Wednesday the 28....WAIT!?!? NO TUESDAY!!!!!

So I am here sitting in the Minnesota airport waiting for my plane and have just received so much grace and protection.  Okay so as of yesterday up until about 7 pm I was foolishly under the impression that my flight was not until Wednesday at 6.25 am...HOWEVER, around 7 pm realized that my flight was not Wednesday it was in fact TUESDAY.  Now after figuring this out I realized that I am stupid and then panicked a little as the home where I was staying was at least 2 hours away and we had already made a game plan ..needless to say that plan was shot.  Fortunately, the previous few days I have had random amounts of free time and was pretty much already packed up and ready to go.  Thank the Lord!  So I packed up all my bags and needed to weigh them to ensure that I wouldn't be charged extra.  However, there were no scales! Not at our house OR the neighbours!  So remembering that God is bigger than weight I reminded myself of a story my friend Heather told me about one time when her bag was 20lbs over weight but she was neither charged or hassled due to some serious prayer.  So I started praying that my bags would be acceptable...

NOW is when the exciting part happens AAAAHH! Okay so I was never able to weigh my bags and was waiting in line to check in - the whole time just praying for my bags - that they would arrive with me in San Jose, Costa Rica in one piece and not having to pay any fees ( i detest fees).  I had already seen in my online check in that I was going to need to pay for at least one of my bags, but i kept praying the same thing over and over.  So I get to the counter and firstly, my guy is delightful and very helpful...so he punches in my information and says "Okay so you will need to pay for your extra bag $30, would you like to pay credit, debit, or cash" and my  first instinct is always credit...but this time I felt God saying "No pay cash" so I grab my cash and only had $40 so I ask him if he had change..he takes my money and then after being informed that they don't have change looks and my and i quote "Well I didn't get you a Christmas present this year so...here you go" AND HANDS ME BACK MY $40!!! Then they tag my bags - WITHOUT weighing them and tell me to have a good trip! SO PRIME!!!  Customs was also a breeze, after getting in trouble for putting my sweater in the same bin as my laptop.  I walked away with a huge grin, "Oh Jesus you just love me so much, you care that I don't get hassled by airport security, you care that i don't miss my flights, you care that my tummy is rumbly and don't want me to suffer"  for serious, I know I say it ALL the time but I AM blessed!

So to summarize, Minnesota is filled with wonderful super prime people who I will miss dearly but know that we will be reunited once again, I need to learn to read better, and Jesus loves me more than I can comprehend.

Oh man...TOMORROW I will be reunited with so many friends, all gifts from God....what a Christmas!

marvellous Minnesota

Aaaah so I've have been in Minnesota for a  little over a week now and it has been completely delightful.  Leaving home was difficult, as everything was hitting me all at the same time "you won't see this person....FOR A  YEAR!" haha and if I wasn't already thinking it they were telling me "Oh Kayla....I won't see you for so long" needless to say a new lake has formed near the Chandler home. 

All my flights went very smoothly, I didn't even have to pay for any of my bags - much to the dismay of the bag checking man who was very concerned and interested in "why don't YOU have to pay"  to which he received  a shrug and smile...then went on my way with a little pep in my step (I was excited because the bag cost was something that I had been stressing about, but of course Jesus was like 'Oh Kayla you are so silly, don't you know that I control bag checks too!' - so prime

My first 4-5 days were completely non-stop as we had a hitchin' (wedding) to set up, do, and take down.  It was such a wonderful time, I've met so may delightful people and had some extremely prime conversations.  I'm staying with my friend's family and have adopted them as my own, coming from a family of just one brother its so fun to have 3 new sisters and 2 new brothers.

 
Since being here God has given me a complete and overflowing peace...this is exactly where I am supposed to be right now.  I am blessed beyond measure.  The other day my friends mom Melody shared something with me and I really liked it so I will pass along the joy...

  Reflecting on her newly married daughter she explained to me that every time something significant happens in our lives our names change

    * When we are born our parents give us a name * when we are born again, the Lord renames us as His beloved * when we get married we receive a new last name (ladies) and are now a husband or wife * when we have a baby we are now a parent.....
   

She closed by saying how God cares about our names and how they are really important to Him.  I couldn't help but leave thinking about my name : Kayla Rae Chandler....beloved, daughter, sister, missionary, student, friend....

I know it shouldn't surprise me but I'm SO overwhelmed by God's love, I am in no way deserving of what I am receiving but hey! I am definitely NOT complaining :)

Megan and I                                                                      My home in Minnesota

hi ho hi ho it's off to work i go...

As I sit here listening to Christmas music and meditating on the reality that in just a short week I will be freezing all my appendages off in arcticesque Minnesota.  I can't help but be reminded of how much grace and favour God has placed upon my life.  Today, actually, I was presented with a situation which really stirred up my insides, while trying to make sense of it I realized how incredibly important it is to constantly be on guard.  There are so many things out in the world which are trying to undermine God's will and discredit the work of His people.  I am so delighted that I am going to be able to help spread awareness and serve as a witness on a larger scale.  God has given me a lot and now is my time to use the gifts and knowledge that he has graced me with and use it to further His kingdom!

