I am at a loss. I have two and a half weeks left here in Georgia.
I’m facing this reality of having to say yet another round of goodbyes. I’ve had to say more goodbyes this past year than I have in my whole life. They certainly aren’t getting any easier. I’ll be saying goodbye to people who I only met a few short months ago, but have quickly grown to love and have gotten pretty used to seeing (and hugging…cough cough…Emily!) every single day.
I’ll be saying goodbye to squadmates for the second time around. Some who I honestly have no idea when I will see next. These people who I have spent the past year and a half of my life with, both overseas and now in “real life” here in Georgia.
I’m thankful.
I’m thankful that I got to spend more time with them. Most of them (minus Reid) I was never on a team with while on the Race, so I feel like I got to be on a team with 7 new D squad peeps, which has been such a gift. More so than I could have ever imagined.
Lucky for me, I get to continue on with two of them! I will be going to Guatemala with Shelley (aka Stephen Shelley if you are confused) and Ashley in January! I am so happy and excited about this. One, I’m excited for Guatemala. And two, I’m really excited that I get to be in Guatemala with these two.
Which brings me to the next thing…Guate.
While the thought of leaving Georgia, a place that has become home, I am through the roof, over the moon excited about Guatemala.
Why am I excited about Guatemala? I know I’ve mentioned before my love for Guatemala. I was there for a month on my Race and left the country knowing I’d be back one day. But even then, I don’t think I even realized how much I loved that place. But my goodness, since leaving there I think my heart for Guatemala has stretched about 10 times, which is totally from the Lord.
The beginning of June, CGA or Guatemala wasn’t even on my radar. Then I came to Project Searchlight and now here I am, and now the Lord is opening the door for me to go to Guatemala.
At the same time that my heart is growing and overflowing with love for the country, so is my heart for orphans. I’ve always loved kids, especially the little ones, but it wasn’t until a year or so before the Race that I began thinking, “huh, maybe I’m supposed to do something with kids?!”
CGA offers one of the semesters to be spent in Guatemala, where I will have the opportunity to work at an orphanage for close to four months. Guatemala and orphans….just the thought of it makes my heart leap and bounce with joy and excitement!
In addition to working at the orphanage, I will be living at the base in Antigua, Guatemala, where a handful of long term missionaries live. These are people who have committed at least two years to serving and living in Guatemala. This semester of missions track has been all about what it looks like to be a long term missionary in a different country.
I’ve always had such a narrow view of what it means to be a missionary overseas. On the World Race you learn to go into a new country with not a lot of detail about the country, the people, the culture, the language, or what you will be doing. You just kind of show up, and pick up as much as you can about the culture, and do as much as you can to help with the ministry you are paired with. That’s all good and stuff, but when you are going to a place long term, it requires a completely different mindset than when you are doing short term missions.
My mission track leaders have done an incredible job of teaching us and preparing us for long term missions. They’ve loved us, cared for us, and have equipped us to step into our dreams that the Lord has placed in our hearts. I’ve gained so much more than I ever expected to from this program, and I can’t wait to get to Guatemala and see and live out what I’ve learned in these three months.
My mission track people. I’m so happy to be a a part of this group of world changers…literally. Five of them are going to India, three of them are going to the Philippines, three of us are going to Guatemala, and the others are going to be here in the states.
So I want to say thank you to all who got me here. It’s because of you that I have been able to spend these, what have been absolutely necessary, unforgettable months in Georgia. Thank you for investing in me and in the Kingdom. I’m still blown away that I am here, doing what I’m doing, and it’s all thanks to you. I’m grateful for the community of people God has blessed me with. Your prayers, encouragement, and financial givings are just as important, if not more as me going and doing the thing, because the truth of it is, I can’t go without you.
Much love,
Kaci
I’m still $4,503 away from reaching my fundraising goal. If you would like to partner with me in this journey with the Lord and Guatemala, donations can be made at kacieccles.adventurescga.org. You’re generosity is so appreciated.
My fund board continues to be filled up! Buy a box (or two or three) and donate that amount by clicking the “support me” link above. You’re a peach!
