leaving on ANOTHER jet plane...

So. Its official. My visa was approved this morning at 2 am. Praise the Lord!

So i leave on Monday... back to Perth to keep running this marothan of mine...

Thank you for all your prayers, support and encouragement... I know there is alot ahead of me.. so I would greatly appreciate your continued prayers...

I have more than 50 hours of travel time... so rest. no stress. things go smoothly would be some things i will need your prayers for... that i will be able to catch up when i arrive a few days late...

God is soo good. So glad that it says in Psalm 119:105 "your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path"

Because I have no idea what I would do if I didnt have his light. soothing voice.

Today. Is a funny day. So many mixed feelings again. happens ever six weeks of my life i think... a trend- i thought i would be used to now... but i am not. my heart is still sad to leave Minnesota. Leave those I love most without knowing what all of our next seasons hold... but i am so excited for them... as my emotions are so mixed. I know I will continue to have a peace that passes all understanding with each new step i take...

Hopefully will get some photos up of everything straight away..

loves.

Kath

problems are fine..

So... As it is Dec 18... I need heaps of prayer in regards to my visa being approved. Realistically this week... i am however, not freaking out because I know in my best friend's book it says " For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 cor 17-18) " Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying "this is the way; walk in it." (is. 30:21)

so.. will you walk in faith with me for the approval of my visa so that i may be in Perth by the 2nd of Jan for my class... would you also trust with me that in the timing it is approved... there will be an open door to book a ticket. thank you...

i am inspired..

inspired by truth.
inspired by individuals that choose to live different.
influenced to stand in faith.
influenced to speak out.
challenged to live what i share.
challenged to be more intimate with the lord.
blessed to have world changers in my life.
blessed to have a god given friend.

glad i get the opportunity to see the shaping and making of a life that will impact others'... hear the stories of the victories won. the battles fought. glad i know someone who walks in a way jesus did when he was on earth... so grateful for her. the sacrifices she has made for you... for me.

jesse mcnally.

may you be one that continues to go forward.. never looking behind... but holding on... running with everything within you.

mysteries.

" i will take care of you. feel the warmth and security of being enveloped in my loving presence. every detail of your life is under my control. moreover, everything fits into a pattern for good to those who love me and are called according to my design and purpose (rom8:28)Because the world is in an abnormal, fallen condition, people tend to think that CHANCE governs the universe and events may seem to occur randomly with little or NO meaning.people who view the world this way have overlooked one basic fact: the limitations of human understanding. what you know of the world you inhabit is only the tip of the iceberg. submerged beneath the surface of the visible world are MYSTERIES too vast for you to comprehend. if you could ONLY see how close i am to you. how constantly i work on your behalf-you would never again DOUBT that i am wonderfully caring for you. this is why you MUST WALK BY FAITH, NOT SIGHT TRUSTING IN MY MYSTERIOUS MAJESTIC PRESENCE."

(jesus calling devo 12/12/07 by sarah young)

soon.

hey everyone. i apologize for not writing more over the past few weeks... and for not getting photos up. I just wanted to let you all know that i am returning to my wonderful homeland-america in about 9 days... so stoked! to see family. friends. chill. see what god is doing in that part of the world. to share what he is doing here in AUS!

I have been sick the past few weeks.. but am doing better now... will be going and getting hopefully more answers when i return home.... this weekend i leave with the other 275+ staff that are apart of our community for a week long staff retreat... usually takes place every 3-5 years. should be a refreshing time. hearing from the lord what is next in this next season. in the new year. how to go about fighting for what he has already spoken on behalf of!!!! ALso cool to hang with friends i dont get to see very much because of the different schedules.... then i head to MN!!!

God is so good. HIs provision. THe ability he has given me to keep learning how to be content in all circumstances... to trust him when i see breakthrough in areas... to keep trusting him when i dont... he is sovereign and just wanted to testify to that!!!!

