Almost a Year

It's hard to believe that it's been about one year since I began this journey, preparing to serve in Rome. In December 2008 I was accepted as missionary with ReachGlobal and began my training and support team building.

The past few months have been filled with all sorts of stuff; handing over the youth ministry programs at Felton Bible Church to great new volunteers, training and equipping student leaders, packing up my office at church, ReachGlobal training and support team visits. In September I finished my final online training course in preparation for Pre-Field Training. I just attended Pre-Field training October 7-15 in Apple Valley,MN and visited my old church family at Elim Mission Church in Cokato, MN, in Nov. I will attend Language Acquisition School for two weeks and then my training will be complete!


God has continued to open up opportunities for me to share with churches and individuals what He has called me to in Rome as well as the need there for the Gospel. I continue to be blessed each and every time I get the opportunity to share how God is at work in our lives!

Next Sunday, I get to share with the folks at Felton Presbyterian Church about my road to Rome and invite them to join me in ministry there. I always enjoy sharing about my upcoming journey to Rome, so let me know if you'd like to get together to hear more of the details, I'd love it!

These words from the Apostle Paul, "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in Glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." Philippians 4:19-20 (ESV). have fresh and deeper meaning as I continue to get support reports from ReachGlobal. I am truly learning what it means for God to supply every need according to His glorious riches ... as generous financial support arrives every day from individuals and churches that God has called to give towards His work in Italy. I know that it is only through His provision, and the generosity and obedience of His people, that my needs are being met.

I am excited to tell you that as of today my monthly support $6295 a month is now 33% met and continues to grow daily and my start up cost $19,000 is over 60% raised because of the support of obedient faithful supporters like you!

I have a tentative departure date of January 2010. I believe this is the departure date God has in mind for me! All my training will be complete as of November 20th, so what remains is for my support needs to be met. I am particularly motivated to arrive in Italy in January because it is so much cheaper to travel to Italy in the winter months rather than during the high tourist season. In recent months the Rome City Team has grown, but there is a great need for laborers. Could it be that God is calling you to join Him in His work in Italy by becoming a part of my financial support team?

As you consider partnering with me financially, please remember that all contributions are tax deductible and that even though your contributions are given to EFCA, 100% of each gift goes directly to our ministry and living expenses. The EFCA is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

Contributions can be sent by mail to:

Evangelical Free Church of America
901 East 78th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55420

or give online at www.efca.org/give-now. Make checks payable to "Evangelical Free Church of America" and include on the memo line of your check our personal ministry account code: 1671 (please do not include my name).

If God is leading you to support us monthly, it would be helpful for our record keeping if you could drop me an email and let me know. You can contact me at: triniy.kay@efca.org. Even if you plan on beginning your giving at a later date, I am able to count your pledge towards are need. All gifts received now, before we arrive on the field, are applied towards our pre-field training and relocation expense

Here and There

I am away from home. I feel like I have been away for quite some time, though in reality it has not been all that long. Not in comparison to how long I will be gone when I move to Rome, or even as long as others who are here with me in Minnesota. There are two couples who have spent the last 7 weeks in the Congo, and are now here and then they will finally get to go home. Which makes my month long journey not seem all that bad. But tonight friends I am tired.

It has been a great week of learning and of meeting with other missionaries to get to know them and the greater need around the planet, but learning can be exhausting. I am no longer used to sitting and learning for 8-9 hours a day. We have covered all sorts of topics and am certain they will come in handy on the field.

Tomorrow is my last day of class, and then I am off to see some friends for a few days and then back to my old home and church in Cokato, MN on Sunday to share with the church there about the need in Rome, and the work I will be doing there. Then on Monday I will be home.

Then in the beginning of November I am heading back to Colorado for two weeks for Language Acquisition School.

Thank you all for your prayers. I really do appreciate them, and it has been evident that God has been at work here this week not only in my life but in the life of all of us here. It was so nice to realize this morning that while I was here praying there was a group of people at home and around the world praying for me.

