The World Race - Katie Duff

TWO weeks to go!

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

HOLA! Its amazing how fast time can fly going country to country every month! We are almost done...coming in strong with two weeks to go. One week of ministry here in Nicaragua working with an orphanage and kids that have little to no money, no homes, no families. SUPER SAD. But they are seriously quality kids after Gods heart. They work hard where we are living with their studies and chores around the grounds... but when getting a chance to talk wtih them you get to learn there amazing hearts and hear what they have been though! They have the same theme in common when it comes to where they live and how they like LAQUINTA (name of the location we are working at)... They LOVE the LOVE that the staff gives them and that they learn that their TRUE FATHER in heaven can give them. MANY of them have been rejected from thier own homes and can find soooo much comfort in being around people who encourage and understand them. They have heart breaking stories that they get to now use to further Gods kingdom and relate to the people in Nicaragua! ITS WONDERFUL!!

ANNNNNDDDD Then we are off to Costa Rica where we will have our LAST & FINAL DEBRIEF!! Gives me chills to be able to say something like that! I am very excited and amazed at all that God has done in me and through me in the last 11 months... I just cant believe its all been done.

I just realized that I still need about 100 dollars to FINISH UP THE RACE!!! I have been BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF by all supporters whether through prayer or donations! I know God put me on this race for a REASON... that is VERY CLEAR. And I also have faith that he will provide for the rest of it!!!

SOOOOOOOOOO THANKKKKKKK YALL & GOOODDD BLLLLEEEESSSSSSSSS YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!

Learned more about myself and other cultures than I have in my lifetime!!!!

GRACIASSSSSSS!

Off to play with the KIDS!

LOVE WINS.

I've enjoyed it all...

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I LOVE to LOVE people of all colors, shapes and sizes... all nations under GOD.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE children.

I can't get enough of other cultures.

India is not like anything that I could of ever imagined.

Life goes on all around us all the time... sometimes you need to just stop and thank God for it!

The Gypsies know more about family and caring for family and friends than anywhere I have ever been.

The poorest of the poor in Africa have the most JOY. They might not have "anything..." but the kingdom of God is an upside down kingdom.... And they TRULY have it ALL.

The Philippines is HOT and STICKY but I would go back in a heartbeat if given the chance... the people are BEAUTIFUL, full of life, and want to give you everything they have... even though it cost them everything they have to give it to you.

I had never heard of Moldova... but I will never forget it.

Kids in Hungary are much different than kids in 3rd world countries.

A vacation is necessary to rejuvenate... God WANTS US to REST.

Guatemala is probably one of the most beautiful places I have EVER been. Our contacts are AMAZING... and I am excited to see what is in store for the LAST TWO MONTHS.

I was just informed that I need 2,000 USD to finish off this amazing opportunity that I have been BLESSED with. The opportunity to touch MORE lives, to tell MORE people about GODS LOVE, to enjoy other cultures living as they live and eating what they eat! Then I get to come home and TELL EVERYONE ABOUT what i have experienced with the HELP of those who supported me through prayer, thoughts, and financial support!!!

LOVE WINS. ALWAYS.

So what kinda person are you?

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

So what kinda person are YOU?
I've been through childhood, school, feeling unsure of myself, I've be through college, learned many lessons in my 24 years of life... I am sure...just like every one of you. But the thing I think that I have learned the most out of all of it, is that not one of us is any better than the other.
We have all been through life. We have all experienced MANY MANY things that we don't like to think about or talk about...things that make us ashamed or misunderstood.
We are all kinds of people... from all kinds of places... but God loves each one of us JUST AS MUCH AS THE OTHER.
So far on this race I have learned that ...
The homeless... have the most JOY.
The exotic dancers & prostitutes want a second chance but don't know where to go to find it... they feel ashamed and unwelcome by people...
Prisoners who have made mistakes in their lives but when you tell them about Jesus they don't understand how one man could love SO MUCH to forgive them for what they have done.
Single moms who have put everything out on the line for their children before themselves and don't realize by doing that they are already bringing kingdom to this earth.
People who suffer from depression, anxiety, guilt, and shame ...
People who made a mess with their family, friends and children and feel shame and guilt because of it... but don't know how to change the situation they are in.
People who have been burned by religion, religion, religion... never truly knowing the heart of God.
The mentally and physically challenged ...
Families who can't afford house insurance... and have to trust in God to feed their hungry stomachs and providing money, even when they have AIDs and do not have enough strength to work to earn money...
People with NUMEROUS doubts and questions and hang ups...
Young, old, rich, poor... We are all the same. We all have worries, we all have our own unique stories that we have been through.
I LOVE nothing more than to hang out with ALL KIND S OF PEOPLE.
People who judge by outward appearance instead of asking questions like do you believe in the bible or Go d?... People who can accuse you of things without truly knowing your heart... GET TO KNOW THEM, SHOW THEM your HEART.

These are the people I would want at my Church. Maybe it sounds more like a hospital than a church... but AMEN

isn't that what God would of wanted anyways. If that is the way that it seems than thank you VERY MUCH. I will take that as a complement!

Because everybody is invited... I want EVERYONE to feel invited. Jesus LOVES EVERYONE equally!!
Just ALWAYS remember: "its okay to not be okay" OKAY?
Jesus actually LIKES you and WANTS to meet you, not only that he want to EAT with you scripture tells us. Sharing a meal is symbolic with acceptance.
Luke 15
Greatest story ever told... Maybe you'll learn something new!
This is a story that helps everyone see if you can admit.. "I'm not okay" Jesus says you are actually closer than the people who say "they are okay". If you can admit that you are not perfect and you are still struggling than Jesus says that you are closer than you think!
This story retells the story of God.
3rd story
PRODICAL SON
There is a father who has two son's.
Luke ch 14 Prostitutes and tax collectors are eating with Jesus and Luke says that's not okay.
Prodigal means recklessly extravagant.
It is the reckless love of the father that is truly extravagant.
The younger son wants his share of his estate... essentially saying "Dad I don't want you... I just want my money". The dad divided the property/ money between his two sons. Property really means "life". To lose part of your land was to loose part of you... your life... and add to that, humiliating the patriarch of the family.
No greater pain and heartache in this world than non reciprocated love of a family member.
There is a God and father who understands what it feels like to have rebellious kids...on a MASSIVE level.

The younger son squandered his money... spent everything wh ile he was away and a sever famine came.

Sometimes it takes us losing everything in life to realize that Go d is EVERYTHING in LIFE.

God is valued above all things.
vs 15 He decided to get a job but only person who would take him is a man who hired him out to work with the pigs. The pig was a dirty animal in the Jewish mind, lowest of the low. He was so hungry he even thought about eating the pigs food.
"When he came to his senses"...how many times have you been there? Thinking...how did I end up here?
God is the solution, the one to help you overcome your mistakes. I used to find value in how the world saw me, but I woke up and realized there is one man that I need to be with. He truly loves us. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ANY MORE than you already are. God helps us reintroduce ourselves to the world...
What happened to our aliveness?
We do, do and do and NEVER really live... It's a "Dangerous Wonder" (Book)
How can we live our life with clarity, Passion wonder and spontaneity...how can we really LIVE?
If Christianity is simply about being NICE I'm not interested.
I am interested for people waking up to the light bulb in their head saying, "I realize I have been created more than this pigsty I am in".

The younger son realizes that even his fathers workers are eating better than he is. So he decides...I will go back to my father and say I have sinned against heaven and him and ask him to make me like one of his workers .

However, as the son come home the father RAN to his son and said QUICK bring sandals and a robe and lets celebrate. This son of mine was lost and now is found, he was dead and now he is alive.

The younger bro thinks that he must pay restitution to his family. He has a dept to pay in his eyes. He thinks he has to earn his way back into standing with his dad.

HOWEVER, notice the dad RUNS TO HIM... he is taking the shame of his son... when the father reaches the son he kisses him in public. A sign of reinstatement... transfer of authority.

