My name is Kayla Soukup.  I am currently a middle school Science teacher at Madison Middle School.  At the end of July, I am moving to Lilongwe, Malawi to teach at African Bible College Christian Academy.  I will be teaching Mathematics and Science to middle and high school for the next two years.  The Academy accepts 60% of their students from the villages in Lilongwe, and the remaining are children of missionaries, non-church relief workers, and diplomats.
According to the African Bible College Support Quota, a single missionary needs $17,107 to cover housing, food, insurance, tax, vehicle, and administrative expenses.  ABC will provide me a monthly stipend that will cover a small portion of these expenses.  I am required to raise the rest of the money on my own.  I would love if you would partner with me in prayer as I prepare to move overseas and embark on this new season of my walk with the Lord.

Here is a little more about my walk with Christ and how God revealed this new, exciting journey to me:

Although I grew up in a Christian home, I spent most of my life running from God and living life according to what I wanted to do.  In the summer of 2011, I was home from college at MSU, and served at  Broadmoor’s WOW Week.  At the end of the week, on Sunday, June 19th,  I heard the Lord speak so clearly to me for the first time in my life and made the decision to follow Jesus.  I was overwhelmed with the feeling of love and mercy.  When I returned to Mississippi State, I changed my major to Elementary Education in pursuit of a teaching career, and began  laying down things that had kept me in bondage and far from God for years.

Over the past 7 years, I have worked to make room for Jesus in my life and in my heart.  As I have laid down addictions, anger, pride, and self-reliance, I have found that Jesus has met me with love, grace, and mercy.   I have rediscovered who I am and who God has always intended for me to be.   The majority of my life was spent running away from myself, in search of freedom.  I did not find the freedom that I so longed for until I opened my heart to God and Jesus met me in the midst of my sin and darkness.

Over the past year, I felt like God was calling me to make a change, possibly moving out of Mississippi.  As I fervently prayed over this desire and waited on the Lord, He began to open my eyes and break my heart for the needs of people around the world.  Through praying and intentional pursuit of guidance, I began talking to mentors and pastor in my church.  After a few conversations and encounters, I was led to African Bible Colleges.  After talking to the founders, I prayed over the opportunity and  felt a very strong impression that this was what the Lord has called me to do.  I signed my contract two weeks ago and am now preparing to move.  I am so excited to start this new journey and to step in to a new season of life where I am trusting the Lord and radically making steps towards sharing the gospel.