Going on the World Race isn’t just something that I want to do, it is something that God has called me to do. God has called me to get out of my comfort zone, leave my friends and family, commit 9 months of my life, and team up with other college aged students to share His Gospel and pour His love onto everyone we come in contact with.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ~Matthew 28:18-20
All my life my parents have shown me what it looks like to serve the Lord by them helping out in Sunday school every week to them embarking on various mission trips to help the less fortunate. By them doing this, I have always had the heart to serve as much as I can and really found that this was the purpose of my life here on Earth. I have gone on several short-term mission trips through my church from helping the homeless in Portland, Oregon to going on medical mission trips to Haiti. Each and every one of these trips God has uniquely shaped me and molded me into the person I am today.
I’m currently attending Eastern Washington University and working towards my Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene. Why Dental Hygiene? Well, ever since I was little I always knew that I wanted to get a degree that I could use on the mission field and quickly found out that nursing was not for me. So I looked into dental hygiene and proceeded to get my Dental Assisting license. After hours of volunteering and partaking in an internship, I knew that this was what I wanted to do as a career. Shortly after, I went on my second trip to Haiti where I focused on working in the dental clinic. That really opened my eyes to the need for dental help in countries like Haiti and encouraged me to further my knowledge on this subject.
Ever since that trip, I have had this big idea of what I wanted my life to look like for the next 5-6 years. It looked a little something like this; graduate school in 4 years with this degree, get a job and save money, then embark wherever God sends me and live in a third-world country. I would use my knowledge and resources I had learned from school, to help the less fortunate and provide hygiene tips that they don’t have.
Well, as many of you know though, God has a bigger and better plan for your life than something that you only dream about. I quickly found this one out. At the beginning of this school year, I was informed by my academic adviser that my program, Dental Hygiene, was not accepting new students the year that I was applying. As soon I heard this, I had this weird/strange feeling of peace about it. I instantly knew that God was going to use me in a way that I wouldn’t have ever thought possible.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11
Through lots and lots of praying, God led me to the World Race. My team will be going to Thailand, South Africa and Nicaragua where we will be partnering up with churches and ministries in local communities to share the Gospel, work in orphanages, plant churches and bring hope and the Father’s love to these countries and their people. I have no idea what God has in store for me through this journey but I know without a shadow of doubt that God is going to be with me through everything.
Thanks for all the love and support,
Bethany
