Teammate Spotlight: Katherine G. Austad

Resides in: Rockville, Minnesota

Before NET: Graduated high school in a dual enrollment program, so with high school diploma and an associate's degree, up in her hometown St. Cloud.

First Encounter: Was actually before NET Training, we were going back and forth a bit on Instagram, but first met in person when she found me playing IDK You Yet by Alexander 23 underneath the stairwell at the NET Center.

Initial Thoughts: She seems super sweet, plus very musically inclined. I feel like there are many layers to her personality.

(Left) One of my favorite photos of all time. Not just of Katherine, literally ever. Katherine posing with the ninja sais tell a lot about her style and personality. For one, she always knows what to do in front of the camera. She is the queen of, "let's do a photoshoot right here!", proven by her photo-ops on our Google Share Album, many of which include Samuel in front of the camera with her, and Elizabeth behind the camera. Like the photo, her style is very BA and cool and mystical, but you can't help but laugh because of how awesome she is. There are many layers to Katherine, and over time you get to see many of them unfold, and it is very beautiful. (Right) On our last day, I realized I never had a photo-op with her, hence we took one right outside the NET Center. The poses we are making are very silly and meme-able, and I wanted to do that because I thought it captured our relationship pretty well. Don't get me wrong, though, we had some awesome, intentional conversations... but 80% of the year was just us joking around.

Favorite Memory: All the musical moments we had together, especially the first half of the year. She is a talented musician and songwriter, and she led a praise and worship band the past couple years in her diocese. As someone who just started getting into music, of course I wanted to collaborate with her on music riffs and lyrics. We started building a song but then we got busy, and the idea went away sadly. But our relationship was based on Christ and music, and it was very beautiful. During our end of the year quick chat, we sung a duet on one of our favorite songs, "Chew On My Heart" by James Bay, and I had a lot of fun doing that with her.

What Katherine Taught Me: Authentic Joy. Well, this is something she taught us all. It's hard to describe, but when it comes to Kat she is always so joyful, so peaceful, so happy. Even through many trials and obstacles, she leans on God for strength and comfort, and through that, happiness flows through her. She was always present on the road, especially when everything around her was difficult, she kept great focus on the ministry and on team life, making it so easy for us to love her.

What the World Should Know: Katherine is so much fun! She will always make you laugh with either funny jokes or being really clumsy, but you can never laugh before she laughs at herself, which is a true gift. She is very in-tune with the Holy Spirit, and lets the Lord guide her actions and words well. She is extremely family-oriented, and very rooted in her identity as a daughter of God. At the end of the day, what is there to dislike about her?

What She is Doing Next: Katherine is also doing a second year next year! She will be on a retreat team again as well, just like Sarah, and I am grateful she will be back on the road.

To Kat:

Sister, it has been so much fun being on the road with you this year. Thanks for always laughing with me, for diving into deep, intentional conversations, and for gator hunting with me as well! You are such a gift, and I am so pumped for your second year! Know of my constant prayers for you this year and beyond, I cannot wait to see where we go. Love ya sista!