UPDATE

Today, I was blessed.  For one, I recieved e-mails from really great friends with words of encouragement and love from back home.  I don't know if I could ever emphazise how thankful I am for all of your support and prayers- it seems like when the days get tough, one of you will e-mail me a word of encouragement and I'm immediately re-energized.  Thank you so much for all your prayers and words.


 I wanted to give you a quick run down of all the amazing things that happened today.  The Lord is still at work here.


This morning I had practice with the Tec university basketball team.  It was the first time I was able to meet them and the girls were super receptive to me.  I am constantly amazed at these people for how they accept me despite my complete ignorance for their culture and inability to speak their language.  It makes it very cool to get out on the court with them and play basketball- which I strongly consider a universal language.  Once we step on the court, it's like we all speak the same.  


Anyways, I went on to our Monday staff meeting and was able to be encouraged by our AIA team as each of us reported what the week looked like and how our athletes seemed to be responding to our ministry. We had a time where each of us shared our vision and dreams for the athletes we are specifically working with.  I shared mine and wanted to share it with you as well: I am currently meeting one-on-one with two girls from my UMAD university team.  They are sweethearts but somewhat new believers.  We are going over material every week dealing with our security in Christ (how do I know I have eternal salvation, what does God think of me, etc.)  At this point, we are praying and talking to them about having regular quiet times and meeting with God frequently as we discover who he is and what he says about us in the Bible.  So for short-term goals, I would love to see them develop a habit of regular quiet times meeting with God over the next few months.  A bigger, perhaps more lofty yet very attainable goal that I have is for those two girls to start a small group with their team and lead it.  I know there are no dreams too big for God to fufill so I'm going big on this one.  I prayed before I came down here that I would find and target a certain three or four girls who could be raised up as Mexican leaders, who would be able to lead their country to Jesus.  I pray that these girls would be an answer to that prayer.


As if that weren't a cool enough day, I went over to UMAD for my second practice of the day with the girls.  Afterwards we had a team talk, which we do every week, about communication.  When we finished we casually asked all the girls if they wanted to grab something to eat with us.  Most of them politely declined because they have finals this week and two games.  Totally understandable.  But one of them asked us to go get pizza with her.  This was a major highlight of my day.


Midway through the meal we are talking with this girl.  She is a practicing Mormon which really excites Abbey (my teammate) and I because that indicates that she is interested and active in spiritual matters.  Abbey has been praying for this girl for a while now.  It sounds like we reached a breakthrough today because she initiated some conversation about the Bible and what it says about different subjects that we had talked about over dinner.  She then told us that she would like to study the bible with Abbey and I starting next semester.  Praise Jesus this was one of the coolest things I have witnessed here.  I just wanted to let you know and ask for your prayers that this would happen come January and that through logic and truth we could appeal to her beliefs and let the Word do the work in her.  It is my prayer that she come to the realization of what is good and true and righteous.


Again, I love you and want to thank you in advance of your help in getting me here and your help in the advancement of the Kingdom.  

Welcome to Mexico, Kate

Hey, guys! I've officially made it two weeks. 

I’m starting to understand the slightly more laid back mentality of Hispanic culture. Case in point: Monday I was supposed to move into my apartment.  The thing you have to love about this place is their total disregard for schedules.  Our beds were supposed to be delivered today between 9am and 8pm.  At about 2, Marnie got a call from then to let us know that they would, in fact, not be delivered until NEXT Thursday.  Ok, cool.  I’m definitely learning to go with the flow and that sometimes (just sometimes) my plans don’t mean jack. 

Move in day: Me, Abbie- my AIA teammate, Marnie, and Leti- the sweetest landlord ever

In other news, the LORD is at work.  The other day I got to campus at UDLAP for soccer practice at 1.  Turns out, practice was cancelled so here I was with about six hours to spare on campus.  So what do I default to?  Facebook and Pinterest of course.  So I pull out my laptop and start it up when all of the sudden I look up and see two familiar faces.  It’s two girls that I met on my mission trip two summers ago that befriended me but I hadn’t seen or talked to since summer of 2010.  We exchanged bewildered looks and then simultaneously our brains clicked and we recognized each other.  I got up and bear hugged them and we chatted for a minute or two about why in the world I was back on their campus, sitting outside their gym.  Turns out they were heading to the gym to shoot around before a game and they invited me to come with them.  Of course I’m not going to say no to that offer, so I was stoked to take them up on the offer.

Me with some of the girls from UDLAP university.

It’s little divine appointments like that that I have begun to see the reason why I’m here- to develop relationships with these amazing people.  The coolest part is to step back and see God orchestrating each intricate detail of my day in order for His work and His will to be done.  I pray that the Lord would provide ways for me to develop deep relationships with these girls based on our love for him, as well as through the platform of basketball.  

On Thursday we had a huge Thanksgiving celebration at the Morgan’s, who work here in Puebla with Campus Crusade.  I would guess some 50 people came and we broke bread and feasted on some delicious foods.  It was cool to look around the room at all these people who were doing God’s work and say a silent thanks to the one who made it all possible.  Everyday I wake up and am humbled by His provision in my life.  Good food and great friends make for an amazing blessing.

