As I become more involved in my new church here in Virginia and as I start to become part of some of the girls lives the more I start to see how they think of themselves. Even just little comments like, "Oh no, I'm not that pretty!" or "Oh I'm so fat!" (And they weight 100 pounds!). I think to my self, What a sad picture of what our culture has taught us, because the Lord created you exactly the way He wanted you! He formed us in our mother's womb!
Psalm 45:11 says, "The king is enthralled with your beauty." My King is ENTHRALLED with my beauty! Can you imagine that! The KING OF THE UNIVERSE is not just happy with the way you look HE IS ENTHRALLED WITH YOUR BEAUTY!! Just say that in your head a couple of times. Isn't that AMAZING?! It just blows my mind that the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE cares about me. 1 of 7 billion people in the world. And not only does He care about me, He is ENTHRALLED with my beauty!
I hope this will encourage you today! And I hope you have a marvelous Christmas Season!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Africa calling?
Never in my life have I been more scared yet totally excited in my life!! I have had the opportunity arise for me to go to Kenya. Tonight I met with the missionaries that I would be going to work with to talk about what Kenya is like and what I would be doing. They are not going to live in a big city or anything remotely like what I am use to even with all of the missions that I have done. Africa is much, MUCH different from Latin America. They will have an orphanage there that I would be working with. As well as working with the soccer program that Michael Medlin is planning on setting up, and doing something with music but not sure what yet. =) So right now I am praying about all of that. I don't know when, how long, or really much of anything about this trip. It will be sometime next year. That's all I know right now. So, in writing about this, I am asking you to pray for me about this. Pray that if this is what God wants for me that HE would work it out according to HIS plan and I would not do my usual and worry about it. I know that if everything works out for me to go that I will be so blessed with all of the experiences that I will experience and people I will get to meet and children I will get to play with and I pray that I would be a blessing to the Kenyans that I come in contact with.
And please pray for the Medlins who will be leaving for Kenya in November! Their blog is www.medlinsinkenya.blogspot.com. There is also a website about the ministry that they will be working with: www.graceofgodchildren.com. Please check those out and be in prayer for the Medlins as they leave for Kenya next month and make the transition into African life.
And please pray for the Medlins who will be leaving for Kenya in November! Their blog is www.medlinsinkenya.blogspot.com. There is also a website about the ministry that they will be working with: www.graceofgodchildren.com. Please check those out and be in prayer for the Medlins as they leave for Kenya next month and make the transition into African life.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Bent Low
I find it so much harder to trust the Lord when I am in America. It is so much easier to trust Him and lean on Him when I don't have myself to lean on. When I am overseas it is just so easy to rest in Him because I couldn't make it through my day serving homeless, hurting, dying people without Him. But here...here it is so much harder because life is so much easier. Modern conveniences, people that speak your language, and family that is always there. I am not satisfied with a life like that. What fulfillment do I or anyone else get from a life like that?
He requires so much more of us because He has given us so much. For instance, I have a roof over my head, a comfortable bed to sleep in, food on the table at every meal (and anytime in between). I pray I never become comfortable with a life like that. I pray that I am meant for something more, something greater, not because I want people to look at me and my accomplishments, but so that they will look at God and see His glory and how mighty He is. I pray that God will give me a ministry here in Virginia that makes me live bent low. I pray for me and for you that we would never get comfortable with living our lives on my feet, but that we would always feel the need to live bent low.
He requires so much more of us because He has given us so much. For instance, I have a roof over my head, a comfortable bed to sleep in, food on the table at every meal (and anytime in between). I pray I never become comfortable with a life like that. I pray that I am meant for something more, something greater, not because I want people to look at me and my accomplishments, but so that they will look at God and see His glory and how mighty He is. I pray that God will give me a ministry here in Virginia that makes me live bent low. I pray for me and for you that we would never get comfortable with living our lives on my feet, but that we would always feel the need to live bent low.
Monday, July 25, 2011
New Place, New people, New peace.
Hi Guys!
