WHO AM I?
For the first 48 years of my life, I was never confident in the answer to the above question. I continually searched for my identity through how others viewed me in my various assigned roles: wife, mother, stepmother, sister, daughter, aunt, friend. At the age of 50 I am thrilled to say I am confident in my answer:
“I AM A MIGHTY WARRIOR PRINCESS IN THE ARMY OF GOD AND A DAUGHTER OF THE ONE TRUE KING!”
My name is Kim Anothayanontha. I attended KCTD #8 in October of 2015, where I sat at the table of Rachel. I have been married to my husband, Aaron Anothayanontha, for 14 years and we are blessed to have three beautiful daughters: Sydney, Brenyn and Olyvia. I was adopted at birth by my loving parents and raised in a Christian home with my older brother and younger sister. My younger years were spent in Oklahoma. I attended the University of Oklahoma and find my 
degree in marketing suits my social personality very well. Life is so much more enjoyable in relationship
with others and I am amazed that the shy, timid girl of my youth has become a woman who cannot imagine life without the daily interactions of others. I thrive in social situations and love the opportunity to be in relationship with others. Aaron and I have lived in a handful of states but have called Shawnee, Kansas home since 2010. I work in Overland Park for VALIC as a Sales Assistant for three financial advisors. Aaron and I attend St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Lenexa, KS where I have enjoyed serving in various ministries.
WHAT WAS MY TRES DIAS EXPERIENCE?
Eight months prior to attending Tres Dias, my life was in complete chaos and I was broken beyond belief; on the floor weeping and crying out for answers. Aaron and I’s relationship had been extremely destructive and our marriage was not only broken; it was destroyed. Not living in the same home together, our children picking sides—yet, none of them truly trusting either of us—is where our journey began. We spent eight grueling months trying to figure out who we were, why we couldn’t make this work and the root of our individual issues that bled so profusely into our marriage.
Selfish behaviors, resentments, angry outbursts, insecurities and addiction became a way of life and we
spent many months pursuing intensive self-analysis, and therapy. We also spent those months on our knees crying out to God to begin to find our way back to each other. I found myself wanting to dig deep, felt an internal tugging to push myself to uncomfortable lengths to learn, grow and change. Through our journey, God placed many people in our paths. One of those people invited Aaron to a Tres Dias weekend; I remember him questioning if it was something he should do—a whole weekend without technology?!? I thought it was a great idea for HIM; but had no intention of attending myself. I remember thinking, “It’ll be good for him to expand his relationships with other men.”
Hmmm—God had other plans for me! Aaron came home from his weekend and I could visibly see a change in him. He had a peace about him that had never been there before. He talked of deep relationships and of the Holy Spirit. I was extremely curious because this was not the same man that left three days prior; so, I attended the following weekend. However, as I stepped onto the campground not knowing a single woman, the shy and timid girl of my past came hauntingly back. I didn’t want to stand out and just wanted to blend in and let the weekend unfold and happen TO me.
Hmmm—God had other plans for me! I stayed in my shell on Thursday night because I was so uncomfortable. However, by the end of Friday night I started feeling anxious and upset because I wanted more; I wanted to see a visible change in myself—just like I had seen in Aaron. Once again, I found myself wanting to dig deep, felt that internal tugging to push myself to uncomfortable lengths to learn, grow and change. I prayed that evening that God would show up in an undeniable way and help me find that visible change. Have you ever heard, “Be careful what you pray for”? Well on Saturday morning, He did show up, in a mighty and personal way. Yet, he knew my doubting personality, SO, He showed up again that same morning to take away all doubt I had—to confirm that He did, INDEED, show up!
That morning He reminded me that I am not the only woman hurting in this world, told me to turn the attention away from myself and asked me, instead, to openly share my shame-filled testimony with a group of complete strangers. I thought I surely had heard Him incorrectly because that is not what I requested when I prayed. He told me other women would start breaking down the walls of fear and shame that were holding their hearts captive if I was willing to be transparent and vulnerable.
What about MY visible change? I decided to listen in obedience and I tentatively put my heart out on the table as He asked—ready to be judged by these women. I just “threw out” my story, in the midst of a conversational lull—YIKES!!! Instead of judgement, I found a group of women that were there to listen, to have compassion for me, to hurt for my hurt, to love me and to support me. Then a beautiful thing happened—over the course of the next two days, each of them became willing to entrust their wounds, their hurts and their hearts to the group.
I found my visible change; He was indeed listening and answering my prayer. God showed me that through an obedient and servant heart, I could find love—which led to peace–which led to finding my true God given identity—which led to joy, undeniable joy! My first Tres Dias experience was all about being in relationship with others, about being served by others in a way that defies logic and about discovering a deeper and more intimate relationship with God than I had ever experienced in my 48 years of Christian existence.
WHY DO I SERVE ON THE KCTD BOARD?
God has redeemed and restored my marriage, myself, my husband and the relationship we have with our daughters. Aaron and I were asked to serve on the board in the capacity of pre-weekend couple. I find it interesting and inspiring how God can pull a relationship out of the pit of destruction and redeem it through His love by calling that couple to serve side-by-side, as a united front—to be one of the first voices a new candidate hears after they register for a weekend. They hear from us when they are unsure as to why they even decided to say “yes” to this weekend of uncomfortable unknowns. Through our trials, Aaron and I certainly understand the fear of the pending unknowns; what a beautiful role for us to play in God’s larger story.
I serve on the board of KCTD because I believe the Holy Spirit is working amazing, redemptive and restorative miracles in the lives of people through the servant hearts of this community. There is power, wonder-working power, in the name of Jesus. I did not fully understand those lyrics, or the capacity of this power, until I felt His love, undeniably, through the hands and feet of the team members that chose to serve on my Tres Dias weekend. The board has an obligation to continue to let the Holy Spirit guide decisions that affect the weekends and the longevity of this community. I pray to be still and listen to God’s voice, to bring the words, gifts and talents He has bestowed upon me, and to be His hands and feet. I pray that by serving on the board I have an opportunity to be one of His many lights that shine into a dark world; a beacon of transparency that draws forward those that are hurting so they can find the peace and rest I experienced through the servant hearts of this ministry.
