Im here

I arrived safely in Poland today. I will update soon on some of the adventures I had in getting here, but until I have internet again, know that I am safe and absolutely exhausted! Staying up until 3am and waking up at 6am before traveling for 24 hours was not a great idea. lol...

be blessed and I will post soon!

Kay

Last post from the USA!

So this will be my last entry from the US...I have been running around packing, cleaning, sitting in more classes, and trying to say goodbye...

Tomorrow is my Commissioning Service. My parents and youngest brother are going to drive up to see it! I'm very excited to see them and to close out my time here. I have my tickets in hand, my bags mostly packed, and an ingenious scheme for how to get more stuff to Poland without going over baggage limits. (pockets and layers of clothing rock)

During Commissioning, I will be signing with 2 other ladies to the song, He Reigns by Newsboys. It's a perfect song for the event and such a motivation and encouragement when I hear it. Here are the lyrics:

It's the song of the redeemed

Rising from the African plain

It's the song of the forgiven

Drowning out the Amazon rain

The song of Asian believers

Filled with God's holy fire

It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation

A love song born of a greatful choir

Chorus:

It's all God's children singing

Glory, glory, hallelujah

He reigns, He reigns

It's all God's children singing

Glory, glory, hallelujah

He reigns, He reigns

Let it rise about the four winds

Caught up in the heavenly sound

Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals

To the faithful gathered underground

Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creations

Some were meant to persist

Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples

None rings truer than this

(Chorus)

And all the powers of darkness

Tremble at what they've just heard

'Cause all the powers of darkness

Can't drown out a single word

When all God's children sing out

Glory, glory, hallelujah

He reigns, He reigns

All God's people singing

Glory, glory, hallelujah

He reigns, He reigns

Although I am very excited to be starting this journey, I will also miss my family very much and am a little nervous. I have heard and learned so much while I have been here, I just hope that it will stick and I can adjust quickly! I finally have information on my apartment! I think the lease was signed today or tomorrow maybe? I will post photos of it when I get there and have settled in a little.

I will try to update shortly after I arrive, but do not know what my orientation schedule will be or anything like that.

Until then, here are some ways you can pray for me:

Prayer Requests:

- That my travels will go well (Oct 2 to Oct 3) and all luggage will arrive safely!

- That I will be able to settle in quickly and begin adjusting

- That I will remain close to and in God's arms during this transition

- Language learning will come quickly once I start

- that God will continue to prepare hearts of the people I will meet and open doors for me to share the gospel.

Thank you guys for praying with me and keeping updated on this journey so far. I am very blessed to know that I have so many who are faithfully praying for me and the Polish people!

Have a wonderful day in the Lord!

Kay

Counting days...

Good afternoon - 

It finally feels like Fall in Virginia and it is another gorgeous day. Blue skies with wisps of clouds and children playing with frisbees outside always put a smile on my face! 

God has truly been good to me lately and has really taken me up in his arms, held me tightly and said, "child, you are mine and I will always be here". As time dwindles before I leave, the days get longer as more sessions are squeezed in, trying to cover everything. The past few weeks have been a roller coaster. We discussed some hard topics, did a little more role playing and really dug deep into topics that are hard to talk about. I realize that by going out on faith to a different country, lots of things could happen and being prepared is always important.

This past week, 2 main things happened. First of all, my dad went to the ER for some chest pain, but everything turned out fine. After many phone calls to mom and Seth, I realized how God has placed so many wonderful people in my family's life. Mom's sister and friend came to her "rescue" and helped where they could. I have to say, more than anything, it helped me knowing they were there with my family. It gave me a chance to be reminded of a few things. 

- God is in control and He knows best.

- Prayer still works and above all else, try it first!

- God knows who you need to talk to.

God gave my dad such a peace and comfort during that time that he was actually more concerned for Seth than anyone else! That's dad though, he's always been the rock of our family. When mom called, I started praying...and walking back to my room. On my way, I ran into A, someone God has placed in my life here I have been here as a comforting voice. When I told her what was going on, she hugged me and started praying and shared with me that her husband had something similar but worse happen a few years ago. Through tears and prayers, I knew the Lord placed her there for comfort. As the next session started, the entire group bowed to pray for my dad for a few minutes...that the doctors' hands would be steady, that he could have the cath done and that God would provide. Within 30 minutes mom said they could squeeze him in to have the procedure done. 

