I was so nervous before training camp I thought I was going to throw up.
Before heading to the Adventures in Missions headquarters, I went to a coffee shop in Gainesville, Georgia where I met my friend Alice. Alice had just spent the week at her training camp, so I was glad to cross paths with her.
She had so much enthusiasm and told me as much as she could about what lay ahead. After an hour of chatting, I was getting ready to take off, but Alice asked if she could pray for me before I left. We held hands on the sofa, and I felt peace slowly come over as she spoke. As we said “Amen,” we looked up to see an older gentleman standing over us, waiting for us to finish our prayer.
“God bless you girls,” he said in a sweet, and shaky voice. “I had to come over and tell you how much it blesses me to see you praying here in public.”
He continued.
“A few months ago I was sitting right here,” he pointed to a nearby table, “when a young girl came over and sat down with me; she was a missionary, we talked, and she asked if she could pray for me about anything.”
He then told the girl a bit of his story: a few years back he was hit head on by a drunk driver. “I shouldn’t even be alive,” he said.
He told the girl that since the accident he’s suffered from severe tremors. “It was so bad, I couldn’t even pull a dollar bill out of my wallet.”
He said that sitting there in the coffee shop, the girl asked if she could pray for him.
“When I woke up the next day,” the man told us,—“the tremors were gone.”
Looking up at this sweet, kind man, I couldn’t stop smiling. Before the week had even started, the Lord was at work. In that moment He was showing me how real He is. How powerful He is. That He truly heals. He shows up. He does this stuff. Before this crazy, wild journey was even beginning, I believe the Lord wanted to show himself to me, to give me a quiet opportunity to acknowledge, “Hey God, You’re real. You’re alive. You’re here.” He wanted to reaffirm my faith. He wanted to give me a glimpse of what lie ahead.
I left that coffee shop giddy. I think I might have skipped out the door. My nerves were tossed aside because I knew without a doubt that God was going to keep showing up like this, over and over again.
The only thing I regretted was that I hadn’t offered to pray with the man. As I drove away I prayed out loud by myself in the car.
“God, please let me see that man again. Somehow. Please continue to heal him. And let our paths cross again if it’s in Your will.”
Flash forward five days.
After getting placed into our ministry teams, we went into town for some team bonding. We headed to the coffee shop. I walked in the door and guess who I saw in line?
Yep. My sweet friend.
As I sat down with my team to explain why I was so excited, I narrated the story to them of how I had met the man a few days earlier. I was explaining the part about the accident, the tremors, when suddenly, my friend Taylor gasped.
I was sitting in front of a mirror and she could see the man’s reflection behind me as I spoke. She said when I got to the part saying that the tremors were so bad he couldn’t even pull a dollar bill out of his wallet, the man was paying for his drink behind me, reaching for his wallet and pulling money out of it at the exact moment I spoke those words.
As my teammates and I were leaving we walked past the man outside on the patio. I reached for his hand and told him goodbye. This time, I asked if we could all pray for him. So the eight of us held hands right there on the sidewalk and said a prayer over him.
He smiled, and when we finished praying he told us something I’ll never forget. “Today,” he said, “is the four year anniversary of that car accident.”
My mind was blown. How cool that I was mad at myself for not praying the first time, but that God did cross our paths again, and used the interaction to bless my team—giving us our very first of many times we will get to do ministry together–and to bless that man, on the exact day that holds such a painful memory for him.
Funny enough, I went back to that coffee shop when camp ended to journal and rest, and I saw my friend there one more time. The first time we’d met his hands and voice were a little unsteady, and he apologized saying they were acting up that day. But this third time when I saw him he seemed completely smooth, calm and steady. Before I left town, God solidified for me one more time the power of His healing.
The story doesn’t even end there. God had more.
That Thursday night I heard one of my squad mates, Sulley telling a “God-story” from his day. I could tell how excited he was about it; I overheard him say the words, “car accident,” “coffee shop,” and “tremors,” so I asked what he was talking about.
