (July 21-28) was back in Letterkenny with the Letterkenny BYE team. We were hosted by Allister and Trudy Johnston from Letterkenny Baptist Church who had hosted me before. 

(most of the BYE team!! with some of the kids)

BYE teams (Baptist Youth Evangelsim teams) are part of a department of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland. They are designed to train up youth to evangelize to children and youth and disciple them with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
http://www.baptistyouth.org/bye/baptist-youth-evangelism.php
http://www.baptistyouth.org/bye/baptist-youth-evangelism.php

Our team had 11 of us- smaller and closer in age than the CYIA team with no parents, just all young adults. 
-4 guys, Mark, Tim, Nathan, and JD, who were close in age- 16-18 yrs old (2 were from Raleigh, NC in the States! it was nice to have some other Americans around) 
-Daniel- 23 and Simon, our leader, 26 
-Claire and Rachel were about 17-18 
- Hannah- 22 and Ashleigh- 23

We did a Holiday Bible Club for the kids (sort of like a Vacation Bible School). 
We had three groups to split the kids into: 
- Tiny Turtles: 3-5 yr olds
- Funky Fish: 6-8 yr olds (my group that I helped with)
- Crazy/Cool Crocs: 9 yr olds and older
Our 2.5 hours with the kids from 2-4 pm was roughly structured as follows:
- crafts 
- a small game transitioning into the story 
- prayer
- story! (we went through the creation story through the story of Noah) 
- memory verses (Gen. 1:31, Rom. 5:12, Acts 16:31)
- games! (usually outside)
- the salvation colors (gold=God and His glory, black=sin, red=Jesus' blood and sacrifice, white=the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and what it means for us, green=growth in Christ through the Holy Spirit)
- quiz over the story
- prayer 

(flyer for the Holiday Bible Club)

In the evening after dinner, we would have youth club with the kids 12 and up. 
Rough agenda was as follows: 
- A game/activity with the youth
- Testimonies from some of the team members 
- Lesson through Mark 
- Pray 
- Hang out until parents arrive

(Flyer for the youth club)

Sunday morning, July 21st, one of my distant cousins drove me to Letterkenny Baptist from Mount Charles just in time for the service. I met the BYE team (there was about 11 of us altogether) and we did worship together. After the service, we prepared for the Holiday Bible Club and the youth club tomorrow. We worked up until tea/dinnertime, then continued on at Allister and Trudy's. 
Then, we had Bible Study together. We started to go through Acts. 

Monday, July 22nd, we got up and went to the church after breakfast to continue our Bible Study through Acts. Then, we did some street evangelism and preparation before lunch. After lunch, we started seeing kids in. Instead of doing a craft on the first day, we helped the kids make name badges. Most of the kids were the children of immigrants from Ghana; it felt like a collision of two cultures- Irish and Ghana all in one city. After 2.5 hours with the kids, we had a recap with the team and prepared for the youth club.

(on Monday, I did games with Tim- I'm explaining the game of fish and sharks to the kids)

(me, Claire, and Rachel going to Tescos which is similar to Target after Holiday Bible Club)

After dinner, we started seeing youth in for the youth club. We played a game of Man Hunt where the kids split up in teams and had to go find a few of the leaders who were dressed up in ridiculous outfits out in the city. Afterwards, we all came back and enjoyed Ice Cream Factory (ice cream sundaes) together. 

(Phillip, Phyllis' son and me dressed up as an old lady for the Man Hunt- they had to help me cross the street- let's just say that there were at least one or two cars waiting for us all to cross hahaha)

(The Man Hunt group! 

me: grouchy granny, Claire: Tinkerbell, Tim: Superman, Rachel: doctor, and Mark: cowboy)

Tuesday, July 23, we did Bible Study continuation through Acts together at the church after breakfast at the Johnston's house. Then, we went out and did some evangelism out in the streets of Letterkenny and some preparation for the Holiday Bible Club. I have never been that big of a fan of street evangelism but it was amazing what the Holy Spirit did in our hearts to solidify the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ and give us boldness to speak to the people of Letterkenny. We also learned to have conversations and build relationships with people and not just hand them tracks. It was amazing to see people's reactions. 

The Holiday Bible Club was wonderful again. The children would come earlier and earlier each day to see us. 

In the evening with the youth, we had guys v. girls competitions. The girls won, of course. ;) 

(Most of the team! JD, Claire, Rachel, Tim, Mark, Ashleigh, Nathan, and I! 

missing: Daniel, Hannah, and Simon)

Wednesday, July 24th, we continued through our study of Acts in the morning at the Johnston's and then went on to the church. Many of us went out into the city to do surveys and to evangelize in the streets. And we set up a booth with coffee and tea at it for people to come by and enjoy on their way to work. It was amazing to see what the Holy Spirit does in hearts, including my own, but whenever people did not respond or were rude, it was comforting to know that it was not by our power or our words that they are saved but by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

That night, with the youth, we played picture scavenger hunt. We gave them a list of things to do and to take pictures of and sent them off with a few of the BYE team members in each group and a camera. It was a blast! 

