Writing this blog is surreal to me….I spent months reading other racers’ blogs, and now to be writing my own feels amazing!
First, the World Race is an 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries through the mission organization Adventures in Missions. The trip is designed for missionaries to serve “the least of these” and engage in authentic community. My team and I will serve through vacation bible schools, prayer ministry, working in orphanages, teaching in and outside the church, homeless ministry, construction or other projects, bible studies, developing relationships, and really responding to the needs of the community while spreading the love of Christ. The countries I will be serving in are:
Costa Rica. Nicaragua. Honduras. Guatemala. Malaysia. Thailand. Cambodia. Philippines. Rwanda. Uganda. Kenya.
I first heard about the World Race through my roommate and I fell in love with the idea. Just the idea though. I watched videos, read blogs, and googled a TON of information. I fantasized about going on this amazing journey, but deep down I held the Race out at arms length. I put the Race in a little box and set it neatly on the shelf. However, God had a plan and the Race kept popping up in my life. I grew up in the Church, attended a Christian high school and a Christian college, but I had NEVER heard about the World Race before. But over the last several months, I have connected with World Race alumni, supporters, and families who know a current racer, etc. Looking back, it’s clear that the Holy Spirit used these encounters to open that box I had tucked away. Two key events took me from dreaming about the idea, to never feeling more at peace about any decision I have ever made in my life.
1. One Sunday I randomly decided to go to a mega church I didn’t attend often. (Remember I had never heard about the World Race or Adventures in Missions before). Halfway through the sermon, the pastor started talking about a World Race alum, and I felt like I was the only one in the room. Just as I was getting comfortable in my life again, God reminded me that my life was His, and not my own. I got connected with that same alum and met with her within the week. She will never understand how much of an impact our three hour long conversation made on my life. I know without a shadow of a doubt God was behind that whole situation, as He knew I needed one more kick in the butt to apply. And I did!
2. After getting accepted, I still faced this unrelenting doubt about how I could quit my job, leave behind my friends and family, and afford to spend 11 months overseas. (It’s hard to admit that friends, because I long to follow and obey my Father). I felt as though the closer I got to following God’s plan, the harder the world tried to pull me away. I remember praying “LORD, if this is truly what you want, give me a sign that’s so clear I will have no choice but to feel confident in your call.” I’m 99% sure God did a giant face palm after that prayer, but because of his gracious and patient love, He did just that. In April I went to Arizona with my mom for a fundraiser for an organization called Remember Nhu. (I would encourage anyone reading this to check out Remember Nhu and be ready to have your socks blown off at God’s sovereignty). I was registered for this trip long before I heard about the World Race. God moved through that weekend, and the fundraiser was a huge success! Nearly every single donor I met at this fundraiser was familiar with the World Race, in fact, Remember Nhu takes in a World Race team every month! I had countless conversations with complete strangers who encouraged me, prayed for me, and affirmed that this was going to change my life. The word overwhelmed is an understatement on how I felt. I asked for a sign, and I slammed head first into a LARGE billboard!
So here I am, completely overwhelmed at how God moves! I’ve had to work through some feelings of shame at how I dragged my feet on this call. But thankfully God knew I would be stubborn, and He placed key people in my life to break down my walls. He reminds me daily that this journey isn’t about me, it’s all for the Kingdom.
There is nothing sweeter, or more satisfying than living under God’s Will. I haven’t always known the exact path God has designed for me, but I’ve always known my purpose: To know Him and make Him known, and that is why I’m going on the World Race. It’s hard to put into words the sense of urgency I feel to spread the Good News! There is nothing greater than experiencing God’s perfect, tangible, unconditional love, mercy, and redemption. It’s the deepest desire of my heart to bring hope to the hopeless, light to the darkness, and love to those who feel they don’t deserve it. I am so overjoyed at the opportunity to be able to do this on the World Race. Even beyond that, I can’t wait to grow in deeper intimacy with Christ, and have His character revealed to me in ways I could never imagine. I’m so pumped to have my worldly comforts (hot shower, bed, a fridge full of food, etc) taken away (and yes I really mean that) so I can rely solely on Christ for my physical and emotional needs.
Friends and family, I can’t thank you enough for your support! I couldn’t embark on this journey without the love, prayers, and financial support you have all graciously shown. Know that the SENDERS are just as important as the GOERS! God loves to lavish his blessings on us, and He will bless each and every one of you for blessing my life! I still have a long way to go to reach my goal of $16,500, BUT God is faithful, and He will provide.
Feel free to subscribe to my blog to hear about all the amazing things the Lord is, and will continue to do in my life and in those around me!!! Also, please prayerfully consider donating to this trip. Together, through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can reach the lost!
Thanks for reading!
