Why I'm still here...

Hi Everybody!

If you've been paying attention, you know that I was supposed to leave for Antigua, Guatemala on July 12th (yesterday) with the IGNITE Internship program through Potter's Field Ministries. Well, as you might have guessed since you are reading this, I was not able to leave yesterday. Now, this is the story all about how my life got flipped-turned upside-down, oh wait, I'm not Will Smith, dang-it. Well, I'll tell you the story anyways.
So, on May 8th, 2 months ago, I fell at work and hurt my hip, among other things. At first I thought it would just go away, but now after tons of doctor's appointments, a misdiagnosis, wrong treatments, and lots of physical therapy, I've found out that it is not as simple of an injury as I originally hoped.  After two months of assorted excruciating pain, I am finally starting to feel less pain. Not perfect but definitely better than a few weeks ago. So it was decided that my trip is being postponed, again. As frustrating as this situation has been, I am at peace knowing that God's plans are perfect and His timing is so much better than mine. But now for a praise report:
God has provided so amazingly for my Internship with IGNITE as well as providing me with an amazing family to live with, a great job and everything else that I need for the time being. I am so beyond blessed on a daily basis, and I couldn't be more grateful. There are so many unknowns right now, but I am content in the fact that My God is bigger than my problems. As of right now, the plan is to continue treatments, let my hip heal, hopefully get my migraines more under control and leave for Guatemala in January of 2015.
In the meantime, your continued prayers, thoughts and any financial support you are willing to give are beyond appreciated. If this is the first blog post of mine that you have seen, please scroll down and check out the details in my other posts on my IGNITE Internship with Potter's Field Ministries.
I love you all and am so thankful for the support that I have received thus far, and I am pressing forward onto whatever adventure God has for me.

Thank you for tuning in on this crazy ride I call my life, and I will keep updating my blog throughout these next few months.

~ His servant,
   MaKayla

Update On The Craziness That Is This Life I Get To Call Mine

     So, I know that I've kind of dropped off the face of the planet for a few months and according to my last blog post, I should be in Guatemala in the middle of training... Well, as you might already know, I'm definitely not. I'm still in Perris, working and packing. So this is an update to explain why I'm still here and when I am actually leaving. Well, in late November, I realized that leaving for the IGNITE Mission Training School in January 2014 just wasn't very realistic. I hadn't known about it long enough to raise enough support or been working long enough to earn even half of the money that I needed for the year. Plus, God had shown me many different signs that it just wasn't His timing yet... So I decided to postpone my trip until January 2015 so that I could work this whole year and raise more than enough funds to go for the entire year. Then, I found out that the company I work for is moving to North Carolina in June and I was invited to move with them. At first, I decided that I would go and keep working for them until I leave for IGNITE next January. Then, after much prayer, thought, and talking it out, I realized that the timing was perfect to go on July 14th, 2014! I can stay with the company until they move, spend the last few weeks with my family and then spend the year with IGNITE. When I return to the states, I can start college in the fall of 2015.

    So what this now means is that I have until July to earn/raise funds and support for IGNITE. It looks like altogether, the cost will be 10K to 12K, but that is for a whole 10 months and it includes everything: room, board and flights. I ask that you would please pray about supporting me, whether it be financially or through prayer. Please email me about ways that you can help! You can donate through my church(so that it is tax deductible) either before I leave or even while I'm gone!

     Any way you can help is so appreciated; no amount is too small. Also, please be praying with me:
For perseverance and strength, not in myself but giving everything to Jesus so that He can use me in a mighty way.
For me to grow closer in my relationship and faith in my Heavenly Daddy.
For some kind of solution to be found for my headaches. Some of you may know that I have frequent migraine headaches that can be rather debilitating. I don't want to be focusing on myself and my health while I'm gone so I am praying that I can either find out why I have them and find a way for them to go away or have them become less frequent or just be healed of them altogether.
For the IGNITE Teams to be used in a mighty way everywhere that we get sent.
That I would trust God completely for this crazy year and then for whatever comes next.

     Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog, and I hope you'll stay tuned, as I will be trying to keep it updated throughout my year in IGNITE.

     I can't accurately express my gratitude for everyone who is supporting me with thoughts, prayers and finances throughout this next crazy year of my life.

Love,

MaKayla

If you're new to this blog and what I am doing with IGNITE, please check out my other posts.

"Here am I! Send me!" - Isaiah 6:8
Check out the IGNITE website to see what it's all about:
http://www.pottersfield.org/10477/content/content_id/251896/What-is-IGNITE
Like my missions page on Facebook to get more updates: MaKayla's Mission Possible on Facebook
Contact me at my email address: makaylaisross@gmail.com