Update Aug 21, 2025

I’m currently back in Hawaii to continue serving with YWAM Kona for the next two years! God called me back to the island to now staff and lead the upcoming Fall DTS (Discipleship training school). I’ve been back in Kona since the beginning of July, right after I got done with my Bible school. Our first week consisted of staffing Commission Camp which is a youth camp for ages 12-18. It was a blast and God set my heart ablaze for the youth! I got to be a co-leader of a room of 6 girls around the ages of 13-14 which was the sweetest! 

After camp, we officially started Leadership Track which is training for the upcoming Fire & Fragrance DTS staff. We have had new speakers each week talking about prayer, worship, the Holy Spirit, how to preach, what it looks like to “shepherd” a group of people, etc. We’ve been reading a new book every/every other week and doing assignments on those as well. The books have been so helpful and I’ve loved the opportunity to read more. If you need a good read (more for women, but men can also read), order a copy of the book Captivating by Stasi Eldredge and let me know if you love it as much as I did! 

Another thing our leadership track has been doing is something called RTC (Respect the Corners). RTC is our crossfit workout program here at YWAM Kona which we’ve been participating in three times a week, every week. This program is not just for physical growth, but is geared to PUSH you to your limit and get you to a place of reliance on the Lord. I’ve personally received so much breakthrough from my times at RTC and Jesus has brought up so many things for me to work through. Before getting into RTC, I was extremely nervous because I thought of myself as super weak, but now the times we have in RTC have been my absolute favorite times and I’ve gotten to see myself push past my limits and become stronger, both mentally and physically! 

Our team of staff is island hopping to Oahu for three weeks of “outreach.” We have been learning and practicing each week on preaching the gospel and special messages of love and faith, and now it's time to put all of our work into practice! We will be doing evangelism on the University of Hawaii college campus, going to high schools and running “Jesus Clubs,” and ministering to youth groups and churches around the Island! During this time, we will be activated and get a trial of how leading an outreach team will be! We will have to figure out transportation, learn how to manage our time with a busy schedule, create and come up with ideas for ministry, and become comfortable traveling around a place that most of us have never been to.

We are divided into groups of four so that we can reach as many schools/churches around the island as we can. Please be praying for strength and boldness among each team going out and also for a MOVE OF GOD IN OAHU!!!! We are so expectant for what Jesus is going to do in these three weeks!

We will have two and a half weeks when we get back before the fall quarter DTS students come. Please be praying for a smooth transition as we head into this upcoming DTS! Reach out to me with any questions!

Thanks for reading:)

Katelyn