In him,

Katherine- yes i am a missionary. given my life to the one i am so madly in love with... :)

booths.

these are some photos from spain, one with statue i am in madrid. last is a night out doing evo.. in a bar. we found this guy from star wars.. lol. i really really loved the RED PHONE BOOTHS. they are everywhere in europe. north and south. except this one the phones disappeared. we are in gibraltor-english colony. yet connected to spain. basically its own country. i was burning up in my outfit. thought it wsa goin to be hot that day. turned out i was wrong. :)

adapting..

well. i have made it back to perth. spent some wonderful time in northern ireland. meeting god there. seeing his treasures in the youth group we spent most of our time with. loves.

was blessed in rome. two day layover. saw god. yet the people there have missed it all.. so much history. so many tourists without a clue why someone like peter was killed. yet my heart cried out for them. felt god's presence in the midst of it all and am satisfied. with where i am. who i am. who he is creating me to be... learning how to REALLY LIVE IN EACH MOMENT. TO BE CONTENT IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE. (PHIL. 4:11-13) as paul puts it. how to relax. enjoy the thigns and people around me rather than longing for the next thing. the next place.

so. i am here. spring is arriving in AUS. have somewhat of an idea of what i will be doing next... serving in two different ministries. taking steps of faith. sharpening the tools he hasgiven me. sorry no photos yet... :) loves. to all. kath

get this...

so. classic. my team and i were out worshipping on the beach yesterday.. praying for people to talk to... or people to just walk up to us.

a few of us were about to head into the water when this kid walks up to us and asks us for a smoke. well. since we didnt have any. he was confused. asked my leader if he had a gf. was married... yada yada yada. i was just sitting there.. smiling. listening and trying to translate for the others.. when i heard him ask my leader if I had un novio... (a boyfriend) so i got up... decided to change and get in the water in my sweet loooooooong black tank top. that covers my bathers. well.. he kept standing there... looked out into the water at one point and waved for me to come in... i didnt. my leader tapped him on the back of the head and pointed down the beach. goodbye boy.

lol. i found out that he kept asking if he could meet my parents... why they werent there with me... oh. it was funny. then later we had some good convos with diff. folk. for some reason. here in spain when you approach people to say hello... or wave or even smile... they are quite shocked!!! and always seem to be asking me if i am morman or a jehovah's witness... lol. i always assure them that i am not...

life here in malaga is wonderful. god is moving. i fell back in love with him today. may sound weird. but it is true... felt great. being in his presence. listening to his soft whispers of encouragement and love. it was as if he was in the room... was brushing the hair out of my face... saying " katherine, i love you. want you to love me today. love me in this moment. love me with everything that you are. dont worry about tomorrow. how you will love me then. but look to me now. love on me."

psalm. 33:11... talks about how the purposes of god's heart will go from generation to generation.. isnt it cool how one of his purposes is to love us. love us unconditionally. everyday. every moment. in every instant. he loves. and he will never stop loving. he is a great dad. friend. caretaker. provider. protector. so faithful. real. ahh... i love him. :)

espana.

hey. i am here in spain. at the very tip... in between the Med sea and the atlantic... looking out at morrocco... working with a backpackers cafe. i am in charge of doing their laundry.. it is an amazing ministry... brings light into the area. had a visit with ladies that are going through rehab. touched. moved. challenged. god is great. they are strong women... facing victory after suffereing with heroin or coke... alcohol for over 30+ years. found the lord... fighting for him in their lives... to fill their emptiness.

I move to another place called MALAGA tomorrow. will be doing ministry until the 8th of sept.. then make the trip back to paris by car... two day drive or so. from there myself and my team head up to Belfast, Northern Ireland... to work in a tiny village called kesh.. back in perth on the 26th of sept. new seasons. daily. change. adaptation. catipulted. just a quick overview.. b/c i am not sure when i will have internet next.. loves. xoxoxo

hopefully will have new pics up soon. :)

el senor.

