Katherine Livingston sat in the chair, almost incapable of containing the excitement she had, adrenaline pumping through as she stared out the window. In front of her was a clear sky with a clash of beautiful patchy colors forming odd-shaped fields of the landscape below.
Her eyes widened at the sight of a crystal sea stretching as far as the eye could see as the aircraft rode the coastline of Oaxaca, Mexico. As the plane’s nose tipped towards the destination, she tried to locate her Christian mission’s base camp.
Livingston’s stomach rose upward as the wheels connected with the pavement, it was at that moment she knew she had entered a whole new world. As she set foot on the land, her imagination ran wild of the differences between Mexico and the United States.
She glanced around at the roofless airport and tried to get use to the humid air. She then loaded into a small, compact bus for a three-hour-long bus ride to the base camp in Roca Blanco.
Livingston stared in awe of the gorgeous and exotic landscape, painted with splashes of color across the lush green grass. The landscape was splattered with eye-catching magenta flowers, while the houses showed a vivid world of festive turquoise and traditional yellows.
Taking in the rare beauty was challenging as the bus raced through the rough terrain of rugged mountains, taking twists and corners at alarming speeds. Arriving at the base camp, she knew she had come on this mission to help people by doing the work of God.
Now, a few months later, she has returned home to Lawton, Okla., to carry on her typical daily routine, starting in the early morning hours with a Bible study.
Each day, she grabs a quick cup of coffee, takes her regular visit to fan-fiction websites, and she’s ready to start school. However, the setting for her education is not a typical school classroom, but a simple desk in her own bedroom.
Livingston is a self-taught home-schooled student. With her parents both working full-time jobs, she single handily takes up the responsibility of her own education. She follows a complex lesson plan, beginning with math and science. Later, she moves on to history before ending the day with reading and writing.
This schedule allows her to have much more freedom with her ability to travel, gain hands-on learning and still continue school uninterrupted without the worries of a bothersome absence count.
Along with freedom to travel, she also has the advantage of being able to participate in other extracurricular classes, and take part in her church’s programs.
She juggles her education with her devotion to the church, which is important to her because religion helped shape her into who she is today.
“Faith is my compass,” Livingston said.
She has been going to church with her family since she was 6-years-old. She helps alongside her mother who was a preacher, but now holds the title of director of worship and connection ministries at First United Methodist Church in Lawton.
She has been approached by religious scholars who believe women should not be able to preach in the house of God, but that does not make her second guess her mother’s teachings.
Livingston is more than excited to learn and study other religions. This study has led her to many of her own theories, which clarify what other people might not understand about her faith. She enjoys teaching those who want to learn more about Christianity.
Looking through other viewpoints helped her gather the information she needed to learn more about her own religion. It also helped her create the theories she shares with others. Livingston said evolution is a question that will not stop following her everyday.
She said she does not believe in evolution, but does believe in natural selection. Her theory includes biblical scriptures, which she has analyzed and applied to today’s world.