The Why

"We are missionaries because God is a missional God. God has a plan that he started in the book in Genesis that He carries on though all of history."

 

Stated in a slightly different way, "I AM A MISSIONARY BECAUSE GOD HAS A MISSION." Meaning to me that I am joining God in His mission and that in doing so I am allowed to participate with God in the work of building His Kingdom here on earth. It is God's heart to see all people enter into a relationship with Him, to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
God's Mission: From Eternity to Eternity is Kingdom Building, which is why it makes sense to leave family and comfort behind to join Him in this work. This has been a comfort to me as I prepare to leave behind the comforts of a culture that I know and a family who loves me, whom I love. To know that, not only can I do this, but was created and called to make disciples of all nations.

 

I could not acknowledge that truth without thanking God for His kindness that He revealed Himself to us
and that He loved His creation so much that He has a plan to redeem it
and that I have the
privilege
to be just a small part of His plan.

 

 

Excitment in the Air

{Pardon the randomness of this blog, I have been constructing it to be my news letter, and have been adding it to each day, but I decided that it is not the newsletter I want to put out so I thought I would share it with you now in the form of a somewhat rambling blog...}

My plane to Minnesota was full of anticipation as we lifted off the Chicago runway during the final minutes of the Minnesota Twins Game. There had been an audible groan when the flight crew made the announcement that all electronic devices needed to be off so we could be on our way, and 10 minutes later the plane erupted in cheers of joy as the announcement came over the speakers that the Twins had won the game! I found out later in the night that not only did the Twins win, the Vikings (that is football for those of you who don't do sports) and as I sat with my plate of French fries at Denny's the Minnesota Wild (hockey) also took home a win. Not a bad week to be in Minnesota.

You may be wondering why I am in Minnesota. Well if you have been following me on this Road to Rome you will recall that I have taken all sorts of online courses to prepare to live in Rome as a long term missionary. Those online classes are culminating this week in a class here in the Minneapolis. I will be here learning from today till next Thursday. Then Sunday the 18th I have been invited to return to my old home in Cokato, Elim Mission Church to share about my calling and ministry in Rome with the people there. This may be the part of the trip that I am most excited for, as I have not been to Cokato since 1989 age 9. I am excited to return to this little town that holds so many happy memories for me. The church where I first discovered my heart for those around the world who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as I watched a Compassion Video along with the Youth Group there at the time.

There is a sense of anticipation in the air as I enter into ReachGlobal more completely, now that I have finished up serving at Felton Bible Church. It is like when you know you are going to Disneyland and you just cannot sleep or think of anything else.

Did you know, that in Rome there is a desperate need for the Gospel? There is. Our Director of ReachGlobal told us yesterday that, "Europe is Less than 1% of the population has a relationship with Jesus. My friends that is why I am so excited to go to Italy, so ready to move forward on this Road to Rome. I am so excited to be here in Minnesota this week learning how best to serve as a missionary in Rome. It is so encouraging to be with other people who are learning along side me. To share this part of my journey with others who have also been called to be missionaries around the globe.

There are 16 of us here this week and every Continent represented. Though we are all headed in different directions, all share a passion for sharing the good news of the hope we have in Christ Jesus and the forgiveness he offers to those who have not encountered this truth yet. This common purpose and passion ties us together. One of our assignments this week is to work together as a team to create an event that will allow people to engage with The Great Commission.

We had this event last night, the 16 of us set up an evening that allowed people to move from one continent to another to experience the need in each area of the world, as well as hear some stories of what God is doing in each area. This is the video we shared at our Europe area before sharing a personal story. Then we came together for a time of corporate prayer and of course cookies and ice cream.

That was the end of the day, at the beginning of the day we all got sent to various churches throughout the Minneapolis area, most with an emphasis on one culture or another. The church I got to go to however, was a combination of almost every race and culture. The Sanctuary Covenant Church is a beautiful picture of the variety of people in the Kingdom of God, all coming together to worship. It was a blessing and joy to worship at The Sanctuary.