After the cath, they said his arteries were clear...praise God for no blockages! It's also something they think can be taken care of by medicine, which is encouraging.

I have a renewed confidence that God will always provide support where it's needed most.

The following day, we took the entire group here to Washington D.C. for the day. It was a good distraction. We got to visit a Polish library and some other areas. I spent some time in the Smithsonian museums and just relaxed. We also witnessed to those around us and helped anyone we could. 

SO - why am I counting days??? Because, I will be in Poland in less than 2 weeks!!! I fly out Oct. 2 and will arrive the following day. I am very excited as my time here ends. The next week will fly by I am sure. It will be good to see my friends on my team and to put into practice some of the things we have learned here. I am ready to start working. 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

- Pray that God will continue to prepare me before I leave.

- Pray that God will continue to work in the hearts of the Polish people I will soon meet.

- Pray that I will be able to learn the language quickly.

- pray that I will adjust to the cold quickly!

- Pray that my last week here will be fun and time well spent with friends.

thank you and love you all!

Kay

Hello everyone! 

So another week has gone by and I really can't believe it. I have sent out my first update email (aka, if you didn't get it and want it, let me know). 

This week things finally started to mesh together in my head. Yeah, I definitely had a few "oohh - that makes sense now" moments. We have started studying what Church Planting Movements are and basic methods used. It's actually quite simple and interesting how a church is started and taught to multiply within their communities as they share the gospel. 

We had one session that was awesome where we did some role-playing. We were in small groups and selected 2 as "sent-out ones". They left the room and came back to the group and tried to find who was a person of peace - one who is willing to hear the gospel. 

Those who stayed acted either hostile to the foreigners, were only interested in learning English, or wanted a ticket to America. I played someone who wanted to learn English first and then was a "sent-out" one the second time. 

During the second one, my roommate here was hostile to the foreigners (me). I definitely got kicked in the butt about four times and had my jacket pulled off in an attempt to act as a pick-pocket. She definitely got a kick out of the whole thing as we spent the next 5 minutes laughing. 

By the way, my roommate is totally awesome and is always a lot of fun.

Friday, she did a show at a local coffee shop. About 50 or 60 people showed up creating a great atmosphere. It was a nice chance to get off campus.

Aside from that, today we had an 8 hour ESL session. I learned how spitting gold fish into a cup can help you make certain sounds and that the test I took today about how I learn best put me in a group that apparently doesn't exist. I'm yellow, green...I like order but want to please everyone. I need acceptance to learn yet it's gotta be structured. According to our teacher, they are opposites and can't exist in one person... maybe that explains some things about me...hahaha

So I hope that you all have had a blessed week. Just remember, God is good and answers everything in his own timing.

Prayer Requests:

- Pray that God will continue to mold me and prepare my heart for service.

- That God will begin to work in and soften the hearts of the Polish people I will be meeting soon.

- That I will continue to spend time growing in His Word daily.

- That God will give me the ability to focus and retain the information we are given.

- That God will give me opportunities even here to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ boldly and share the Gospel message.

Love you all!

Kay

back in VA!

Hey!

So I am finally back in VA and doing well. I flew in on Tuesday, unpacked, had dinner and began reading through material provided to us. We jumped in almost immediately the following morning and have been in seminars and such ever since then. I will have a TON to do while I am here!

Briefly, we have gone over some of the basic "need-to-know" medical info, forms, location of buildings/meetings and spiritual encouragement. We had an opportunity to spend 3 hours with the Father one afternoon...I had no idea how he would speak to me or what He would say. I can tell you that I was able to clear my thoughts, focus on Him and His purpose for me in the next 8 weeks and following. He helped me confront some of my fears/concerns about going into the field and provided scripture after scripture showing that HE is Lord, that HE knows best, and that HE will always provide for his children. 

1 Peter 3:15 says, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 

I am looking forward to the coming weeks and to see what is in store. I have been able to make so many new friends and meet people who have a heart for the nations...who have the same Spirit and same desires as I do. It is encouraging for me to be part of the second largest orientation in the history of this program and the orientation with the most adults ever! Praise God for He is good!

