Sunday, March 3, 2013

A journey begins...


I'm not really a fan of blogs. But since it's also apparent that I'm not a fan of sharing valuable and life-changing experiences in a timely manner, if at all, with friends and family, I was left with no other choice...hello blog world!

Before we get into the motivation behind this blog, here's a little bit about your author...my name is Joe Kauflin. I was born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA, a proud member of the 757.  I'm caucASIAN (half Japanese). I still find it ironic that I'm starting a blog because I've always been fond of keeping a low profile, which is exactly what I did through my studies at Salem High School and Old Dominion University. 

I come from a solid family of 5 relatively normal children and 2 persevering parents. I absolutely love my family. I also love life and all the people my Maker has allowed me to share it with. I'm also about as human as they get...meaning I'm not short on deficiencies. However, I know my true identity rests firmly in the grips of a redemptive God, one in which I draw my strength, purpose, and peace...and I do so through of the Roman Catholic faith. It is through faith that I've discerned to spend the next 2 years or so of my life doing mission work in Central America.

If my faith bothers you, please don't let that keep you from reading. You might actually get some benefit out of this blog. We are, after all, human...which means we share many of the same joys, sorrows, challenges, and struggles... 

The following is a revised version of the letter I am sending out to potential prayer partners and donors for my long-term mission to Honduras...

Greetings friends!

I hope all is well with life!

I am blessed and excited to share with you what I’ll be doing in the next chapter of my life…after finally completing my undergraduate studies in Human Services and Counseling at Old Dominion University, I’ve discerned that I will be spending the next 2 years doing mission work in Comayagua, Honduras with the Missioners of Christ, a Catholic lay missionary community based out of Virginia Beach. 

     Believe it or not, this will be my 7th trip down to Honduras!  There will certainly be an adjustment period to actually living in another country for more than 10 weeks. But this is an adjustment I will gladly welcome. I will start with a 2-3 week trip to Guatemala for language school, honing my Spanish-speaking skills. After which I will be diving into local ministry, which consists of home visits, serving at a boys’ orphanage, bringing food to those in need of it, spending time with children from the neighborhood, all in addition to fulfilling my communal obligations.  When not participating in local ministry, I will be preparing and helping lead mission teams to mountain villages where we spend 5 days or so doing evangelical and relational ministry. On these particular missions, we do home visits in the mornings, and then offer ministry-based programs for the children, youth, and adults in the afternoons. What is truly amazing about the home visits is the incredible hospitality and generosity of the Honduran people. It seems normal in Honduras to welcome strange missionaries into your home! 

    And speaking of missionaries, I could not be more excited to start my life as one in Honduras. So I hope you can join me in my efforts to be who God has made me to be. I ask first and foremost that you PRAY with me…in all that we do, we do for the glory of God, and  not ourselves. But if you’re not the praying type, please just keep me in your thoughts, do something for someone else when you don’t want to, or check-in with my mom to see if I’m still alive…whatever it is you do, remember that you are an active participant in something bigger. It will all be welcomed and appreciated by me and most especially, my mom.
     If you’d like to support me financially, you can email me at joe.kauflin@gmail.com with the subject title 'Mission donation,' and I will get back to you ASAP with directions on how to proceed.

I will be leaving March 9, 2013 and be back for a three week Christmas break in December and then be returning to finish out my 2-year term...

Now I ask that you please join me in heeding the words of St. Padre Pio (even those who don't pray can still participate)...pray, hope, and don't worry!

Thanks for reading!

Paz

Once I figure out how to format pictures, I'll be glad to post them! And if you'd like a copy of the letter sent to you, let me know!


2 comments:

  1. Joe! I'm super bummed I did not get to see you tonight. Maybe tomorrow?? Im sure you've got tons of stuff to finalize and everything before you leave so if I don't get to see you tomorrow. I'm praying hard for you man and am very proud of you! Can't wait to see/hear/read what God has in store for you down in Honduras man!

    Love you man! Take care, safe travels and God bless!

    -Stigs

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  2. Joe-joe,

    Wow. Thank you for being such a reminder of Who's Boss of our lives...and what great joy there is in discovering our true selves in Him...may He protect, guide and strengthen you. I'm thankful that you're doing this blog...what a wonderful way to keep in touch. I will sorely miss your gentle presence! But, I gots to share ya!! Yup, pretty sure about that! Be safe...I miss you already and you haven't left yet!
    (I hope this makes sense...I can't edit hat I typed on iPad)

    Love you lots! Mom

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