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Have Hope; Will Travel

with Katie Axelson

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Will You Be Proud of Me?

Living Stories Worth Telling

We sat in his office—me balling my eyes out, him encouraging, pastoring, and gently correcting me. I desperately needed it….
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Have Hope; Will Travel

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Follow Me on Instagram @KatieAxelson

It's easy to remember God is with us in the specta

It's easy to remember God is with us in the spectacular moments.

But in the moments when we stop at the gas station? When we wash dishes? When we're in a meeting that could have been an email?

He's in those moments too.

There is dignity in both places.

Thank you for the wonderful reminder, @jenniferdukeslee.

For more like this, read her new book: Growing Slow. :)

This post has been harder to write than my decisio

This post has been harder to write than my decision to get the vaccine.

Do I tell you about the time I begged not to be proscribed hydroxychloroquine and compare my experience with that med (🤢) to that of the covid vaccine (😴)?

Do I tell you I’ve stored my vaccination information with my passport since being vaccinated for Yellow Fever nearly a decade ago?

Do I share about how I’ve been vaccinated for typhoid three times? (Most recently in November 2019 even though I had no travel plans)

Do I tell you I update my tetanus shot every 5 years instead of every 10? (Do I tell you I declined a rabies shot so you don’t just think I go for every needle I can?)

Do I tell you I first got a flu shot when I worked at a 100-year old church and didn’t want to infect my vulnerable parishioners?

Do I remind you that this week’s podcast guest would likely not survive getting covid? (Episode {41})

Do I tell you about the middle of the night texts from @christinaaxels talking about the horrid of covid in the icu?

Do I tell you it’s been two weeks so I’m now taking hugs by appointment?

Let me tell you this: this isn’t about you. Roll up your sleeve.

•
Special thanks to @healthpartners for the awesome card I can add to my digital wallet! If you’re having a hard time finding a vaccine anywhere in the US, I have some tricks.
•
#rollupyoursleeves #rollupyoursleevesmn #fullyvacinnated #covidvacccine #bettertogether #havehope

When the pandemic started, people kept reaching ou

When the pandemic started, people kept reaching out Anna Ward asking how they could support her and her family.

As a woman with Cystic Fibrosis and CF-Diabetes, she felt like there weren't many ways others could help.

They couldn't allow anyone near them for risk of COVID so babysitters for her 3 and 5 year olds were out of the question.

But they could drop off food on the porch as the family waved from the window.

They couldn't help her job find a solution to keep Anna employed.

But they could offer financial support.

They couldn't help Anna stay healthy.

But they could pray she could avoid hospitalization for any reason.

Anna said even the people reaching out was so meaningful.

It's a reminder that she's not alone.

You, my friend, are not alone.

Even if you're physically alone in your house. We are here for you and with you.

Hear more of Anna's story on Have Hope; Will Travel episode {41} and share your own in the comments of how others have reminded you you're not alone. :)

When the world shut down, Anna Ward had to make th

When the world shut down, Anna Ward had to make the difficult decision to prioritize her health over her job and even over her extended family.

She was born with a progressive genetic disorder called Cystic Fibrosis--one of the highest risk conditions for complications from COVID-19.

This week on Have Hope; Will Travel Anna's sharing her story about life with CF and how the pandemic has changed literally everything.

No grocery stores. No babysitters. No exceptions.

Find episode {41} on your favorite podcasting app. Or read the transcript at KatieAxelson.com

I was not emotionally ready for Monday's podcast w

I was not emotionally ready for Monday's podcast when we recorded.

I'd known for almost a year this was the episode I wanted for May (because it's an awareness month).

And I knew where the conversation was going to go because, well, I'm the interviewer. And I'm familiar enough with my guest to know where the two of us would journey together.

But I wasn't prepared for where it would lead my heart.

How she would escort me back into the arms of Jesus.

To say my perspective shifted would be an understatement.

To say she touched me would downplay what happened.

She reminded me why I do what I do. Why I host the show I host. Why I serve the God I serve.

Why I put on my mask every day. Why I interviewed through a splitting headache (when you listen to the episode, can you tell I feel awful? I was in bed thirty minutes later).

She shared her scars.

And I found healing. Purpose. Hope.

{New Have Hope; Will Travel episode coming Monday.}

I love helping others encounter God for themselves

I love helping others encounter God for themselves.

Part of that is equipping people to know God's voice.

To recognize when He's speaking.

To differentiate between God and themselves.

These are some of the questions I like to use when trying to discern if what I heard is from God or not.

What would you add to this list?

I'm really not an "inside the box" kind of woman.

I'm really not an "inside the box" kind of woman. Unless it's a literal box. Then you can count me in!

But when it came time to get out, I wasn't even struggling to un-Gumby my legs but in front of me were the hands of two different men.

Honestly, that just made me want to prove even more that even with a hip injury, I could get myself in and out of a box.

Hi, Pride, didn't know you were packed in this box with me.

So I decided to take a hand.

One man has a back injury. If I slipped, we were both going down and he was going to be hurt.

I looked to the other man.

We're not allowed to be within six feet right now and his hand was definitely less than six feet from my face.

Hi, Rule Follower, welcome to this cozy box.

I smiled underneath my mask (the one I'd just pulled up with my knees). This man in front of me is fully vaccinated. And so am I.

I put my gloved hand in his and stood up.

Hi, Assistance, there's room for you in this box too.

Sometimes being a strong, independent woman is actually to my detriment.

Sometimes it's ok to need other people.

To ask for help. And expect it to be there.

To accept help. Even when you think you've got it under control.

To let someone help you--to let them love on you.

What makes it hard for you to accept help?

The conversation on my Facebook had gotten heated.

The conversation on my Facebook had gotten heated.

Vaccines. Politics. I’m sure you’ve been there.

I’m not afraid to disagree but when the individual is being blatantly disrespectful of leadership and of others in the conversation, I put my foot down.

I posted these words and deleted his comment.

Multiple people who know both of us IRL mentioned it to me. In Real Life!

I think that breaks the rules: do not talk about things on Facebook outside of Facebook.

But as people kept bringing it up I realized many of us don't know how to have respectful conversations where we disagree.

Many of us don't know where to draw the line and cut it off.

Many of us are exhausted from attempting to navigate this politically-charged pandemic for over a year.

I host a podcast where we have difficult conversations.

Where we talk about controversial topics.

I can't say I'm an expert in it.

But I am learning every episode.

Before we record, I tell every guest, "If I ask you a question that's not appropriate or rude, please correct me and let's all learn from my mistake."

I'd love to share some of the things I've learned.

Double tap if you'd be interested in learning how to better navigate hard conversations with people who are different than you are.

(For the record: the solution isn't always "Shut them down and delete their post.")

You know those days that change everything? I had

You know those days that change everything?

I had one this week.

1️⃣ I started in a new role that’s a perfect mix of my writing, ministry, and project management backgrounds. It even pulls in my secular job. Literally, it feels like this job was created for me.

2️⃣ I rolled up my sleeve, declared we are better together, and did my part to end the pandemic. (Definitely more tired this time around).

3️⃣ A very fitting podcast interview that reminded me of why I do what I do and why I host the show I host (can’t wait for you to hear it on May 10).

What was a game-changer in your world this week?

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