Some areas in which you can pray:

1. Focus in sessions

2. My time with the Father will be fruitful

3. that I can get everything accomplished that I need to while here.

4. That God would continue to mold me in His likeness

5. for hearts of the Polish people I will come in contact with to be softened

Transitions

My last day at the Daily Progress was Friday, June 13. I have to admit, I miss it. I know that I have a lot to look forward to, but I do miss getting up and working almost every day. I did, however get up and pack every day for my last week in Charlottesville! There are aspects to working at a newspaper that I will miss dearly. There are also aspects I will not miss at all. 

My last week in C-ville was spent packing up an apartment full of stuff....yes, stuff. Everything from furniture to the smallest thumb tack. I think I took almost as many bags to the dumpster as I did boxes to NC! The move back went about as smoothly as it could. No accidents, no strained backs and no broken furniture. My parents drove up Saturday June 21 and helped me drive a truck back to High Point, NC. I had wonderful friends from Portico help load the truck Friday and wonderful HP friends help unload on Saturday. I honestly could not have moved without the help of so many friends.... thank you all. 

I have only been in NC for a few days now, haven't stopped running around like a crazy chicken with it's head cut off, and was having a hard time with some adjustments. I came back to a shower with no door (so I have to walk down the hallway to shower), my brother's room with 2 drawers cleared out for me and 2 recliners...yes, 2. They had ideas of replacing one with the other and ended up leaving both! The day I attempted to move it down the hallway myself and got it stuck in the doorway to my room was when it finally got moved. Before the chair sat in the hallway for half a day, I didn't even have enough space to open a suitcase to begin unpacking much less any place to put it. It was then that I realized how much stuff I actually had! Moving from an apartment to 1 room is insane - I do not recommend it. 

I'm also not used to the amount of traffic through a home with 4 people in it. When I first moved to C-ville, I thought it was weird living alone. Now its the opposite! This morning, I woke up, walked down the hall to shower and was caught by my dad (who had been up for hours) saying, "Good morning!!! The shop called and said your car is ready..." I'm not sure what I said back, if anything at all. Usually its over an hour after I get up before I actually say anything to anyone. All I remember is this slightly startled feeling of: huh! what? noise? I'm so confused...car? breaks? OK sure...

I've done everything from make multiple trips to the DMV, Post Office and bank to playing putt putt at midnight followed by a milkshake run. No, we (sadly) don't have Arch's or Ritas, however we do have Cookout...best milkshakes in town! Tomorrow holds a trip to Charlotte, the Apple store and applying for an International Drivers License. 

In all the mess and confusion of moving and knowing that I will stay such a short time; I am finding often that as I say hello, I sometimes have to say good-bye in the same sentence. I think there will be many adjustments and changes occurring in this very transitional month of my life. At the end of it all, my hope is that I will be able to say, "change? sure...whatever you say. I have no routine to change, so change is fine by me!"

its official!

I'm going to Poland!!!

I just signed the papers this week :) My job title is "Media Specialist". Basically, I will be doing photo, video, writing, etc. to provide content for 2 websites. One is info about the missionaries and team there, and the other an outreach website. I am so excited to be working with them! I will also be making and following relationships with those the Lord places in my path.

I had to tell work today, and I can't tell you how difficult that was. Working at the paper was the best first job I could have ever asked for - I work with great people who really helped shape who I have become as a photojournalist. The opportunities I've had here have been amazing and I will always remember some of them.

So, here are some dates and information about where I will be in the next few months...

My last day will probably be June 17. I will move back to High Point that Saturday and spend a little over a month with family and friends and taking care of odds and ends before I leave...such as storing furniture! Aside from a family beach trip, I will be traveling through parts of NC to see friends...let me know if you want to get together while I am home.

FPO (Field Personnel Orientation) begins in August (4th) at the International Learning Center - aka - ILC, which is located right outside of Richmond, VA. I will have 8 weeks of intensive training before I actually fly out to Poland in early October. 

If you would like more information, leave a post or email me at kaylinbowers@gmail.com. 

I can't wait to see what God has in store for the next 2 years of my life! He has been such a blessing to me so far and has guided my heart and my life in His path over the past few years, giving me a yearning to continue following Him. He has opened doors and closed doors in my life. I just love getting to run through them when a new one opens!