“I’m born to go where they tell me it’s impossible.
Fan the flame, and walk on the water;
I’ve got heaven locked up in these bones…”
-Johnnyswim
India, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru.
11 countries in 11 months. We will go, we will serve, we will share the Gospel, we will make disciples. We will be disciples. Because, why not? God has so graciously given this great big, beautiful world into our hands, and I intend on experiencing as much of it as I possibly can within this small vapor of time I’ve been given to inhabit it.
God revealed the World Race to me back when I was in high school, and He’s never let me forget it. Over the years, He has continually reassured me that this is something He wants me to do. He planted it in my heart over six years ago, and my desire to go has been growing ever since. So after a whole lot of prayer, I decided it was finally time to take the next step and apply… and here I am!
So, many of you are probably wondering what this whole “World Race” thing is all about. Adventures in Missions so beautifully describes it as “a journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve ‘the least of these’ while amongst real and raw community. It facilitates discipleship through the process of discovering into the abundant life He promised. It births partnerships with ministries around the world. It requires Luke 10-like faith.”
The World Race is about so much. For me, it’s about a lifestyle. It’s about learning to live simply and boldly. It’s about finding a new “normal” and breaking free of the one I’ve come to know so well. But mostly, it’s about obedience. Through the World Race, I hope to learn to better live out the life that Jesus calls us to live. I hope to experience God in new ways, and I know this won’t be possible unless I make a radical change in the way that I’m living. I want to know more deeply the God I’ve read so much about—the one who heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, and raises the dead to life—and I want the rest of the world to know Him, too!
Through the World Race, my team and I will be serving as missionaries all over the world. Ministry will look different everywhere we go, so I can’t say for certain yet what we will be doing in each place. What I do know is that we will be partnering with several long-term organizations along the way who have committed themselves to living on mission and establishing lasting relationships in these communities—something I find to be extremely important when considering short-term missions. Some of the things we could be doing range from teaching VBS and English, providing medical care and praying for the sick, ministering to victims of sex trafficking, and simply loving on those who need it most.
Some of you may be thinking, “why can’t you do all of this right here where you are?” I’m not saying that we all have to travel the world to follow Jesus. We can do that anywhere. We are all called in different ways, and each of our roles is equally important in bringing the Kingdom of God to the world. But He has made it clear to me over and over again through years of prayer and studying scripture that this is something He wants me to do—it’s as simple as that!
As exciting as all of this is, I realize it’s also going to take every ounce of faith I can muster up. Every time I see that number at the top corner of my screen, my heart sinks just a little bit deeper into my chest. There is absolutely no way I can do this alone. But honestly, I wouldn’t want to even if I could—because none of this is meant to be done alone! So I ask that you would consider partnering with me through this in whatever way you feel led. Whether through lots and lots of much-needed prayer, financially through monthly or one-time donations, or even simple words of encouragement. Every little bit helps. I would love to connect with you if you have any questions at all or if you would like to partner with me in this journey!
