Home Sweet Home

After 218 days in Dubai, I am now back home! I wanted to send out one last update now that my journey in the Middle East has come to an end. I crossed the ocean this last Tuesday. I literally had a day and a half! haha The 15 hour flight was a good one.

It was so hard to close out my time in the UAE. I found it bittersweet to say goodbye to everyone. I will miss these relationships and will always be connected with these people.

On the other hand, I was so happy to be packing up and heading home to all of you. <3 I have so much to look forward to here in Waco.

I set out on this adventure to accomplish three things.

1. Attend the International Discipleship School

2. Work through an Internship

3. Study Arabic

I would say all three were successful in the sense that I have GROWN alot!

In the last 7 months, I have:

-read the entire Bible

-memorized 87 scriptures

-learned alot about God and myself

-traveled around the world to Dubai, Nepal, and Oman

-managed my time efficiently

-supported the local House Churches

-led multiple team prayers

-learned to love walking

-conquered budgeting and life on my own

-served the Haven in multiple ways

-spent an average of 80 hours total on Arabic

-learned what it's truly like to be a minority

-soaked in a beautiful culture.

These experiences left an imprint of my heart forever. <3

I will never know how much of an impact I had on this area. I hope and pray I left this region and the people better than I found it! *YOU* will also never know how the depths of influence your prayers, donations, and support had in the Middle East.

I will be in Waco for sure for the next few years. Emily and I are currently sharing an apartment with our longtime friends- the Smith girls. This fall, I will resume my studies at McClennan Community College and hope to transfer into an art program or to study language.

I will work part time as a nanny for a sweet newborn named Nile. I will also be taking part time jobs cleaning houses and babysitting to support myself.

My new number is 254-633-7858.

Much love,

Kayla Strickland