Over the last four years, God has opened up my eyes to the injustices that happen every day and grown in me a deep sense of compassion for my neighbors across borders. He’s made me aware of what a comfortable life I’ve lived and of my capacity to listen to the stories of others, sharing with them in pain that they endure every day. My relationship with Jesus has shown me the power of relentless love and what a grand adventure He takes us on when we choose such a love. While reflecting on all these lessons while also looking at colleges throughout this past year, I began to feel God leading me elsewhere and I have decided to defer my enrollment to a university for a year and to participate in the World Race Gap Year (WRGY).
The WRGY is a nine month Christian mission trip organized by Adventures in Missions (AIM), an interdenominational organization dedicated to seeing the manifestation of Jesus’ commission on Earth that works towards cultivating a generation of Christ followers who desire a life that is reflective of Jesus’ heart for the lost and hurting. They value discipleship and development in the regions they work in by partnering with the local church to build long lasting communities of Christ followers. From September until May, I will be living somewhere in Central America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, each for three months at a time. In these regions, I will work alongside organizations, churches, and individuals who are already doing great work in their communities with those who are sick, orphaned, widowed, uneducated, impoverished, and enslaved. I will have an opportunity to foster relationships with these individuals and pour into them the hope, love, peace, and joy that comes only from Christ.
I look forward to the WRGY as a time for immense spiritual growth and an opportunity to see firsthand the work that God is doing around the world. I hope to learn how to be fully dependent on God and to recognize his involvement in my life as well as in the lives of those I will be ministering to. I anticipate being able to close the gap between my human desire for purpose and another human’s survival needs and in the midst of seeing how most of the world lives, learning what it is I can do to change it. I long to see God move in ways that I have never seen before and I look forward to having my faith stretched and challenged.
I know that this upcoming year will be difficult in many ways. I will have to rely on God’s promises and provision in ways like never before and hand over to him the things that are out of my control. One of those areas is fundraising. Come August 22, I need to have a total of $12,487 raised. This money will cover all my travel and living expenses for nine months on the mission field. It is a huge amount of money, but our God is so much bigger. As I enter into this year of missions, would you consider partnering with me both prayerfully and financially? If you feel led to support me financially on a one time or monthly basis you can give via the “Support Me” tab to the left. You may also purchase one of the shirts shown below by emailing me at [email protected] the number of shirts you’d like and your size preference. 
My decision to go on this trip is because of you; because of the God you have raised me to love and the blessings that you’ve been in my life. You have loved, prayed for, and supported me so well all these years and for that, I am grateful. If I do only one thing on this trip I hope that I will overflow onto others around the world the love that you have poured into me so fully. Thanks for being a part of my story, I hope you will continue to share this journey with me.
