Hey everybody! As of this posting, I only have six more weeks until I arrive in the Czech Republic! Time is certainly going fast. Here’s a look at some of the exciting things that happened over this past month, as well as an update on my fundraising progress.

Answered Prayer

I asked a bunch of people to pray about this, so if you didn’t see my Facebook update, I just want to make sure you know that I did buy a ticket to the Czech Republic! I’ll be flying out from Chicago on March 22. This is a huge blessing right now. I no longer have to wait and wonder and feel unsure. The date is set in stone, and I can plan accordingly. A big thank you to everyone who prayed for wisdom for me. Please continue to be in prayer as I plan and pack and prepare for travel.

Another answered prayer request is that I did have opportunities to speak in two churches this past month. The first church I spoke to was my own home church. I gave an update on my plans and how fundraising was going, and had the chance to ask for their support. My second opportunity came when I spoke at a local church that many of my friends attend. I had that “newcomer’s nervousness” at first, but they welcomed me with open arms. I talked about my calling to the Czech Republic and showed pictures of the area, friends, and the mission work itself. I loved being able to share with a whole new audience, and was blessed by how many people came to talk to me afterwards. What an encouragement.

On a different note, just yesterday I spoke to a kid’s club in a church in a nearby town. There were eight kids, all different ages. I showed them my Czech money and Bibles and fun stuff, told stories about my adventures, and talked about how we can all live like missionaries no matter how old we are. We had a ton of fun playing some of the games I’d learned at the Rock Solid Club, and one of the girls even gave me this card.

I came away feeling very blessed and loved. Paul was right when he said to Timothy, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 ESV). The kids I met yesterday really inspired me to keep doing what I’m doing, and to keep going hard after God. 

Fundraising

Another month of fundraising has come and gone, and God has blessed me with several more financial partners. Together we’ve managed to reach $780 of pledged monthly support. Over a third of my goal! As you can see from the graph below, the progress over these last few months has been pretty steady, but there is still much to do if I’m to meet my goal in the next six weeks.

Growth of Monthly Support Pledges

If you, or someone you know, is interested in supporting me monthly over the course of this year while I am on the mission field, would you please let me know? I need to have an idea of how much support I have before I head overseas. You will find an automatic withdrawal form and a link to the PayPal donation site under the “Partnering with Caity” tab above on my blog. And if you ever have any questions about how to donate, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I’d also like to say a really big “THANK YOU” to all of my financial partners, those who gave me one-time gifts, and those who took the time to make their pledges a reality over the past month. No matter how big or small, your donation made it possible for me to afford plane tickets now, when I needed them, and will make it possible for me to live and work and eat while I am in the Czech Republic. I couldn’t do this without you.

Prayer Requests

I left my job at the coffee shop at the end of January. It was hard to leave my awesome coworkers behind, and also hard to leave behind a reliable source of provision. But I know that God is calling me on, and I’m trusting Him to provide. Please be in prayer for me as I move forward. There is so much to do and prepare that some days I feel off balance, wondering what I’m forgetting or upset over what I didn’t get done. Please pray for peace, God’s wisdom and guidance, and that I would use my time well.

Please continue to pray that I would receive the monthly support I need for my mission work.

Please pray that I wouldn’t give in to stress. Some days life feels too big for me to handle, and I start to get anxious and bite peoples’ heads off. But that is NOT the kind of person I want to be right now. Please pray that I would choose joy over stress, and that I could view each day as an adventure instead of an inconvenience.

I’ll continue to keep you all updated as time goes by.

Until Next Time!