He sacrifices the fattened cow, this is his best for his son... his father understands that he is the only one that can make what is not okay with the younger son, once again okay between the two of them.
The older bro does not think that this is okay, he is upset.
But he is told "your brother has come home and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has returned".
The older brother says all these years I have obeyed you but you've given me nothing... but you kill the fattened calf for the one who has left?
The father tells him...you are still my son, and everything I have is yours, but we must celebrate and be glad because we thought he was dead and now he is alive again.
The older brother thinks in terms of rights over relationship.
There are people who obey God to get things from God. It's a subconscious mind set and it leads people to believe if I obey God he has to be good to me. It's far more DANGEROUS than the reckless living of the younger brother because its rooted in rights not in relationship.
Rights vs. Relationship
It says God I've been good therefore you owe me. As oppose to relationship thinking God you've been good, therefore I owe you my life, everything about me. It wasn't about rights its about RELATIONSHIP.

Tim Keller wrote a book titled "The Prodigal God"
He states if like the older brother one should believe that God should be good to you and bless you because you have worked so hard to be a good person, then Jesus may be your helper, your example and your inspiration, but you are serving as your own savior.
My sisters and I, we would die for each other. The LOVE that we have for each other because our mother and fathers love allows us to LOVE them... there are not words for how HUGE that LOVE runs. I read this story through that lens every time.
The way I see it...
When the young boy ran away the brother does nothing but whine and complain about him getting half of the inheritance. He does not go after his brother and convince him to stay home. He looses sight of his sta nding with his father. He forgets or does not take into concern that he is at home with a house and being loved all the time by his father.
How many people, "Christians", do we know have lost sight of the recklessly extravagant LOVE of God? How many churches are filled with church people instead of change people who do nothing but talk about petty issues. Issues that don't matter at all... when Gods lost family is out there that are needing a home . How many Christians treat the bible like the bill of rights?
Well here is my commitment again: I'll be ALL things for all people when Gods heart aches, I'll be anything, I'll go anywhere, I'll be all things for all people if it means that just one more person could come to the loving embrace of Jesus Christ. To be loved and nourished, taken care of.
Paul even said "Ill give up my salvation my inheritance if it means just one more person would come to know Jesus".
We can become so dumbfounded by his grace we get troubled by it. We have been used and abused by people in life...
BUT when it clicks in our mind that he wants to serve US sincerely... that love transforms you to never go back to your old life. That's what the love of God has done for me and I know MANY other people out there...
Make an invitation this week...tell your story... this is what God did for me and it transformed me....
There are many people who see life as a treadmill they are always running but never get anywhere.
It's raining outside as I write this blog and it gets me thinking about all the people who I have invested time in and how they don't have homes or have shelter to cover them when it storms. It just does not sit right in my heart.
Prodigal God.
We cant settle with this ...We have only reached a DENT of the people out there who have squandered life and love and just want a second chance but don't know where to find it.
I never want to settle. The last thing I ever want is to become an "older brother". I don't want to become most people in most churches.
Luke 15 tells about people longing to find a place where they belong. Starts with Adam and eve. People who are aimless out in the world, wandering around... Jesus just wonders around talking to people... sinners .... Anyone and everyone.
Scripture says "Foxes have holes. Birds have nests, but the son of God has no where to lay his head".
There is a DAD/ GOD who has been LOVE SICK for us. He did it all so WE could get HOME.
He was crucified outside the city. Rejected by his own people. His story is our story: "My god my god why have you forsaken me". He did it so we could go HOME.... then and only then will everything be BETTER THAN OKAY. I want EVERYONE TO BE THERE.

LOVE WINS.

This blog was inspired by a podcast I listened to by Jon Weece, Senior minister of Southland Christian Church, Lexington, Kentucky.

Budapest, Hungary!

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is a blog that my friend & team mate AUDREY POWELL wrote!! Thought it was a good SUM up in photos of whats been going on while we have been here!! --- plus a video added to the bottom for your viewing entertainment!

Here are a few picutres of my life so far in Budapest...it has most certainly been an interesting week and a half.

Let's start from the beginning.

Stop #1 is Ed and Susan's house to look after their 4 kids. This is Joseph...too cute...super messy.

This is their daughter Mariam. She looks so sweet and innocent and at many moments she can be. The child just wants love and attention.

Katie and I with all the kids in the backyard.

This is the view from the backyard....beautiful.

The kids posing by the fence...Toni wouldn't come and pose, so he is missing. Please notice that Katie is being very sneaky holding baby Joseph up over the fence.

Feeding could get quite tiring...the stuffed dog became a very convenient tool to make meal time a little easier. :)

Katie and I finally got back to the city!! Bekah, me and Steph went out in the city one night....BEAUTIFUL!!!

Another view of the city.

One morning we woke up to about 2 inches of water over our entire flat. It was a very interesting day with a lot of cleaning....this was the cause of our flood. If you would like the know more about our "Day of the Flood" read my teammate Bekah Phelps blog called "Splish Splash".

A cute cafe in the city

This video was taken by Audrey one day while we were babysitting the kids at the new office. Its a wonder that they trust us with their children!! But the kids seem to keep coming back for more :)

LOVE WINS.

BUDAPEST FLOOD.

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A blog written by Bekah Phelps! Just to give more of an idea what we have been doing here in BUDAPEST!

Crux is living in Budapest, Hungary helping a couple move their Crisis Pregnancy Center ministry from an old building into a gorgeous, newly renovated office. We finished the move last week and are now putting the finishing touches on the office, organizing, and leading prayer and worship each morning with the staff and clients.

Our contact, Ed, is a bit of a perfectionist who adores his new wooden floors. There are strict rules of what one can and cannot place on the floors in fear of scratches/dents in the wood (which is totally understandable since Ed wants the new office to as professional as possible).

But... there was a slight mishap Monday morning. Steph woke up early and sleepily stumbled her way through the living room and realized she was standing in 3 inches of water. A valve in the kitchen burst and flooded the entire flat! We jumped up and started cleaning immediately, scooping up buckets upon buckets of water. All of the boxes were soaked. Katie and Audrey tried to buy cleaning supplies, but it was a national holiday and ALL stores were closed. Ed was gone and we didn't have a working cell phone to call him. We were stuck in a flooded apartment in a foreign city. Luckily it only took a couple hours to clean. We watched a couple episodes of our beloved Bones and finally relaxed.

As we were leaving to wander the city later that afternoon, I smelled gas fumes in the office. Somehow, the flat had been leaking gas and we didn't realize it until then. We aired out the apartment and left before it poisoned us. Then, after supper the fumes disappeared and Audrey got the bright idea to boil an egg in the microwave, since we're lacking a stove this month. She put a whole raw egg into a bowl of water and cooked it for 10 minutes. (Mind you, the microwave is in the middle of the living room). About 9 minutes into it, the microwave exploded: the door flew open with a loud bang,

smoke billowed out of it, and egg shot across the room, even landing in Cindy's hair! A hysterical fit of giggles quickly followed.

By the end of the day, the house flooded, we almost died of gas
fumes, and we blew up Ed's microwave. All in a day's work!

LOVE WINS. HAHA. Living one day at a time :)

Andrea

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Andrea's story told by a member of my team & very close friend Bekah Phelps. I thought it was brilliant way to capture the beauty that we see in Andrea. LOVE WINS.

One of the Pregnancy Center's volunteers, Andrea, shared her testimony with us.

This is her story.

