God knew

📷Lily Sykes

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

 

God Knew . . .

God Knew our team of 6 would become a team of 4 and 2.

    God Knew a stage needed reconstructing.
    God Knew 2 young men who would enjoy learning while also showing leadership to make the new stage a reality.
    God Knew we needed and provided 2 carpets instead of 1.
    God Knew 7 years of prayers had been prayed for the new ministry potential this stage will provide.  
    God Knew/Knows generations of worshipers will be discipled on this newly reconstructed stage.
    God Knew a pastor (His daughter) and His church needed to see their faithful prayers answered.  
    God Knew this seemingly small gift of time and resources would make a lasting impact for His church.

📷Lily Sykes

📷Lily Sykes

    God Knew 15 of His Belizean kids would enjoy swimming in the sun and a day at the beach.

 

📷Lily Sykes

📷Lily Sykes

📷Lily Sykes

📷Lily Sykes

    God Knew one of His orphanages needed attention and resources.

    God Knew some of His other children have the resources He needs to provide for them.

    God Knew a dinner would be hosted to honor all He had done in Belize and in the Valley of Peace.

    God Knew town leaders (including pastors, educators, the town historian) from the Valley would be there.

    God Knew we would be there.

    God Knew we would meet the principal of the school we were going to volunteer at the next day.

    God Knew a pastor's wife, who loves to host people in her home, would make pupusas for us and the principal the next day.

📷Lily Sykes

 God Knew I teach Pre-K and would get to read to Pre-K students at the Christian school in the Valley.

    God Knew we would meet the pastor's daughter at school.

📷Lily Sykes

📷Lily Sykes

   God Knew we needed a Sabbath (rest).

    God Knew we would enjoy fun in the form of cave and mountain climbing/tubing, cliff jumping, and an ATV tour.

📷Lily Sykes

📷Lily Sykes

   God Knew the team of 2 would go to Belize 2 weeks later.  

   God Knew the gifts He had given them and used those for His glory!

   God Knew we couldn't have prayed for anything better!

    God Knew I needed to see yet another example of His Kingdom here on earth!

   God Knew I needed encouragement and healing in areas I didn't!

    

   God Knew of His goodness and love toward ALL His children and

    God Knew we ALL needed to see it!

   God Knew . . .

    

    

4 More Days!

Well as the 2022-2023 school year has officially come to a close our team is preparing for Belize. Four more days before we leave, I can't believe it!! A couple days ago, those that wanted to from Cactus Elementary's staff gathered to pray over us, our trip, and the people of Belize. As we were sharing our excitement (as well as some of the challenges we anticipate) this statement was made, "You have to come out of yourself in order to serve others." (Ali Visagie) This has become my prayer for our team, "that we come out of ourselves in order to serve the children (and people) of Belize". In going through pictures of my class from this past year, I happen to capture this moment between two of the children in my class. For me, this picture is a mental image of one student giving of what they found (had) so that another student could have more. May we follow their example and give out of our abundance.

As we prep to leave I have included a calendar of ways you can pray for our team this next week. Thank you for partnering with us as we "go". You are an important part of this journey!

Erase The Pencil Marks and Replace Them with Pen!!

Friends and Family! Just a quick update to say last week our team booked our tickets to Belize.  We were able to erase the pencil marking the trip in our calendar and replace it with pen!  I am so excited and honored to be going.  We are a team of 6! 

Praise Points:

• We will we be gone a whole week May 30 - June 6
• We are a team of 6
• The Lord provided the cost necessary to purchase the plane tickets

Prayer Points:

• Pray we will continue to trust The Lord with the remaining details 
• Pray The Lord will continue to provide financially through fund raising and support partners for the remaining cost of the trip.
• Pray our team will be able to finish the school year strong (both the teenagers and the teachers ;) )
• Pray for the people of Belize - the organizations, churches, and children we will be able to work alongside. I know The Lord will ordain our steps and I am SO excited to see where those steps take us!!!

Thank you for your prayer and financial partnerships.  They mean more to me than you will ever know. 

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10

A Passing Random Thought Becomes A Dream ; A Dream Becomes A God Given Reality

    Man, it's been awhile and thinking about life the last 3 years, to say that myself and society has been through a great deal is an understatement!!  

    This update and coming back to my missions journal has been a breath of fresh air for my soul.  If you feel like visiting older journal entries please do.  

    However, I would like to tell you about a passing random thought one day, that pulled on my heart strings and became a dream, and NOW I am watching that dream become a God Given Reality.  One day I passingly made the statement "you know how cool it would be if some of the staff from Cactus Elementary and their families could go on a Missions Trip."  

    Fast forward a couple years and I am watching God move and this dream is becoming a God given reality.  Through lots of prayer and asking for wisdom, God has brought a few teachers from Cactus Elementary and members of their families together to serve in Belize this summer.  This is a multi-denominational team however all of us love The LORD and want to see others come to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ.