This morning in Minnesota it looks like this:

Brokenness of Roma

In the online course I am taking we are discussing the poor, what it means to be poor in light of scripture and who are the poor in the cities we are going to. My heart is once again beginning to break as I look afresh and anew at the poverty both spiritually and physically in Roma.

In my research I came across this blog Here is a small section that I think really highlights why I am desiring to go and be used by God...

The eternal city of Rome is a city full of life, a city rich in culture and history. Tourists flood the city every day huddling around the great triumphs of history: the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and Vatican city to name a few. Behind the glamor of fashion and the awe of ages past lies a city in poverty and spiritual emptiness. Latest estimates say that 25% of Italians are in poverty, and the government has few social programs and no long term answers. Spiritually the reality is worse. Much less than .01% are evangelical Christian. On the other hand immigrants see Italy as the land of opportunity, a place to start over, a place to raise a family and find work. When they arrive after risking everything they are met with the reality of a nation without jobs and severe discrimination. Because of this reality many turn to crime and prostitution to survive.


Though they are prejudiced against the immigrant population that streams into Italy from Eastern Europe and Bangladesh, they share the common struggle of poverty and hopelessness. We believe that the hope and love of Jesus is a cool drink of water that these people need. But at the same time they don't need just words, they need physical help.click here to see more images taken by a fantasic photographer that capture the other side of Roma

Friends it is so clear that the need is great in this city. Please continue to join me in prayer for the hearts of those living on the streets and in the hard parts of Roma.

October

In just two weeks I will be finishing up with my official work at Felton Bible Church and I will have 100% of my time to dedicate towards going to Rome! It is hard to say farewell to the students as their leader, but I trust that I am leaving them in God's hands and I can already see Him providing for them in big ways as He is also providing for me.

Many of you have been joining me in prayer regarding an upcoming training in Minnesota this October, praying that I might get to attend and not have to wait until the next time it is offered in April. Thank you for your prayers! God has seen fit to answer and I do get to attend the Pre-field Training Live Event from October 7th-15th! This is exciting news because it means I am one huge step closer to leaving for Rome and joining my team!

Speaking of my City Team, there is exciting news there as well! I just got word a week or two ago that I have two almost three new teammates joining the team. Brian and Sarah my Team Leaders, just got the opportunity to host Zach and Naomi as they came for their Vision Trip to Rome a few weeks ago! After the trip I found out that they have accepted the call to join our team in Rome, and that Naomi is pregnant! So really it will be Zach, Naomi and the new baby joining us in the Eternal City!

God is doing some pretty amazing things and I am getting more and more anxious to get to Rome and start serving along side my new teammates! Thank you all for your ongoing support and prayers! My monthly support is continuing to come in and with each new donor I am that much closer to starting this new life in Rome that God has invited me to! SO THANK YOU!!!

Boulder Creek Fire

Hello friends there is yet another fire in CA and this time it is even closer to my home, so please join me in praying that they get it out quickly! Right now all I know is that it is a wildland fire about an acre and near Boulder Creek, right up past my home. There are air tankers, bulldozers and fire crews there along with helicopters so it seems like they will get things taken care of, but praying is always a good thing.

While you are at it you can join me in praying for the people in Burkina Faso, Africa where my sister was and is heading back to live. They are experiencing a a pretty intense flood in the capital city of Ouagadougou.

Image by jcolman via Flickr

There was also a major Earthquake in Indonesia today a 7.0 which has left at least 32 people dead. So we can be praying for the people there as well.

Friends there is also a lot of good in the world, so I do not want you to think I am saying the world is falling apart around us, but I do think it is important for us to be lifting the concerns of our hearts up to God in prayer. And when He answers give Him all the praise and glory. God is Good all the time! Even in the midst of chaos.