A few years ago Andrea and her boyfriend got pregnant. He told her she must choose him or choose the baby- she couldn't have both. She struggled with the decision but chose the boyfriend and aborted the baby. A year later, she becomes pregnant again and the same boyfriend gave her the ultimatum once more. Andrea knew how badly she regretted the abortion and refused to make the same decision that caused her so much agony. But her boyfriend threatened to kick her out of their flat and she had no support from her parents who were also pushing for another abortion. Against all odds, she chose to have the baby. At 5 months pregnant, Andrea was single, lonely, and desperate. She saw an advertisement for the Crisis Pregnancy Center and made an appointment. Susan (our contact) ministered to her through counseling of how Jesus has forgiven her and still loves her. Susan also provided baby clothes, vitamins, and other basic necessities for new moms. Two months later, Andrea accepted Christ.

Andrea now has a beautiful daughter who is the light of her life. She shared this with us as tears streamed down her face. My heart broke- but not because I was interceding for her. At that very moment I connected with Andrea more than anyone else in the room (even my beloved Cruxies!) I understand the weight of that decision. I had no words; I simply sat at Andrea's feet and let my heart cry out for hers.

Andrea's story shows not only God's forgiveness but his love. God loves her just as much now as he did the moment the baby was being aborted. She is washed clean, white as snow in God's eyes. That is how BIG the love of the Father truly is. A love so grand, we can't even begin to wrap our heads around it! Andrea now seeks God with a humble and repentant heart and through this she radiates God's glory. His love and grace overcomes our deepest, darkest regrets so that he can pick us up, dust us off, and continue lead us down his path.

Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean

Wash me and I will be whiter than snow

- Psalm 51.7

Memory Lane- EVERYBODY is IMPORTANT!

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

*This is inspired by Jon Weece. Senior Pastor of Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky*

Jon Weece shares in one of his sermons titled "Everybody is important"...

Everybody is IMPORTANT...

The love of Jesus is free and freeing. The bumps, broozes, guilt and shame along the way are what qualify you to receive his love. There is a list that God has, an invitation list to the biggest party ever thrown. And EVERYBODY IS INVITED. Everybody gets to come to the party!... you have to choose if you want to be there

Luke 15:8-10 (New International Version)

The Parable of the Lost Coin
8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Everybody is invited so everyone is included. The coin represents something of value, something significant to you. This is the way Jesus sees us. We are something of VALUE to him. There isnt a person on the planet that should think of them selves as a no body because everybody is a somebody because every body is important! Everybody is important because Jesus died for each one of us on the cross- because he LOVES each one of us THAT MUCH.

EVERYBODY is important! LOVE WINS.

SO I was thinking...If I were having a party this weekend and had to compose a list of people to invite... who would it be? I think I would look at it from another angle now... after being on this missions trip for 9 1/2 months I have learned A LOT and met A LOT of really AMAZING people. Gosh my list would BE SOOO LONG. I want to share with you some of the people that would be on that list... and their stories. I had to narrow it down and I started with the people who have made me laugh or smile or brought tears to my eyes in the last 9 1/2 months...

This is AnnaBelle (second from the right- grey tanktop... standing next to me). AnnaBelle lives outside of Manila, Philippines (her house is pictured above). AnnaBelle has a husband and three children (a boy- oldest, and two little girls- the older of the two girls is all the way on the left of the photo). As you can see Annabelle has very little, she lives in this shack with no electricity, no running water, no need to go on. She was the first person I feel in love with on the race. Tangi & I met her one day while walking through the village we were living in. We (Team Karis- back month one) decided we would bless the people in the area by making a sidewalk for them to walk on instead of the muddy path that they would use day after day, rain or shine (IN THE VIDEO POSTED). Where the kids would walk to get to school, the ladies would walk to get to the markets... getting their shoes muddy and wet all the time, the path was covered in garbage. While we were building the side walk we met Annabelle. Her house is right across from where we were building the sidewalk. She would come out every day and watch us as we played with all the kids in the area. Her kids are very shy so they would just watch from a distance at first. We approached Annabelle and we were happy to hear that she spoke a little english. She was ALWAYS smiling and waving at us, she had a very inviting personality. After meeting Annabelle we started to visit her regularly... daily. She would teach us Tagolig (language of the Philippines) and we would just enjoy each others company. One day we (Tangi and I) went to her house and we were sitting outside talking and she mentioned that she liked my earing... so I took them off and gave them to her. She seemed SHOCKED... but what was going through my head was... this is my opportunity to do as Jesus told us Whatever you do unto the least of these you do unto me and The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away. With blessing someone else I was in turn blessing myself not even knowing I was doing it. One day Tangi and I decided that we wanted to make Annabelle a meal we were going to make MEXICAN. We brought cokes and ICE CREAM for the kids. She loved it!... but my favorite part of it all was that she went and found all of her friends in the area and invited them to come eat with us. So what ended up happening was we were able to bless more than we imagioned! We prayed that God would multiply the food... and he DID. There is no way that what we made could of fed that many people without Gods hand in it all. Annabelle and her family were a TRUE BLESSING to Tangi and I. I will never forget her. Oh yes and I forgot. The day that we brought Annabelle a random gift (a dress for herself, and some toys for the kids)... IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY.... and we had no idea till we showed up and gave things to her. Later the following week Annabelle had US over for lunch. She cooked all day and prepared FISH and green beans and more more more for us(picture above of the meal that day). She has very little money but she blessed us by cooking up a FEAST. Truely the heart of JESUS. When we left town to go to Hong Kong she came to where we were living to say goodbye and hug us. As we embrassed I felt her start to shake and saw the tears forming down her face... We gave her some photos we had printed off for her and her family to remember us. We met JESUS in the Philippines and she did not even realize it. She was the most AMAZING woman and I will NEVER EVER forget her. I know one day that God will bring me back there to Annabelles house and we will be reunited again! AND I CAN'T WAIT!!! LOVE WINS.

Thank you for taking a trip down memory lane with me!! It was fun to relive that memory!

I have many more people to tell you about that I would invite to my party if I were to have one... BUT I must go one at a time! So next time I have the chance I will tell you about CHINA!!!

LOVE WINSSSSSSSSSS. ALWAYS!!!

Romania! VIDEO by Audrey!!

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

ENJOY A LITTLE BIT OF ROMANIA!!!

GYPSY STYLE!!!

love wins.

I am truely going to miss this place!

CRIBS Romania STYLE!

Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

TRANSYLVANIA, Romania!

Who knew living life with the GYPSIES would be so WONDERFUL!!!

Running water: CHECK!

Western toilet: CHECK!

Fridge: CHECK............................ AND SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH MORE!!! CHECK IT OUT!!

love wins.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

Sat, 9 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM!!!! I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU and MIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSS YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!! ENJOY THE VIDEO!!! It was made special just for YOU :)

LOVE your little KK

INDIA!! *awesome video by Steph!

Thu, 7 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Christmas Video

Sat, 2 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Enjoyed a HOT Christmas in Kenya!! Sorry it's 5 months late :)

LOVE WINS.

Moldova CRIBS

Sat, 2 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

MOLDOVA... living aint easy... but it was "Interesting". Enjoy a little virtual tour of our house slashliving conditions this month put on by our very own Rebekah Phelps!!

Not Audrey's Video ENJOY INDIA

Sat, 2 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Calcutta, INDIA. What dont kill us makes us stronger!! HA this month was AMAZING. UNIQUE people, buildings, culture.... LOVE IT!!! ENJOY! LOVE WINS.

MOLDOVA TRADITION!

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

WELCOME TO MOLDOVA!

Audrey is coming back from the well with two buckets of WATER! (notice the clean hair...this must of been after one of the 2

showers that we got to take this month :)

Laundry day!! We would take our clothes down to the creek, wash them, and then bring them back up to the house and find "something" to hang them on to dry :) MOLDOVAN TRADITION!

cave

MOLDOVAN CAVE. Don't let this picture mislead you.... it was DARK down there... one flashlight for 10 people!!

MOLDOVAN TRADITION!!!

Cooking ourselves some delicious sausages over the camp fire!

Easter Dinner. Celebrated a week after Easter in the USA. MOLDOVAN TRADITION!