´expect to encounter adversity in your life, remembering that you live in a deeply fallen world. stop trying to find a way that circumvents difficulties. the main problem with an easy life is that it masks your need for me. when you become a christian, i INFUSED MY VERY LIFE INTO YOU. empowering you to live on a supernatural plane be DEPENDING ON ME. anticipate coming face to face with impossibilities: situations totally beyond your ability to HANDLE. this awareness of your inadequacy is NOT something you should try to evade. it is PRECISELY where i want you.. the best place to encounter me in my GLORY and POWER. when you see armies of problems marching toward you, CRY OUT TO ME! allow me to FIGHT for you. REST in the shadow of MY ALMIGHTY PRESENCE.´ (SARAH YOUNG in devo: ´jesus calling´)

dwells:remains:rests:relaxes:calm: because there is trust. hope. comfort. not anxiousness...

Ps. 91:1 ´he who dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the almighty´

This was back on the 18th of Aug... i am learning how to depend on god. what it means... how it is the very essence of all that i am... to hide in him. i was extrememly sick for three days.. attacked. yet holding on. to him. his truth. his love. who he is... alone. brings relief knowing i have a god that is committed to me. loves me. is satisfied with me...as i passionately pursue him and and him alone!!! i am not identified by where i am or what i am doing.. .but by the relationship i have with him. :) sigh.

french fun..

This is me... enjoying some nice `glacier' ice cream.. .quality team time... enjoying the french breezee... :) myself and anna-lisa... the team... then our lil surfer shed that we slept in.. i was up on a loft.. .trying to not fall off most of the time. but it was great.. nice and cozy. sad to leave this place...

Random photos.. to remind u of me. :)

Me and Mimi.. alil four year old with HIV..she is soo precious. plz pray for her health!!! (Piet Ritief, SA)

Biarritz. Random Story.

I love europe. Most importantly b/c i love sharing with people... The other day I met a girl from Ireland... got into random convos.. then she asked what I was doing... told her. ;) She said she is a catholic.. that religion is just apart of their culture.. then i asked her if anyone had ever told her she could have a relationship with god.. SHE said "No, You can?" Man. It was such a god moment.. opened up the door for me to share with her.. lil pieces about my testimony.. portions of who god is... She had a friend who was glaring at me the whole time and then told the person i was with.. wow. great speech she has there....hahahah. no but this sarah chick asked heaps of questions.. let me pray for her... then gave me a huge hug... and that was that... but i left in awe yet again of how god moves.. even speaks through me.. how i may never know if she comes to know him.. but that she now knows she can have a relationship with him... hmm. god is great!

Durban Beachfront... i looooove the ocean.

Paris-Bordeaux-Biarritz

greetings... just wanted to give you a lil run down on what has been happening... i was in paris for two weeks... then to a town called bordeaux.. now living on the south west coast of france in a VERY touristy town caled biarritz!!!!

Paris. Was beautiful. A melting Pot of people... from all over.. north african refugees...the spainish.. english. french. people from all over... it was great seeing the good ol' buildings.. that are famous. i have no idea how to spell.. or even attempt. the mona lisa.. was great.. the painting is alot smaller than i tought... took an elevator up to the top of the eiffel tower... o man. lol. ministry was full on.... i was in a m.usl.i-m focused group.. which was full on... i was challenged.. learned alot more about the religion... the differences. the way to shed light. the reality of how decieved the people are... yet... in the same place as those that live and thrive in materialism... humanistic.

When I was watching the Tour le France ride by... random that the last day they drove through the lil town "antony" i was staying at. I got to talk to this guy.. who is from a people group(again i dont know how to spell the name... maybe i need to go back to school..haha. lol).. which is the second most unreached in the world behind the maldives... it was his birthday. he is a m.u.sl-im. first time i had ever heard someone admit that in 'paradise' he will be able to drink, sleep with as many people as they want... b/c i guess that is the way their god is 'holy' lol. no it was good to be able to share with him more about who god is.. his characteristics... he was blessed. challenged.

