40 Days

It's been a while since I've taken time to write. Ironically there's now 40 days until I leave. Why is it that 40 days of say lent seems to last forever, but suddenly now 40 days is barely enough time to get my life sorted. As the days tick down so do the number of hours I sleep. I am so grateful that it is Friday and I have the weekend to check more things off my to do list without having to worry about getting sleep for work.

One week from today I'll be even more thrilled because it is the start to a week long vacation. One might (if they were sane) use this time to get loose ends tied up, pack, sort out things like insurance, banking etc. I however, (since sanity seems to have left me) will instead be on my way out to Bismarck to run a 5K obstacle course. I am truly looking forward to this though, not in the least because it is running, but because I get to see some of my best friends who I rarely see since college.

I am also looking forward to the hours on end in my car. It will be a great chance to immerse myself in cd after cd of spanish for dummies. I love road trips and this one will take me on quite the tour of North Dakota. From Park Rapids, to Fargo and on to Bismarck with visits possible in Beulah, Minot, Devil's Lake, Grand Forks, and Whapeton all before returning to the cities and then Austin. I fully expect to return from vacation completely exhausted. An entire week of open road and catching up with some of the best people I could ever know. Doesn't get any better!

For now though it's time to head out and get a few more of the many things checked off my to do list.

Prayer Request

Hey Everyone!
Please pray that another missionary would be led to join our group and serve at The Farm. We are in particular need for another man to serve. I know he is out there so please keep him in your prayers that he'd answer the call.

Prayers Answered

We have a nurse! I've just found out a 5th person has joined our group of missionaries. Laura will be joining us as a nurse which is wonderful since we did not have anyone to fill that role yet. We are still praying that at least one more person will join us. I hope you too will pray that another missionary is called to serve with us at The Farm. Ideally I'm told we are in need of a man who is bi-lingual (spanish/english) with a background or interest in social work.

Awe Inspiring

There are few moments in life when I've found myself absolutely floored by the generosity of others. Over the past few months I have seen so many of you give so selflessly without a second thought to help me in my mission. Whether it is just simply sharing in my excitement and sharing stories of your own adventures or giving financially to assist me in covering my costs; each one of you has blessed me in so many ways.

Just this past Sunday I was given the opportunity to share a little bit about The Farm with those at my parish(es). I had this whole talk written out, but once I got up there God took over and simply said go with it. I began sharing things that I had never thought about while writing my "script" and all I could think was somehow hopefully one or two things I said would stick with people. It must have because before I could even get to the little table I'd set up there was a pile of cash donations covering it. I don't know why it surprised me, after all I had asked for financial support. Yet I was completely surprised by the unquestioning generosity of so many people... most of whom I have never met.

It didn't stop there though. More donations came in after the 2nd Mass. One of the hospitality ministers who was helping hand out information brochures had her little boy holding a basket for donations. He came over to me with the donations afterward and never have I seen someone so excited to give me something. His smile alone made my morning. He dumped it into the basket at my table and I could see the story of the multiplication of loaves and fish unfolding right there. Not only will those donations help me in paying for things like language school, insurance, flights and daily living but it will be multiplied. With each dollar donated it provides us another opportunity to change the life of a child. I don't yet know just how that will be accomplished. I may never see the fruits of it, but I know that if I can improve the life of one of those children they can go on to do the same.

It is the excitement I see in everyone else that really helps me see that my mission is not just in Honduras, but is also to hopefully inspire others to give back in one way or another. I've had people already offer to send diapers and pillowcase sundresses. So many people simply want to do good.

There were two little girls who have really impressed me with their stories. While I was standing at my table after the 3rd Mass handing out information one young girl and her mom came up to me. We were talking a bit about the trip and right before they left the little girl simply said, "I will definitely be praying for you." I do not know her name or even her age for certain. To think though that this girl, who has probably yet to live a decade, is thinking beyond herself to the needs of others is truly awe inspiring. Then after Mass as I sat at a pancake breakfast chatting with a family there was another little girl who amazed me. She (seemingly more shy than the first little gal) said to her Dad (during my short spiel about The Farm), "Maybe I can do that some day." He told me this as she was sitting there. All I could think was... Wow! I hope you do. All I could say was, "Go for it!". If I can live my life so that some one else is inspired to live for Christ and pay it forward then that's all that matters.

Make today your best day!

~ Katherine

2 months & counting

I've purchased my tickets and applied for a new passport! In exactly two months I will be waking up in Guatemala for my first day of language school. All day I've been listening to cd's of "The complete idiots guide to Spanish". I sure hope learning by osmosis actually works.

Looking ahead at my schedule over the next 8 weeks I'm starting to realize how little time that really is. From getting more vaccines to packing and of course fundraising there's a lot to do all while still working 5 days a week.

I'll keep it short today since I have lots of fundraising brochures to get ready.