Jolita-my teammate here with AIA, the cutest little boy alive, and me at the Morgan's for Thanksgiving

On another note, we are getting settled in our little apartment.  It’s really cozy and so nice to have a place of our own.  Marnie and I are praying that this would be an environment that would be safe and comfortable to our girls and that they would think of it as a refuge from their stresses.  It is our desire that this apartment would be full of girls coming to hang out, have quiet time alone, or just come and eat our food.  We want this place to be used for the Kingdom.  Luckily we have a constant abundance in cereal so we are hoping the girls would find that attractive and stop in frequently.

Today we had a staff day at the park.  There are eight Athletes In Action staff here in Puebla and I can’t get over how great these people are.  Seriously, these guys are the kind you don’t find just anywhere.  We all got together today and played catch, kicked the soccer ball, and just enjoyed the beautiful weather and good company.  The more I learn about my team, the more I love them.  It’s kind of cool to think about- the same can be said about our God.  

The AIA team here in Puebla

Marnie and I clearly playing serious, Alabama style lock-down defense on John and Natalie.  Is it obvious that I can't breathe at this point?  

I don’t know if I have mentioned this, but I am going to be able to come home for Christmas!  I can’t wait to see some of you!  I love you dearly and if you are reading this, please know that today you have been prayed for.  

“I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you...”  Philippians 1:3-4

Oh, and one more thing: Roll Tide Roll.  

Today's sunset view from my apartment overlooking the city

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... kinda

Morning! I'm sitting here in John and Natalie's home watching them and their two little boys put up a Christmas tree and listening to Michael Buble's Christmas album. I am a HUGE fan of Christmas and I can't wait for it to get here!!  It's times like these where I just smile and know that God has blessed me and blessed me good.  I just couldn't help but let you know.  I said a prayer this morning for each of you and I hope you have a great holiday season.  I will get to come home for the holiday this year and hope to see you while I'm home!

Today is Revolutionary day here in Mexico- well, technically it was yesterday but one thing I love about this culture is that they look for any opportunity to extend a holiday weekend.  On Thursday the Campus Crusade team and our Athetes In Action team are having Thanksgiving dinner and for some reason Marnie and I have been put in charge of the ham... they clearly don't know us very well because there's a 100% chance this ham is going to end up doubling as a large piece of beef jerkey.  Prayers are welcome!!!

On another note, Marnie and I will be moving into our new home this afternoon, so hopefully I will be posting some pitcutes of our new home soon.  Have a great Monday.

Love you all!

I mean... I love this.

Week One...

Hey blog followers.  I made it the first week, hallelujah!


I officially started work on Monday and really haven't stopped yet.  I am working with the women's soccer team at UDLAP and the women's basketball team at UMAD (two of the five or six universities here in Puebla).  It's been an awesome week building relationships with the girls through team meetings and bible studies, one-on-one meetings and actually getting to practice with the girls.  That's right, I said practice and for the record, I am not the functioning athlete I once was.  The elevation change here has kicked my butt.  We are above 7,000 feet here so my lungs are constantly mad at me for not getting enough air to them.


This is really a cool city.  Puebla is located at the Valley of Puebla also known as the Valley of Cuetlaxcoapan, a large valley surrounded on four sides by the mountains and volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt.  The views are absolutely stunning and I can't help but think of how awesome our Creator is when I get to constantly look at sights like this:

I snapped this today with my phone as I walked to the church I have been going to.  This weekend they simulcast a Global Leadership Summit put on by the Willow Creek Association and I loved it.  It spoke a lot about working on teams and how to lead successfully by following God's call on one's life.  Really struck a chord with me.  There were some 130,000 people watching all over the world, 540 in this church, Torre Fuerte.  Of course, it was in Spanish but the kind people there were able to hook us up with headphones so we could listen to it in English.  That's just how the people are around here- super willing to help and I don't know if I have met people as nice. 


I have had a few, um, minor problems occur.  The other day I attempted to take the bus to campus and meet my teammate there because, well, I'm arrogant and think I can know my way around a town I've only lived in 3 days in a country that I speak three words of their language.  But, I went nonetheless... and to make things easier, I didn't have an operating phone on me.  I took what I thought was the right bus but was, in fact, not.  The bus system is deceptive around here- there is a series of I believe three thousand numbers on the front of the bus and I am supposed to identify the route by the number.  Now these buses are flying at me at the speed of sound and it doesn't help that I am constantly looking around at God knows what instead of my bus.  So it would only make sense that I mix up the numbers and get on the wrong bus. 45 minutes later the nice bus driver informed me that I needed to get off the bus, that his route was over.  I however did not understand this in the least bit, and smiled in vain attempt to flirt my way into him taking me back to wherever in the world I got on the bus from.  It didn't work.