Our Village. Ocnita, Moldova! From one of the MANY HIKES UPHILL we went on with Andre! He was such a kid at heart! Always exploring... he said everything was "Very INTERESTING place"... SO GOOD! I will miss his HEART for FUN :)

Larissa (Andres wife- our contact) and Eric their son!! "Poopy" is "kiss" in Moldova... so he would ask us for a "poopy" and we would kiss his cheek. What a ladies man!!!

Train ride to Romania!! (little out of order) None the less it is always FUN on travel days....

Visiting an Orthodox monistary... little too caught up in the "religious" practices still. As you can see with the head coverings. Andre tells us in their eyes its okay to hate a family member or friend, but if you do not have your head covered you will not be spoken to.

Very sad that the idea is put into their heads. Andre is super fun though. He laughs and says "It is also a sin to clap in church... I AM A SINNER" and just laughs because he knows that God loves him even if he claps!! He is truely one of the most Godly giving people I have ever come to know. AMAZING HEART.

Andre and Larissa at the entrace to the Moldovian Cave. It was a very little entrance. Andre told us that Dogs and Cats made it as a home to stay warm... haha he is such a jokester... he later told us that God made the cave. MOLDOVAN TRADITION!!

Our toilet facility! Anyone have to pee? It was an adventure in itself this month!! LUXURY.

PULL THAT UDDER!! We got to go across the village to visit with a woman named Lidia (she is a BABUSKA- grandmother) she FED US AND FED US until we would BUST...and then she let us have free milk....we just had to MILK THE COW ourselves.... very hard to do.... takes a lot of skill. I clearly was not very good at it.

Our Kitchen slash Dinning room area.... One house was for sleeping, the other for cooking and eating. Andre has a vision to turn these houses into a Rehabilitation Center for Alcoholcs & Druggies because that is a big problem in their area.

Braedon Tilling the garden. One of our tasks while we stayed at the house in Moldova was to prepare things for the Rehabilitation center!

Our house in Moldova! Audrey and I thought it looked like a little BEACH HOUSE.... if you forget about the FREEZING COLD WEATHER once the sun went down!! During this photo Bekah & Audrey were soaking up as much SUN as they could!!

MOLDOVAN TRADITION!!

Thank you Andre, Larissa and Eric for allowing us to be Friends, Family, Sisters and Brothers. We learned so much from your hospitality and unbelievably giving hearts this month. Your faith is contagious through action!! You are walking testimonies... never lose that PASSION FOR GOD!! I WILL MISS YOU & MOLDOVA VERY much!!

LOVE WINS.

Beautiful disaster...

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Miracles signs and wonders arent enough for me to prove to you

dont you know Ive always loved you even before there was time

Third Day

There is something special about Calcutta. What I like to call a beautiful disaster
I am inspired myself this month with this place. It's so cool to see a city desperate for something more... a spirit of truth. What I have realized is that I don't have to pray for God to come here because he's really already here... Always has been always will be. It's funny how the people who don't know him, the ones who are seeking after other gods in hope for hope essentially are the ones I see Jesus radiating through. They hunger and thirst for it but don't know what "it" is. The Hindu culture is so funny though because I will tell them I am Christian and believe in Jesus and they are like" oh yes he's a great one, but there's also this god for luck and this one for health..." haha no no sir just one for all of it!! But they are so rapped up in what they know it's very difficult for them to comprehend it all! It's really great to see every ones heart once you start to realize how HUGE they really are. We really are in such a run down, crazy, noisy place, with crowded streets that seem disastrous... But there is a mysterious beauty to it all... And I don't fully understand it... But I know God is moving. I honestly feel SO VERY lucky to be able to experience it all.
The reality of human suffering is apparent throughout the entire city... It breaks my heart with every person I pass.

You see the radiance it in the kids faces, the joy of the people you meet randomly, the way they love and look out for eachother ALL the time. It's clear God is right there IN ALL of it... They just don't know how simple it all really is. The poor take care of the poor, its like second nature. It happens all around usthe shop owners, taxi drivers all trying to help each other out. Its about their brothers and sisters around them, not about themselves.

There is a boy we met... poorest of the poor. He lives with a bunch of squatters and his family, his dad died 1 year ago and after his fathers death it turns out that his father somehow had all this money the family never knew about. So the boy took the money and is building a 4 story building for like 200 people (squatters with bamboo poles and tarps for homes) to set up their homes for free, to live together in community... with real shelter, a REAL ROOF over their heads.

(above is the construction on the 4th floor)

He could of taken that money & gotten his family out of there for good but instead he sees the bigger picture... The mural and not just the brushstrokes...It's like I want to scream " you got it! You get it!! The kingdom is yours if you want it!!" He is truly bringing heaven to earth, and does not even know it. Unfortunately it is not that easy here to spread the good news... So we make friends with the people of Calcutta we hang out and get to hear their hearts for their life, family, the city.... we either plant the seed for the reaper who will come at a later time or if we feel like God telling us to go for it and we are able to initiate the conversation, we do! What I have realized in my own life from being here in Calcutta is that to be filled you can not just fill yourself you gotta let it FLOW out of you. By seeking after the father he fills me with love and joy and patience and all the other fruits of the spirits so that I can FILL OTHERS! Children, prostitutes, mothers with no husbands to support them, lepers, beggars, THE FORGOTTEN Something I strive to achieve daily is to show people Jesus LOVE whether through a smile, a friendly conversation, blessing someone with a meal, encouragement. Encouragement is a big one with the children we have been working with in a school across the river from Calcutta. Truly the poorest of the poor in India. They live along the railroad tracks, near the coal factory. They come to school every day same clothes, greasy hair, covered in soot, their backpacks falling apart with holes and just dirttyy conditions, no shoes, malnourished (big bellies and reddish hair which is a sign of lack of proper vitamins and nutrition). BUT THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL I MEAN TRULY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. Between the ages of 5-11ish and we have the true honor of being blessed by them every time we cross the river.

I worked with the youngest kids, anywhere from 5-9 years old depending on their education level. We learn ABCs, 123s, colors, sing songs play games I absolutely loved it! Whats funny though is as I was there I realized that Gods plan in me being there was not to teach ABC 123 but instead to teach LOVE, COMPASSION, to give them the attention they cravveee and dont get from home. They are so loveable. They draw pictures and I get to tell them how creative and beautiful their pictures are and see that PRICELESS SMILE on their faces as they hear it. AHHH I LOVE IT! All they want is LOVE, all they need is LOVE and I did all I could do to LOVE THEM with everything that God has given me.
Its a constant festival of human existence being played out before our eyes daily- on the crazy loud fun streets that to some can seem disastrous but its life for these people, day in and day out and I think God brought us here to see that to get a chance to understand what these people go through daily. Of course there are the beggars that are on every street and every time you turn the corner, but that too can be a drag because you want to give to all of them but that would be impossible and we have heard if you buy something for them they will just go sell it back to the market and get money for it its really a tough cycle. So I take Gods perspective on these people. They are humans trying to live life just like you and me, they need love and attention too, and God loves them just as much as he loves you and me! They are genuinely in need of things, like shoes, and food, and shelter. But all I have to give is LOVE and thats what I give I know that with God the pain and the sufferings in their hearts will be washed away in his love and grace. So I try to show them Jesus daily.
Like the song:
All who are thirsty and all who are weak- come to the fountain, dip your heart in the stream of life, let the pain and the sorrow be washed away in his mercy

While the poverty here will always remain in your face and throughout the city the streets come alive through the people. Its 95 and sunny (not to mention HUMID as heck) but thats life in Calcutta. Best way to describe it is that we are absolutely positively BAKING- the cool wind sure is a blessing when it does come.

Ive tasted, heard and seen the food the flavor, the people, the pollution, the noise, honking honking honking, the amazing character and charm of the old buildings, the unique identity this city has. It is one of the poorest and over populated cities in India, but it is a city of simple JOY everywhere you just have to look for it in the little things.

