I was 13 years old when God first put it in my heart to go on a mission trip, but my dad said I needed to be older. Turns out I needed to be a LOT older.The next fall, when I was 14, I spent a week on a backpacking trip with my grandpa, brother, aunt, uncle and cousins. One of my cousins, who was also interested in missions, and I spent the majority of our time together on that trip dreaming of how we would serve the Lord together and change the world. Maybe someday that will still happen.
Over the next few years I was able to go on two music ministry tours in the States – one at 16 and the other at 20. In the midst of that time I was still looking at overseas mission trips and talking to people trying to figure out a way and a place to go. India, Ecuador, Peru, Haiti, etc. But it seemed that every time I thought I had found a trip to go on it wouldn’t work out. Either it would be a schedule conflict, a family issue, or I felt God’s hand holding me back. I still don’t know why God has not allowed me to go on a mission trip before this one, but I finally decided that if God wanted me to go He would have to completely orchestrate it because my plans certainly weren’t working! And that brings us to now.
I graduated from college last May, and was accepted into the Focus on the Family Institute for the Fall 2008 semester – a dream come true. This was something I had wanted to do since I was only 11. During my time at FFI I was praying for a job and for doors to open so that I could move to Colorado “permanently”. When that didn’t happen I packed up and went back home to Michigan where I still didn’t have a job. I currently have a part-time job, but my employers are excited about this opportunity for me and fully support me in whatever God has planned for my life. This situation has proved amazingly convenient for God to move in and say, “Go”. I found out about the World Race at the end of January, from the FFI alumni newsletter. Go figure! I checked it out and really felt like this is what I am supposed to be doing now, although I hesitated for a week or two before actually applying. We are going to many different countries so I don’t have to pick just one right now, and it seems like God has already been preparing me to go and spend a year in a foreign country, so I was kind of ready for this.
Anyway, I really think that my calling to this Race has been an ongoing process. I used to read biographies and stories of martyrs for Christ in books like God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew, Jesus Freaks by DC Talk, and Voice of the Martyrs’ publications, and wished I could live a dangerous, adventurous life. I still love to read about those people, but now it’s with the realization that I really can have that kind of life, living absolutely under the power of the Holy Spirit, even right here at home! This Race is my chance to live out what I’ve talked about. What I’ve dreamed about. God is completely in control and I have nothing to worry about. He is leading me and guiding my every step and I am trusting Him for this to happen. 
