by Serena Keeler|Published
As I sat to write this newsletter I honestly didn’t know where to start. Not because I had so many exciting things to share, but because I feared I had nothing worth sharing. So I prayed and honestly tried to find an excuse not to write it, but as I pondered all that God has done since January (my last newsletter) I am in awe. And it may not look like a lot in the sense of activities I did, but let me tell you, God is moving!
Youth Group Update


Winter camp was a blast! Thank you for all your prayers! Now.. we only had two girls come, but it gave me a chance to really connect with them and simply build a stronger friendship with them. I also was privileged to be able to teach the girls a devo for one of the mornings we were there! And it was so cool to see how the Lord put such specific words on my heart for them and wanted to use me. I was in awe.
We had a sweet time in worship, games, and sweet teachings from multiple guest speakers. Since then we have gained a couple new youth girls, one in which I have been able to connect well with and love dearly! I ask for your continued prayers for more students to come with a desire to study the word of God and that more girls would be open to 1 on 1 discipleship.
Outreach

In April I was able to serve at a Voice of the Refugee outreach where I was in charge of the henna room! Henna is a temporary dye that you use to create an intricate design on someone’s skin that stays for about a week or two. During our break half way through the day I was exhausted and very discouraged.There was only me and one other girl doing henna and we had about 60 women coming through that morning. I wasn’t doing it very well and I had one lady wipe off the whole design in front of me and come back 10 minutes later for my other friend who was serving with me to do a new one. I was pretty done. But after much prayer..and some chick fil a.. I went on for the 2nd half. And God heard me! We gained 4 more women who were helping with the afternoon shift and they had never done henna before..and they were doing amazing! I was in awe. It was awesome seeing these ladies come with no experience, but simply a willing heart. And God was willing.
“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
~ Matthew 6:30 ~
Do you ever keep seeing scripture everywhere and think that would look great on a mug..and that’s it? That is how I have honestly seen the Matthew 6 passage often. Verses 25-33 are taking away all my excuses to be worried and doubt God, yet I somehow find myself refusing to apply it to my life and am worried often. Where am I called…? How will I raise support…? Am I even called to missions…?!? But these moments have all brought me to the same conclusion… God is able. Now you see, when you step back, even in the mundane moments and really think… What is God doing? You will begin to say, what is He not doing?? And that is when you realize.. This is way more than a verse on a coffee mug.. This is WHO God is. And I am in awe of who He is.
WAYS TO SUPPORT
And so with that I have been praying: What next Lord? How can I further prepare and walk in the calling You have for me? With that prayer comes opportunities for you to partner as well with me! Here are a few ways you can do so:
Prayer: I absolutely NEED your prayers as I am seeking the Lord while doing all that He has placed in front of me. I can’t do any of this out of my own strength, and so I ask that you come alongside me in prayer for this next year of MTS and simply serving our King!
Financially: As I mentioned earlier I am unsure of where God has called me to serve locationally. But what I am 100% sure of is He has called me to leave everything and serve Him cross-culturally. I am grateful to be serving here but I am also so excited to see where He will send me. A part of that preparation time includes vision tours. A vision tour is essentially opportunities we are given as MTS students to visit different places (accompanied by our pastors or leaders and or other students who feel led) and spend a few days or weeks praying over the land and seeing if this is where God has called us. There are some opportunities I am praying over and know the Lord will provide for exactly where He wants me. If you are interested or feel led to help cover the cost of those please click here or check out the financial giving button at the end of this newsletter!
PRAISE REPORTS
- God has brought 2 new girls to the youth group!
- God has been opening doors to love on my extended and close family!
- God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore!
PRAYER EQUESTS
- For continued growth in our youth group and with 1 on 1 discipleship
- For an opportunity I was given for this summer ( Wisdom and provision for it )
- For me to not worry about my future, but to trust God in every aspect.
- For the salvation of my family!
Thank you for taking the time to read this update on all that God is doing in my life! I pray you were encouraged and stirred up to seek Him more and more. If you have any questions or would like to chat further email me and I truly would love to talk more! Until then,
“.. seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
– Matthew 6:33 SEEK HIM and STAY IN AWE
Serena Keeler