Well I am finally "home." People say that home is where your heart is and you never know how true that is until you go spend a 6 weeks in another country and come back to find that your parents have moved to a new state! Haha! No, but it has been great! I love our new city! We are in a little town just outside of Roanoke, Virginia! It has been great! I love this city because it has the small town feel but we still have the little conveniences that we all know and love! I absolutely believe that this is where God wants us to be! Everything has worked out exactly in His timing, exactly how He wants it!
Still I struggle with missing my friends in Memphis and when I have those days, I have to be reminded that God is strongest in my weakness. Even when I struggle to fit it or I struggle just wanting to get back into some kind of normal, He is there ready to catch me. He is there always, and He cares for His children. So today my message is, run to Him! When you feel like you can't go any further, run to Him! He is there to catch you when you fall! He is there to comfort you when you are hurting. He wants to comfort you! Just rest in His peace!
Well I am finally "home." People say that home is where your heart is and you never know how true that is until you go spend a 6 weeks in another country and come back to find that your parents have moved to a new state! Haha! No, but it has been great! I love our new city! We are in a little town just outside of Roanoke, Virginia! It has been great! I love this city because it has the small town feel but we still have the little conveniences that we all know and love! I absolutely believe that this is where God wants us to be! Everything has worked out exactly in His timing, exactly how He wants it!
Still I struggle with missing my friends in Memphis and when I have those days, I have to be reminded that God is strongest in my weakness. Even when I struggle to fit it or I struggle just wanting to get back into some kind of normal, He is there ready to catch me. He is there always, and He cares for His children. So today my message is, run to Him! When you feel like you can't go any further, run to Him! He is there to catch you when you fall! He is there to comfort you when you are hurting. He wants to comfort you! Just rest in His peace!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
"For what you have done unto the least of these, you have done unto me."
Obedience- It's all I can do. Trust- It's all I have.
It is amazing the things I have seen since I have been here. I have seen poverty like I have never seen before. Even living in Brazil we were sheltered from some of the poverty like this. People have to work so hard to scrape up any money they can get just to feed their families and sometimes then it isn't enough.
I have to remember and pray the verses in Matthew 6 that talk about God clothing the lilies of the field and feeding even the bird. So his children, made in His image, of course He will take care of them. I pray that these families that are praying and earnestly seeking, asking God to provide their next meal, I pray that the Lord blesses them. I pray that the Lord shows out in this poverty stricken village.
And the death, death around here is and everyday occurrence and the people treat it as such. I have seen 2 horrible wrecks since I have been here. One was a little girl about 8. She was hit by a bus and she was just laid in the street with just a piece of card board laying over here and people standing around looking at her like she was a circus act. And the other, a man on a bike and a man on a motorcycle hit one another and the old man on the bike lay bleeding out on the street, nothing covering him and people standing around him looking at him like they were looking at the little girl. What a sad, heart breaking scene. I had to hold back tears because of how grafic the scenes were. Things that I never want to see again. But God has a plan. God knows. God sees. He doesn't over look the least of these. I pray that the least of these see that! I pray that they never forsake God even when they haven't eaten in 3 days and don't know where their next meal is coming from. I pray that I can be a blessing to these people. I pray that I will be His hands and feet!
I am thankful for all the experiences that I have experienced. And I am praying that there are many more and I pray I go back changed and with a different mind set that will reshape my everyday life and my ministry (whatever that might be when I get to Virginia).
Please keep the village of Bonitillo in your prayers. This is a hurting village that needs help. Sometimes I don't feel worthy to have this job even if it is only for 6 weeks. I feel like someone more experienced, someone older, someone that isn't me should be doing this job, but then I think, Isn't it the weak, inexperienced ones that God always uses to bring Him glory? Look at David or Mary or Esther. David was only a boy when he killed the giant, Mary was only a teenager when God chose her to carry His child, Esther was young when God chose her to be queen to save her people. God uses the small, weak, and the humble to move mountains for Him and I pray that I can do just a fraction of the things that David and Mary and Esther did to affect His kingdom.
I read something from another missionary that said, "Obedience- it's all I can do. Trust- it's all I have." And in this world down here that is the best way to describe it.
Thank you for your prayers for me while I am here. I am ready to see my family, but I know God has something awesome planned for these next two weeks that I am here!