So I got off the bus into what you could have convinced me was another world.  I had no idea where I was or where to turn.  So what does a good little missionary do at a time like that?  Say a quick prayer and get to stepping.  God must have had some pity on my because I took one of five roads about a half mile, decided to catch another bus that I had no idea where it was headed and all of the sudden this familiar ad appears and I know where I am:

Thank God for the Dixie Chicks.  I got off the bus and walked the rest of the way home. I'm still not entirely sure why there is a painting on the wall of Puebla, Mexico of those three but I guess I'm just glad they are popular somewhere in this world.


Tomorrow I'm planning on taking some time and processing a lot of what's happened this week and hopefully write some more as I think of all the amazing things that have happened to me.  I want to thank you for your prayers this week.  Please know I have felt the unexplainable peace of God in the middle of this chaos and I know it's because I have amazing prayer warriors back home.  I love you all and am praying for you too.  

Finally I have an update for you...

Hey guys, 
Well I am safely here in Mexico.  It's weird to think this has been in the works for the past 18 months of my life and now I'm finally here.  I want to apologize for the absence of blog updates but here they go.  This next one is one that I wrote while waiting in the airport to catch the last let of my flight into Mexico.  I wrote it three days ago but this is the first chance I had to upload it.  Here it goes:

Here goes... well, everything...

This past week has been super busy so apologies for not posting any news but here goes: 

Since my trip was postponed I was able to attend the annual Josh Hancock Golf Tournament in Birmingham last Friday.  This was a very special opportunity for my family and I to pack up and head over to visit with old friends of Josh, my oldest brother who passed away four years ago.  Josh was, among other things, a baseball player with the St. Louis Cardinals and a somewhat avid golfer.  


His closest friends got together about four years ago and put together what has become an annual event.  I was fortunate enough to be able to attend and play (if we call it that) with my other brother Jon Jon and some friends of ours in the scramble.  I was also able to see some of you, my supporters, there.  For the record, I think we should all keep our day jobs.  I wanted you all to know how special it was to see Josh’s friends continue to remember him with such an amazing tournament and turnout.  There was a lot of hard work that went into it and I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of our family- it was obvious that Josh was dearly loved by you all.  

My sweet family after the tournament

My dad spoke on behalf of the family at the tournament and told a story about me that occurred this summer when I got to attend the Cardinals game when the guys presented a check to Cardinals Care, an organization created by the team benefitting children, as a result of last year’s tournament.  So many amazing things happened on that trip for me, but one stood out and I wanted to share it with you.  After the pre-game presentation of the check, the guys, my best friend and I were walking off the field when Joe, our host told me that some of the Cardinal players had requested to see me before the game started  So he escorts me and my friend to the locker room area where Chris, a player, comes out to give me a hug and ask about the family.  He and Josh were good friends and he wanted to check on us and see how everything was going. 


After he returned to the locker room, Adam Wainwright, also a great friend of Josh’s came out.  He commented on the Dreamland Ribs our family sent the team and how much he enjoyed them and we continued to small talk for five or so minutes.  And then it was time for him to get ready for the game, so he turned and left.  Meanwhile we just stood in the waiting area and continued to chat with Joe and then something happened that I will never forget.  The door opened back up and Adam stuck his head back out and said, “Hey Katie, there’s one more thing.  I wanted to let you know that Josh use to sit right next to me on the bus and plane when we would travel with the team.  That seat remains open to this day because I feel like occasionally Josh likes to come back and sit with us.  I just wanted to tell you that.”  Well of course I am about to start crying like a small child, but somehow remain collected and give him what I’m sure appeared to be a goofy little grin and thanked him for the story.  It was one that I honestly do not think I’ll ever forget.  I believe that was some closure that the Lord thought I needed and it did more to ease my heart than any one thing has since the day we lost Josh.  God is good. 

How precious are mom and papi?

As if the tournament wasn’t enough excitement for one weekend, the next day I was lucky enough to attend this little football game.  Some of you might have heard about it- LSU v. Alabama.  The weekend was filled with uncontrollable laughter and a house full of great girlfriends.  I will say that the outcome was less than desirable, but I think it was the experience that really matters.  I remember sitting on the Quad tailgating with this big group of girls thinking that it was really amazing how the Lord has blessed me with the people He surrounded me with.  I could not have asked for any more support, enthusiasm for my upcoming mission, or unconditional love than I received from both he and the friends I have.  I recalled a favorite verse of mine at that point and quietly smirked at my surroundings; “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”  I live a pretty blessed life.

We might have lost but we went out in style

For my grand send-off, I got to meet up with my family and best friend for dinner where we laughed over good food and funny memories. The next morning I woke up, got packed up, said my tearful goobyes and headed to the airport only to find... that I missed my fight.  And it only makes sense since those of you who know me well know that I am physically incapable of sticking to a plan.  So I got delayed another day, got to spend some more time with great friends, woke this morning and caught my plane.  

I guess that about gets me to here: the Houston International Airport where I’m currently waiting to catch the last leg of my flight to Puebla, Mexico and where the next chapter of my life will take place.  I hope you stay tuned, I’m sure it will be, well.. interesting.  

So this is my absolute favorite place in the world and I was lucky enough to have some time my last week to revisit the Cliffs and meet with God.

How could you not love it up here? Here's to getting back there soon.


I love ya'll!