In bordeaux. I became best friends with a lil three year old named Priscilla. Her mother and grandmother are from Gabon.. on the west coast of Africa near Congo... her family used to be mu.s.lims... now they are living strong for the lord... I had a real heart for this family... was able to befriend them... hear about their culture.. past struggles.. pray for protection over them.. where there hasnt been in the past.. I met a 25 year old guy named Gauthier.. who was in love with his wine. Does not believe in God... does not think it is for him... yet... after sharing with him... bringing perspective about beauty, love, life, hope, trusting others... he was blown away. had never heard about people living and loving jesus on a daily basis... man. it was definately a convo from the lord.. i walked away that night.. feeling alive. realized no matter where i am in the world.. i love sharing about the god who set me free... sharing with people about who he is... being someone to help bring light where there has been darkness... i love our lord... the beauty he has created in each and every individual... the way i can see him in people that dont believe in him... the way he is moving in my generation excites me... i just want us to move... to go into this world.. into our communities and bring truth. shed light. be real. honest. loving and lovable.. :)

Yes. I love it here in Biarittz as well... a lil hard with so many transitions... god is going deeper and deeper in my life.. walking through certain mindset.s... old fears.. fighting against the spirit of depression that is over this country.. not allowing it to have any hold on me... Here in this lil surfer city... i am living with an australian family... they have six beautiful kids (5months, 4, 6, 8, 16, 18) An amzing family.. still transitioning into the culture... we are apart of a surfing event they are putting on this friday.. their first evangelistic since they have arrived!!!! Today though..we woke up to go to the beach.. and someone had come and STOLEN all of their surfboards and wetsuits.... so sad. praying they will be returned!!!! I have had really good convos... in which i mean talked to people about what they believe, why, listened to their stories... shared my story. sharing more and more about who my god is.. .how i am learning about him everyday.. learning to hear his voice... i will be here in france for another week ... then head to Spain... then I am taking a lil bus trip to madrid with a guy on my team... we are going to see some of our friends from our DTS... my ol' bunk mate elin maria from norway... a crew from denmark and a gal from the states...I amm sooo excited since it has been more than a year that i have seen them... and i said goodbye to them of all places...while i was in Cairo... :) sorry this is long. will try to throw up some photos of the trip... can look at some from south africa on facebook. miss you guys. love you all.... Kath

My team members : Dan and Kate (Brazilian and Australian), Anna-lisa (Aussie), Amber, Tim and I ( Americans), Landry and Leah (Canadians), Ellen and Adam (New Zealanders) Boy. Do we have heaps of fun... always heaps of laughter... many a times am i laying on the ground...b/c of not watchin where i am walking or not thinking before i speak... so i get pushed over.. or buckle over in laughter... ;)

The journey...

From living a life of complete solitude to who I really was... then taking a trip to the southern hemisphere... my life was transformed. Not by men... by words... but by the truth of God. His son... my saviour. lover. best friend. the thing i live for. the reason i chose to live in a middle eastern nation for four months... the one who set me free from the lies i lived in and believed... the one who conquered my feen for alcohol by his death on a cross... though it was embarrasing and shameful at times... he revealed the dark in my heart and took it away... I am alive. I am living. I am set free. I am sharing truth. Fighting for the sake of others... Risk my friendships... my connection with loved ones... I am living by faith. Because he is worth it... worth it all.. I have been back in AUS since November.... traveled to the land of Zulu traditions for three months and arrived back in Perth a few weeks ago... have been called yet again to live by faith... trusting the lord as my father and provider... on my way to the first world... landing in Paris in a few days... fighting against the enemy for the salvation of god's children in that place.... living a life.. of going. going. going..... taking moments to refresh myself in the goodness of god... taking in the beauty of friends. the beauty of laughter. the beauty of finding delight in listening to someone else's story... the beauty in sitting in the presence of people that do or dont know god... hmm... i am rambling.. and if you know me... i do that best... but am going to try and figure out how to use this blog thing... put some photos up and post some testimonies from the last discipleship training school.. i was staffing within Youth With A Mission... having the priviledge of seeing a part of my generation be transformed for the sake of christ... to see the struggles... to be able to share what i have learned and to be an example as others have been one to me. To be a voice. To stand strong.... Oh ya. I am a missionary. Crazy as it sounds to me... but that is not my identity... i am still finding that out... ;)

The above photo is of my wonderful team in Joberg, South Africa. Our last day in the country.. enjoying a wonderful meal of GAME meat! yum. my fav was crocidile, wart hog and some rare buck....