The answer to our biggest and boldest prayers takes us out of our comfort. It strips away the luxuries and conveniences. It moves us away from stagnancy and plunges us into a position of vulnerability. The biggest and boldest prayers, really, allow us to open our hearts to the unexpected and the astonishing. And one never knows just how GOD will accept that offer and direct us!
My name is dani izac and I have been called to be a part of the world race.
I’ve worked in the student life area of higher education for the past 7 years. I was an area hall director at my alma mater, north central college in Naperville il, for nearly four years before I moved on to accept a position as a resident director with semester at sea. It was an exhilarating, exciting, and exhausting experience to sail across the globe with a university community set upon a ship- I’m so grateful for it. But when our voyage concluded in December 2014, so did my employment.
I offered up the biggest and boldest prayer to the LORD to direct me toward HiS will, to where I would be most glorifying to HiM. It feels that, over the past year, I have applied and pursued opportunities in every professional field imaginable, in every location imaginable. And I just keep encountering dead ends and redirected paths.
The World Race is the first opportunity that has presented itself to me where my only required response to move forward is to extend an open and enthusiastic “YES!” to GOD’s offer. And that’s what this moment is right here. It’s me extending my hands and my heart with great expectancy and vibrant joy and honor to receive the prayer answer that the LORD has uniquely and wonderfully presented to me. And I feel confidence and a sense of peace in the direction and timeline in which GOD is leading me.
The World Race is a unique way to respond to GOD’s call to love our neighbors across the globe. Spending nearly a year abroad, in communal and minimalistic lifestyle, I will be a part of a team traveling through 11 countries over 11 months to care for and serve others, to be open to the impact that others can have on me. Specifically, I will be a part of a Fusion Route, made up of volunteers not only from the United States, but across the globe, as well. To explore and serve around the world with people from around the world. At this time, the anticipated route begins in January and winds through Thailand. Cambodia. Vietnam. Indonesia. Lativia. Ukraine. Romania. Bosnia. Zambia. Botswana. SouthAfrica.
For me, the World Race is a thrilling and mysterious and nerve-wrecking and astounding and humbling and outrageous and beautiful and unexpected answer to prayer.
There’s a lot of unknown ahead. But I do know what I need to be doing to prepare. And I can’t do it alone. I need GOD and… I need you.
As GOD has invited me into this opportunity, I am inviting you into it, as well. I am asking for prayer. For so much prayer. For encouragement through your words. Through your positive thoughts. Through hugs. For your investment in what GOD is doing across the world and what HE’ll be doing through me.
It’s uncomfortable and intimidating for me to do, but I am also asking for your support in raising my funds. I know that the LORD will provide and work in ways far beyond my comprehension to move this call into action. I know that. I do.
And I know that so much of that will happen through you. To support my service through the World Race, I need to raise $16,361.00 USD. This covers meals, lodging, mid-route travel from country to country, administrative, and coaching costs. Should you feel called to contribute to GOD’s work through my experience with the World Race, you can set up a one time gift or a monthly donation.
As you prayerfully consider supporting me, I just want for you to know how overwhelmed I already feel. I don’t even know that I have the capacity to fully experience or express the flooding waves of gratitude I have encountered. I’ve had people praying with me through my decisions, enthusiastically celebrating my journey ahead, sharing contacts for World Race alumni, and already offering one time and monthly financial contributions. It’s overwhelming.
I am seeking GOD through this process to be humbled and stretched in how I trust HiM. And I believe HE will move magnificently.
I don’t know what the future holds exactly. There are a lot of unknowns, a lot of mysteries that stand ahead. And that makes me uncomfortable and nervous- I’m nervous by nature. But where I find confidence and comfort is in what GOD is doing. In trusting HiM. That, as those questions are revealed and the story unfolds, it will be to glory of GOD.
And that truly is an answer to my biggest and boldest prayer.
I cannot wait to see what GOD will do through this journey, through the opportunity to serve and love and learn from people from eleven countries across the globe. And I cannot wait to share it with you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your support and prayers and love. Thank you for being a part of my answer to prayer – to serve the LORD through The World Race!
