I guess I was called to the World Race by my friend Bonnie-or at least she’s the one who told me about it. I couldn’t believe it when she told me about it about it in early 2009 because the summer before I was searching for something exactly like it. Back then, I was ready to leave my life in Dallas, job, family, friends and head out to explore the world. I was planning an around the world trip by myself with stops at all the places I had family or mission connections. The planning was logistically overwhelming and seemed selfish to be exploring the world only for myself. Plus, doing it alone does not suit my personality. So, instead I decided to ditch the idea, settle down a little and buy a condo. So, a few months later when Bonnie told me about the World Race, it just seemed like bad timing.
Back up 5 years-to about 2004. I had previously considered going to Africa to work with a missionary team and at the time it seemed like God wasn’t making it happen for me. Maybe it was just me, who knows? Anyway, at the time I had a heart for going. I decided to keep praying and waiting for the Lord to show me His direction. Nothing changed-my job stayed, my life was consistent-things were the same. So, I decided that if nothing changed by my 35th birthday (the end of life as I knew it) and I still had a heart to go, I would abandon it all and go.
Now, to July of this year….I’m walking out of work thinking about life and beginning to dread my 35th birthday in September. I remembered my 5 years earlier decision to go do something if nothing had changed by now….yikes! The World Race popped into my head! Immediately, I thought to myself that was neither realistic nor practical and started talking myself out of it. Then, the words of Erwin McManus came into my head from a video bible lesson about a year earlier. He said, “Go until you get a no.” His lesson was about people seeking to do something for the Lord but not being sure of their calling. These words stuck. They were with me. So, the next day I started my application and within 3 weeks I was accepted to the WR.
