Hello Dear Ones,

I pray all is well in your lives and that you are witnessing the sweetness and faithfulness of the Lord in all sorts of fresh, new ways. I can’t begin to describe the feelings of joy and gratitude that arise in my heart as I ponder the goodness of God in my own life, especially as of late,and must force my mind to focus as my thoughts race through innumerable instances of His faithfulness.

I apologize for the lack of “updates” recently, though that fact, in and of itself, is a perfect segue into my explanation of the new season that God has placed me in. There haven’t been any huge plans or happenings to report because that is precisely the way God wanted it. Since returning home from Nashville, I have felt an undeniable shift in the fast-paced transience that has defined the life of Katie Doud for so very long. Over the last 5 years, I have lived in 6 different countries, worked for 3 separate organizations, studied

medicine, music, missions, and

language, and returned with more parasites and diseases than I can count. And it has been absolutely sensational.

When I look back at the cultures I’ve joined – the relationships I’ve built – the love I’ve been blessed to receive and give away – the knowledge I have shared and obtained…there is not one fraction of my being that would regret or change this adventure of life that has been mine.

However, as I have walked through such incredible experiences and loved on so many diverse and unique groups of people, I’ve found that the wild, intrepid desires that once burned so uncontrollably in my spontaneous young heart have begun to deteriorate a bit – not out of weariness or disillusionment, but instead, out of a true and sweet sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. I feel like God is now forming new desires in me from a place of understanding and

realization of the importance of family, community, and investment in relational-ministry. He has called me home, not just for a stop-over between big and exciting plans, but home tostay for a while.

I am learning what it truly means to abide, not just in a place, but abiding in my spirit - investing my passions, my experience, my vision, and my heart into family, community, and the living, breathing body of Christ. And as I have yielded my anxious desires to know what’s next, God has met me in that place of surrender and opened my eyes to the unbelievable relationships, community, and ministry that He has been preparing for me in this place since long before I found my way home. I am captivated by His perfect provision in every area as I step, unafraid, into everything He has for me…right now.

So, on the practical end of all of this, life has been moving at an unbelievably fast pace. When I graduated from my school of Worship in Nashville, I decided that I wanted to fully

wait on God in the area of ministry and leading, intentionally lying low until the time and opportunity that He desired would be clear. And He has made good on His promise to prepare the way. Since returning to Fort Collins, I have been overwhelmed with invitations and opportunities to use the passions of my heart to serve The Body. I have been leading worship in 3 different churches, co-leading a women’s bible study every week, and immersing myself in new relationships and community.

I am working full-time as

the billing specialist with a home healthcare company, which keeps my days full, and ministry fills many of my nights and weekends. However,

one of the sweetest additions to this new season is the incredible blessing of being with my family. Living on separate

continents for years has shown me how absolutely integral family is, and how beautiful it is to do life with them. I truly adore this time.

Now please don’t misunderstand me – in all of this talk of home and settling, by no means has my passion and call to the nations diminished or changed. God simply has me in a season of learning and growing in a different environment, and though I am not living in these places, as I once did, my heart still beats with them. A midst my involvement and commitments here at home, there are always times set aside in which I can retreat from the busyness and simply invest time praying for and communicating with the precious people and groups that I was a part of in these nations that weigh so heavy on my heart. God has also promised to provide opportunities for me to reach the nations on a smaller scale, while still remaining in this place that he has called me to for now. And He has recently provided just that chance as I have been asked to join a small team from my church to travel to Nicaragua in July. We will be spending 10 days working in a group home for children and young adults who have been abandoned – either biologically or socially. The majority of these children are coming from environments of prostitution, abuse, and neglect, and are just beginning to walk the process of healing and restoration from the only life they have ever known. I have been spending countless hours praying for each individual child, walking through their histories and investing in their hearts before I even meet them. My heart is burning with a desire to simply bring life to these children, as well as the staff. I plan to devote hours a day to simply sitting and conversing with them – hearing their stories, praying with them, assisting them with any duties that may relieve some of the constant pressure they are under as staff, and just being a source of refreshment and joy. As you know, God has placed such a passion in my heart for relational, love-ministry – to invest time in simply walking with individuals and placing an interest and importance on their life and circumstances. To love and relate just as Jesus did – in simplicity and authenticity.

Though I am ecstatic that God presented this amazing opportunity to me, the reality is that it did come quickly and unexpectedly, allowing me only a few weeks to raise the $1700 I will need to meet the travel and living costs for this trip. However, as daunting as that sum may appear, I do truly believe that God has challenged me to trust in his ability to provide. This means surrendering my pride and control, and being willing to humbly ask for help. As I have always said, I believe any bit of financial or prayer support offered towards a missionary’s cause is a powerful, tangible investment in the mighty work that God is doing in the nations, and it is simply an honor to be a steward of that investment. So in all humility and trust in God’s call in this time, I ask that you would prayerfully consider contributing to this goal. When I prepare for a trip such as this, my heart and mind naturally focus on the great need and potential for God to work there, and the finances become less and less of a worry. I trust that if God asked each of us to go in this specific time, he will provide the means to fulfill that call. So if you are at all interested in being a part of that provision and answer, I would be so very grateful for your assistance. Tax-deductible donations in check form can be made out to Vineyard with nothing written in the memo line, and sent to me at 1620 Buckeye Street, Fort Collins, CO, 80524.

As always, I am SO blessed by your constant prayers and encouragement. It is an incredible gift to have a group of people so full of love and faith that commit to standing with me as I walk through this beautiful journey that God is leading. You are precious to me and I cherish your faithfulness.

Delighting in Him,

Katie