I have been accepted to the World Race! AHHHHHH! I am so excited and so many other feelings and emotions that I cannot even begin to express.
I first heard about the World Race when I traveled with Adventures in Missions (AIM) the summer of 2014. At training camp it came up due to the fact that it is a huge part of Adventures’ ministry around the world. Also, one of my team leaders had just gotten off the Race days before she came to training camp for our trip. My team and I were fortunate enough to receive firsthand accounts of her experiences on the World Race. I know each team and Route is different but how she talked about it sounded like one of the most amazing opportunities in the world. Even two months in that environment, with those people and getting the chance to serve in that way was so special, I couldn’t image 11 months of that.
After I got home from AFX the Race was always something dancing around in the back of my mind but first and foremost I knew I had two years of school left that I needed to finish. For Psychology students, graduate school makes the most sense and is the most common path taken after undergraduate. I have no doubts or regrets with my choice of majoring in Psychology and I do believe I will have a sense of clarity and assuredness in exactly what I want/ can/ should do in the field, but I wanted to be 110 % sure what emphasis I wanted to focus on in Psych, which I wasn’t and still am not, and I knew I wanted to continue in overseas missions while I was still free to do so. With that being said, the stubborn child that I am, my mind was sent on serving.
Flash forward to this January, a friend from a group page that includes everyone from my AFX (African Expedition) team mentioned that she was thinking more seriously about the Race as an option for the next step in her life. Her post acted as a spark to that old flame I had and got me thinking about the reality of the Race maybe being a possibility. Meanwhile, I saw on post on The World Race Instagram page that said the Routes for part of 2017 had just been officially announced and posted on their website. During a break between classes I followed the link to their website, looked at each Route and the countries they were serving in, thought a lot about each one but also didn’t because one just kept standing out to me, clicked on Route 3, and right then and there started my application. It was a mix between feeling at peace and in control, and at the same time like someone else was controlling the mouse pad.
My break was up so I went to class, trying not to think too much about it because I had just barely started my application, but I found my eyes kept wandering towards my phone screen. Not long into that class I got a call from Georgia, the state where the headquarters for AIM is, but knew, despite my heart beat and itchy fingers, that I would have to call back later. My day was mostly free after so I called the number back and it was none-other than my trip leader from AFX, the one who every time she would talk about her Race she’d have a smile on her face, this fun loving crazy cool World Racer, Ricci. I knew she worked at Adventures and I knew she had helped “mobilize” different teams, aka prepare them from the start of their application to getting them to training camp and even being an outstretched hand from home when they are on the field, but I never expected a *professional call from her.
Now this is the kicker- she proceeds to inform me that she is the mobilizer for Route 3, the very Route I saw, loved, felt called to, and applied for. I cannot begin to express the peace and reassurance her being in that position gave me and continues to fill me with. This was great but it was still just the beginning. Upon finishing my application there was a period where I was internally distract over the idea that I might not be accepted. I would share my concerns with those I was closest to, mainly about fundraising, but it always ended with “but I might not even get in so why talk about it at all”. It was so hard to go about my day with such a big possibility for the future of my life looming over my head. The same class where I initially missed the call from Ricci was the same class I was in when I was receiving another incoming call from Georgia. This time I could not wait so I shot out the door in the back of the class, apparently gaining attention because every one always left from the front if they had to use the restroom in the middle of class, and answered. It is still such a joy that I get to experience this alongside this friend and it was a joy to hear Ricci’s voice when she let me know that I was accepted on the World Race!
This seems so right to me and I could not be more thankful! Even before I knew I was accepted and after, those people around me would tell me not to fear or worry about the money or the rest of those pesky little details because God was in charge and that He is with me through this whole process and in the field. Those reminders are not always easy to hear but they have been so nice to actually listen to and believe in. God says that He knew us before and as He created us in our mother’s womb and as He cares for every living thing on this planet He cares for us ten fold. Fear is a very real thing and the “great unknown” that is life can be daunting at times but finding peace in the fact that “God Knows” and seeing what comes through that faith is a journey that I have loved being on.
So I thank God that He has given me another day to praise Him and I pray that you all keep me in your hearts, minds and prayers in preparation for this next journey I am about to go on. It is a true joy and honor to be able to go on the World Race!
For more information on how the Race actually works and all the details involved you can visit my blog page “katkelley.theworldrace.org” and on the left hand side click “WORLD RACE HOME” where you can find videos of people on their Race, featured blog posts, pictures, and so much more information that can hopefully answer any questions that you have. Also, feel free to contact me with anything as well.