In His hands,
Kati
I have to remember and pray the verses in Matthew 6 that talk about God clothing the lilies of the field and feeding even the bird. So his children, made in His image, of course He will take care of them. I pray that these families that are praying and earnestly seeking, asking God to provide their next meal, I pray that the Lord blesses them. I pray that the Lord shows out in this poverty stricken village.
And the death, death around here is and everyday occurrence and the people treat it as such. I have seen 2 horrible wrecks since I have been here. One was a little girl about 8. She was hit by a bus and she was just laid in the street with just a piece of card board laying over here and people standing around looking at her like she was a circus act. And the other, a man on a bike and a man on a motorcycle hit one another and the old man on the bike lay bleeding out on the street, nothing covering him and people standing around him looking at him like they were looking at the little girl. What a sad, heart breaking scene. I had to hold back tears because of how grafic the scenes were. Things that I never want to see again. But God has a plan. God knows. God sees. He doesn't over look the least of these. I pray that the least of these see that! I pray that they never forsake God even when they haven't eaten in 3 days and don't know where their next meal is coming from. I pray that I can be a blessing to these people. I pray that I will be His hands and feet!
I am thankful for all the experiences that I have experienced. And I am praying that there are many more and I pray I go back changed and with a different mind set that will reshape my everyday life and my ministry (whatever that might be when I get to Virginia).
Please keep the village of Bonitillo in your prayers. This is a hurting village that needs help. Sometimes I don't feel worthy to have this job even if it is only for 6 weeks. I feel like someone more experienced, someone older, someone that isn't me should be doing this job, but then I think, Isn't it the weak, inexperienced ones that God always uses to bring Him glory? Look at David or Mary or Esther. David was only a boy when he killed the giant, Mary was only a teenager when God chose her to carry His child, Esther was young when God chose her to be queen to save her people. God uses the small, weak, and the humble to move mountains for Him and I pray that I can do just a fraction of the things that David and Mary and Esther did to affect His kingdom.
I read something from another missionary that said, "Obedience- it's all I can do. Trust- it's all I have." And in this world down here that is the best way to describe it.
Thank you for your prayers for me while I am here. I am ready to see my family, but I know God has something awesome planned for these next two weeks that I am here!
In His hands,
Kati
Week 4!
Woo! This week Mr. Gary had us working like crazy! We are working on getting the guards house stuccoed, so we had to sift sand to be able to make the stucco. So, Ainsley and I have been shoveling sand for 3 days! That was a lot of fun, though, and it was nice when they got the outside of the house done and we got to see what our hard work did!
We ended up only going to the clinic in the mornings this past week because at the school they were testing the kids so they didn't have anything for us to do. It was a bummer, but like I said Mr. Gary put us to work!
The clinic was kind of slow this week. It has been kind of rainy and people just don't come when it is rainy. And there are 2 nurses at the clinic, and for the first 2 weeks we were there one was out on vacation so there was more for us to do. But still we have fun trying to speak to the nurses and filling the prescriptions that we do have!
In other news, since we worked so hard this week (and we really did! I have pictures to prove it!), we spent Saturday and Sunday resting! Saturday we went out in the ocean and played! We got a little burnt but at least we will got back to the States looking mighty tan! Haha!
But never in my life have I needed rest so bad! It was so nice to just rest and have good fellowship time with Mr. Gary and Mrs. Peggy (because when we are so busy there is hardly time to catch up on the days musings!)
Well I guess I will go! I will update next we and let you know what is going on! We are hoping to have a baby around here any time! They guard's wife is expecting a baby any day now! She is already 11 days over due! So tomorrow she is going to the hospital and hopefully they will induce her! Please be praying that they will induce her because she is ready to have this baby and be praying for a safe delivery!
Thank you for your prayers!
We ended up only going to the clinic in the mornings this past week because at the school they were testing the kids so they didn't have anything for us to do. It was a bummer, but like I said Mr. Gary put us to work!
The clinic was kind of slow this week. It has been kind of rainy and people just don't come when it is rainy. And there are 2 nurses at the clinic, and for the first 2 weeks we were there one was out on vacation so there was more for us to do. But still we have fun trying to speak to the nurses and filling the prescriptions that we do have!