Its a constant eye opening experienceconstant.

I came across a quote by Mother Teresa the other day, well a few quotes (you know me:) ) and they put things in perspective for me because she worked here for so long and had such a heart for this place and even though she did sooooooo much for this area the poverty still exists and probably always will... she brings light to the situation at hand.

She says :
" We can do no great things, only small things with great love"

"Like Jesus we belong to the world living not for ourselves but
others. The joy of the lord is my strength"

"Jesus made it very clear... Whatever you do to the least of my
brethren you do to me. Give a glass of water, you give it to me.
Recieve a child, you recieve me"

"Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in the little
things is a great thing!"

"Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great
things on the condition that you believe much in his LOVE than in your own weakness"

LOVE WINS. ALWAYS.

My WISH

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

WOW. Last few days in Africa... amazing how fast 3 months of your life can fly by. So MANY memories made. My life/ perspective on life has changed SO much through this experience. My feelings would best be described through a little ditty by one of my favorite bands Rascal Flatts titled..."My Wish"

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry , more than you can hold.
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody LOVES YOU , and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this is my wish .

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the , place you left.
I hope you always forgive, and you , never regret.
And , you help somebody every chance you get.
Oh, you find Gods grace , in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

This is my wish for AFRICA and TEAM CRUX.

Rough, tough and all that stuff...

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

JAMBO!!

Below is an exerpt from my journal... Just wanted yall to know what I have been learning and dealing with first hand!! ENJOY....

I am indeed alive and well! 3rd and final month/country in AFRIKKKKAAA (TANZANIA)!!! DUDE it is hott but the kids are still SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE!! I will sneak a little African child home for all of you to take care of until I get back!! I hope that AMERICA has been fun while I have been gone!! :) I am soooooo sorry yall have not heard from me!!! These 3rd world countries are not the best with keeping people in touch...dial up internet keeps me limited on time here at the internet cafe..and by cafe I generally mean. hole in the wall with 3 computers and VERY SLOW at that. There are women walking around outside with giant platters of bananas on their heads...like at least 40-60 bananas....they would make the perfect models though because they have perfect posture, flawless skin, tall and thin!! I am ready to move on from AFRICA now...it has been great but its just a dirty place...and not like its dirt roads and we sleep in huts (because we do) BUT what I mean is the men are dirty...always grabbing you and pulling your arms and the spiritual realm is just scary... If I do not pray constantly I am under attack from many demons....I have HORRIBLE dreams...I helped cast a demon out of a baby the other day that had been going to a witch doctor for healing and she stared at me and her eyes turned black and I said "in Jesus name" and rebuked the demon and cast it out of her and she started drooling (and when I say drool I'm talking a pitcher of water coming out of her mouth) it was all over her moms arm and her eyes went back to normal. IT'S A CRAZY SPIRITUAL WORLD OUT HERE! ITs tough sometimes...REALLY TOUGH.. I am TIRED and I just want a vacation...but I have 6 months LEFT! but the 5 that have gone by have been SOOOO FAST ...so that is a good sign... but I TRUELY am having an AMAZING time...I do miss home...this is the first month I have felt home sick... but I know that this is a once in a lifetime experience so I am making the best of it every day!! I really enjoy the kids here.... I just think that because it is the 3rd month in AFRICA I am ready for something new...ya know?? I head to INDIA in less than 2 weeks!! Then after that we head to eastern Europe! So that will be good...at least it will be a little cooler temp. wise in Europe. NOT INDIA... another HOTT MONTH but I think that with all of the training we have been able to war with here in AFRICA, India will be a wonerful chance to learn even more... we are in Tanzania now...seen lots of good things too...lots of healings and miracles ... SO I AM LEARNING A LOT... might be a little weird when I get back... but I will know a lot more about who I am and what I am here for!! Constantly challenged every day!! LOTS of good friends here though!!!

PRAY for us... month 5 was supposed to be a doozy... but GEEZE it has been rough. In constant battle with the evil spirits. I know that We as followers and believers of Jesus Christ will ALWAYS WIN... but that does not mean that the battle is not hard as HECK to get through....

Hope this helped yall to get a little perspective on my life right now!! LOOOOOOOOVE YALL!! MISS EVERYONE!!

Living day by day. Loving constantly. Fighting through the tears with smiles. It's a tough world, a sad world. Reality Check.

Love WINS.

Faith into ACTION

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

From KARIS to CRUX. No one is replacing anyone person, we are just expanding our family & growing our faith in God by trusting him with everything.

What the team changes are doing is teaching us about family. This isn't about the World Race it's about trusting God. Things will always be changing and we have no control over it. Grief is a reaction to the loss which is Gods plan.

One terrible quote is to say that "Time heals all wounds". Time itself does nothing to heal your heart. We can learn how to not show we are hurting, but time will just let it grow and become anger. It's not our place to say how other people should grieve.

Ask yourself: Why is this impacting me this way? What do I need to grieve in my life that I am holding onto?

Let the Lord heal you.

Ecclesiastes 3: There is a time for everything...

There is a time to heal, a time to weep, a time to laugh, time to dance, time to be silent, time to speak, time for war & a time for peace...

God is ALWAYS reveling himself to us in the grief & in the JOY.

Grieving for JOY, to heal the heart, to become stronger, better, to understand it all. Through the laughter and tears.

He is taking us to new levels. Gotta trust him with you & your heart before you can trust him with others.

This verse will sum up your very existence... ECCLESIASTES 12: 9-14

Fear God and keep his commandments. For this is the duty of every human being. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing. Whether it is good or evil.

Jesus says we have no rights. If you think you have a right to something you will never have a voice.

Whatever we do in the secret is where the power is. ONLY WHAT GOD SEES.

We must always place our entire dependence on GOD.

*Thoughts & notes on a teaching by Lisa Black.

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is bring sure of what we hope for & certain of what we do not see.

I wish everyone of you could be here with me during this amazing faith lead journey!!! It is an incredible experience!! Thank you to all who have supported me through prayers, thoughts, emails, and money. I still need 3,228 dollars to complete my goal for this trip! Thank you to all who have helped me out thus far on the race!! I have enjoyed it every much!!

LOVE WINS.

Life i$ GOOD

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

JAMBO! (Hello in Swahili)

I am happy to say that we (Team CRUX) are now in Tanzania safe and sound! Mwanza to be exact! It is BEAUTIFUL! We are on the southern most point of lake Victoria! Lots of fishing boats on the lake. They say they catch a lot of Talapia fish (which we actually had for dinner last night...bones and all :) but typical of AFRICA! ) The hills that surround this area are soo nice as well. Their are massive white rocks that protrude up out of the hills all over the area that give it a very unique atmosphere different than the areas I have been thus far in Africa. It is very GREEN and lush because it is so close to the water! SO NICE. Pastor Paul is who we are working with for the month! He has provided/ opened his home up to us this month where we will live with him in community (much of what I have been learning on this trip)! We are soooo thankful to have a house to stay in...we even have BEDS!! BONUS! 5 girls in 2 queen beds... but they are still BEDS :) and.... drum roll pleaseeee....a WESTERN TOILET!!! No squatty (it's a miracle in itself!!) AMEN to that. We just got here yesterday after a 16 hour bus ride from Kenya. We are praying that many AMAZING things will happen this month and we hope to learn a lot from Pastor Paul, his family, the community,and his church (which is SOOO CUTE by the way) I will try to get pictures of it up when I get a chance! Today we are going to be working with the Womens ministry leading a bible study. Every afternoon this week Pastor Paul has a different ministry opportunity for us! We also will be doing a lot of door to door, a conference, preaching, open airs (where people in the community gather where we go and we play music and give a message and dance A LOT). LOTS OF GOOD STUFF we don't even know about!! VERY EXCITED!

I have been informed I still need 3,228 dollars in support money to finish this amazing mission around the world!

