Showing category "Italy" (Show all posts)

Easter Prayer for Refugees, Europe and Leaders

Posted by Kaylee K on Friday, March 25, 2016, In : Italy 
Sad decisions; scary times….but God is bigger than all of this. Please join us in prayer for Europe – both for the citizens and for the refugees arriving there. The news in Europe continues to get bleaker and as of today:
  • In the wake of the Brussels bombings, Poland has retracted its commitment to receive 7,000 refugees from Italy and Greece. With the attacks in Paris and Brussels, there is a further blurring of lines and messaging as the media and politicians tie the conversation about th...

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Projects for the Type-A’s Among Us (Including Me!)

Posted by Kaylee K on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, In : Italy 
While we have found that much of the fruitful work in refugee ministry truly is about relationships not projects, my Type-A personality gets really excited about plans and strategy. So, I was encouraged during our time this past month with potential ministry partners and churches in Italy as we learned about their wonderful blend of heart for the nations and mind for programs to help the foreigners in their midst. Specifically, we anticipate seeing God move resources and people toward several...

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Why February in Italy?

Posted by Kaylee K on Friday, December 18, 2015, In : Italy 

As we enter into a holiday season that celebrates hope and new opportunities, we’d like to invite you to join us in bringing this to thousands who currently are struggling just to survive. The next immediate phase of our journey to serve refugees alongside the churches in Italy is a trip this February to participate in the Refugee Highway Partnership Roundtable and travel to several towns to visit with churches and refugees who have a need for our assistance. This trip will last 2-3 weeks a...


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And We're Off....

Posted by Kaylee K on Friday, July 31, 2015, In : Italy 
I feel like a horse at the gate at the Kentucky Derby! I'm chomping at the bit. My ears are perked. I'm digging my hooves into earth. I whinny as the I see the other horses get set. And...I wait for the starting gun to blast. This is actually where we were "at" in Oct. 2011 after returning from Italy. "Send us, Lord," we thought. But we waited for His timing. "Send us, Lord," we whispered. But we didn't have a plan or really a sense of the what, when or where. But, we did know (and still know...

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Update from John and Kaylee

Posted by Kaylee K on Sunday, August 12, 2012, In : Italy 
Wanted to share a quick update. It has been 10 months since John and I traveled to Rome and other refugee hubs in Italy last fall.We came home with a sense to pray for direction regarding:

1.     Are refugees the people we are called to? (We had sensed confirmation that they indeed are)
2.     Is Italy the stop on the Refugee Highway we are to work? (We continue to learn and seek discernment and opportunities to explore further)
3.     How soon do we go? (It is tough not to just dive in...but we...

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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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God's Timing

Posted by Kaylee K on Wednesday, September 28, 2011, In : Italy 
Going to Italy. Why now? Why there? How can this be serving? How can it be ministry? These are questions that sit beneath the surface of my brain as we prepare for our upcoming vision trip with IAFR.

As I read a devastating article (see Refugee News tab) about the recent burning of the refugee center in Lampedusa, Italy, the answers are clear. God's timing is perfect and He knows the work He has prepared us for.

The refugee crisis is causing suffering in Italy and not just for the asylum seek...
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NOW its a mission trip!

Posted by Kaylee K on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, In : Italy 
I have to admit that as we were working with our trip guide, Paul, to put together the details of the upcoming Italy trip I've struggled with the idea of taking a vision trip (vs. a mission trip) and wondered if we would truly get to serve and if we would even have time to really see what God was up to with refugees in Italy. We have plans to meet with at least 4 ministries and one government program in the course of 7 days. This seemed like a lot of intellectual time and my heart was craving...
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What to pack?

Posted by Kaylee K on Friday, September 16, 2011, In : Italy 
How do you prepare for a vision from God? As Joh...
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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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