Snagged from my second blog post entitled "Inopportune Inspiration":
When I first stumbled upon the World Race website, it was around one o'clock in the morning. I was searching for a job that would entail coordinating and leading youth missions trips, and Adventures In Missions had a job description that fit the bill.
It was exciting.
But then I saw a link on the side-bar of the webpage to the World Race site. I had heard about the trip before, but I never really thought it was something that I would or could ever actually do.
I clicked.
And that one click led to hours of blog-reading and video-watching. And when I finally tried to fall asleep around three in the a.m., I was unsuccessful. My mind raced at the possibility of actually going on The World Race. I felt ridiculous! So what did I do? I flipped open my laptop and spent another hour soaking in stories of God's miraculous power and revelation.
After this night, I spent the following three months praying and consulting others about a couple missions opportunities. In May, I received an encouraging message from a friend on The World Race, and I realized it was what my heart and spirit were desperately longing for.
I want to break away from our highly individualistic, Western culture and build relationships with the poor and broken of this world. I want to grow in my relationship with God and within a close-knit community of believers. I want my view of God to be stretched and to be awed by His love and power. I want to see Jesus change lives, and I want Jesus to change my life. But most of all, I desire to be a vessel that brings His light and hope to the world. And I believe God will do this through my experience on The World Race.
So what is this World Race thing I'm so pumped about? It’s an 11-month journey to 11 countries around the world that I will embark on January 8, 2013. You can find my route here: http://www.worldrace.org/?tab=routes&subtab=january-2013-3.
Through adventure, ministry, community, and self-discovery, World Racers develop broken hearts that propel their hands to act for God’s kingdom around the globe. In each country, my team and I will serve in partnership with churches and ministries in local communities. This means that each month, our ministry will look a little different. Or a lot. This will likely include: preaching the Gospel, planting churches, teaching English, loving on orphans, working in hospitals, educating on HIV/AIDS, praying door-to-door, and building relationships with women and children who are trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking. But however our ministry looks, the heart of it will remain the same: to bring the restoration and hope of the Father’s love to many tribes and nations.
When I graduated from Grand Valley State University in April of last year, I wasn't sure what my next steps would be. I was a graduate with a degree, but I didn’t feel called to or prepared for any particular job within the Communications field. It was a difficult time in many aspects, but after a year of uncertainty, God has called me to The World Race. I am so excited to see how He will move in my life and in the lives of others in the coming year. I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve, but also to you.
Financial details:
I must raise $15,500 by July 1 to cover all of my food, shelter, travel, and administrative costs while on the field. My next financial deadline is $11,000 by March 1 and as of January 8 I have about $10,000 raised! I am truly blessed.
If you are interested in supporting me financially, click the link below:
https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace&desc=For%20Chelsea%20Gottman
Thank you so much for your interest and support.
