Dear Friends and Family,

In August 2009, God called me to a life-altering adventure called The World Race. After returning home in June 2010, I was ready to go back to Africa, but God had another plan for me. He called me to go back to school and move to Medina, Ohio where The Alonzo's, leaders from my trip had started a ministry house. For the past 8 months I have been living in community while attending school to become a surgical assistant. The Lord called me here for a very specific purpose and His provision and faithfulness has been amazing.

Summer is fast approaching and I have been given an opportunity to lead a trip for the same organization The World Race is a part of, Adventure in Missions. Real Life is a program for college age students who desire to make God known throughout the nations. This program allows them experience serving the Lord in another country. As of now, it has yet to be determined what country I will be serving in. Summer programs include ministries in Kenya, Nicaragua, New Zealand and India. I probably won't know what country I'll be serving in for at least another month as AIM works to line up leaders and students for each trip.

However, I need to raise $1,500 to lead a trip this summer. This amount covers day-to-day living and ministry costs, as well as other costs associated with traveling internationally. Last year, the Lord provided $13,800 for me to serve on The World Race, so I walk in confidence that the Lord will provide for this trip as well.

If you would like to participate in this journey with me I have enclosed a response card and pre-addressed envelope, inviting you to share in this ministry. Please make checks payable to Adventures In Missions and return the response card with your donation to: Adventures In Missions, PO Box 534470, Atlanta, GA, 30353-4470.

The response card will provide AIM with the necessary information to send you a receipt for your donation. If you'd prefer to make your donation online, you may do so by visiting my blog site and clicking on the "Support Me" link of the left side of the page at www.katiewest.theworldrace.org.

I'm excited to see how God will move in my life and in the lives of others this summer. I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve, but also to you. Thank you in advance for your prayers and financial support. May God bless you as you prayerfully consider partnering with me in this journey to bring His Kingdom to earth as it is in Heaven.

Blessings,

Katie West

Last Monday was our day off. The whole team was so excited to go to Phnom Penh for the day. We all piled in the van for the three hour ride at 7:30am. We got into Phnom Penh at about 10:30. Several of my team members wanted to go to the war museum. Lauren and I decided to go to the mall to get internet and some food. After they finished at the museum everyone met us back at the mall and we all had lunch together.

 Then we went to the Central Market. We were all looking for different things. T-shirts, cameras, jade elephants, and purses were all on the list to find. So off Daina and I went. We found the stickers for Cambodia, we found the t-shirts, and we found some gifts for some of our new friends. But when we were buying some flowers at the front of the market the most amazing thing happened. This woman holding a baby walked up to me and asked me for money. She didn't speak any English, only Khmer. She just held out her hand and kept asking. I told her that I didn't have any money on me but that I would pray for her and the baby. I am sure that she had no idea why my hand was on her shoulder but I prayed for her anyway. Then she showed me the baby's arm. It was missing all of it's fingers. It was just a nub. It broke my heart. So I put the baby's "hand" in my hand and prayed with everything in me that God would heal this little innocent child's hand.

 I prayed for a long time it felt like. I could feel the Holy Spirit all over my body. When I finished praying I let go of the baby's arm and much to my surprise and the mother's as well there was a tiny finger nub sticking out of the previously fingerless nub!!! I looked over my shoulder and said to Daina, "I think that finger just grew out of the babies arm." I was just as calm as I had ever been. She looked at me and just said, "awesome." As we walked away from the mother who was just staring at me, I got excited and started screaming about how good God is. It is my prayer that God continues to grow the rest of that baby's hand. 

It was an incredible experience. I love how God just uses the most random times to bring glory to His name. He didn't have to use me but He chose to. He asked me to pray and I prayed. I can't count the number of people that have come up to me begging for money this last year and all I did was to pray for them. A lot of the time I have some food on me or some water but I don't ever hand out money.  Most of the time when I pray for these people nothing happens. This was just an act of obedience and look what God did!!! He grew a finger!!! What is He asking you to do today? Are you willing to do it or will you pass up the opportunity because you might look silly? 

Happy Father's Day to all those wonderful men in my life that have been fathers to me. You have all taught me special things. I love each and everyone of you in different ways. Thank you for loving me enough to make a difference in my life.

Dad- I love you and I hope that you have a wonderful Father's Day. Thank you for teaching me to be self sufficient and care for others. You have taught me many things. But most of all you have loved me. Can't wait to see you soon. Love you more than Grandma's chocolate!!  (and that is a lot of love)

Clint- I love you and I can't wait to see you soon. Thank you for always being so patient with me. Thank you for always being willing to do special things just for Molly and me. Thank you for always playing games with me and sharing a love for ice cream. You are so special. Love you.

Phillip- Pip, you have always been there for me. You have pulled my teeth and tickled me till I cried. You have loved me beyond words. Thank you so much for always believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself. Love you and I will see you soon.

Pappy- Thank you for being my spiritual dad. You are an incredible man. I am blessed to get to float down the river with you and have a Bud Light. Thanks for loving and believing in me when I had nothing left. Love you and I will see you tomorrow!!!

We arrived in Phenom Penh, Cambodia on May 30. We stayed in the city for the night and then the next day Vuthy, our contact, came to pick us up to take us to Touch Village. This is where I currently am. It is about 3 hours from Phenom Penh. We are staying with Vuthy's family. Superb, his mother, is exactly what her name says, SUPERB! She cooks every meal for us. She is an amazing cook and has the sweetest spirit. His father, Supal, is awesome as well. He has built an entire church right beside his house because Vuthy had a vision from the Lord that Vuthy was going to open a church, youth center, and orphanage. Just 3 weeks ago Vuthy's parents became Christians. Vuthy has a sister that lives in the house as well and her name is Chondia. She is finishing up her schooling. She is so sweet and playful. She takes after her mother with her sweet spirit. 

