Today is called World Race Day where all associated with the World Race are deemed Racers. For all of us have a story and God uses that story to increase his kingdom whether that is in nations across the seas or in our very own backyard.
God wants to use you to spread his love; are you willing to answer the call?
Let me tell you a story of another Racer who answered the call despite great costs to herself. When Jesus called the disciples he told them to leave everything, to get up and follow him right in that moment and not to look back. [Matthew 4:18-22] How incredibly hard would that be? You can’t take ANYTHING. You don’t have months to say your good-byes. You don’t know you will be back 11 months after you depart. You go and you go because Jesus called you.
As many of you know I have been so very blessed in my life. I grew up in a loving home and have always known the love and grace that only God can provide. I have never had to want for food or clothing or housing or money or support and affection. I have been so very blessed and those blessings continue to pour out. When I told those closest to me that I was planning to leave on an 11-month, 11-country mission trip every single one of them supported me. Every person that is closest to my heart supported me. And even though you may think this is the norm, it is not. There are many people on my squad who are embarking on this trip without a support system back home and that breaks my heart for I know how much the encouraging words and prayers of support have meant to me.
So today I ask you not only to support me but to consider supporting another Racer. I encourage you to click on the pictures of the beautiful ladies of my team on the left hand side of this screen. I encourage you to click on the link at the top of the screen that says “Meet My Squad: Jan 2014 (3)” and get to know another Racer who will be departing in January with me. Each and every one of these individuals deserve a support system like I have. Each and every one of these Racers deserves to know that “God works in mysterious ways”. Will you be that blessing? Will you answer his call?
Today I am going to introduce you to a courageous woman of God that I have grown to love; I am going to tell you part of Kori Higdon’s testimony. Kori has many times reminded me of Job and the struggles Satan inflicted upon him to try and turn him from God. Kori has experienced hardship after hardship as she has chosen to give her life to serve God and spread his love to the nations. I am going to highlight a few pieces of Kori’s testimony but I encourage you to go to her blog and come to know her heart for yourself.
In the last year alone Kori has undergone the heartbreak of an engagement shattered due to cheating, those she loves writing her off for choosing to go on the race, and her employment including housing and a car being terminated for answering God’s call to spread his love to the nations. These are just a few of the ways in which Satan is trying to deter her from answering God’s call but just as Job stayed obedient during all of the trails so has Kori remained obedient to God’s calling.
The first financial deadline was September 28 and we had to have $3,500 in our World Race account or we could not attend Training Camp and proceed with departure on the Race in January. Leading up to this deadline Kori had $3,500 in her savings account. As she had been fired for choosing to go on the Race she was budgeting herself so she would have enough to meet her first financial deadline. It was at this time that God calling her to give away half of her money ($1,750), half of what was needed to meet the first financial deadline to another Racer. God told Kori she was not relying on him to provide for her. So out of obedience Kori gave away half the amount she needed to Kristin Dworazyck. To read how this gift served as more than a financial blessing to Kristin please read her blog here. Kori acted out of obedience to God and I ask you to search your heart to see if God is calling you to give to her.
I know with 100% certainty that God will provide for Kori and will give her the full amount she needs to depart in January on the World Race. But I also know that God works in mysterious ways and uses each of us to be a blessing to another. If you feel called to help Kori please go to her blog and click “Donate Now” on the left hand side of the screen.
I have also wanted to make t-shirts for my race from the very beginning and have decided that all proceeds from the t-shirt sales will go to Kori. I will have t-shirts on sale for $20 at my spaghetti dinner November 22, 2013 at the Elks Lodge in Perry from 5:00-8:00 and will place a second order should I run out. Please consider buying a t-shirt or maybe multiple as a sign of support that we should all be “Christ’s Hands and Feet” in the mission field around us.