If you have anything that you can give... big or small... it will all go towards growing the Kingdom of God and spreading the LOVE he has to his people through my hands and feet. AND I COULD NOT BE MOOOOOOOORE EXCITED TO DO IT! I loooove this life I am living even if the living conditions are minimal and the food has bones in it. I praise HIM for the little things that I would of never thought of before.... and that's what this trip is teaching me. TO BE THANKFUL in all things because God will provide... just like he does with the lillies and the sparrows.... He will always provide for his people.

Thank you ASANTE SANA! Have a wonderful DAY!!

Peace & Love.

AFFRRIKKA

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Life is pretty CRAZY over here in AFRIKKKA.

We have been through 2 countries thus far in AFRICA: Kenya & Uganda... & now we are off to TANZANIA for 5 weeks. Mwanza to be exact. Right on the shores of good old LAKE VICTORIA, the biggest lake in Africa. (Month 5 YIKES)

I have learned HEAPS & HEAPS about my faith. Who I am. What my purpose in life truly is. What the real meaning of sisterhood/ brotherhood really is. To LOVE people unconditionally regardless of circumstances, truly being able to see the HEART OF GOD in every one I encounter... or at least really working on it :)

We have gone through team switches... which was a lesson learned in itself. No longer with Team KARIS, but now with a new group of amazing people who are going to teach me amazing things, and I in turn will be able to impart knowledge into their hearts *I hope :) I have been able to see miracles from the Lord right before my eyes. Which set my faith on FIRE. It's ALL wayyy to real now to not believe it...even if I didn't want to believe anymore... there is no way that could happen. EVER.

GOD IS REAL and GOD IS LOVE. He wants the best for us, even if it means breaking out hearts, tearing us apart, teaching us difficult things, to rebuild us, strengthen us, challenge us SO in return we can ROCK out in Jesus name for the Nations we are going to. LIT UP for HIS KINGDOM on earth.... not bringing people to HEAVEN but the reality is we are trying to BRING HEAVEN TO EARTH. To bring HIS LOVE TO THE WORLD, HIS COMPASSION, JESUS' CRAZY free soul that only comes to those who TRULY SEEK his heart and see him & others for who they are in God. I've learned to be a GIVER OF GRACE...again, something I will always have to work on, choose in every day, and fully live like Jesus on earth. To SHINE, to radiate love through smiles, loving words, giving, being a servant, loving life whether it is a mountain top experience or when we go through hard things that just don't seem fair, or see the poor suffering. No food, no money, no skills to get a job, those who think they have been left behind... or don't matter. Or those who are not heard. The sick, AIDs, diseases doctors can not even name. Those who ask us for money. I remember in those times Acts 3:6 Healing the lame beggar.

New American Standard Bible

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mothers womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us! 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene"walk! 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

I am a poor missionary, I don't have money to give them. Just like Peter and John. They dropped everything to follow Jesus. They saw that there are something VERY different about him, his way of life through their time with him. They trusted him to PROVIDE.

Through the spirit I can give God's LOVE, GRACE, JOY, PEACE, FREEDOM to the oppressed, the sad hearts, the ones who need LOVE but don't know how much GOD ALREADY LOVES THEM... I WANT THEM TO KNOW!!!! ITS TOOOOO GOOD NOT TO KNOW!! It's not fair that some people have never ever heard the name of JESUS.

In order to do this I too need money! As much as I wish it didn't exist.... it still does. And in order to continue on this journey for Jesus & his KINGDOM... in order to continue to spread the LOVE to the cultures around the WORLD I need a little less than 4,000 USD in my support account. I am relying on God to do wonders here. I know he will because I know that I am supposed to Finish this race with the 50 others that I am here with! So if you have anything you can give... anything at all, no matter how small or how big, I will be forever thankful & grateful for the money that comes from the HEART. Those who want to see the KINGDOM grow but are not able to get their hands dirty for months on end in CRAZY countries around the world. I will be your hands & feet for Jesus! I will be MORE THAN HAPPY to walk that out for you :)

Gotta SPREAD LOVE AROUND. BROTHERS & SISTERS.... This is the time of my LIFE. I have LEARNED SOOO Much through your support already :) Thank you Thank you from the bottom of my HEART. GOD IS GOOD. I trust in him & have full faith he will work it all out!

LOVE WINS.

SEEing is Believing!

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! OKAY SO I AM FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW!!! CRAZYYY STORY YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ!!!! GET EXCITED!!!!!

SOOOO It is our last day here in Lira Uganda! We have been doing a little hospital ministry this week (for the past 3 days). We have been going into the hospital and talking and praying for healing. We have met a lot of interesting people with many things wrong from babies to old men. A lot with AIDS, malaria, weird swellings, fungus...you name it they have it. The sad part of it all is that the hospital is very poor. They said they have lots of well trained staff, doctors and nurses, but no money for med's. So a lot of the people who come into the hospital that are sick have to go out and have someone buy the med's from the shop in town that are very expensive. I asked a doctor what the average income of a family here in Uganda is and he said around 100,000-200,000 shillings if they do well. The exchange rate from Ugandan Shillings to the American Dollar is 1900 to 1. These families usually have no less than 6 people in them...usually more. So we made our way around the hospital the past three days. We met a man named Maxwell who used to be a police officer. Hes gotta be around 35 years old and he is sick in the hospital. He has been there for like a month and the doctors do not know what is wrong with him. His wife is there wiht him every day praying and taking care of him. What it seems like to us is some sort of muscle deterioration. They said they have run many tests on him but they can not figure out what is wrong with him (prob. because they don't have money for the right kind of tests to run). With the muscle strength going his eyes have also failed him...his wife told us that he has not been able to see for over a month. So every day for the past three days we have been coming to see him and his wife. Most days he just lays there still. sometimes wiggling around a little, mumbling his words. He knows we are there, but we prayed and prayed for him and his wife who has been along side of him this whole time. Today, our 3rd day there with him, we decided to lay hands on him one last time before we leave and then be able to walk away knowing that God had Maxwell in his hands from that point on and understanding that his will WILL BE DONE for Maxwell. Our whole team and Libre as well as Allison as grown a bond with him and his wife over the few days we were there. She would always be excited that we had come to pray! WELL TODAY after we prayed for him we said our goodbyes and a cupple people walked down into the rest of the ward to pray & into other areas of the hospital. Braedon & I decided to stay where we were and pray for the other people in the 10 or so other beds that were in the room with Maxwell. One after another we prayed for healing and love and comfort for all of them! About 15 minutes into that I hear Maxwells life saying "Come come, come see". She has tears building in her eyes from the excitement. I ran over to see what she was getting out attention for and MAXWELLS EYES WERE OPEN and he was SMILING from ear to ear, saying "JESUS AMEN" over and over again!! So I did what any "normal" person would do and begain to jump up and down in excitement looking at him saying "DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS??? JESUS HEALED YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE LOVES YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH THAT HE OPENED YOUR EYES SO THAT YOU CAN SEE YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE AGAIN!!!!" (I litterally was going CRAZY... prob. thought I was a little weird) He kept closing them and then opening them again and smiling and AHHHH IT WAS JUST SOOOOOOO EXCITING....adn instead of mumbling he was SPEAKING clearly... saying "JESUS, and PATIENCE & PRAYER". I just started thanking God for him. Through Jesus healing him I think I was filled with the Joy of the HOLY SPIRIT!!! I was shaking and freaking out and I ran to get my other friends from where they were praying and Lindsay & Tangi saw me coming towards them... RUNNING and WAILING my arms in the AIR saying " JESUS HEALED HIM!!! MAXWELL'S EYES ARE OPEN!!!!"

