Meet the Carstedt Family
Missionaries serving in Uganda
We’re Von and Kacey Carstedt. Our story is one of learning to trust God, saying yes to His call, and discovering how faithfully He leads—even when we don’t have every answer.
Alongside local churches in Uganda, we walk with people as they grow in faith and learn to help others follow Jesus. We’re grateful you’re here, and we’d love for you to get to know the family behind the ministry.
Our sending church is Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. We serve through Global Outreach International, our sending organization.
Von’s Story
In 2019, I was on my second short-term mission trip to Tanzania. The last plane of the long journey had just landed at a small airport. I gathered my bag, excited to step out into the African air.
As soon as my feet hit the dirt, the Holy Spirit said, “Home.”
I took a deep breath, laughed, and said, “Okay—tell my wife!”
Then I caught up with the group, and we set off to work. I knew God was calling me. What I didn’t know yet was how He would bring Kacey and me to the same yes.
Kacey’s Story
It was 2019, and we had recently brought our second baby home. When Von returned from his second mission trip to Africa, I saw a new light in his eyes and a new passion in him!
I thought, “Oh no, what’s coming?!” But I tucked it away and went back to caring for my babies.
Over the next couple of years, Von would look at me at random times and say, “Let’s move to Africa! Let’s just do it!”
And I would laugh and say, “No thank you!”
After a while, I realized he was getting more and more serious. So one day, when he brought it up again, I very clearly told him, “No. It will take a word from God Himself to make me move to Africa!”
I thought that would put an end to it—but I think God took that as a challenge!
It All Comes Together
Kacey:
A few years and a couple babies later, it happened.
I was spending time with the Lord at a prayer meeting at church. After a while, I simply asked God, “What do YOU want me to pray about?”
Then I felt the Holy Spirit say one word: “Africa.”
That’s what I’d asked for, right? A word from God Himself!
He impressed upon me that we would be serving Him in Africa. I wish I could say I answered, “Yes, Lord, send me!” But what actually came out was, “What? Why? I’m not ready yet! Are You sure?!”
Eventually, I said, “Okay, God—but You’ve gotta tell me this again!”
I didn’t tell Von for two whole weeks. I thought, “As soon as I tell him, he’s going to say, ‘Yes! Pack your bags! Let’s go!’”
But over those two weeks, the Lord confirmed His word in several different ways. Finally, I approached Von and said, “I’ve gotta tell you something…”
Von:
I knew something had been weighing on her for weeks. I’d asked a few times, but I knew she would tell me when she was ready.
One night, she said, “Von, I have to tell you something…”
“Okaaay…”
“Oh, but I’m not ready!”
“Tell me so we can pray together.”
She just looked at me, seemingly unable to say it. So I went with my gut.
“It’s Africa, isn’t it?”
“What?! How did you know?”
I laughed. “I knew in 2019. I’ve just been waiting on the Lord to tell you.”
Then she laughed. “Well, He did!”
She told me what had happened, and we cried, laughed, and prayed together.
Together:
Since then, we’ve continued seeking the Lord’s direction and following Him one step at a time. We don’t have every answer, but we’ve seen His faithfulness along the way.
Though we are not fearless, we are faithful to the God who is faithful to us.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Romans 10:14–15 · KJV
Our Story Is Still Unfolding
That same trust in God is at the heart of our ministry in Uganda. Alongside local churches, we reach people with the Gospel and walk with believers as they learn to know Him personally—through Scripture, prayer, and the good and difficult seasons of everyday life.
We want to raise up disciples who make disciples, carrying this work forward long after we’re gone.
And we’re grateful we don’t walk this road alone. Every prayer, word of encouragement, and gift of support matters to our family. We’d love for you to walk with us.
