I can’t believe it’s almost here. After all the planning, all the anticipation and all the fundraising, it’s almost time to leave. In some ways it feels like it was just yesterday that I applied to go on the World Race. The past several months have been so busy that the time has escaped me. But in my heart I know this journey has been God’s plan for me all along.
I first heard about the World Race 3 years ago from a lady who had a daughter that was on the trip. She wrote down the name for me on a small piece of paper, and when I returned home I immediately began researching. I spent hours reading blogs filled with adventure and a passion for Jesus like I had never seen.
I wanted this to be my life. I wanted to write my own stories about broken hearts being healed by redeeming love and experience God’s kingdom like never before. I remember praying feverishly asking God to rock my world and take me on my own adventure. But the Lord knew I wasn’t ready.
In the back of my mind I couldn’t fathom giving up the comfortable life that I lived. All of my goals at the time were within reach, my plans were becoming a reality, and it just didn’t seem logical to make such a drastic change. But really what it came down to was that my heart was just too selfish to make such a sacrifice.
So the years past and I lived out all the things I had set out to accomplish. Everything seemed to be checked off my “To Do” list, but my heart still yearned for more. The more I prayed asking for direction, the more mission work was laid on my heart. “Go and make disciples” and “the Great Commission” were ringing in my mind.
Of course I remembered the stories from the World Race, but the idea still scared me. It took me several months before I was finally brave enough to even visit the website again. But it only took about a blog and a half before my heart felt like it was on fire. I knew this was where the Lord was calling me. Over the next few weeks I prayed for confirmation in this decision, but my logical mind still wrestled with the idea of quitting my job, leaving my home in Dallas, selling the car I had just bought and especially leaving behind my three, beloved four-legged children.
I was torn between my heart and my head when I finally hit a breaking point. I was cleaning at the time because that’s what I typically find myself doing when I’m stressed. I called out to the Lord and asked him to just give me a sign. A big, bold, unmistakable sign. As I was speaking this out loud, I took an old box off the shelf in my closet not knowing what was inside. I opened it and found a messy stack of papers. I stuck my hand in and pulled one out of the center of the pile. That’s when my heart stopped.
Adventures in Missions
The World Race
Wow. Is this for real? It was the paper I had received three years prior! I’m pretty sure at this point I burst into tears, and five minutes later I started my application. The rest is history.
Although the World Race has been a long time coming for me, I wouldn’t change the fact that it took me so many years to, well…get over myself. I love seeing the way the Lord has worked in my life and slowly molded my heart to make it more like His.
I’m also encouraged to know that this year is just the beginning. I want to spend my life loving others as Jesus loves, wherever that might take me. For now I’ll start with China, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda 🙂
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”
I’ve been so blessed by the overwhelming amount of support I have received. I am now over 50% funded, but still have over $7,000 (with insurance included) left to raise. I ask that you will please prayerfully consider supporting me financially so I don’t have to come home from this amazing journey prematurely.
