Full Circle Ending

Hey Family!

Wow. I’m home.
After nine months of living out of a backpack, hopping continents, and saying more goodbyes than I can count, it’s surreal to be writing this final blog. The last month has been emotional, powerful, and a little overwhelming in all the best ways. I want to share with you how this journey wrapped up, what God taught me in the final stretch, and what life looks like now as I take my first steps back into “normal.”

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Saying Goodbye to Guatemala

Our last few weeks in Guatemala were deeply bittersweet. We wrapped up our time with Reindom—an incredible ministry. Saying goodbye to the kids was so hard. Their joy, their tight hugs; they left a permanent mark on my heart. We laughed, played, prayed, and learned together, and I miss them more than I expected.

We ended with a hike up Acatenango, a breathtaking, challenging climb that felt a bit symbolic of my whole race. Reaching the summit, looking out over the volcanic horizon, I thought, “This is it. We made it.” 10/10 recommend.

      

(The Acatenango hikers, and saying goodbye to Guatemala)

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First Days Back in the U.S.

Flying into Atlanta felt like stepping into a time machine. As we returned to the Adventures in Missions base in Gainesville on May 7th, I stood in the same spot where I’d been commissioned nine months earlier, but I was no longer the same person.

We had two days of rest to catch our breath and process the shift back to American life. And yes, those first stops absolutely included Chick-fil-A and Target (because you really don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone). It felt both strange and comforting—like stepping into a familiar room that had somehow changed while you were away. Loved these days to reflect, journal, and rest. And just as we got our feet under us again, it was time to head out one more time—this time for domestic ministry in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

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Domestic Ministry in Black Mountain, NC

Serving in Black Mountain was unlike anything else we did on the trip. It was humbling and grounding. About 100 of us from three different squads came together to help with disaster relief after Hurricane Helen, which had devastated the area months earlier. We painted, rebuilt, cleaned, and for my team, helped with some landscaping.

There was something deeply satisfying about using our hands to serve. At the end of the day, falling into bed completely exhausted, I felt the kind of tired that comes from doing meaningful work. Even better was the way our squads bonded. People I barely knew before became fast friends. It would’ve been easy to check out that week, knowing the end was near. But I’m so grateful God gave me the strength to press in and be present right through the final stretch of ministry.

 

  

(Working in Black Mountain)

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Final Debrief + Coming Home

After a week in Black Mountain, we returned to Georgia for our final debrief. I pitched my tent in the same exact spot I had on our very first night. Full circle.

That last week was full of worship, sessions, last squad activities, and time to process the last nine months. It was equal parts celebration and release. We laughed, we cried, we prayed, and we honored all that God had done.

Funny (and a little inconvenient) side note: I broke my phone on May 5th, just two days before leaving Guatemala… Oops. I didn’t get a new one until a couple of days after getting home. Looking back, not having that distraction was such a blessing. I stayed present right up to the final goodbye. So, if you’ve tried to reach me and heard crickets, this is my official apology!

   

(Last lakeside squad hangout and our tents)

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What God Showed Me

One of the most transformative moments in the last month came during a group morning Bible study. We were reading the story of Mary and Martha. Martha is busy doing all the things, serving, preparing, striving, while Mary simply sits at Jesus’ feet.

And it hit me:
I don’t have to do anything to be loved by God.

I’ve spent so much of my life tying my worth to what I could do for others—for God, for people, for the sake of productivity. But He reminded me: His love isn’t earned. It’s given. Freely, fully, without performance. That truth wrecked me, in the best way.

So, here’s a reminder:
You are deeply loved. Not for what you do, but for who you are.
Ask Him each morning, not “What should I accomplish today?” but
“Lord, what do You have for me today?”

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Looking Ahead

Coming home has been a culture shock. America feels fast, so fast. I’m doing my best to resist the urge to jump back into the hustle. I want to live differently now.

I want to be hospitable like the Malaysian people, respectful like the Thai, adaptable like the Greeks, and joy-filled like the Guatemalans. I want to carry those lessons into every day here. To live slowly. To be present. To love well.

These past nine months have completely transformed the way I see God, people, and myself. I’m leaving with a heart more open, a faith more rooted, and a deeper sense of purpose than ever before.

To everyone who prayed, gave, encouraged, or simply followed along, thank you! Your support mattered more than you know. You were part of this, too.

I love you all. So much.

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As I try to sum up what this journey has meant, words still fall short. But if I had to leave you with one final reflection, it would be this—a note to Guatemala, to the World Race, and to every place and person who changed me along the way:

I came here thinking I’d give a lot—but you gave me more.
More patience. More presence.
You showed me joy with scraped knees,
And Jesus in dusty places.

Saying goodbye feels too big.
This isn’t just the end of a trip—it’s the end of a season that has changed me forever.
So maybe this isn’t goodbye at all.
It’s gracias.
It’s te llevo conmigo.
It’s hasta pronto,
Because I’ll never really leave you behind.

Con todo mi corazón.
And see you soon—wherever God leads us next. 💛

~Jaylynn K

 

(Saying goodbye to my Gap M family!)