When I tell people what I'm doing they have one of three responses: 1. That doesn't surprise me. 2. What took you so long? 3. How are you going to raise all that money?
I went on my first mission trip as a 19 year old to play softball in the Dominican Republic. I had never seen another country and certainly not poverty to this extent. I would eventually return to the DR 2 more times (21 yrs old, and 27 yrs old). All three times (once unplanned) I played/coached ball. I found that each time I went I cared less and less about softball.
As a 25 year old I went to Israel. This wasn't a planned mission trip. I had a burning desire to go somewhere. Not necessarily for Jesus. I mean, I loved Jesus, but I didn't have a passion to SERVE Him or KNOW Him. I had a desire to GO and LOVE. I don't really know what that means. I don't know if that means I shouldn't have gone. I was open about why I was going. All I know is what happened when I was there…
When I was picked up from the airport in Tel Aviv by Joshua and Justina, Joshua immediately began talking about how he was hearing God and what all God was doing. I immediately felt discouraged. I didn't know how to hear God. I didn't ever experience God. I didn't know God like HE did. I arrived at Shevet Achim and met Kristina, Elena, Natalie, and Ryan. ALL of these people were CRAZY about Jesus! I'd never met people like this before. It was intimidating. I felt like I didn't belong. All I wanted to do was skype my boyfriend and cry. So I did. In that order. Probably at the same time! The more I got to know everyone there the more they encouraged me. I felt a nudge. A nudge to NOT talk to my boyfriend while I was there. WHAAAAAAT?! No way. I can't. I won't. I love him. You see, I'd never been obedient to God when it came to men. E.V.E.R., but this is something I could not shake. So, I gave in. This is when God became LORD over my life. Weird, I know, but true! This would mark the beginning of my journey of healing. Healing from bad, bad choices and sins I've committed as well as sins committed against me. This is when I let God in. This is when I had NO ONE to depend on, but my Jesus. THIS is when I think I may have received salvation.
REWIND
I heard about TWR from a friend, Heather Duke, 2 years ago when her and some friends of hers who were going on TWR were passing through Chattanooga (Fun Fact: they all spent the night at my parents house and one of the people who stayed was the one who called me and told me I had been accepted!) . When she spoke the word STRIPPED came to mind. It terrified me, but felt exhilarating. I don't know how to explain that I was so scared, yet excited at the same time. I LONGED to experience God the way she did. I looked into TWR, but I just started my first Head Coaching position at Rhea County. I went so far as to talk with my principal who agreed that it would be a great experience, but I just couldn't do it. So I went to Israel instead. The end of the school year came and I got a job offer at my current school. I took it. I contemplated, once again, doing TWR at the end of the school year last year. I just couldn't do it. We went to state. I was accomplished. It would be career suicide. Now I'm coming to the completion of THIS school year.
FAST FORWARD
This decision to go on TWR was not an easy one. After speaking to a mentor of mine, I told God that if He wanted me to go and opened the door I would walk through it. I applied. He opened. I'm walking. I've been excited and scared. With each faith step (telling my parents, quitting my job in blind faith that I will raise the money) I feel more and more excited. I have quit a job that I love. A team of girls that I adore. A sport I'm good at. All to embark on an adventure of service with salvation and discipleship at the heart of it. Serving the people I will come in contact with, the people I live with, and most importantly MY GOD. Through this service and speaking God's Heart I expect to know God more intimately than ever before!
Some people will not understand it. I don't completely understand it myself. I just know if I don't do it I will regret it. It's not completely ideal to most that I will leave as a single 28 year old only to return to my hometown as a STILL single 29 year-old jobless, living at home with her parents, insurance-less woman. It's not American at all actually. But it's my path. I will walk on this path with JOY because this is the path that will bring God the most GLORY.
Here is where I will go:
Philippines
This Asian island nation, former Spanish colony then American protectorate, is a country in tension, trying to cross the threshold between the third and first world. It offers a variety of landscapes – beaches, mountains, volcanic lakes – and languages, with Tagalog as the national tongue. The Catholic Church is a substantial piece of the religious pie, however, and Islam is growing in the island of Mindinao. The Filipino people and culture love music, dance and community. While there, you may find yourself living with and giving hope to the destitute, caring for orphans, and challenging the growing number of Christ-followers to rise up.