(This is Favor- my little friend who decided I was his best friend and favorite American!) 

(Picture scavenger hunt with the youth club! Here we see Nathan reenacting Space Jam.)

On Thursday, July 25th, we had our Bible study and prepared for the Holiday Bible Club. That day, Daniel and I did the memory verse: Acts 16:31- "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!" Mark and I did games together: musical chairs, which the kids loved! With the youth club that night, we played the Million Dollar Drop which is similar to the American game show, Minute to Win It! They loved it! 

On Friday, our last day with the Holiday Bible Club and the youth club, we evangelized on the streets of Letterkenny again after our morning Bible study together. This time, we were a little discouraged by the reactions or lack of reactions of the people we had conversations with, but we were determined not to lose heart. God is good all the time and His promises and His Word are always true regardless of whether or not His people know it or respond. Thankfully, His Holy Spirit will be the One to move in their heart and bring them to Himself; it is not contingent on us! The last day with the kids was wonderful and so so bittersweet. Towards the end of the day, it started to storm like crazy, which is not completely characteristic of Ireland; it always rains but it never pours like it was that day! 

For our last night with the youth club, we split the girls up to do cupcakes and the boys to go play football (soccer) and basketball. It was a blast and we were exhausted at the end of it all. 

(Day 5 at Holiday Bible Club. They all piled on top of me.)

(Sweet Roseanne.)

(Sweet Grace! She called me Miss Beautiful or Miss America!)

(Talking to the kids about why we pray)

(Shouting the memory verse)

(Leading worship with Hannah and Claire)

(Rachel and Tim with the kids during worship)

(The Americans on the team- Nathan, me, and JD)

(The team- Claire, Nathan, Simon, Rachel, Mark, me, JD, Ashleigh, Hannah, and Tim with a few of the kids!)

(These four were inseperable- Tim, JD, Mark, and Nathan)

(Mona Lisa and I!! Mona Lisa helped out the BYE team- she's a member at Letterkenny Baptist.)

(Jam seshes were often. Hannah and I singing, Mark on cornet, and Claire on guitar)

(Decorating buns with the girls from the youth club)

Saturday, July 27th, was our last full day together as a team! The girls went shopping after sleeping in for a long time. Then, Hannah, Mark, and I bladed around on Alister's rollarblades. We ate lunch together and then a few hours later we drove out to spend some time at the beach. It was such a lovely day. 

(Hannah, Mark, and I borrowed Alister's rollerblades)

(Love blading)

(the inseparables)

(COLD COLD water. But usually wetsuits are required- so this is SUPER warm for Ireland!)

(Clink!)

(Normal= Hannah and I being completely ridiculous, looking at each other and dying laughing while everyone thinks we are crazy.)

Sunday, we went to Letterkenny Baptist Church to worship together one last time. We enjoyed Chinese food and fish and chips together then said our last goodbyes. Nathan and JD left to go meet up with the team that they came with from the States, and I went home with Hannah to spend time with her for a few days. 

(Mustache you a question: must we say goodbye?)

(The team, minus Daniel
Top: Simon, JD, me
Bottom: Hannah, Claire, Rachel, Mark, Tim, Mona Lisa, Nathan, Ashleigh)

Saying goodbye to the Letterkenny Baptist Church and to this wonderful BYE team was so difficult. Working with people who you give everything because you are working toward something that is so much larger than you, but knowing that you will maybe never see each other again is so difficult. It almost seemed like because this was a once in a lifetime experience that I gave it my all. 

But, friends, while I reflect on this, I realize that everyday is a once in a lifetime experience. You will never have this day again. This one that you are living in now. These minutes you have spent, and you will not be able to retract them. Is it worth it? Did you make them count? Friends, don't wait until you have the courage tomorrow. Give this day everything you can today! Sometimes courage is being brave enough to say that you are afraid but determined enough to try anyway. Success is not in never failing but learning from when you fail and rising when you fall. And the key to learning and rising is the fear of the Lord. Make every moment count by devoting, examining,  and surrendering, your motivations to the Lord TODAY. 

I love you all because I love you because Christ first loved me. 
Be bold. 
Be strong. 
Be courageous. 
Be faithful. 
Walk in wisdom. 
Walk in love. 
Walk in the Spirit. 

In Christ, 
Love, 
Kait

P.S. Read Phil. 4:4-9, or all of Philippians 4! :)