    I become more and more astounded in how The LORD is continuing to provide and with each step of trust He is making this possible.  God, however does not call us to go on mission alone. When he asks us to "go" he wants others to "go" with us. Others "go" with us by supporting us in prayer and He desires for them to witness with us what God is up to in the world.  I am looking for prayer partners who are willing to join us through praying for Belize, our team and myself on this journey.  Some of you I have already asked and others of you and your churches if you desire to be a prayer partner please let me know.  I would love nothing more!!  Your prayers and partnerships mean the world.  As well I would love to hear from you and how I can be praying for you.

    I will fashion the prayer updates much like the updates I did for Costa Rica and moving to Cactus, TX.  I will include Praise Points and Prayer Points.

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10

Praise Points:

• God is bringing our team together 
• God is providing prayer partners within other teachers on campus, for which I am truly grateful
• God is confirming my own call to go Belize

Prayer Points:

• Pray God will continue to unify our team and help us focus on Him and what He is calling us to do while also finishing up the school year strong with our students.
• Pray God would give us wisdom and trust as we purchase our plane tickets and the details of the trip come together.  MOST specifically that the airline tickets would come down in cost, we have yet to purchase our tickets due increased costs.
• Pray God would provide prayer partnerships and financial support for the members of our team. To give you more details:
• Approximate dates of the trip are May 31st - June 6th.(depending on flights).  This is the week right after we get out of school. (depending on flights)
• The cost is approximately $2500 per person (depending on flights)
• If while praying you feel like God is asking you or your church to given financially, please let me know and I can send you the address of where to send it. My email is kaylynnrobson@gmail.com
• Pray God will continue to move in and through us as we prep to go and are gone.
• Pray for the people of the Belize

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10

Thank you for the bottom of my heart for all your support.  

BLESSINGS!!

Life update Summer 2020

 I KNOW it as been awhile since I sent a life update, so here it is...
What can I say about Cactus, TX? Or rather what can I not say;  the people and this place have become my home!! The last 4+ years have been some of the hardest yet most rewarding years of my life.  I have seen and experienced some of the greatest heartaches to date in my life while at the same time some of the greatest joys!  One of my mentors and close friends made a statement as I was processing life with them, "God has led and you have found your people!"  To which I confidently answered "You know, I really have!"  These are my people; my friends, family, neighbors, and community. During my years here I have seen and experienced things I NEVER thought possible on earth!  Things you read about in the bible as God moved through cities and towns.  If I had time, I would LOVE to share with you all the ways I have SEEN the LORD in and through the people of Cactus; maybe one of these days I can tell you one or two :)
But for today, I would love to share how He has been working most recently. As some of you may be aware, I have worked bi-vocationally at Cactus Elementary since I got here.  The children and staff at Cactus Elementary have been a source of JOY in my life from the very beginning and I LOVE IT!! 

As well, you may know that Cactus Elementary and  Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center have been community partners since before I moved here.  

Well, with the arrival of directors at Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center we have been in this process of transition for some time.  During that time I was praying that The Lord would reveal to me what it is that He has uniquely designed me to do.  You see, while being at CNMC I have had many job titles and responsibilities but with directors and a growing staff again, I would be able to focus on 1 or 2 instead of 3, 4, 5, or 6.

That began a season for prayer, conversations, and waiting on The Lord's timing to help confirm what it was that He had uniquely designed for me next.  In the last few months He has been leading more and more toward a new job at Cactus Elementary.  A place and people I dearly love.  This would mean I would need to go back to school (at least for a little bit - which if you know me, you know that when I was done with my undergrad I said I was NEVER going back  - - - well don't ever say you won't do something!  This is my 2nd time back since my bachelors, but I digress.) With all that said, and bringin g on new directors, I could be free to focus my attention in a different direction.

The Lord has opened the door for me to step into the classroom full-time this Fall at Cactus Elementary. I have stepped down from my formal position at CNMC to accept a position teaching Kindergarten and I could not be more excited!!

While I am saddened to not be at CNMC formally, I'm excited to serve our community in this new capacity!  I will volunteer at CNMC as my new schedule will allow but for now I am back in school to become state certified with the long term goal of getting my bilingual certification in Spanish - which is a huge need in our area.
As far as my church assignment goes, The Lord has continued to confirm this is where I need to be as I have been appointed on special assignment at Cactus Elementary. Since CNMC and Cactus Elementary are community partners, the church (West Texas district) has appointed me right there at Cactus Elementary. I could not be MORE excited!! 

I cannot wait to see everything The LORD has in store for our community, my neighbors, my friends, and family.  