I think part of what I am feeling right now in PURE 100% JOY from the Lord! I have never doubted what has been done in the bible BUT SEEING SIGHT BEING GIVEN TO THE BLIND in front of my very eyes is an INCREDIBLE TESTIMONY TO GODS POWER, LOVE, COMPASSION on his CHILDREN. I could also tell that Maxwell was filled with the spirit because of his smile....he looked like a little kid who had just experienced something for the first time...the wonder and joy that you could see radiating through him was CONTAGIOUS! I too now feel like a kid sooooo stoked on life full of wonder and awe of what just happened. I SAW GOD TODAY through Maxwell and I will never ever ever ever forget it! PRAISE THE LORD!!

Pray that Maxwell will continue to regain strength within his entire body!!! AMEN!

Kenya Matt 10

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

KENYA IS AMMMAAAZZZZINGGGGGGGG :)

This message comes from an email that Allison had send our team as a little encouragement and I LOVED IT!!

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!

It is all from the message version of Matthew 10.

"Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they'll be mighty sorry-but it's no concern of yours now.

21-23"When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.

26-27"Don't be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don't hesitate to go public now.

28"Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life-body and soul-in his hands.

We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing."

Keep bringing Kingdom--even to the ones who seem like they don't want it. Those kids need YOU--even if they do have the glue too. LOVE covers a multitude of sin.

Allison Johnston

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Kenya Quote it?

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I'm Alive and well here in KENYA!! LOVING LIFE, LOVING THE PEOPLE, loving our hosts Pastor William & Pam! Lots of good memories being made with my team (who are AMAZING!) and all the Children around the area!

Below are some quotes that my Dad sent me because he knows how much I LOVE QUOTES :)

I thought I would share them for EVERYONE TO SEE because they are encouraging to me and hope they will give you the same feeling!! ENJOY! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

LOVE KK

You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.

    - Winston Churchill

    Life is an echo -- what you send out comes back.
    - Unknown

    There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else.
    - Peyton Conway March

    Complete possession is proved only by giving. All you are unable to give possesses you.
    - Andre Gide

    He who allows his day to pass by without practicing generosity and enjoying life's pleasures is like a blacksmith's bellows -- he breathes but does not live.
    - Sanskrit Proverb

    No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.
    - Calvin Coolidge

    I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.
    - Albert Schweitzer

    If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
    If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
    If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.
    If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.
    - Chinese proverb

    Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.
    - Seneca

    What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other.
    - George Eliot

    A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.
    - Lawrence G. Lovasik

    Giving opens the way for receiving.
    - Florence Scovel Shinn

    Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
    - Oprah Winfrey

    The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
    - William James

    Appreciation can make a day--even change a life, Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.
    - Margaret Cousins

    Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
    - Gladys Browyn Stern

    Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it.
    - Unknown

The big Chiner

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Above: Cindy & I on the Great Wall & Team Karis @ the Forbidden City! (funny personalities!)

NI HAO! (hello from CHINA!)

Well I endured a VERY cold month in China! Yikes... I thought I was going to skip winter for the second year in a row, but I was sadly mistaken! We were up in the Norther China Desert area for the month! Lots of cold cold winds, sometimes even snow! I am very glad however to be back in Hong Kong with warmer weather and only wearing one layer of clothes as opposed to everything I owned!

I had a GREAT month! Lots of long trian rides, one time even over night twice....30 some hours. But we had beds and bunk mates to keep us company! Once we were up north we divided up into our teams and all went to little towns throughout the area. Team KARIS went to 4 small towns that were all very similar looking, but all had a completely different feel. The first town we went to we were not welcomed at all. It was a transfer city where there were not a lot of friendly faces. We then decided to pack up and move onto the next town. Here we felt a little more comfortable, a few more English speakers. We stayed in one of the worst hostels China could of provided for us, where we did not shower for 7ish days. Our hair looked great. BUT we LOVED IT...even if we say we didn't. It was here in this hostel where I turned 24! YIKES! Two of the girls on our team had made friends with the bakery lady and they got me an awesome cake covered in frosting that ended up tasting like perfume... but thats besides the point! The thought that counts!! :)

Up until this point we had noticed that there were two men dressed nicely driving a shiny black VW that seemed to be appearing everywhere we were going. Well... turns out that it was the PSB! The secret police of China following our team around trying to prevent us from disrupting their country! HA it became more of a game though... every corner we turned they were there. Every hotel we pulled up to their cars were already there waiting or they were right behind us.

One day we decided to break all the rules and go and worship in the town square. Braedon grabbed his guitar and Brandon, Cindy & I followed along! Cindy and I walked around the square 7 times singing and dancing while praying for hearts to be opened to what they were about to hear. Meanwhile, Braedon and Brandon found a cozy little spot right in the center of town and started singing and playing guitar. It was AMAZING. After Cindy and I had made our 7 loops we joined the boys in singing and drawing a crowd. They played for 2 hours or so and within that they drew a very nice size crowd. People of all ages came to listen... not sure what they were listening to, but little did they know a little bit of every word was seeping into their hearts little by little. They enjoyed the music and our smiliing faces, and although they could not communicate with us they smiled back and we were able to see God working in each one of them (without them even knowing). We had done what we had come for and were planting seeds for the harvest!

We enjoyed meeting people in each and every town. There were always young people, like high school age wanting to meet us and practice their english with us. That is how we started getting involved with the numerous schools we came to and taught english, taught them songs and dances, played games and talked to them in groups for an hour or two. One day we decided to teach the class the HOKIE POKIE. We started with the left hand in then the right and continued on until it was time to "put your head in" and since they did not speak english they did not know what we were saying...so basically it looked like we had all just bowed in unison. In which case they all started to clap and cheer for us thinking we were done. It was quite FUNNY.

We made friends with the different restaurant owners in the area. Eating lots and LOTS of noodles and dumplings! I think I would be okay with never eating them again. Although through all of this hard work I still can not use chopsticks for the life of me.

All in all our team REALLY was able to bond though out the month we were in China. We were not allowed out after dark in most areas because it was very dangerous for us we were told, even by the town head police at one point. So we were able to get to know eachother and our little corks and funny things that we all bring to the table! Life was rough at times, but would not trade out any of the memories!! I love my team and I love the growing hearts of the young Chinese people. I learned A LOT about myself and about how HUGE Gods LOVE IS FOR HIS PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. I am glad that I was able to show the people of China along with my team a little of GODs Love he has for them, whether or not they were aware that we were doing it. Something as little as a smile can bring light to a dark place and we were here to plant that seed for all to see!

LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH! I have many more stories and amazing things that have been happening! Email me if you would like to hear them! Katiemduff@mac.com I would love to share!

As for now this is GOODBYE from China/ Hong Kong! OFF TO KENYA & some warm weather!!

Schhhwwbyyyeee

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"What an amazing life I have" I keep telling myself every single day since I have left! Constantly reminded of how much God loves us and wants us to go into the world and share his love throughout the world! I find myself saying "How am I SO LUCKY" "Why did he pick me?". I love life, love love, love people, I love change, I love being thrown out of my comfort zone, I love friends that have become family... I could go on forever!

I am sooooooo thankful for the life God has chosen for me!!

I am now in Hong Kong at debrief. The Philippines was AMAZING. I will miss the people (especially the kids) VERY VERY MUCH! Below are two VIDEO LINKS:

This first video is one that Brandon put together about our time in the Philippines! It makes me tear up just watching it and thinking about how many AMAZING people touched our hearts for the month that we spent there!!

Go to brandonclayton.theworldrace.org

and click on the left hand side "Cut through video" and you can see some of the fun that we had in the Philippines!

This is a link to a VIDEO of our "Race Day". Lindsay is amazing and she keeps up to date with all of the photos and videos for all of us to share with yall back home! SO Thank her for this one below :) And ENJOY!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8faGd0CkiI&eurl=http://lindsayheston.theworldrace.org/?filename=hong-kong-race-day-video-with-pictures

We leave Hong Kong Saturday! Talk to everyone in a month! Keep our teams in your thoughts and prayers!!!!!!!

LOVE YALL!

Pagsanjan Falls, Philippines

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Pagsanjan Falls!!

