"It all started in Bolivia" (Katie writes)

This is copied from Katie's blog...this is a follow up of what God was doing in her guest post in January and where He's brought her since then...

I went to Bolivia in January for a 10 day mission trip. Upon the return trip, my flight was full and the airline offered me a $500 flight voucher plus accommodations at a 5 star hotel if I would return to the US a few days later. I said 'Of course!' and was happy for a 2 day retreat and also a little bit of extra time with my sister who hung out with me when she wasn't visiting her friends a few miles away at Etnos (New Tribes' mission center in Santa Cruz).

During those two days, I was alone for a good bit of it and enjoyed the time alone with God. I was reflecting on a week of growing in the Lord and being challenged by a very godly team who I had just parted ways with. During that time I pondered my life. Who am I? What is God's purpose for my life? What is my next step?

I didn't have any answers at that time. I began praying for a way to serve and for an opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone, into a new place where I have to trust God. Where I get to experience first-hand that He restores lives. Because in America, I am realizing that often we don't 'need God'. We can live life, fulfill our 'dreams', be successful and its all based on our hard work. But I don't believe that is what He has in mind for His followers.

As I read the Bible, I see the disciples caring for the poor and devoting themselves to the gospel. I don't see that in normal life. I don't see that in my life. I prayed for a change of heart. I prayed that I would be able to serve those who need it. I began hoping that someone would need help, ask me and that I would be able to fill that spot. You see, I am blessed. Ridiculously blessed. I have an incredible family. I was able to pay off student loans and car loans so I have no debts, I have no bills. My health is good. I have people who love me and would support me if I was called to go. 

God asked me why I was keeping it all for myself when there are people elsewhere who have none of those things. I have been given much. That means much is expected of me, right? 

So I surrendered my car to Him, my money to Him. My time--which is something I hold to very tightly--to Him. He is Lord of my life and sometimes a Lord tells you to give up things for the good of His kingdom. Since I love Him, and want to love Him more, I slowly and somewhat reluctantly began to give those things to Him--if He wanted them. You see, kings don't always ask their subjects to give everything up, just sometimes when they are needed. Not all men are always drafted to go fight for their country, but sometimes, they are needed and they are called to go. And they do.

I realized that God had given me a desire to be a mother--actually, I wanted to be a mother since I was still a small child. I would play dolls with my sisters and we would each have as many kids as we could (we would find stuffed animals, baby dolls, whatever we could) to see who would have more kids. I guess that's what coming from a large family does to you.

I asked God why He didn't take away that desire when it was something I wanted so badly, but it was something that it didn't seem like He would fulfill in the near future. And I felt like He gently said, "I am not going to take it away. I gave it to you for a reason. I want you to love and nurture kids, even if they are not your own. You can love and care for children who need a mother." I said, ok. When you put it like that it makes perfect sense.
So I sat down and thought about my life. What do I really want? If I could have any type of work/ministry, what would I want it to be? So I made a list:

I want to work with underprivileged kids in a long term relationship and I want to be able to share Jesus with them.

I decided to pray for all of these things and that I would accept a job/mission if it fulfilled this list.
Guess what...  

See what happened next!