Showing Tag: "god" (Show all posts)

When Strangers Become Family

Posted by Kaylee K on Friday, May 24, 2019, In : Unaccompanied Refugee Youth 
It's been a while since we posted a blog post. In February, a young lady named Esther from the Democratic Republic of Congo moved in with us. She is an unaccompanied asylee and was aging out of the Office of Refugee Resettlement youth system. She needed a home and wanted to be part of a family. After a quick Zoom chat and some prayer, John and I invited Esther to live with us. She agreed and moved in on her 18th birthday.

We've had ups and downs together and lots of learning. Most days we lau...
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The Voice of God

Posted by Kaylee K on Thursday, August 25, 2016, In : Faith 

People will tell us, “You are so good to be doing this work.” I know they mean well and are trying to be encouraging. But, the truth is, no one can be good enough to do this work. What level of good do you need to look into the eyes of a 16-year-old whose home was bombed, brother killed and somehow she escaped the war only to be raped by smugglers as she made her way to Europe? How good should you be to console a father who is finally safe in his new home in the U.S. but cannot sleep due ...

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To Be Satisfied

Posted by Kaylee K on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, In : Faith 
As we are traveling, we have had the opportunity to worship at several churches across Middle America. In Austin, we have been impacted by a church whose pastor is leading them in 40-days of prayer and fasting (http://www.acfellowship.org/). While he is doing an actual fasting from food for 40 days, he has instructed that this fast can look different as each person discerns -- perhaps it is 40 days without social media; maybe fasting 1 day each week or 1 meal each day during the 40 days; or t...

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Action:Reaction

Posted by Kaylee K on Thursday, November 17, 2011, In : Faith 
Often when God nudges us to take an action, I think our tendency is to hesitate and request that He make the first move or perhaps first show us the full plan, on paper, laid out, so we have no doubt about where this will lead. But, in my experience, no matter how much I ask for it, this is not how God works. I could definitely use examples from our refugee ministry work to support this theory, but I’d like to share about my work life in this blog entry….

In early August, I left my well-pa...
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I can't even imagine...

Posted by Kaylee K on Friday, October 7, 2011, In : Italy 
Prepare my heart, O Lord. There really is nothing worth doing in this world apart from God. The ways of man are empty without a bigger power behind us. Our vision is small without a Universal perspective. But, when God is on our side, look out!!

4 years ago, Lord, you said “Italy”. Now John and I get to see what you were talking about. As we prepare for this journey, please prepare us, Father. Who is it you want us to meet? What is it you want us to do? For only those things will matter i...
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Blog Authors


John and Kaylee Kolditz Kaylee founded Refugee Connect in 2008. John joined the work in 2011 as we investigated the refugee situation in Europe. But our faith and cross-cultural journeys have been a work-in-progress for many years. Much of this blog reflects that. ************************************************ We met in Austin, TX, while volunteering at a serving event at Gateway Church and have been married since 2002. Marriage, parenting and ministry all require a great deal of intentionality, humility and true reliance on God for strength, wisdom, and grace. It is a journey we are grateful to be on together. Ultimately, what matters to us is building into meaningful relationships in ways that, to the best of our ability and by God's grace, demonstrate the love and hope Jesus freely offers to us all. ************************************************ We bring both business and ministry backgrounds into our current work. John started a business in his 20's and helped build several other businesses. He has also served with churches in a variety of roles including as an assistant pastor, director of community development, and missions board member. Kaylee left her marketing career to become the global missions director for our home church in Austin, TX, then founded a local refugee ministry, and became TEFL certified (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) in order to prepare for our work overseas. We have led short-term teams domestically and internationally, and served with a variety of cross-cultural ministries. In 2008, we sensed a call to build into the church in Europe, which was also around the time when God broke Kaylee’s heart for refugees. Since then, God has continued to weave together this heart for refugees, desire to serve alongside the church, and focus on His call to Europe.

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