He went on to share that at the same time Thursday afternoon, his team had gone into the coffee shop to hang out when they started talking to a young woman. She was a little shaky and was using something to help her walk. She told my friends that she had been in a terrible car accident, hit by a drunk driver, and now suffers from severe tremors and memory loss. Apparently, the memory loss is so bad she had set her debit card down on the table and moments later asked them whose it was. My friends were touched, spoke some encouragement over her, and asked if they could pray for her—right there in the coffee shop. As they prayed, Sulley silently asked the Holy Spirit to help this woman remember what was happening, to remember their prayer, remember their words. They said goodbye, and left.
Several hours later Sulley’s team was out getting dinner. They walked out the door of the restaurant when a car rode by heading to the drive through. The passenger window began to roll down and they heard a girl’s voice say, “Look mom, it’s my friends.”
And there was that young woman in the car smiling at them. And she remembered.
Neither of us could keep from geeking out. I told Sulley my similar story and encouraged him, you never know what difference y’all could have made in that woman’s life. Surely the girl who prayed over my friend in the coffee shop months before has no idea how God impacted that man’s life through her simple prayer.
I could go on to tell you so many things about training camp—how we took cold bucket showers, and slept outside; how 60 people who didn’t know each other a week ago now feel like a family; how everyone shared everything they had and had everything in common (not kidding: meals were…meager to say the least; one time someone had Sour Patch Kids and gave seven to our table of eight, I didn’t get one and every person broke off a piece of their’s to create an eighth Sour Patch Kid for me. Acts 2 lived out, people.); I could tell you about what God showed me, and how the Holy Spirit moved—but I think for today, this story sums up the important stuff pretty well.
The word God gave me, which I know will carry throughout the rest of the year was this: More.
“More,” He said. “I have more.”
I’m only beginning to realize how utterly true that is.
More, from me, to come soon.
Much love,
K
P.S. I not only ADORE the beautiful people on K Squad, but these six other people on my team! Please keep us in your prayers as we all prepare for departure, facing things at home, getting ready to leave, saying hard goodbyes, and praying for funds. We all need $7,500 in our accounts to leave in September. Thanks to YOU I have already met this goal. I am trusting to be fully funded by the time departure gets here—and I’m extremely close. If you’d like to help me push through to the end of support raising, please click here. If you want to hear more about training camp, I would love to talk to you. Please, feel so free to get in touch with me. There’s too much to put in this blog, but if you want to know more, I would love to share with you.
Hanging out with my awesome teammates! Jason & Sara, Nic, Me, Jessica, Taylor and Josef. (clicking everyone’s names will take you to their blogs!)
Taylor and I saying goodbye Saturday. I’m so excited to be this girl’s teammate. We had to share a tent together at the beginning of the week when my belongings were “lost in baggage claim” (#simulations)–I got my stuff back eventually but we didn’t sleep apart the rest of the week. Thank you Jesus for Taylor Hill!
Wow! Wow! Wow! This brought me to tears Katy! What a powerful story of Gods relentless love for His children! Thank you for sharing this.
Love you,
Kendra
Come on Girl preach it! What a powerful story Katie! You couldnt have told this a better way. So proud of you for being bold and courageous! Cant say it enough how excited I am to see all that God is going to do in your life not only this next year but for years to come!!
Katy – great stories here! I’m looking forward to seeing your story-telling ability showing up like this throughout the year. It’s going to be exciting!
Reading your Blog is like reading my other Morning Meditations. There is always a blessing awaiting me! Your year is going to be filled with God moments and I am so excited to share and grow closer to Him as you bless others on your journey! Much love xo
Katy,
This really blessed me today! Thank you for taking the time to share this story. I just got off the Race a couple months ago so I’m learning a lot about how missions is a lifestyle and not just a trip. Here is a great example of what God can do through us!
I wish you well on your journey!
