Final Lent/Easter 2021 Email - Fundraiser Update

Hello friends,

This final Lent 2021 email comes at the close of a long season of preparation - preparing for the Easter season and preparing for the work God has given us to do as faithful witnesses each day of our lives.

Personal Update

As you’ll remember, we spent the final week with Jesus before his passion, as he offered up his will to his Father, saying “your will be done”. While I did not know it at the time of writing the devotionals, my own will was tested in a very real and raw way this past Monday:

I went to the hospital for an emergency surgery due to an ectopic pregnancy that had caused a Fallopian tube rupture and internal bleeding. My husband IJ and I were faced with the reality that those could have been our last moments together, but by God’s grace my surgery went well and I am recovering at home. I am experiencing Jesus’ resurrection in a unique way this Easter and I am grateful for my life in a whole new way.

The loss of the pregnancy comes with a mix of sorrow and joy for us—on the one hand we mourn the loss of life; knowing that human life begins at conception and is a precious gift from God that should be treasured regardless of how long it is our gift to carry. At the same time, there is some joy as I have had fertility issues the past 9 months and so a pregnancy of any kind is welcome news.

I am grateful that I had been able to receive so much grace over the Easter weekend through the celebration of the sacraments and Christ’s peace and strength continues to sustain me.

Our hearts are processing this all and we feel we are on a bit of a roller coaster emotionally, but I know that the timing of this was not an accident and that the Jesus who rose from the dead 2,000 years ago walks with us. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Financial Update

With all that said, I was unable to make a nice little video with the final fundraiser numbers like I had hoped, so I am just uploading the raw footage here. Kevin came and generously brought us some food for my recovery and so I happy that I was able to take the final video with him for the financial update.

I want to thank each of you for so generously giving to this fundraiser - it meant so much to me and words cannot express how thankful I am to have been able to help Kevin out in this small way.

If you watch the video, you will see there is some difficult news involved, but please know that your donations impacted a real person who has struggled greatly under the continued lockdowns. Your generosity really touched him and made a difference for his business these past three months.

Please continue to pray for Kevin and all businesses that are affected by the lockdowns and please pray earnestly for an end to this pandemic. If you have any questions, please email me.

If you haven’t yet filled out the survey with feedback on my Lent art and devotional, please fill it out as I appreciate all feedback.

Again, thank you for being here with me and please continue to REJOICE in the love and light of Christ, our joy and peace, during this season of Easter. We unite our sufferings to His suffering on the cross and we experience His merciful love, which gushes forth for each of us from his most sacred heart.

Warmest hope in Christ,
Kaelynne