In other news, since we worked so hard this week (and we really did! I have pictures to prove it!), we spent Saturday and Sunday resting! Saturday we went out in the ocean and played! We got a little burnt but at least we will got back to the States looking mighty tan! Haha!
But never in my life have I needed rest so bad! It was so nice to just rest and have good fellowship time with Mr. Gary and Mrs. Peggy (because when we are so busy there is hardly time to catch up on the days musings!)
Well I guess I will go! I will update next we and let you know what is going on! We are hoping to have a baby around here any time! They guard's wife is expecting a baby any day now! She is already 11 days over due! So tomorrow she is going to the hospital and hopefully they will induce her! Please be praying that they will induce her because she is ready to have this baby and be praying for a safe delivery!
Thank you for your prayers!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Week 3!
We have just finished week three here in Honduras!
It was a great week! It was just really busy!
At the school, Ainsley and I are tutoring children! She is tutoring in Math and I am teaching children how to read! The kids I tutor are suppose to be in second grade and they don't know how to read, they don't even know their alphabet! So I have teaching these children to read and starting at the VERY bottom! This week we studied A-H! And yesterday they wanted me to read them a story so I was flipping through the book as they were and they stopped on a story and said, "Let's read 'El Leon'"!!! The read it!! I was blown away! They read something!! There is light at the end of the tunnel!! It was great!
Things at the clinic have been going good! It has been very slow! Last week we saw probably 150 people and this week only maybe 30 all week! It has been rainy this week and people just don't come when it is rainy! But after it rains....it is crazy nuts around there so we are getting ready for a BUSY week at the clinic next week! =)
Well, I am going to go get my some dinner!
I will update next weekend! =)
Love,
Kati C.
It was a great week! It was just really busy!
At the school, Ainsley and I are tutoring children! She is tutoring in Math and I am teaching children how to read! The kids I tutor are suppose to be in second grade and they don't know how to read, they don't even know their alphabet! So I have teaching these children to read and starting at the VERY bottom! This week we studied A-H! And yesterday they wanted me to read them a story so I was flipping through the book as they were and they stopped on a story and said, "Let's read 'El Leon'"!!! The read it!! I was blown away! They read something!! There is light at the end of the tunnel!! It was great!
Things at the clinic have been going good! It has been very slow! Last week we saw probably 150 people and this week only maybe 30 all week! It has been rainy this week and people just don't come when it is rainy! But after it rains....it is crazy nuts around there so we are getting ready for a BUSY week at the clinic next week! =)
Well, I am going to go get my some dinner!
I will update next weekend! =)
Love,
Kati C.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Second week here!
We are in our second week in Honduras!
And this week we started at the clinic! We weren't really sure what we would be doing. We knew it would be whatever the nurse needed us to do, but we weren't sure what that was! So when we got there Yesterday so put us to work right away!! She showed us how to fill prescriptions and we got to work! So for 2 days we have been pharmacists! It has been quite fun! It gets busy and we are just going, going, going. So much fun!
We were suppose to start at the school this week, but it is a holiday week here in Honduras so we will start next week there! I am so excited about all the opportunities I are going to get to share with you and as we get busier I will share more! :)
Thank you for praying for me and Ainsley while we are here!
And this week we started at the clinic! We weren't really sure what we would be doing. We knew it would be whatever the nurse needed us to do, but we weren't sure what that was! So when we got there Yesterday so put us to work right away!! She showed us how to fill prescriptions and we got to work! So for 2 days we have been pharmacists! It has been quite fun! It gets busy and we are just going, going, going. So much fun!
We were suppose to start at the school this week, but it is a holiday week here in Honduras so we will start next week there! I am so excited about all the opportunities I are going to get to share with you and as we get busier I will share more! :)
Thank you for praying for me and Ainsley while we are here!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Honduran Summer
HELLO FROM HONDURAS!
I made it! I have been here for 4 days now! My flight was good! It was easy and short which was nice!
We have done lots of stuff so far! Not too much work yet. Mr. Gary and Mrs. Peggy wanted Ainsley and I to get acquainted with our surrounding and everything. But we did go pass out food to the families around the neighborhood. It was one of the most humbling experiences! These people have next to nothing and some of them wouldn't have eaten last night had we not given them food. And they were so so so grateful! It was such an amazing experience.
