Video Message!

Hey friends and family! I hope your all doing great!! I just wanted to apologize for being so slack on updating my blog! I have honestly been so busy and have not found the time to just sit down, think, and write. So, hopefully this video message will do. I wanted to connect and catch up with you so please let me know how your doing and how I can be praying for you individually and specifically. Also, I apologize in advance for saying umm about 95% of the time! Love You All!! Xoxo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUM5EGt8Eoc

Can I get an amen???

Just when I thought all hope was lost, Jesus interrupts my life with love, abundant love! I often overlook how much God loves me, and you, and the rest of the world (even the tiny little critters crawling around on my floor as we speak.) This past week was probably the busiest week I’ve had since being in Africa. I have to admit, my spirits were down. I was discouraged, emotionally/physically exhausted, and I was missing my family and friends. I was also feeling as if I were making very little difference in the lives of others, which made my heart hurt.

On Tuesday, I came home to find an empty house with no electricity. As the sun was setting and the night was approaching, I became bored, slightly scared, and weary from work. With no one to turn to, and nothing to do, I decided I would spend some alone time with Jesus. I know how that sounds, like Jesus was my last resort, but I had lately been feeling frustrated with God, and was in need of a night of worship and complete solitude with my savior. In our time spent together, Christ began to work in me, once again. For the most part, I have lived a great life, not a perfect life by any means, but a good one for sure. However, throughout the years, there have been people who have come in and out of my life and left me feeling half whole at times. There were things that I had been holding on to, from past relationships. Bitterness, hurt, guilt, and pain that I had carried within my heart, all the way from the states to Africa. For some reason, these things had been weighing on my mind lately, as well as before I left for Africa. I knew I needed to settle them with God before I left the country but I just never seemed to find "the right place or time!" Or maybe that was just an excuse because I didn't want to deal with them. As I began to cry out to the Lord, he began to break my heart even more than before, but this time, not only did he break me, he began to heal my heart. There in the dark, I saw the light and found the hope I was searching for. It was refreshing, restoring, and God was redeeming me. I felt happy and whole. Complete in Christ. I began to realize that I did not come to Africa to teach, I came to Africa to learn how to love. How to love Christ more, how to love people better, and how to love myself again. I know Satan will still attack me, because I firmly believe that when we are living our lives for Christ the most, he attacks us the worse. I mean, it makes sense. Christ came to give us life and life to the fullest. Satan came to kill, steal, and destroy. But at least now I know, I don't have to carry the weight of those sins any longer. I am so thankful for the freedom I find in Christ every time I surrender my life to him. I have spent a great deal of time with Jesus over the years, but this time was different, this time was perhaps the best time I’ve ever spent with him, definitely in the top ten list!

In further news: Christ brought me two new short term girls this week to work with over the course of the next 2 months, and they are AWESOME! Keely is from North Dakota and Rebecca is from England, and has a lovely British accent, that is slowly starting to rub off on me. My childhood best friends, Caroline and Megan, will be arriving to Kenya shortly, and then I’ll be moving to Machakos the first of July, before returning home in August! My God is so faithful and good. He supplies all my needs and so much more! How sweet it is to be loved by Him J
  

Can we just be real here????

One of the many questions I received from family and friends after the Lord called me to Africa was, “Are you going to blog?” My initial thought was, of course! Blogging?? Me? Piece of cake! After all, I did major in English, I’ve always been an open book, and I thoroughly enjoy writing. However, as I sit here staring at (what was) my blank piece of paper, I am finding that expressing everything I’ve been exposed to and am currently encountering is quite challenging. I mean, half of what I’m experiencing, I can’t even explain myself, much less put into words on paper. However, this blog was never intended to be just mine. I pray that the Lord would use this site as a tool to share just some of the work that he is doing around the world and in me. With that being said, I want to be as real as I can with you guys. Like I stated before, I’m an open book. Instead of sharing a story of someone or something, I want to share with you what is going on, deep down inside the heart of me.  As I was pondering what to post, I thought to myself, what better way to be real with you guys than to share my latest journal entry...