Malaysia
Enter a world entrenched in Islam. A people within the thriving metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysians still live in ignorance of the Good News of Jesus Christ. As you delve into this culture of works-based religion, strong self-discipline, and uncanny faith, you will have the unique opportunity to deliver hope and point the people to their Redeemer.
Thailand
According to the CIA, the kingdom of Thailand, known as Siam until 1939, is the only country in the region not colonized by Europe. Their 2000 census showed that 94.6% of the population is Buddhist, 4.6% are Muslim, and 0.7% are Christian. Approximately 600,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Thailand. With nearly two million people estimated to be forced into prostitution, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Change lives in the city-where you, like Jesus, might befriend prostitutes-or in the countryside-where you may serve youth, care for orphans, and encourage a remnant of believers.
Cambodia
Cambodia houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple and monastery built during the Khmer empire in the 12th century. It later became a Buddhist complex a century later, and today, just over 96% of Cambodia is Buddhist. Almost 30 years ago, 1.5 million Cambodians died at the hands of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Today, Cambodia is a source, transit point, and destination of human trafficking. Unfortunately, the government is struggling to stop it. The people of Cambodia are thirsty for the hope you can bring.
Rwanda
Many who hear "Rwanda" immediately think, "genocide" – it was 16 years ago when 800,000 people were killed over the course of about three months. According to the U.S. State Department, Rwanda (once colonized by France) has the highest population density in sub-Saharan Africa; and like much of sub-Saharan Africa, this nation also is fighting hard against HIV/AIDS. This nation played a part of the genesis of this human rights organization and inspired this song; as you help bring healing to a country still recovering from this deep wound, God may birth a dream or vision in you…
Uganda
Once a kingdom and British protectorate, for most of the later half of the 20th century, Uganda was under military rule, first under Idi Amin, the subject of the film The Last King of Scotland. Much of northern Uganda was also troubled by the Lord's Resistance Army, which heavily recruited child soldiers. Referred to as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is diverse in topography and wildlife. You may find yourself in the north partnering with ministries that are bringing still-needed healing and reconciliation or in the south working with churches to evangelize and disciple the next generation of Kingdom workers.
South Sudan
In the news for decades, Sudan has been the site of brutal military conflicts, human rights violations, drought and starvation, and underdevelopment. The longstanding Darfur conflict has ravaged the Sudanese, along with two civil wars and Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. Fighting between the North and South resulted in the deaths of at least 2.5 million people and the displacement of another five million. Peace talks eventually led to South Sudan's decision to secede from Sudan and form their own independent nation on July 9, 2011. Devastation covers a land looking to start anew. Help local partners improve conditions of schools and orphanages. Love on children orphaned by civil war. Be hope to a nation seeking a fresh start. Will you help build foundations —both physical and spiritual— for South Sudan?
India
With nearly a sixth of the world's population within its borders, India is a country bursting with people and culture. Home to a diverse array of beliefs from Hinduism to Islam, to a blend of folk religions and other faiths, it is a country of pluralism with twenty-nine languages spoken by over a million native speakers, multiple religions, cuisine, socio-economic classes, and political parties. India's struggles with poverty and crimes of human trafficking, forced prostitution, religious persecution, and more. You might work with local churches to encourage believers and most likely be challenged by their testimonies. Your presence'll bring hope and truth to those that society deems "untouchable."
Nepal
Home to Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, Nepal literally sits on top of the world. In addition to adventurous experiences you will have here, you may also visit widows and orphans in their times of distress and protect the innocent who are prey to human traffickers. This month of your World Race experience will submerge you in a culture that is desperate for an encounter with the living God.
Ukraine
This Eastern European country is caught between its past oppression under the Soviet Union and the desire to be accepted by the West. People in the east tend to be more nationalistic than those in the west, where Russian is more commonly spoken. There’s a substantial orphan (social and full) population and human trafficking’s an issue here, too. Most people claim to belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox church, which is subdivided into three bodies. God’s desire is to bring hope, peace, authentic relationship with himself, and unity to this nation; you’ll find out how exactly you’ll participate in that!
Romania
The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy community. Though strangers in their homeland and forgotten by society, the gypsies are a strong and vibrant people who embrace the light of Christ in an inspirational way. Here, you will teach English, lead sports camps, live life with the gypsies, and more. It will be an exciting time of learning about a people group you may not have known even existed