I just want to express my gratitude to everyone who has stood and is standing behind me.  It's so affirming to know that I have so much support here at home, and while I know there will be hard times and I will miss my life here (especially during those cold showers)  there's work to be done!!!

"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight.  O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer" - Psalms 19:14

I am SO lucky!

why you ask..well not only do i get to hang out with my amAzing God all day every day but on top of that He takes SUCH good care of me.  These past few months my friendships have become stronger, my family is functioning better, and I have this overwhelming  joy and delight.  God is seriously SO prime. 

Today I was blessed to be able to share with my church family a little piece of what God's got going on with me and how he just continues to bless me...i've stopped wearing socks because He keeps blessing them off!  I've got a little over 3 weeks left until i leave AND i am SOO excited to share that due to the overwhelming love of my God and the generosity of my church and those who have jumped on board with me that other than my flight home i have ALL my support!!! When i began this journey of "God are you really sending me back?!"  He told me "Kayla not only am i sending you but i am going to provide all your support for you, as you were so faithful with giving your own money on your last trip"  and now God's words have become reality, he has provided for me completely!!!  I just get so excited when God makes himself so visible and His vision so clear.  He loves me so much and provides everything i need He will never leave me nor forsake me ....ever!! 

so i guess all that's left to say is a giant gracias!!! (thank you!) to everyone who has allowed God to use them.  Thank you for the love, the support, the prayers aaaah the smiles and encouragement.  Every little thing is God and it refreshes me so thank you thank you thank you!!!

aaa November?!

so it's T minus one month and 9 days I think until I head out...the time has just flown by.  I've been so overwhelmed with the support and love that I have been showered with.  I am so blessed!  As of this moment I believe I have about 75% of my funds raised!!!  Since I have been back God has covered me with love.  In September when my summer job was coming to an end (summer camp) I prayed for a job and less than 1 week later I was in a doctors office downtown with a full time job!  This job was and is a huge blessing, I get to meet sooo many people not to mention its a doctors office so there's almost always something crazy going on.  I will be there until November 19 then after that I will be stepping down and only working part time as  a youth worker with the City of Surrey (my other job) so that I can prepare.  And prepare I shall, I've still got 25% of my funds to raise and when going away for a year there are a lot of little things that need to be done (little things you don't consider...like getting medical and travel insurance...apparently its not the smartest plan to just leave that up to Jesus).  As well i will be able to spend some quality time with my friends and family up here not to mention extreme practicing my Spanish.  ps if you would love to help me practice, I would not turn you away :)  Anyways, I just wanted to check in....

OOO i just remembered so for those of you dying to know how my finger has been doing (for those who don`t remember I could not bend it) it`s just about completely back to normal!!! SO exciting! Thank you so much for all the prayers, they`ve been working!!! :)

love kayla!

“I will never leave you nor forsake you... Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1: 6-9

This verse has been a huge source of comfort these past few months... I love Jesus :)

MUCHISIMO GRACIAS!!!

How extremely prime it was see so many faces and receive so much support last night.  I just want to thank everyone who helped..from setting up, to take down and all the other countless preparations it was a huge blessing!  I appreciate it very much. 

This is the video that i showed, i hope that it helps you to see just a little of what my life consists of down there :)

oops...

So i forgot to mention in the previous post what the fundraiser is going to involve other than awesome Costa Rican info
so let me bring you up to speed...

We are having a SILENT AUCTION (ps there are some pretty prime things! for serious!)
and BAKE SALE...(ie if you loved my mom's cinnamon buns at the info night...they're going to join us for the party!)

as well there will be food AND a super fun secret surprise!

Also this is a great opportunity if you have any empty bottles, cans and/or juice boxes feel free to bring them :)

 

YAY!  YOU SHOULD COME!!!

we have a fundraiser!

Okay friends it looks like October 23 is going to be the big day.  The day when you can come and learn all the wonderful uber prime things God's got going on in Costa Rica and how you can be apart of it!...... lucky!!!!

WHERE: Saturday October 23 @ Cedar Grove Baptist Church  @ 6.30pm
                                                                            10330 144st, Surrey, BC V3T4V3

If you've got any questions or would like to help out with the evening of delight let me know :)

it’s time to fundraise!

Okay so I have been investigating fundraising options…and while I am in the process of setting up some events I am collecting all your empty bottles, juice boxes, and cans … throw me an email or respond to the post if you would like to donate and we can arrange either you dropping them off or me picking them up with you :)

YES IT’S FINALLY HERE!!!!!

It’s my blog people!!! I’m so delighted that you have taken the time to explore what will soon be your lifeline to all things Kayla! If you haven’t heard I’m heading back to Costa Rica in December!  SO i know what you’re thinking “Kayla?! why do i need to visit your blog when you’re still in Canada” WELL it’s because now is the time for getting into the habit of checking out this source of information!!!!!

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B25ECb5b1NgRM2VkNTFiNGQtMTY2MC00Y2U4LWEzNTQtZGMzODI0Yzk2YzI0&hl=en&authkey=COP-5v0F