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As many of you know, I graduated this year with a Master's Degree in Theology and Ministry. I am now living in Missouri where jobs are scarce and no matter how hard I've tried, the best I can do is a part-time position as a cook, and that has had me jumping through hoops for the last month with no start date in sight. As frustrating as the situation is, I am making the best of it and have dedicated my time to volunteering with the local rural fire protection district as their chaplain. My ministry degree has been of great help in realizing my calling, and my training for police/fire chaplaincy has allowed me to enter this remarkable role of service.
However, as I continue to serve my community, I realize that there is an area I am completely lacking in. That is the realm of critical incident/stress debriefing. As you know, the field of fire fighting is very dangerous and also very challenging. Firefighters are often first on scene to tragedies and are exposed to traumatic events and loss of life on a regular basis. While I have been blessed to have come into my position here during a relatively easy time, this is tornado country and our county had a severe flood not long ago. It is only a matter of time until something big happens and I am called upon to serve my firefighters by performing a debrief with them, and I must confess that I feel completely helpless in the face of this prospect.
Now I come to why I am reaching out to all of you. There is an organization, the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, that puts on large conferences and trainings on the very subjects of stress debriefing, line-of-duty deaths, crisis counseling, etc. They are well respected and their training has been recommended to me several times. I have been waiting patiently, hoping that a training would come to St. Louis that I could attend. However, the 2014 location list is up and there is nothing coming to my area in the near future. However, this December there will be a training in Nashville that I could reasonably attend. It is an hour flight or six-hour drive and will be by far the most convenient and cost-effective location I could hope to attend. That being said, when you don’t have a job, even the least expensive options can still be out of reach.
It is difficult for me to swallow my pride and to ask for help, but here it is: Friends, I know things are tight for all of us, but if you happen to have a few extra dollars sitting around, would you consider donating it to me, “Chaplain Kat” as the firefighters are calling me, so that I can finally acquire this one last training and finally feel confident in living out my calling to its fullest? I don’t know what the future holds, so I can’t promise to pay you back, but I can offer my deepest gratitude. Or perhaps a special prayer for you and whatever struggles you might be facing right now, or maybe a box of cookies in the mail, or even just a promise that I’ll remember you in the future when your time comes to ask others for help. And if you too are struggling and cannot help me now, please know that I understand and send you my love and blessings and hopes that we all have a brighter tomorrow.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this.
God Bless,
-Katja
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