Lastly, when you come to visit instead of at the ministry center, you will find me 2 blocks away in the Kindergarten Hall of Cactus Elementary loving on 15 - 21+ students.  When you come by be ready to read a book, lots of smiles, and knee hugs! 

From Costa Rica to Cactus

Good evening from Cactus, TX!  I know, I know it has been a long time since I last updated you all.  Sorry for that! I wanted to let you know that I will be continuing my blog even though I have transitioned back to the United States.  The Lord has provided in a huge way for me to continue to be in ministry in Cactus.  Life in Cactus never has a dull moment, hope you will join me on this crazy journey!
Before I tell you a little bit about life in Cactus, let me say I enjoyed Christmas with family.  It was a crazy first 2 weeks in the United States.  A day after arriving in KC I flew out again to see my sister and her family.  I was able to meet my nephew who was born in October while I was in Costa Rica.  It was a great visit and I loved spending time with my niece and nephew.  It was a busy couple of days as we went to see Santa, went to a hockey game, and had dinner with my aunt and a few cousins.  It was such a great few days!

After returning to the Kansas City area my parents and I quickly made our way to the Kansas/Oklahoma where we joined my dad's family to celebrate Christmas and celebrate the life of Grandma who passed away a year Christmas day.  It was really nice to see family and I actually had the opportunity to preach the Sunday after Christmas,  It was a lot of fun!

Two short weeks after moving back to the United States (or a month ago) I made the move to Cactus, Tx.  I moved to Cactus to join the staff of Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center (CNMC).  I am the Volunteer and Donor Relation Director.  Some of my duties include but aren't limited to the Work and Witness Coordinator, help recruit volunteers for our various programs, and keep in touch with our various donors and churches that make ministry at the CNMC possible.

I am spending these beginning days of transition learning and getting to know the area, our various programs and system of doing things around CNMC.  I joined an incredible staff of people who are dedicated to being the hands and feet of Christ in our very diverse town.  I hope you will continue to join me on this journey of following Christ by continuing to read this blog, praying for the some 4,000 people who live in Cactus, the ministries of CNMC, our staff and myself.  There are really so many things I could tell you to introduce you to Cactus and the CNMC, In the next post you will find that video. Please do me favor take to next 5 minutes to watch the video of a city that has found it's way into my heart and a place I now call home.  

Praise Points:

*Made it back to the USA and Cactus safely

*God continues to provide during this season of transition with random small jobs here and there

*Our ESL program started off last week we have 120 students

Prayer Points:

*pray for our ESL program, students, and staff

*being bi-vocational pray that The LORD will continue to lead me toward the right job that helps support my ministry at the CNMC

*pray as I prep and prepare for the upcoming work and witness teams.  The first 3 teams come in March, it will be here before we know it.

*Continue to pray for my transition and re-entry culture shock

Thank you again for reading and being apart of my life.  I treasure your friendship greatly.

Una semana más: One more week :) :(

Happy December afternoon from Costa Rica!  I cannot believe what I am about to say, I have approximately one week in Costa Rica before traveling back to the United States.  I have seen God do some amazing things and can't believe how fast these 9 months have gone.  

Let me say that I was not at all surprised at all with God and His crazy connections when the missionary families received their annual Christmas package from a church in the States.  The particular ornament that all the missionaries received was the one you see above "Abide in Him".  This has been the overarching theme The Lord as brought me back to during my 9 months here in Costa Rica.  No matter the circumstance, location, and responsibilities each day brings with it: The Lord wanted/wants me to Abide in Him.  He will handle the rest!  Man God is Good!   

I also realized that in my last post I did not include prayer points like I usually do, sorry about that!  As I am one week out from travelings back to the United States now would be as good of a time as any to share those with you.  

Prayer Points: 

• For my last week in Costa Rica and saying "see-you-later" to people who have become part of my family
• For my travels to the states and going to visit family for Christmas as I will be traveling a lot in a short amount of time
• For my transition in many ways: my re-entry into the United States and my move and adjustment to life in Cactus, TX as I will be there before January 1st.  Upon arrival I will be looking for a job as my position at the CNMC (Cactus Nazarene Ministries Center) is bi-vocational.  
• For wisdom in how and when to proceed in a situation with my car and transportation needs.  About a week ago my mother was in a hit and run car accident in my car.  Praise The LORD she is okay, but my car not so much.  It is not totaled but is unsafe to drive in the condition it's in. I know The LORD will provide, I just need to Abide In Him and He will take care of all the details from finances, to transition to TX, to whatever else I need.  He' s got it!

 Thank you all for the ways you have supported me over the last 9 months and in life in general.  I will be continuing this blog in the states and as life continues in Cactus as a way to keep you informed as to what The Lord is doing in my life and in Cactus. I can't wait to tell you more about Cactus in the coming days!

Merry Christmas!!