Aloha from Hawai’i, and from up in the air, I have officially completed my student missionary training here in Honolulu. Actually, I got in to Hawai’i last Monday, so I have had about 9 days to acclimate, build relationships, see the island, and rest before the adventure of this year ensues. First of all, thank you. Thank you for choosing to invest in me whether it is through finances, prayer, or encouragement. Each of you has played a key role into getting me to where I am today, and for that I am beyond grateful.
I am looking forward to the adventures and the moments that this year will hold. Some will be amazing and will be the things I will think of when I look back on my time at Pohnpei. While others may cause me to want to roll up in a ball and cry on the floor. Above all though, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has led me here for this season of my life.
As of this moment, I am sitting on the window seat of row 10 on this island hopper that will take me to my island home for the next 10 months. Currently we are on the longest leg of this flight which is from Honolulu to Majuro, then from Majuro onto Kwajalen, then finally Kwajalen to Pohnpei. The excitement is finally starting to hit me. The nerves are real and it is hard to believe that I will not be seeing the US for 10 months. Yet, at the same time I am super stoked to be trying a completely new thing for this next year.
Growing up, both my parents went as Student Missionaries, and I distinctly remember one instance where my dad asked my sister if she thought if she wanted to go as an SM, I remember her responding with a maybe. Then when he did not ask me the same question, I asked him why he chose not to ask me. He looked at me and said that he always knew that I was going to be one. So here I am. It is hard to believe that I am going to the same island that my dad did exactly 30 years later. I know this is going to be an experience that will rock my world. Who knows, in 10 months you might be receiving an email telling you what the new trajectory of my life will be.
It is crazy to know that I packed in 2 suitcases and 2 backpacks and that is going to hopefully sustain me. Thankfully mail rates are the same to mail to Micronesia in case anyone ever wants to mail me things from the USA. I guess it is time to learn to be a minimalist, or at least try to learn. It will be strange with no AC, but hey, next time I send out an email it will probably be telling about all my amazing adventures that I am having. For those of you who do not know, I will be the chaplain and teach 12th grade Bible at the Adventist School in Pohnpei which has a little over 300 students. School starts a week from Friday on the 16th! So that of course is oh so exciting!
One thing I am learning spiritually is to Give Him One. Let me explain, this summer at Camp Kulaqua, I had an amazing time. One night I was sitting down by the spring and talking to God, and I told Him that I wanted to dedicate this next year, this next whole year to Him. So that night I was journaling, and the phrase Give Him One came to my heart. I soon realized that this phrase plays into all key areas of my life. Give Him One is taking steps towards giving Him all. It is the ability to be set free from the chains and the bondage that has held me back. So I am going to start by giving Him one day, which will hopefully turn into one week, then one month, one year, and hopefully one life.
So as I close out this email, and I get ready to start this adventure that you are joining me on. I would like to challenge you to look at your life and see where you can Give Him One. Thank you for being a support system for me. Your love and words mean more that you’ll ever know. I’ll be praying for you by name. Also please feel free to contact me at any time. You can use social media, respond to this email address, or send mail.
I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you and please do not hesitate to reach out if there is ever anything I can do for you. Also if you want to know anything specific I can include in these emails, or just want to learn more about the island, hit me up! You are amazing, and remember you are so LOVED!
All the Best!
Kayla Goodman
“ Behold I am doing a NEW thing, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19
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