The Beginning of a Journey

“Kyla, I have good news! We’ve reviewed your candidacy and want to accept you to GlobalU. Last night Josh and I talked on the phone. We sense that God is in this and that you would be a good fit….”

 On January 18, 2019, I received this email. My eyes glared over the screen as about a thousand thoughts ran through my mind. I actually got accepted? Me, an entrepreneur? A “businesswoman”? Oh, Kyla what have you gotten yourself into this time? You have absolutely no idea what you are doing. God, are you sure this is what you want me to do? My heart seemed to beat faster with every word I continued to read that Seth Barnes, the co-founder of Global U, had sent. Can I actually do this? This was the question that screamed so loud I had to re-read the email about five more times.

I look back upon this moment over a year ago and can only imagine God chuckling at me knowing what wild adventures He was about to take me on. 

I also look back and wish I had given myself more grace and patience in the process of trusting Him. It is easy to go where he wants me to when it makes sense, but this did not. So what was I going to do? Take the safe route and back out? Or trust His plan for me?

I sit here incredibly thankful I said yes to Seth’s email and even more thankful that I was not just saying yes to him, but to the Lord and choosing surrendering over reason. 

I’ve looked over the Mediterranean Sea in Mijas, Spain, walked the windy streets of Fez, Morocco, ate too much Pad Thai in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and saw people get healed in Granada, Nicaragua. All the while being surrounded by a community who are real world-changers and have the same vision I do: To bring the kingdom of God here on earth.

For those of you who have never heard of Global U, let me explain. This program was dreamed up by visionary Seth Barnes (the founder of Adventures in Missions the organization I did the World Race through) and by computer programmer and alumni World Racer Joshua Owen. They both sat down and talked about how they could better the education system and before they knew it Global U was birthed. 

It is designed to take students who have drive, passion, ambition, and a heart after Jesus and mentor them in entrepreneurship and computer programming. Global U approaches students’ growth with a holistic view focusing on the physical, mental, and spiritual. 

This program does not just teach us something and ask us to regurgitate information, but actually sits down with each of us individually and helps us clarify where we want to go. They give us practical tools to learn how to build a business and bring the kingdom of God at the same time. These businesses are what we call Passion Projects. 

I am now partnering with the founder, Lexi Grisanti, in her new clothing line company called Sol&Co. 

Sol&Co is an environmentally and ethically-friendly clothing line birthed from her passion to empower jobless women around the world and provide comfortable clothing to empower the people who wear them.

Vision Statement: The Sol&Co vision is to love and empower every human we come in contact with, for each of our customers to feel comfortable, confident and loved in our clothing, and to eliminate waste in manufacturing and see our earth looking its best. 

One of our manufacturers is a couple Grisanti met in Granada, Nicaragua who were trying to teach 20-plus females how to sew in order for them to be able to make an income and provide for their families. Due to Sol&Co employing this school, this couple now is able to share the gospel with these women and they now are making our swimsuits and uniforms for the local schools.

I am honored to be a part of something that stands bigger than myself and cannot wait to see where this goes.

You can check us out on Instagram and Facebook @thesolandco and visit our website to check out our product at https://thesolandco.com/

More stories of my travels to come soon!