WLS+AZ Missions Profile: Katlyn Cheng
It took me a long time to decide whether or not I wanted to/felt like God wanted me to go on this trip. When I first heard about the collegians going a week early to "mentor" the older teen Navajos, I was all for it. Going a week early to the Rez (hip way of saying Reservation) would be great! I would get to spend more time with the teens and eventually teach them how to lead a small group on their own. In my mind I was thinking that this week would consist of things such as team bonding exercises, bible studies, learning more about the Navajo culture, and basically getting to fellowship with the Navajo teens there, but, this was totally not the case.
About a week after I inquired about the trip, I found out that the collegians would not be going to the Rez but would be going to Missouri! I was like, "What in the world is in Missouri?" "Why were we going all the way over there?" Soon, I realized that was where the Warrior Leadership Summit was being held. What is the Warrior Leadership Summit you ask? Well, basically it's a leadership conference for Native Americans. As I found out about these things, I slowly became hesitant in my decision of whether or not I really wanted to go. I slowly thought of excuses as to why I couldn't go. As Spencer kept asking me about my decision I would constantly keep putting it off. It wasn't until the very last day, the day they bought the plane tickets, that I said yes to going. In the end, I wasn't going on this trip to be comfortable. I decided to go because it was something I felt God wanted me to do. Whether or not I wanted to go wasn't the question. If God wanted me to go, then okay.
What are you most fearful about?
That being said, I am pretty scared of the unknown. First of all, I am a Chinese girl going to a Native American conference. On the registration form it even asks things like "what tribe are you from?" or "this is for Native Americans." While I was filling out the paperwork, those things were pretty intimidating. Secondly, I don't really know what we will be doing at this conference. I also don't know if the Navajos are really going to open up to me or the rest of the team while we are at the conference.
How can we pray for you?
A prayer request that I have would then be to not focus on the I don't knows. That I would be able to really trust that God has a plan for me and the team out there whether it be Missouri or the Rez. Also, that we would be willing to do whatever God has planned for us while we are there.
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