Kayla's Kanakuk Adventure

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope this letter meets you with great comfort and joy in the midst of some otherwise trying times we might be seeing in the world around us, and may even be facing personally. Reflecting on recent events and their impact on people globally and in the community around me—including friends and family members, people near and far—I am seeing a central theme. We’re all hungry for the light.

As I look back on the past few years of my life, it is the one thing that God has revealed in me so fervently. His light within me shines so bright. I want to share it with the world. After years of devoted prayer, He has opened wide doors for me. I have been feeling this tug on my heart for change and further direction but wasn’t sure what that looked like. I needed His direction. I asked God to lead me, to be the lamp unto my feet, to guide me and light my way. I have been praying for divine wisdom, instruction and discernment. This next step in my life is a specific answer to prayer. He has given me a new heart and love for Him that cannot be shaken. He’s ignited a laborious passion within me that seeks to minister to the world and to be a disciple unto the nations.

As my eighth year of elementary school teaching came to a close this spring, it had become clear that the Lord was paving a way for me to lean into this newfound yearning for Him, to know Him more and to be transformed by that. I wanted to dive deep into the Word of God, to study it and be transformed by it, to be led and governed by His Spirit within me. As I began preaching the gospel to myself, I began to see how His light within me was reflected onto others. I saw the Lord work in mighty ways inside the doors of a challenging classroom this year. He moved in the hearts of these children and their families while also moving in mine. Through these years teaching in a Title I school for my district, I have seen an even more specific passion unlocked within my gift for teaching. I have a huge heart for these kids and their backgrounds; I meet their trauma with a great empathy and understanding. I believe that God has revealed the gift of teaching within me, but He has also led me to discover a therapy and social-emotional psychology strong suit as well. Praying for discernment and conviction about what to do next with a taste of these gifts unlocked, I was repeatedly drawn to Romans 12:2, one of my favorite verses in Scripture: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

He opened wide doors for me and led me straight to the Kanakuk Institute, which I will be attending this fall in Branson, Missouri. It is an eight-month program that begins in September and will lead me to be able to pursue a future in any business, education, therapy or ministry setting, all while being thoroughly engrossed in the Word of God through intense and rigorous biblical instruction and leadership training. It provides the perfect environment and opportunity for me to experience spiritual renewal and better come into my God-given identity and purpose. I will be able to leave this program with the ability to better minister and disciple others. After Kanakuk, I will see where God takes me next concerning my professional career, whether it’s back in education or elsewhere. I know that my passion and pursuit to minister to children will be strengthened through this program, but truly, this goes far beyond just my professional career and will lead me to be a stronger disciple in every area of my daily life as I seek to glorify God and His Kingdom. Throughout the program, I will be conducting a vision statement in which I will apply what I am learning to what the Lord’s call is for my future.

In addition to leadership training and biblical instruction through 40 pastors and professors around the country, I will also take part in an internship of my choosing that will help serve me in my future upon graduating from the institute. I will have a “touch-point group” and even a “host family” as well. They will take time out of their own lives to invest in me and invite me into their family during the year. This serves not only as a sort of home away from home, but provides another example of the ways in which ministry is used in all aspects of life.

So, friends and family, as I commit to this year of leadership training and bible study, I am asking for your hand in prayer. Would you uplift me in prayer as I embark on a new journey in which I know the enemy will be relentless in trying to tear me down (as you can imagine he already has) in efforts to circumvent the advancement of God’s Kingdom? Would you also prayerfully consider financially supporting me throughout this school year? Each student is asked to raise support for the cost of attending the institute. The support-raising process provides hands-on training in stewardship as I raise the $13,000 needed to cover the cost of tuition, course curriculum and other academic material fees, on-campus housing and living expenses, meals, credit hours and other essential student activities. This is actually one area where I have seen the Lord at work in my heart, fighting my natural reserved and reluctant spirit, which is fearful to ask for others to carry on this burden with me. However, as I began to study ministry support throughout scripture, I have seen how the Lord is able to multiply ministry beyond what is possible by human standards, and I truly believe the Lord will provide in such a way that surpasses what I could do on my own.

I thank you in advance just for your time and consideration thus far, and if you are willing to support and partner with me as I commit to this year of discipleship and a lifetime of ministry, I would be so very grateful. Whether you are led to support through prayer or the ability to give financially, I thank you. I am so touched by the impact you have already had on my life to this point and want you to know the lifetime impact that you are continuing to lead through the support of this journey I’m headed on. I am so ready to hone in on my gifts, to thoroughly immerse myself into the word of God, enhance my leadership skills and leave this institute with greater perspective and discipleship skills. I am ready to spread my light and so eager to share it with you!

With love and light,

Kayla

Are there other ways to make a donation(s)?

Yes. You may donate through this platform or:

Make a one time or recurring direct deposit to my Kanakuk tuition:

1. Visit https://kanakukinstitute.com/give-now/tuition-payment/

2. Click on the drop-down arrow and select, “I am making a payment on a student’s tuition”

3. Provide my name followed by your name and your information

4. Make the decision to give a one-time or recurring donation and choose payment method

5. Kindly indicate a response of commitment to me so that I can keep record and stay in touch. Please make sure I receive this response by September 1st.

Make donations through Venmo:

@Kayla-Nicole-4

When are the donations due?

With the due date for tuition at the institute set for the middle of September, I ask that all donations are received by September 1st, as I leave my house to move into the Kanakuk Institute housing on the first weekend in September and will no longer be able to take mailed donations to my house.

Monthly donations are another viable option if that works better financially, and they can be set up to be made over the course of the eight months of my program via the Kanakuk link above.