My spirit is sweetly broken. I feel broken because I can’t seem to see nor understand Gods plan for my life. I’m scared. I’m scared of the unknown. I’m scared of what’s to come. Being a Christ follower I desire to be in Gods will but what if he’s will is neither one I want or willing to accept, for that matter. I am clinging to God’s promise that he has good plans for me, a hope, and a future but right now, honestly, I feel hopeless. Satan’s attacks are strong and I am emotionally and physically exhausted from everything I am experiencing and encountering in Africa. I love Africa, however, I sometimes feel as though I am making no difference in the lives of others, which is something my heart so longs to do. I have questioned if God really meant to send me here and each time I come to the conclusion that, yes, I was destined to be here because of the peace I had before I left! My mind has to believe this is where God wants me even though my heart sometimes does not “feel” it. I know he called me here at a young age and I am thankful for that calling but right now I am doubting God. I am questioning God. I am often frustrated with God. I am discouraged. I want, I need, just a tiny glimpse of hope at this point in my journey. Before I came to Africa, I prayed that God would break me and my heart, and that is what he is doing. A tough prayer to pray but one that was needed in order to challenge and strengthen my walk with him. So, just as he is answering that prayer now, I know that the hope shall surely come.

                                                                                                          May 31^st, 2013

Believing Vs. Depending

There is a difference between believing in someone and depending on someone. Webster states belief as something someone accepts to be true, to have firm faith in. The dictionary defines dependence as something someone relies on, to place their trust in. Since accepting Christ as my savior, I have believed in him. However, it wasn’t until I came to Africa that I realized for the first time in my life, I didn’t depend on Christ, until now at least.

Christ calls us to not only believe in him but to depend on him, in every aspect of our lives. I am just now learning the importance of this concept at 23 years old. Over the years I have depended on my family for encouragement, love, and support. I have looked to my friends for fun and fulfillment and I have turned to guys for acceptance. I have put my worth in worldly standards (which are so overrated, by the way) and listened to the lies of Satan for far too long. When I came to Kenya everything I just mentioned was slowly stripped away from me, which fortunately, for my sake, has forced me to turn to Christ and depend on him whole heartedly.

When I’ve felt weak after a long day of work, the Lord has been my strength. When I’ve felt scared while walking down slum streets, Christ has been my safe haven. When I’ve felt frustrated from the many culture differences, Christ has kept me sane. There is something so beautiful about depending on Christ and placing our trust in him. Not only do I find everything I need in Christ but I find freedom in him. I am free from people, Satan, and the world itself. My parents can’t come to Africa to cheer me up when I’m down, my friends can’t understand what I’m experiencing every day, and a guy is never going to fully make me happy but God is! Emmanuel is all I need and all I’ll ever need. I am so in love with the one who made me and I thank him for this beautiful life he has given me. I count it joy to depend on Christ!

Hakuna Matata: Means no worries (Pics!)

Faith!!!

 

Mama Agnus :) My African Mama!

 

Love them!

 

New Friends!

 

My African Family!! From Left to Right: Mercy, Mary, Mama Agnus, Reina (Mary's daughter) & Faith :)

 

 

Ken-ya feel the love? (Pics!)

Washer & Dryer!!

 

Nairobi Chapel, my amazing church!

 

Some of my sweet students :)

 



Henry & Hope!

 

Getting water for the day

 

 

 





REJOICE and be glad, for great is your reward! Matt. 5:12

From an early age I knew that I wanted my life to count for more. More than the “All American Dream,” more than the normal day to day, 9-5 job, more than the ordinary life lived. Not to say I didn’t desire those things as well, but I knew deep down in my heart that God was calling me to do something different, for now at least. Coming from a very close family, having a great group of friends, and being involved within my church and community did not make my decision to leave home easy. Nonetheless, Gods calling on my life to go to the ends of the earth, serve the least of these, and share Christ love was clear. How could I say no?