And then today we went out in the ocean. Oh, by the way, they live right on the beach. =) So we went out to the ocean and walked out to the second sand bar. Then we took off our shoes and under our feet were tons and tons and tons of sand dollars!! It was so cool! So cool!
I will keep yall updated! Please be praying that Ainsley and I to have the strength to make it through these long, hot, busy days. Starting next week we will be working in the clinic in the morning and the school in the afternoons. So we will be buys, busy! Thank you for praying!!
Love,
Kati C.
I made it! I have been here for 4 days now! My flight was good! It was easy and short which was nice!
We have done lots of stuff so far! Not too much work yet. Mr. Gary and Mrs. Peggy wanted Ainsley and I to get acquainted with our surrounding and everything. But we did go pass out food to the families around the neighborhood. It was one of the most humbling experiences! These people have next to nothing and some of them wouldn't have eaten last night had we not given them food. And they were so so so grateful! It was such an amazing experience.
And then today we went out in the ocean. Oh, by the way, they live right on the beach. =) So we went out to the ocean and walked out to the second sand bar. Then we took off our shoes and under our feet were tons and tons and tons of sand dollars!! It was so cool! So cool!
I will keep yall updated! Please be praying that Ainsley and I to have the strength to make it through these long, hot, busy days. Starting next week we will be working in the clinic in the morning and the school in the afternoons. So we will be buys, busy! Thank you for praying!!
Love,
Kati C.
Friday, May 20, 2011
11 days!!!
The days are dwindling down until my 2nd Honduras trip! This trip I will be there for 6 weeks. I am staying with some friends of my grandparents that live down there, and I am going with another girl who is from Alabama. Ainsley (the girl from Alabama) and I are getting so excited!! We keep reminding each other of how many days are left! We can't wait to get there!
In other news, dad got a job!! It is in Roanoke, VA! We will be moving up there this summer. My family will actually already be moved before I get back from Honduras. So when I leave Memphis, I won't be back. I will go straight to Virginia. Crazy, right? I am so excited for what the future will bring!
Thank you, River Bend Baptist Church for all your support for me and this second Honduras trip! You guys are amazing! God is SO good!
Love,
Kati C.
In other news, dad got a job!! It is in Roanoke, VA! We will be moving up there this summer. My family will actually already be moved before I get back from Honduras. So when I leave Memphis, I won't be back. I will go straight to Virginia. Crazy, right? I am so excited for what the future will bring!
Thank you, River Bend Baptist Church for all your support for me and this second Honduras trip! You guys are amazing! God is SO good!
Love,
Kati C.
Honduras Trip 1
Hey guys!!
Well, back in March I went to Tegucigalpa, Honduras with some friends of mine that have an orphanage there. And I had heard so many good things about it and I just knew I would fall i love with it....and I did! Oh the children i the orphanage were just precious! It was so great to get to love on them and play with them! They stole my heart! We also went to some neighborhoods around the city and decorated class rooms at schools ad painted walls. It was such a blessing to get to go on this trip! I couldn't have asked for a better trip or a better group of friends to go with!
Thank you to all who supported me! I am so incredibly grateful for all the support I have gotten! God is good! =D
Love,
Kati C.
Well, back in March I went to Tegucigalpa, Honduras with some friends of mine that have an orphanage there. And I had heard so many good things about it and I just knew I would fall i love with it....and I did! Oh the children i the orphanage were just precious! It was so great to get to love on them and play with them! They stole my heart! We also went to some neighborhoods around the city and decorated class rooms at schools ad painted walls. It was such a blessing to get to go on this trip! I couldn't have asked for a better trip or a better group of friends to go with!
Thank you to all who supported me! I am so incredibly grateful for all the support I have gotten! God is good! =D
Love,
Kati C.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Verse of the Week
Psalm 115:1
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name goes all the glory
for your unfailing love and faithfulness."
I am so thankful for a God who is faithful even when I am not!
All for His glory,
Kati
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name goes all the glory
for your unfailing love and faithfulness."
I am so thankful for a God who is faithful even when I am not!
All for His glory,
Kati
God is so good!
Hi Friends!
Well there is no question about how good God is but when He shows himself and makes himself evident it is a wonderful thing!