            Vuthy has a huge heart for children. He wants to see all of them taken care of but because he knows that some of them are having to take care of themselves and possibly some or all of their siblings, he knows that is not a possibility unless someone steps in. That is where Vuthy steps in. God gave him a vision of all these kids being taken care of. He has given up everything that he had in Phnom Penh to come back to his home village to take care of the least of these. I know that God is very proud of his good and faithful servant.

            This month we are teaching English, doing door to door evangelism, and helping paint the church that his father has built. But I think that our main ministry this month is enjoying the children that are always in the yard. These kids show up to class at least thirty minutes early to just play in the year. And usually there aren't any toys to play with. But we get out in the yard and try to say their names right and just laugh. They love to play in the rain and throw mud at one another. They love to have someone new around to play with. They love being loved. We teach them silly games and laugh more and more every time at ourselves. I think that I have laughed more this month at myself than I have the entire Race. Joy has replaced some hard places in my heart. Vuthy has inspired me to just drop everything and go where God is calling me regardless of what people think I should be doing. 

I love Cambodia. These people have stolen my heart. I truly believe that I will end up here again in my life. 

While I have been in southeast Asia my name has been changed from Katie to Kaylee. There is something in the Asian dialect that doesn't allow them to say the "tie" in my name. But I kind of like my new name. 

Katie was a girl who was tired and worn out from nine months of traveling. She didn't have much left in her. She wasn't sure that she could make it another three months. Besides, she had left her heart in Kenya. She was content with being left there for the rest of her days. 

            But Kaylee has a huge heart for Asia that is brand new and full of energy. She loves the cute little people running all over the place and their cute little motorbikes. Asia has been exciting because God has brought about great revelation and big breakthroughs. Thailand brought a lot of self reflection. Many things had caused her to stumble along the path that God had set before her. But after Thailand she felt renewed and strengthened. In Vietnam, the frustration of nine months of traveling all came out. Community living is hard to do sometimes. God reminded Kaylee that she was suppose to be selfless not selfish. That she was suppose to prefer other before herself. And that she was suppose to love all the time. And then came Cambodia. Kaylee's heart was broken again, a lot like the time that Katie had spent in Kenya. Kaylee was love with all the little children that hung out in her yard and the amazing family that hosted us for the month. God revealed himself in so many ways. He taught her how to love others unconditionally. The visions that God gave her were more vivid than they had ever been.

            I am glad that God changed my name for the last three months on the Race. He knew my heart and He knew that I needed something to renew my strength, something to laugh about. I am excited to be Katie again when I get home but until then I will remain Kaylee in Asia.

These are my tattoos. I did not get them out of rebellion or stupidity. They all have very special places in my heart and I love them all in different ways. I want to live my life to bring glory to my Father. Before getting any of these tattoos I spent time in prayer and asked my Father, "is this bringing glory to you?" I desire to align my life with His. These are merely post-it notes to help guide me.

Peter is the rock on which God built His church. But first, Peter was probably the worst disciple ever. I am Peter.

Jesus tells Peter the Peter will deny Him 3 times; Peter says, "No! I love you, I could never deny you, Lord." Yet we all know that Peter does in fact deny Jesus 3 times. I know in my heart and my soul and the core of my being that I LOVE the Lord, that I would do anything for Him, go to the ends of the earth for Him, but how often do I forget to give the Glory back to His name? How often do I take compliments without giving Him the credit, without the honor and praise back to God who has given me this work? Do I, as Peter, deny Jesus the glory that is His?

Jesus told His disciples that it was God's will for Him to be arrested. He went willingly when the soldiers came to take Him, but enthusiastic, loving Peter raised his sword and cut off a soldier's ear. I'm sure Jesus laughed and shook His head as He put the ear right back on the man. "put your sword away," Jesus commanded, "shall I not drink of the cup the Father has given me?"(John 18:11). I am Peter. I have my own time frame. When I don't see things happening, I try to make them happen. And Jesus says, "Put away your sword, put away your plans. Shall we not do what the Father has asked of us?" So like Peter, I put away my plans, my defenses, and watch as everything happens perfectly, in God's own timing.

After Jesus had risen, He appeared to His disciples while they were fishing. When Peter saw his beloved Savior, He excitedly jumped out of the boat and began swimming where Jesus stood. Needless to say, the boat probably reached the shore long before Peter. I am Peter. Excited, I go jumping into things, and then standing, sopping wet, at the feet of Jesus, smiling at my stupidity. I get excited, forget to think things through, and end up doing them the long way. Every time, though, just as with Peter, Jesus welcomes my soaking wet self into His arms and is simply happy to see me.

I am Peter who made many mistakes, but I am Peter who God had great plans for, who God established to do His work. Peter is the rock on which Jesus built His church. The very night that Peter foolishly jumped out of the boat, Jesus reinstated Him in the presence of the other disciples. "Do you truly love me?" He asked. "Then feed my lambs." "Do you really love me? Take care of my lambs." "Peter, DO YOU LOVE me? Feed my sheep, and come. Come follow Me."(John 21:15-19).

For each time that I deny God the Glory that is His, for each time I follow my own will instead of listening to His, for each time I jump ahead without first consulting my Lord, He asks, "Daughter, do you truly love me?" and I do. "Feed my sheep." And I will. And I do. "Come follow me." And I am, or at least I am trying.

 This is from Phuket, Thailand.  We were waiting for a bus on the side of the rode, and Tamica was on the other side waiting for a bus going the other direction.  Gotta love public transportation.