If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’ve seen on one of my social media postings that I’m preparing for this crazy adventure called The World Race. And, it’s also likely that you are asking yourself “what in the world is The World Race and why is Heather doing it?”
Well, I’m glad that you asked!
The World Race is an 11 month Christian mission trip to 11 different countries around the world. 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. On the World Race, my team and I will serve in partnership with churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, work in orphanages, minister to women and children who are trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking, and bring the restoration and hope of the Father’s love to many tribes and nations.
So that is the answer to the question of “what”, but now you probably want to know why.
Throughout my life, I’ve never felt a distinct “call” to missions. In fact prior to 2010, I considered myself the opposite of a “missions person”. I maintained a strong belief that some were “called” to missions and the rest of us could stay home and volunteer at Vacation Bible School once a year and call it square with The Big Guy. Little did I know that God had plans that were bigger than my understanding.
In 2010, God allowed me to see the depths of my own capability for sin and depravity. And, in the way that God so beautifully and uniquely does, he rescued me from the very pit of my own self-destruction and redeemed me for His glory. In August of that year, I took a ten day trip to Honduras with the church that I was working for. I honestly can’t tell you why I signed up for the trip. In hindsight, I can merely claim it as God’s provision for me. Though nothing truly magical or earth shattering happened in the ten days we were there, the plane ride home brought a clear message from God. As we flew toward Miami the word “Romania” pounded in my head and heart. This was strange because, as you already know, I was not a “missions person”. A week after we returned from Honduras, my world as I knew it fell apart and 2 months later, I worked my last day at Bayside Church.
The end of 2010 and beginning of 2011 were times of desperation for me. My identity and self-worth had become so wrapped up in my job and ministerial serving roles that, without those opportunities, I no longer knew who I was. I attended the Passion Conference in Atlanta hoping to find God and He did not disappoint me. Through Passion, I was able to connect with an organization based out of Plano, Texas called Livada Orphan Care that serves the orphan and gypsy communities of Targu Mures, Romania. I spent the summer of 2011 as an intern with Livada in Romania and it remains one of the sweetest times of my whole life. God used that summer to transform my heart and redirect my passions. I learned so much about what I truly “need” and had my eyes opened to the work that God is doing every day across the globe. It allowed me to step out of my own problems and my own idea of the world and see that I am just dust. Yet, I am dust that God, the creator of the universe deeply loves.
Returning home in 2011 brought a season of much needed reconciliation and lessons in humility. But, it also brought a new job opportunity as a live-in nanny for a family of 6 children. In 2012, I returned again as an intern with Livada. Coming back home brought a season of intentional living in each moment.
This year, I planned to return to Romania for just one week, rather than the whole summer and it was incredibly strange. I felt unsettled and discontent and unsure of what would come next. In May, I felt inundated with lessons and teachings on the will of God. I knew that His will is not necessarily a GPS location but rather a state of being, an intimacy with and desire for Him. At the Summer kick-off for the young adult ministry at church, It felt like God was saying to me: “Heather, you are free. Free to go or to stay. I love you and I want the best for you and what I really want from you is for you to desire me and my glory above all other things.” As I began to ponder what I really wanted, The World Race came to mind and I began to prayerfully approach the idea of applying.
Fast-forward a couple of months and here we are! I am humbly walking forward in this, believing that it’s what God has for the next season of my life. I still hesitate to call myself a “missionary” but will continue to claim that my life has been currently wrecked for the ordinary or unintentional life. I will also not hesitate to tell you that the very idea of that makes me uncomfortable in the best way possible.
I am so glad that you have decided to join me in this journey! I know that it will not be an easy one, but it will be worth it!