I am going on 3 trips this year. One to Honduras on spring break, one to Honduras for 6 weeks in the summer, and one to Washington D.C. for a leadership conference.
Of course the one that is one most on my mind right now is the spring break because we leave in 4 DAYS!! I am so excited! Anyways, I sent out support letters to some close friends and family and I was praying that God would provide all that I needed for the trips!
Well yesterday I got a text from the man that is leading the team that is going to Honduras and he said, "A lady just dropped off a check for $450. Well, that was almost exactly what I needed! I am lacking $35 which in my opinion is not that big of a deal! So my trip was provided for and it was a total God thing! There was nothing I could do to make it happen or keep it from happening! It was all God! So I stand amazed at how awesome our God is and how amazing His ways are.
I will be updating from Honduras as much as I can next week but for sure I will update when I get back!
I am so excited to see what God has in store for me and the whole team that will be on the trip!
All for His glory,
Kati
Well there is no question about how good God is but when He shows himself and makes himself evident it is a wonderful thing!
I am going on 3 trips this year. One to Honduras on spring break, one to Honduras for 6 weeks in the summer, and one to Washington D.C. for a leadership conference.
Of course the one that is one most on my mind right now is the spring break because we leave in 4 DAYS!! I am so excited! Anyways, I sent out support letters to some close friends and family and I was praying that God would provide all that I needed for the trips!
Well yesterday I got a text from the man that is leading the team that is going to Honduras and he said, "A lady just dropped off a check for $450. Well, that was almost exactly what I needed! I am lacking $35 which in my opinion is not that big of a deal! So my trip was provided for and it was a total God thing! There was nothing I could do to make it happen or keep it from happening! It was all God! So I stand amazed at how awesome our God is and how amazing His ways are.
I will be updating from Honduras as much as I can next week but for sure I will update when I get back!
I am so excited to see what God has in store for me and the whole team that will be on the trip!
All for His glory,
Kati
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Verse of the Week!
Hi Guys!
I did this a while back but never kept up with it, but I want to start posting verses every week that We can memorize. I am going to try my hardest to do it every Sunday. But if I fail please don't be mad at me! =) I am trying to think of some cute name and nothing has come yet but I will be thinking about it and hopefully next week our weekly verses will have a cute title (and if you have an idea for a cute name please tell me!). =)
With that said... here is our verse:
Psalm 63:3 "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you."
I pray this verse encourages you this week!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Spring Time!
Living in Memphis we have some crazy weather and it can be 70 degrees one day and 30 the next but lately we have had a couple weeks of warm weather and oh how I love the crisp spring air in the morning! It smells so fresh and clean! It reminds me of the verse in Psalms. Psalm 30:5b "Weeping may last the night, but joy comes in the morning." For me, I struggle with winter time depression and just feeling sad with all the gloomy days and I try lots of things to cheer me up, but my joy only comes when I find new joy in my Creator! Just like those first days of spring! It's bright and new and fresh and it comes right when it is suppose to!
I hope this brightened your day a little and you find new joy in your Creator today!
In His Hands,
Kati
I hope this brightened your day a little and you find new joy in your Creator today!
In His Hands,
Kati
Monday, February 21, 2011
"How are you?"
This afternoon a man came to the door selling a newspaper and he said "Hi! How are you?" And, I guess, out of habit I said "I'm good! How are you?" And he said, I am great. Thank you for asking. Most people don't ask me that!"
I got my dad and I went back to what I was doing, but it got me thinking...What a shame! No one cares enough anymore to even ask a simple "How are you?". How would this world be different if we asked people how they were doing and not just asked them how there are but really mean it?
So, I know that this a short post but my challenge to whoever reads this is to be more conscious about what you say....and don't say. You can make someone's day just by asking "How are you?".
In His Hands,
Kati
I got my dad and I went back to what I was doing, but it got me thinking...What a shame! No one cares enough anymore to even ask a simple "How are you?". How would this world be different if we asked people how they were doing and not just asked them how there are but really mean it?
So, I know that this a short post but my challenge to whoever reads this is to be more conscious about what you say....and don't say. You can make someone's day just by asking "How are you?".
In His Hands,
Kati
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)