Hi friends and family!

The last few weeks in Guatemala have been both challenging and incredibly sweet. My team and I spent another two weeks doing ministry with Reindom before wrapping everything up with our final week of debrief. We all flew home on July 2, and over the past few days I've had the chance to sit with the Lord and process everything He did throughout the month. Looking back, I'm just so overwhelmed by His faithfulness.

After celebrating Reindom's sixth anniversary during our first week (such a fun way to kick off the summer!), we settled into the rhythm of everyday ministry. Every morning started in the Reindom House prayer room before we'd pack up and head to the village of Santa Marta. There, we got to greet the kiddos, serve them lunch, teach English, Bible, and sports classes, and simply spend time loving on them. Every Wednesday, Reindom also partners with a church in Guatemala City to help lead their prayer room, and it was such a privilege to be a small part of what God is doing there.

One of the biggest things the Lord taught me this trip was what biblical leadership really looks like. I learned that leadership isn't about having all the answers or doing everything myself—it's about leading by example and empowering others to step into what God has for them. I felt Him continually reminding me that true leadership comes from surrendering my own plans, trusting Him with the process, and creating space for others to step into the things He has placed on their hearts. I wanted each of them to feel ownership over this trip and recognize that God had uniquely invited them into what He was doing, rather than it simply being something I was leading. So I started distributing different roles and responsibilities, and it was so fun watching each of these six amazing girls grow in confidence, ownership, and boldness as they stepped into the gifts the Lord had given them.

As I prayed for our team throughout the trip, I realized that more than anything, I felt the Lord inviting me to help cultivate a Kingdom mindset within each of them. It's so easy to measure our lives by what we accomplish or produce, but Jesus is after something so much deeper. He's worthy of our whole lives, not just our mission trips, ministry opportunities, or Sunday mornings. We are called to seek first the Kingdom of God and to partner with Him in manifesting His Kingdom here on earth—to bring His love, truth, and presence into every space He places us. My prayer is that as the squad heads back to school, work, and everyday life, they would continue remembering that their greatest calling is simply to know Him, make Him known, and live as carriers of His Kingdom. I hope they stay expectant for what He wants to do in and through their everyday, ordinary lives, because the Kingdom isn't confined to a mission field, it's wherever He has placed us.

Another unexpected gift from this trip was watching our team become a family. The Lord was so faithful in creating space for vulnerability, which led to deeper friendships and genuine unity. During our second week, I felt Him prompting me to share my testimony, and after I shared, everyone else began sharing pieces of their own stories. Over the next couple of nights, more stories continued to be shared as the Lord deepened our trust and connection with one another. I was reminded of how God uses honesty and vulnerability to build His Church.

I also feel like the Lord revealed something new in my own heart—I absolutely love discipleship!

The biblical model of someone who is more mature in their faith intentionally pouring into someone else, who then turns around and does the same, is so beautiful to me. I want that to be part of my life forever. Getting to learn from Jenna and Kevin has been such a gift! I love their heart for discipleship and their desire to raise up Kingdom workers who don't just know about Jesus but actually walk closely with Him and invite others to do the same.

Along with that, I discovered a deeper love for watching young adults step into their true identity in Christ. Seeing people become free from lies, fear, shame, and insecurity is one of the most beautiful things I've ever witnessed. That kind of freedom takes hunger, humility, and a willingness to let the Lord transform your heart, but it is so worth it. Watching people encounter the love of Jesus and begin believing what He says about them has been one of my greatest joys over the last two years on the World Race.

As for what’s next… I’m not totally sure yet! Over this season, I’ve seen the Lord highlight so many things in my heart—my love for discipleship, walking alongside people, and watching others discover who they are in Christ. I know He doesn’t reveal those things randomly, and I’m excited to see how He continues to use them in the years ahead.

For now, I’m just trusting Him with this next season and keeping my hands open for whatever He wants to lead me into next.

Thank you guys so much for reading this and for caring for me so well. Thank you for praying, encouraging me, and supporting me!! I genuinely feel so loved by the people God has placed around me, and I’m so grateful you’ve gotten to be part of this journey. Love you guys!

~Jaylynn K🤍