Keep up listening for God’s prompting in your daily walk. You are headed for an amazing journey these next 11 months and God will blow your mind in ways you never would have thought of. (I’m Brooke Mort’s mom k-squad 2nd generation)
Katy,
I read your story this morning and was so touched! I have been up and down for months now about the world race and whether or not it is right for me to go next fall. I have been praying for God to lead me, guide me, show me a signs of sorts to know the path I need to take. If it’s right for me now, is this what he intended for me? After reading your story I was so excited, I wanted to be a part of that, I want to see Jesus work in my life and the lives around me! Still pondering at work and unsure of my commitment, I went to lunch. I normally come back to my desk but instead decided to sit outside and asked a few girls if I could sit near them at a local salad bar. Immediately my ears perked up as they continued their conversation of the mission trip she had just returned from! I wanted so badly to interrupt and interview her of every detail but I quietly ease dropped waiting for my chance. Suddenly one of the girls fixed her attention to me and invited me into the conversation, like God told her I was dying to be included! I politely obliged before turning the conversation back to the mission, quickly the girls started exclaiming to me their profound faith and that one of their friend had just recently returned from the World Race!! I couldn’t believe it, it felt like flashing lights saying, “here is your path!” God continues to work with me in that moment as she opens up to me her profession and her business which is the same field I am currently studying in holistic wellness. We exchanged information and as she told me how delighted she would be to speak to me about opportunities with her. When just this past week I had been weeping in pain of unhappiness with my current job, uncertainty of my education’s future and asking God to lead me to a path of my passions! Your blog spoke to me so much and it opened me up to my own experience with Jesus working in my life! Thank you so much for sharing this and helping me on my own life path! I hope my small financial contribution helps make a difference on your trip! Thank you! Breath it all in, Love it all out and keep posting! 🙂
XOXO
Brooke
Great hearing how Jesus showed up for you and I know He will continue to through out your next 11 months and on and on from there, just be open to all He wants to do in and through you! Will be praying for you, your team and squad!
I saw your post on the World Race Facebook page. As I dream of being a racer one day, your story really inspired me. It really brought me to tears that God is good all the time. I’m a complete stranger but just know your story is very powerful and makes me know God surrounds us and speaks through all people. Best of luck and many prayers for your trip.
Shaba! Ah this is so good!!
This have me chills 🙂 congrats an awesome experience with God!
Thank you, Seth! I’m fired up about the documentary project and about all of the stories the Lord is preparing ahead of us!
Thank you Tayler! I agree. I love how God used this moment to show me how much work He is doing through His body right here, right now, at home! It just never stops!
Wishing you the best as you get readjusted and transition back to life at home. I’m sure it’s a huge transition (I am already anticipating it will be for me) but God has gone before you, He was with you all over the world and He’s with you there at home too.
Thank you Gera! I can only imagine what’s about to come. I can’t wait to keep sharing the Lord’s stories on here! Thank you for reading my blog, and for the encouragement!!
Brooke,
I was so excited to read your story. The events of your day that afternoon, so amazing! I trust the Lord will continue to speak into your life what He has for you, whatever it may be. Find your delight in Him and He will give you the desires of your heart! My prayers are with you as you seek out what lies ahead. And THANK YOU so much for your gift. It means the world.
In Christ,
Katy
Erica,
Thank you so much for reading my blog and commenting. God is truly at work ALL around us. Keep dreaming big girl, you serve a BIG God!
Katy
Thank you MJ 🙂 Love you dearly!
SO glad you are a part of this story too my friend! I’m so excited we get to share in this new journey with our lovely K SQUAD! It’s going to be a wild one! I can’t wait.
Craig & Sharon,
Thank y’all for your continual support and love that you pour into my life–whether at Elon or not–y’all have been like family to me and I can’t wait come back and visit next year!
Love you both,
Katy
I’m from Williams High School and apart of YL, this year I went to Sharptop, I very quickly met you, you probably don’t remember. But later everyone was telling me about how you’re going doing this and I’m so happy you have this blog, I can’t wait to see what God does in your life and how your trips go! Hope you get to meet some awesome people as you go through this journey!
What a blessing to hear how God is moving and working in your life Katy, Sharon and I will continue to keep you in our prayers as you prepare to launch out into the world for Jesus!
Lord give Katy more, more strength, more faith, more compassion, more humility, more perseverance, more love, more boldness, more kindness, more opportunities, more testimonies.
We love you, Craig & Sharon