The start to the next chapter!

WOW WOW!! The LORD IS FAITHFUL!! I have something very exciting to share with you!! Can you guess what it might be? Well, your guessing will have to wait, due to some background I want to share as to why I am going. Ever since I was little I knew that I was supposed to do life against the current. As I grew, that current kept pressing into this little fish; yet, I didn’t fully embrace it, just explored it a little here and there. 

It wasn’t until college and beyond that the Lord really began speaking of how to use my life. I found myself connecting with people from different countries, while at college, camp and in passing. Going into college I didn’t know what I wanted to pursue, but God knew who I needed to connect with. As I connected with people, He began calling me more into seeing the world with a Heaven mindset instead of an earthly mindset. 

After college I knew the Lord was calling me to do missions, but “how?” and “where?”  were questions that constantly turned over in the back of my mind. As I waited for clarity regarding those questions, I accepted a job with Invest Early. In the seven years that elapsed after college, I jumped around almost every year, constantly working with 3-5 year olds, yet the staff and surroundings often changed. I found some great people to work with, but it was only for a season. 

Having moved back home to save and invest in those around me, I was hungry for community. As I began this search, I found over those seven years, two wonderful groups of people to connect and share life with. The individuals in those groups helped me to explore missional living, by encouraging me to use my giftings here in my present community, while also gently pushing me to walk forward into whatever God has planned for me in His perfect timing.

As I pondered this conversation of missions over and over with the Lord, He patiently kept the door open for me, from the time I thought about it somewhere in 2009 to this past summer when the Lord really pressed it upon my spirit while I gazed at the vast beauty of many mountains in Montana. The Lord confirmed to me that this missions is what’s next. Was I willing to trust the Lord with everything that He had planned? Coming to grips with that, Yes! I will, and it’s a wild ride, yet it’s going to be worth it!! 

SO I applied, with both feet in and walked forward into the World Race adventure. I am not sure what will come each and every day, yet I know He holds the plans for those 11 months and beyond. Did you guess right?! I am going to serve and do missions across the globe, amidst covid19, and I am very excited to see how the Lord will continue to direct my steps.

The World Race is a program of Adventures in Missions, a non-profit Christian organization that has sent over 100,000 short-term missionaries across the globe. The World Race goes to 11 counties in 11 months and shares the gospel of Jesus with others. Starting in August, my team and I will be going across the globe. We will be partnering with ministry opportunities and churches to share in the love of Jesus to those who need it the most. I will be doing a lot of community outreach and development, spending time with unreached people groups, working with children in a variety of ways, along with prayer, refugee, and sports ministries to name some other avenues we could be serving.

I will be sharing the love of Jesus with these individuals who don’t have hope in Jesus. I hope to have the opportunity to share with them who very possibly will make an eternal impact and change the trajectory of their earthly lives. 

I will come upon many challenges as I embark on the 11-month journey, but as I prepare for leaving, one of my greatest challenges is my financial support. Like many other mission organizations, the World Race participants are required to fundraise financial support. In order to leave fully funded on August 1st, I need to raise $18,700. This money will cover all my field expenses for the 11 months of the journey. As I take this huge step of faith in trusting the Lord, will you prayerfully consider joining me through financial support?

You can give by:

1. Using the orange “donate” button at the top of my blog page: katieross.theworldrace.org

2. Send a check or money order payable to Adventures in Missions with my name in the memo line      (Mail to: Adventures in Missions,  PO Box 742570, Atlanta GA 30374-2570) Please mail only one check per envelope, as checks are processed by machine. 

3. Electronic Funds Transfer (Dynapay) – Go to www.adventures.org/dynapay/ to fill out an online form for a monthly donation from your checking. No transaction fee will be charged for the donations made through EFT. 

I’m excited for what is next and I am really looking forward to taking you with me as I journey forward into all that is ahead. I would love for you to partner with me as I embark around the globe. 

I will continue to use this blog to update you on my progress as I raise support, prepare for departure, as well as after beginning my adventure. Please keep visiting and feel free to message me with questions or words of encouragement.

Katie