11 countries, 11 months, 1 mission: TO LOVE.
I just graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Elementary Education. I love teaching and likely could have found a wonderful job and begun a career as many people expected. It’s what I went to school to do, it would have been relatively stable, I would have made some sort of an income right out of school, and I’m so happy when I’m working to inspire children. This would have made sense. But instead, I’ve put all of that on hold to go on this race, and people have been asking me why. Why in the world would I sign up for a mission trip to eleven countries… for eleven months, with people I haven’t yet met, to sleep in a tent and live out of a backpack for a year, not knowing exactly where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing? To be honest, I’ve been asking myself that same question since I committed. This seems insane even for me… but it just feels right. I’m confident in that for several reasons, and I’ll do my best to explain them below.
I live for adventure! If you’ve never heard of wanderlust, it’s defined as “the irresistible desire to travel or wander.” I have a very strong case of that. I love trying new things, pushing the limits to see what I’m capable of, exploring places I’ve never been, and discovering new ways of living. What better opportunity to do that than by traveling around the world when I’m fresh out of college? This will be an adventure like no other, and I’m so excited!
But in the midst of this adventure, I will likely face many hardships in lands that are a far cry from home and be pushed out of my comfort zone more than I imagined possible. Why would I give up the comforts of home and travel into some of the darkest pockets of the world to live what is sure to be the greatest challenge of my life? Because it’s worth it.
A child-rights activist named Craig Kielburger said, “It’s easier to be ignorant and say ‘I don’t know about the problem.’ But once you know, once you’ve seen it in their eyes, then you have a responsibility to do something.” I’ve seen it in Nicaragua, in India, and in Africa. I’ve seen the loneliness and the fear in abandoned children’s eyes. I’ve seen naked kids with tear-streaked faces digging through garbage to find food. I’ve seen people trapped in a sub-par life because they never had the chance to go to school. And I’ve seen people—young and old—begging for love. I can’t un-see it and I can’t un-feel it, and all I want to do is be a small part of the reason they have hope.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Luke 12:48b: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” I have been blessed with a heart that beats to help the underserved, and now God is calling me to follow that heart. I have been given more blessings that I could ever deserve (a loving family, a good home, wonderful friends, a great education, health…) so I must now fight for the people who are less fortunate. Most importantly, I was raised with a foundation of faith that has shaped my world, and so I am now being asked to go share that faith with others. Not because I have to but because I can and because I want to give God glory.
Without a doubt, this will be the most challenging thing I’ve done… but we’re not called to love within reason, or only when it’s easy, or only when it’s safe—we’re simply called to love. God is giving me the incredible opportunity to share His love with people who are starving for it, and I’m choosing to grab it with both hands.
Because I love quotes, I’ll end with one by Erma Bombeck: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’”
This is why I race!