Yesterday my team (KARIS) joined with team DUNAMIS to go on an EXTREME adventure down the Pagsanjan Falls here in the Philippines! It is located about two hours south of Manila (where we are staying). So we loaded up the van and left at 5 am.

The boats above are what we rode in down the river'ish' water way. The men worked very hard and let us know that they were tired by their HARD grunting everytime they pulled us up the rocky areas of the water way.

Lindsay & I rocking our new 2 dollar sunglasses!

Us under the waterfall! Glad my camera is waterproof!

TEAM KARIS after the water fall adventure!

These are the small wooden vessels that took us under the waterfall...Yes it was totally submerged. BUT we made it there safely!!

We were blessed on our day off with AN AMAZING beautiful ADVENTURE!!

I am having an amazing time here in the Philippines!! The people here are amazing :) Soooo loving and welcoming! Our team has made some AMAZING relationships with the people here. I know this is where I am supposed to be. Everyday I step out of the gates here I am surrounded by children saying "ate (pronounced aa-thay) KATIE (which means older sister) and I get 100 hugs and kisses from the most amazing and loving children EVER :) And give LOTS AND LOTS of LOVE in return!

Things that catch your eye

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Enjoy a little piece of my heart for the Philippines...

We just finished our first week of ministry in the Philippines. I have found my HEART for the children of this area. It is a poor poor community with alcohol and drug addiction problems. There is SO much to do and so little time. Their homes are made of scraps of sheet wood, old signs, whatever they can get their hands on. They are lucky if they have electricity even for a light in their homes.

Houses stacked one after the other, often on top of each other. My team (KARIS) chose to make a sidewalk for the community. The area is called the "shortcut". When we came across it all we saw was a muddy garbage dump with people walking from one side to the other to get where they were going. Kids walking to school daily through this 50-100 meter mess. We took it upon ourselves to clean it up for the people, to do something positive in such a dark area. We started with a burning of the garbage that engulfed this area. So with gloves and shovels we made a huge pile to be lit up. Then flattened out the area, which made it very muddy. It rains daily here around the same time 4pm. The following day we put down a layer of rocks for the cement to be sturdy...with help from the locals and many volunteers on others teams. As we started everyone kind of found where they were needed. As the cement was poured it was hand carried in buckets to its destination.

Tangi & I took over the role of watching the kids to keep them out of the workers way. We fell in LOVE. They were so much fun, so LOVING. We even taught them the Hokie Pokie, which they are now obsessed with and we do every day...regularly. They also taught us a few of their games, I even learned a song! Roughly 20 kids at a time, but through the experience my heart broke for them. They want love, they need love. They don't get it from home. I have more than enough for all of them through the Lord who loves all of his children. I hope that through our interactions they see Jesus in me. I hope they find LOVE and HAPPINESS through us. See something different in our kindness. Through the 4 days it took us to clear the area and finish the sidewalk I learned a lot about my team as well. The The boys, Cindy & Lindsay are VERY hard workers, they stop at nothing to finish what they started. Bucket after bucket they pressed through day after day knowing that it was for the good of the community. That every time someone now walks on this sidewalk they will be filled with the Love and Joy of the Lord. Every time their shoes stay clean, or they don't slip and fall into the muddy trash heap on their way to the store. We needed Gods Grace and provision which FAR outweighed our dreams of getting this project finished. We'll sing the songs of heaven...and journey on...

Pictures of finished project soon to come!!!

Do it Anyway...

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I came across this quote by Mother Theresa the other day called "Do it Anyway" and I LOVED IT! Let it motivate you as we leave on this 11 month journey together!! Enjoy!

Do it Anyway

Written By Mother Theresa

        People are often unreasonable, illogical,
        and self-centered;
        Forgive them anyway.

        If you are kind, People may accuse you
       of selfish, ulterior motives;
        Be kind anyway.

        If you are successful, you will win some
        false friends and some true enemies;
        Succeed anyway.

        If you are honest and frank,
        people may cheat you;
        Be honest and frank anyway.

        What you spend years building, someone
        could destroy overnight;
        Build anyway.

        If you find serenity and happiness,
        they may be jealous;
        Be happy anyway.

       The good you do today,
        people will often forget tomorrow;
        Do good anyway.

        Give the world the best you have,
        and it may never be enough;
        Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway

*******************************************************************************************************

"There are many people who talk about the poor, but there are very few who actually talk to the poor." --Mother Teresa

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi

Whatsoever you do, 

do all to the glory of God.

- 1 Corinthians 10:31

1 John 3:18

18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Launch!!!!! URGENT!

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Lord has been so wonderful and blessed me with over half of my funds for the trip so I can indeed launch from LA to the Philippines on time with my AMAZING TEAM. What a WONDERFUL BLESSING :)

I come to you with URGENT NEWS Our fellow team mate & team LEADER Lindsay Heston is still in need of $8,500 in order to launch with us as a team out of L.A. on time to fly to the Philippines for our first WORLD RACE ministry! September 28 at 1 a.m.!!!!! She is an AMAZING woman of God. She already does SO much for this team and we have not even left the country yet!

She is our encourager, she leads by example, she has given her heart 100% to this team and our ministry opportunities. Her heart cries out to the Lord in thanks because she has faith that the Lord will provide and she will be sitting next to us on the airplane to the Philippines in 2 weeks!! Please pray along side our team as we go through the next 2 weeks seeking after the Lord for our team mate and AMAZING SISTER in CHRIST to be able to be the hands and feet of JESUS as we walk along side the people we will get to build relationships & LOVE on for the next 11 months!!

Lindsay has done the math for us and broke down a simple solution!! Read below how easy it can be with a lot of faith and generous supporters Lindsay will be ALL SET!! Below is an insert from her very own blog!

"I still am in need of 90% of my funds for the trip.

I need $8,500 in order to launch with my team to the Philippines.

THIS IS AN IMMEDIATE NEED.

Currently I do not have any monthly supporters. Anything will help.

That $4 you spend on a coffee once a week equals up to $16 a month

Over an 11 month period that is $176.

If 40 people committed to give just $16 a month I would be over halfway to my goal!

Also if 8 people gave sacrificial one-time gifts of $250

I will have $2000.

Lets get me on this trip. Whatever you can give.

The Lord has called me.

He will provide.

Now I am calling you as believer to rise up and give generiosly to the furthering of the kingdom.

Whether or not it is this ministry that you choose to support, give of yourself, your resources, and your finances to see the nations brought to their knees in surrender to Spirit of God."

She is SO much fun, amazing heart for cultures and passion for the people of the world. She is one of the most loving, considerate, and happy people I have ever met! :) She is a Blessing to have on our team and we would not be the same without our LINDSAYYYYYY!

Please PRAY for blessings over our sweet Lindsay!! You can click here to donate online.

http://lindsayheston.theworldrace.org/?filename=less-then-3-weeks

Please visit Her site above and see for yourself how INCREDIBLE she is :)

The World Race - Katie Duff

TWO weeks to go!

I've enjoyed it all...

So what kinda person are you?

Budapest, Hungary!

BUDAPEST FLOOD.

Andrea

Memory Lane- EVERYBODY is IMPORTANT!

Romania! VIDEO by Audrey!!

CRIBS Romania STYLE!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

INDIA!! *awesome video by Steph!

Christmas Video

Moldova CRIBS

Not Audrey's Video ENJOY INDIA

MOLDOVA TRADITION!

Beautiful disaster...

My WISH

Rough, tough and all that stuff...

Faith into ACTION

Life i$ GOOD

AFFRRIKKA

SEEing is Believing!

Kenya Matt 10

Kenya Quote it?

The big Chiner

Schhhwwbyyyeee

Pagsanjan Falls, Philippines

Things that catch your eye

Do it Anyway...

1 John 3:18 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:18

Launch!!!!! URGENT!

1 John 3:18

18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.