 

I graduated from Boiling Springs High School in 2008 as president of my senior class and attended college at Anderson University where I received a degree in English Literature in 2012. The first thing on my agenda after graduating college was to serve Christ overseas, even though at the time, I had no idea where I would be going. While I was focused, determined, and had my own plan, I also knew it would all be in vain if it was not what God wanted for me. I started researching different organizations while still in school. After many months of searching, I stumbled across the organization, Africa Inland Mission, also known as AIM, which is based out of Atlanta, Georgia. I read their mission statement, heard testimonies, and tried to find out all I could about this organization while still being open to other areas and organizations. Since I really liked everything I read and heard about AIM, I decided I would apply, pray and see what happened. I applied, interviewed, and was accepted into the program within a few short weeks. This was my affirmation that God was calling me to Kenya. I was so thankful yet so scared as I began to make plans for my departure. Life was moving at a rapid pace, to say the least, and I thought to myself, “Am I really ready for this? Is this really God’s will for me?” My friends, family, and even strangers who knew about my assignment had been asking me many questions about my upcoming trip. However, the number one question I received was, “Katyn, why go?” I started thinking about the question more and more the closer my departure date was approaching and I realized that my answer was simple. Christ has called me to go!

 

Christ calls us to serve. He demands that we help the sick, poor, and brokenhearted, and more than anything that is what my heart desires to do. God made me for one purpose and for one purpose only, and that is to boldly proclaim the gospel, any other purpose for living, I consider insignificant. I also wanted this season of my life to be a time of growth, not only individually as a person, but spiritually as a follower of Christ. I want to know who Jesus is. I want my heart to break for him. I want to be brought out of my comfort zone. I want a change. I want a challenge. I want to explore different cultures and expand my horizons. I want to experience a new way of life, meet new people, and see new sights. God says that he blesses us when we are obedient to his calling, whether that is traveling around the world or traveling to our neighboring town. As Christ followers, we are to use our lives to bring him glory and to build his kingdom! I knew without a doubt, that if I did not go now, I would regret it 50 years down the road, and I did not/do not want to look back on my life and wonder, “what if?” Yes, I was scared, but I was more scared of staying home, out of comfort and contentment, and missing out on part of Gods great plan for my life. So, I simply answered the call and went.

 

I have now been in Africa for more than a month. However, the actual planning began eight months ago, the praying started ten years ago, and the preparation has been a part of my entire existence thus far. Sitting in my new room, at my desk, writing about my day to day experiences seems so surreal. Living in Africa has been about the only thing consuming my mind over the course of the past few months and the fact that I am finally here is a dream come true for me! I have wanted, wished, and longed to be here for quite some time, and I am in awe of God who has been so faithful to get me here. The fact that God would use a sinner such as me to share his love simply amazes me. I am so undeserving yet so blessed to be here!

 

During the month I’ve spent here in Africa, God has already been at work around me and in me! I originally came to Kenya to teach English, but right now my mind is on information overload from everything I am learning just by being here. I am currently working in a slum called Kibera, which is located right outside the city of Nairobi. It is the 2^nd largest slum in the world and the largest in Africa. I will be here for 4 months. Living in Nairobi, loving on kids, and learning more about God’s amazing grace each day is truly the good life! Even though there are some barriers such as culture differences and walking thirty minutes to work down dusty, dirty, slum streets, there is nowhere else in the world I would want to be. My heart is full here!

 

Just like being at home, some days are better than others. You have your highs and your lows and your ups and downs no matter where you are in life. It’s just part of living. One of the things God is teaching me is that being a Christian isn’t always easy. As a follower of Christ, He demands that we sacrifice the things we love in order to follow him, know him, and make his name known. I am definitely being challenged every day, I am obviously out of my comfort zone, and I am always missing my family, but God has been so gracious towards me. There have already been countless examples of how God is using me and the people around me to impact the lives of others. I am making wonderful memories that will last throughout my lifetime and I’m building relationships that I will forever be grateful for. Although I don’t know right now what God has for me after this assignment is over, I do know that whether it be back to Kenya, another part of the world, or even back home in Boiling Springs, SC, my heart’s desire is to be where the Lord wants me because I’m learning there truly is no better or safer place to be!

God promises that if we take up our cross and follow him our rewards will be great. He is rewarding me already, but the life I am striving to live is not for earthly riches, but rather heavenly rewards. I look forward to the day when I stand in the presence of my savior and say with a smile, “I ran my race,” (Heb. 12:1-2) and he replies, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25:23) “Let us REJOICE with great rewards!” (Luke 6)