Privileged.

This was from my last newsletter, sent out 4/13

Hello Beloved Friends!

I am praying that this finds you encouraged, refreshed, and warm!  I’m not feeling very warm these days –it seems as if it will never warm up and get on with Spring here in Michigan!

I was thankful to have a break from the snow and cold last month. I was able to make a trip to Florida with my precious cousin to visit our grandparents, who are snow birds there. While there, we were able to spend some great time visiting with our grandparents, go to the Atlantic Ocean, drive around in a golf cart, and just spend some time relaxing in the pool and sun. It wasn’t all fun and games for me, though. New Tribes Mission’s headquarters are located in Sanford, FL, which is about a 50 minute drive from my grandparent’s place. I was able to make a trek to the headquarters during one of my days there to get some things straightened out on the “paperwork” end of things, as well as visit with some of my co-workers and previous classmates within NTM.

My schedule seems to be filling up very quickly! I finished working my part-time job at the daycare last month, but it doesn’t seem like life has slowed down at all! Next week, I will be heading back up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to spend some time with the wonderful body of believers at Bethany Baptist church. Next month, I will be heading to Durham, Ontario to the Missionary Training Center that I attended, to spend some much needed time with some wonderful friends and co-workers with NTM. I also have more meetings scheduled in the weeks to come to share about what God is doing in Paraguay to take the Truth of the Gospel to the least reached places there.

Recently, I have found out some exciting news. It looks like I will be heading to Paraguay in early September 2013! It is so great to see how the Lord is moving and providing for me. I am currently at 77% of my monthly financial support (I still need $590/month), have ALL of my $5,000 start-up costs, and half the funds for my plane ticket!

God has blown me away with His GENEROUS provisions, and has humbled me over and over again, reminding me of the PRIVILEGES He has given me. It is a PRIVILEGE to know Jesus, and have a relationship with the Living God. It is a PRIVILEGE to be able to serve Him, and that He actually uses me for His glory. It is a PRIVILEGE to be brought up in a Christian home, where the Truth is spoken. It is a PRIVILEGE to be a citizen in a country where we are free to worship the God of the Universe openly. It is a PRIVILEGE to belong to the body of believers at Graham Community Church, who are sending me to Paraguay. It is a PRIVILEGE to work alongside many of you for the sake of His Name being made known among the nations.

Here is a great paraphrase of Philippians 3:7-8a:

“ The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the HIGH PRIVILEGE of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant . . . I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him.”

He is giving me the PRIVILEGE to leave my home, my family and friends, and my life here in the United States move to Paraguay to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who don’t know Him.  He is giving other people the privilege to come alongside and GO WITH ME to take the Gospel to Paraguay through encouragement, prayer and finances. HE is the one who is enabling all the necessary things to come together so that the tribal people of Paraguay can also become privileged.

I cannot even begin to express my thankfulness for these privileges He has given to me, and for those that He has given to you that you have, in turn, so generously given to me. Without people like you coming alongside my ministry, this task of showing the tribal people in Paraguay the privilege of knowing the God of the Universe would be impossible. Thank you!

For His Glory Alone,

Katie Mae