We landed in Costa Rica on August 12th, and two days later I celebrated my 28th birthday in Turrialba, Costa Rica. 

A new place with new friends.

And it was SO sweet and I felt SO celebrated. 

The team I am currently with is team Bloom from L squad. 

One of the girls, Morgan, and I share the same birthday! I’ve never met anyone I share a birthday with so this was super fun.

The rest of the team was so intentional to celebrate us well. They bought us delicious chocolate cake at a nearby and super-cute bakery. 

They bought balloons, made a sign and paper crowns, decorated our home-for-now, sang birthday songs, and celebrated us. The squad signed a card and sent sweet messages.

Friends back home and quite literally all around the world sent kind and encouraging messages. 

Year 27 brought nothing I expected, but it brought me more good than I ever could have imagined.

It brought me the gift of squad leading G squad which brought me a pile of new friends and a whole new beautiful community of people to do life with in Gainesville.

It brought me squad leading round 2 which is beautiful in countless ways and a gift I never would have thought to ask for.

It was a year of promise and a year that I can clearly see the hand of the Lord.

Thank you to everyone literally around the world that celebrated alongside of me, I felt very loved.

Here’s to 28?

Con amor,

Kayla

I am still fundraising for my time on the field with L squad, if you feel led to give, the link is above.