So, How Did I Hear About The World Race?
It blows my mind that just a few months ago my life plans were so different. Now it has all changed.
Last summer, I was sitting in my church’s College and Career Group house church. We were having a time of soaking in the Lord’s presence and giving each other words of wisdom or encouragement if we felt the Lord speaking to us. That night, my pastor’s wife was there and she began to give me a word. She saw a picture of a map with a pushpin on Atlanta (where I am now). But then she saw the Lord move this pin to another country and then another, and another etc. She felt the Lord saying that He is calling me to the nations and that He is going to be opening up incredible doors for me. I then also received a word from a friend of mine along the same lines.
Fast forward a little bit.
This year in May, I met a world racer alumni (shout out to Melissa Crilly!) who started to come to my church. That was the first time I had heard about it. When talking with her, she had mentioned the World Race, but I kind if pushed it to the back of my mind. About a week or two later, I was at work, and the World Race suddenly popped into my head out of nowhere. I had such an insatiable curiosity about it and found myself researching it and reading blogs for hours. In fact, I read the blogs every. single. day. The cool part is, when I was looking back through my journal, I realized that the day that I first heard about the World Race, was almost exactly a year to the day, after I had received that prophetic word from my pastor’s wife.
So, my curiosity never stopped. I began to think about the World Race ALL THE TIME. I began to dream the World Race. Ask my parents. It was all I could talk about. So, after many nights of prayer, God put a burning desire and a peace in my heart–a desire unlike anything else, and a peace that passes all understanding. I knew that the World Race was what I was called to…Even with this peace though, part of me was pulling back at first. It was hard because that part of me which was pulling back, wanted to stay with all my friends and finish my four years here etc. However, my calling to the World Race was so much stronger. I couldn’t say no.
So, What Were My Plans Before The WR?
Finish my undergrad (stay all four years) and double major in International Relations and French. Study Abroad in Amman or Morocco. Do the Fellowship Program at CITS (Center for International Trade and Security). Get my masters in Crisis Diplomacy. Get a job at the State Department or UN…etc.
I had it all planned out, but somehow I think that the Lord has a different idea for me, at least for now. And I am so glad because what I have realized is that His ways are so much greater than mine. I’m learning to just dream with God because, my dreams now are so much BIGGER than I could have imagined on my own. And the good thing is, I can work along side Him to accomplish them!
So What Are My Plans Now?
Well, I will be finishing my undergrad this coming spring (a year early!) with a Major in International Affairs and a Minor in French. I will be going on the World Race next July (2014) and I am so so excited for all the He has planned!!
After the world race, I am hoping to still pursue those dreams…but then again, who really knows?? What I know for sure is that I will do whatever the Lord leads me too.
What I have planned for my life seems to change a lot. I’ll just leave it up to Him.
