The plan has changed

Many of you have received my support letter in the mail and have read through this paragraph,

“On August 30, 2013 I will leave for the mission field for three and a half months (returning December 12, 2013). During those months I will be living in Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique; all of which are beautiful yet devastated countries in eastern Africa”

In January I started analyzing and wondering about the trip a little too much.   

My amazing Swazi family

wondering if I would bond with this team as well as I did with my Swazi team

wondering if three and a half months was maybe a little too long

My amazing real family...on a weird bike haha

wondering if being away from my family and everything I knew would be too hard this time

As I started fasting and praying about this issue I was amazed at how quickly I became calm about these things. God completely made it clear that HE was in control and that HIS plan is what is best for me.  And all the little things really did seem incredibly little compared to God and His wonderful plan!

As the months when on though, God started stretching and challenging me more…a lot more.

This peace wasn't so evident anymore…and I started doubting again.  

On April 3^rd I found out that I would be going to South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique…not Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Finding out this information was harder than most would expect. I had done my research on THESE countries, I had checked out books from the library about THESE countries, and I even started looking up the specific vaccinations I would need for each of THESE countries.  I was excited, to say the least, about THESE countries.

serving food in Swaziland

Then on May 2^nd I found out that the length of my trip had been changed. Instead of staying until December 12^th I would be staying until November 26^th . Two weeks shorter… two weeks less that I can reach out and love those people, two weeks less that I don’t get to be in the place that I passionately love, two weeks less that I get to be with my new family…two weeks less. And quite honestly I was really looking forward to spending Thanksgiving in Africa. Spending a holiday that focuses on food so much in a country that has thousands of starving people was very intriguing to me. I wanted to prepare an African Thanksgiving and invite all of the friendly African faces that I had built relationships with to our feast. It would be a day to remember and cherish forever. But now that will not happen.

Just some of the beautiful faces in Africa

When I found this out I was upset, frustrated, and confused. I found myself asking God, “Really? Is this REALLY Your plan? God, I gave it all up to you already; I already overcame my struggles and doubts about this trip. God, this was not the plan.”

And there is was, in that last thought, “God, this was not the plan”…I had been thinking about myself and what I wanted. This isn't my plan and this isn't my life. I was becoming consumed with things of the world and what I thought was good for me. And when I think about that now I laugh. I am only 19, how in the world do I know what is right for me! Only God knows that. God has a wonderful and amazing plan for my life and I do need to keep completely surrendering everything in my life.  Not surrendering sometimes, half way, or just when I want. Surrender everything all the time.

Adventures In Missions is always emphasizing the idea not to have expectations. Because if you have expectations you WILL be disappointed. There is no way that everything I think and plan out for this trip, or for my life even, can be met.  So, why even  bother planning it? Why create expectations? Why not just leave the planning to God? After all He does know what is right and what is best for me. So this time I really am going to give it all up to Him and trust FULLY that His plan will work out.

There is a reason why God does not want me out of the country those two weeks. And there is a reason why I should not be in Tanzania or Malawi. I don’t know the answer why but I don’t need to. I trust God, I really do! 

Here are the explanations that AIM has given me about why these changes happened. Since many of you are supporting me I do want to keep you informed on why these types of changes happen and that they are still subject to change.

Country Change: AIM is in the process of transitioning out of some African countries because of health and safety issues. Sometimes their ministry hosts have plans that change as well, so they are not able to facilitate hosting teams which means that AIM has to seek new locations.

Trip Length Change: This is due to fit the 90-days in-country guideline for visas. There have been issues in the past with getting visa extensions and it has been decided participants will spend 87 days overseas.

I hope you all understand why these changes have been made and if you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to leave me a comment or e-mail me. I want all of my supporters to feel involved and informed so please don’t hesitate with anything you feel you want to express to me.

katherineleipold@yahoo.com

This Isn't Courage. This Is God.

They LOVE the camera

True Story:

This was part of a sermon in a church in the bush of Africa. This is a church that has hardly a roof, no door, and no electricity. The congregation was filled with many faces that we often see on those late night commercials for starving children and there just so happened to be American missionaries visiting that Sunday.

“For these Americans to come here took courage. It took faith. Because in America they’re told that, in Africa, there’s nothing but poverty and death. That if they come here, they’ll be eaten by a wild animal. They’ll be bitten by something poisonous, robbed or contract a deadly disease. This is all they knew of Africa and yet they came. So for them, it took courage.”

After the pastor had said those words the congregation filled with laughter because everyone (except the Americans) thought there is no way that people could think such ridiculous things.  But what the pastor said was very true. When I tell people I am going to live in Africa for semester I get some reactions like, “Good for you!” and “You’re such a great person!”  But I get a lot more responses like, “ Aren't you scared?”, “I couldn't do that because something bad could happen.”, or even “You might get AIDS!”

The truth is…I AM scared sometimes. Not really of the things the pastor said but more things like:

Scraping his bowl of porridge clean

I might miss my family too much,

I might not be capable of helping a sick helpless orphan,

I might have to eat meat (I’m a vegetarian),

 or even

I might have to walk away from a child-run home praying that God will give them the food they need to survive.

The fact that God choose ME to go Africa and love His beautiful people is such an honor and I don’t deserve it in the least! I simply look at it as command and something God designed me to do in my life. And the only way I am able to get over these fears is by the power and love of my Savior.

I don’t consider myself courageous for choosing to live in Africa.

I don’t consider myself courageous for choosing to leave everything I know behind.

I don’t consider myself courageous for choosing to sleep in dirt with bugs and rats.

Loving on one of God's beautiful children

I don’t consider myself courageous for choosing to sit and pray with someone who will soon die from AIDS.

So if you see me don’t tell me I am brave, courageous, or any other synonym you can think of. Simply pray for me. Pray that those fears don’t overcome me, pray for my loving and amazing family, pray that the funds will come, and pray for those amazing beautiful people that I am so privileged to serve in Africa.  

Packing my bags for Africa...AGAIN

Yep. 

That's right.

I am going back to Africa...and I am stoked!!! 

good morning hugs are the best :) 

This past summer God blessed me with the wonderful opportunity to go overseas for a month and serve in the teeny tiny country of Swaziland located in southern Africa. While I was there He not only gave me a wonderful experience serving and loving on the beautiful people there but also an overwhelming calling that I NEEDED to go back to the mission field. As soon as I got home I began my search for where I should go next. After many long late night talks with Jesus, the calling became so clear on where to go...Africa...again.  

So, in August I will pack my bags again, leave everything and everyone behind me, and head off to Africa for one semester. I will be going with Adventures In Missions (AIM) for a second time  and they are an interdenominational missions organization.(I praise Jesus all the time for this wonderful organization because AIM is ALWAYS putting the focus on God and what He wants for them as an organization!)I will be living, eating, and walking with the people I serve. I may do things like feed starving children, plant churches, teach, pray for people in hospitals/hospices, door to door evangelizing, and so much more.  

Please keep me and my team in your prayers as we prepare for this wonderful Jesus filled adventure.  

 

getting my hair braided in Swazi 

Stay tuned for many more updates and ways you can stay involved!