Question: Why missionary work?
Answer: I had my whole life aka (the next 5-10 years) planned out and going on the World Race was NOT a part of the plan. I had the American Dream plan, set to my specifics, to fit my wants and goals … seven years served in the Marine Corps ending well and resulting in a medical retirement, go to school in Southern California or Texas … I mean why wouldn’t I .. I have access to the GI Bill and other programs that supplement so I pretty much get to go to school for 4 years free!
Earn a bachelors degree in kinesiology or physical therapy type studies and work on getting a job at a Wounded Warrior facility and have a career rehabilitating wounded service members.
Get married by 30, build a house, adopt a few kids and have a Rottweiler and an English bulldog to go on walks with.
I even told God .. “See I can use my physical therapy/rehabilitation experience to help others if you ever send me on a mission trip!”
A little back story .. I have ALWAYS had it in my head that the mission field would be perfect for me. I love traveling and even more so, helping others in almost any way possible BUT I kept being told .. you need to get a college degree because you will never have a successful career without one and you need to save this much money to have a decent size house and you need to make this much money so you can take care of your family .. But wait a minute who said I wanted to have a degree or a huge house or even a family? (Yes I know I am young and do not “understand” but my God is bigger than the American dollar)
**if you know me you know I really don't pay much attention to facebook unless I have notifications, that being said..
Fast forward to about September 2012, I noticed a facebook post about the World Race from someone that wasn’t even a friend of mine, a friend of a friend had liked the post and for some reason it was on my newsfeed. I had no idea what the World Race was nor did I have a reason to click on the link but I did. For the next few weeks I couldn’t get it off my mind. Reading blogs and every tab available on the webpage. But I was unsure .. it just seemed like a dream .. going to 11 countries for 11 months to share the gospel, <3 the least of us, and use my two hands to give someone help or a break seemed to good to be true!!
That could never be God’s plan for me because I would enjoy it too much! I smiled every time I talked about it … I just wanted to hear God say “GO.” Finally I decided to apply but which route? I looked at all 4 July 2013 routes … then on to September Route 1 .. my smile and peace grew more @ each country I read off. I knew without a doubt U Squad would be a part of my family and it is exactly where God wanted me to be.
So why missionary? Why the World Race? Easy because God put it on my heart and commanded us all to the Great Commission! Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
