I’ve always loved hearing stories about missionaries and the amazing ways God worked in them and through them. For as long as I can remember I’ve had a desire to experience the mission field myself and to be able to proclaim my love for Jesus around the world. When I was 14 years old I was able to go on my very first missions trip to Chicago, Il through Adventures In Missions. I was able to work and connect with both friends and complete strangers on the street. I really felt like the hands and feet of Jesus as I served and created new relationships. It was such a high point in my life where I felt the calling of missions on my heart was affirmed. I’ve had the privilege of serving in my own community for many years, but I always felt God calling me to serve globally and not just locally.
Last summer I began looking at different programs and schools that could offer what I was looking for, and then I remembered a few of my leaders from Chicago who talked about the World Race. I remembered that it sounded amazing to me when I was 14 so I thought I’d check it out as well. I went on the World Race website and saw all the different routes and blog posts and it was exactly what I had been looking for. I went on the website almost everyday for 2 weeks as doubt crept in. Should I spend a year across the globe while everyone else is going to college/university? Could I ever raise enough money to make this possible? I went back and forth as I tried to figure out if this is what God was calling me to do. Everyone I talked to about it seemed to think that it looked like an amazing opportunity. When I went on their website again and looked at all the routes (for about the hundredth time) I finally pushed my doubts aside and got up the nerve to press the “Get Started” button, and before I knew it I had submitted an application to join the race.
A part of me was so excited but another part of me was terrified. What if I didn’t get accepted? If I did get accepted was I going to be able to leave everything behind for 9 months? When I got the call saying I got accepted all I could say was wow! I couldn’t believe it, I was going on the world race! I felt like God was reaffirming my love for missions and telling me that this was what I needed to do. It didn’t matter anymore that my friends were going to college or university, I was beginning an incredible journey of my own. I’ve received more support, both financially and spiritually, then I could’ve imagined and I’m so thankful to everyone for that. I still have a ways to go but I know that God will provide and I can’t believe that I ever doubted that.
I now have the incredible opportunity to join the mission field with people who have had the same calling in their hearts. Even though I’ve begun to prepare myself for this amazing experience to come, I can still only seem to say wow to myself. My love for missions began with stories and I can’t wait to see what stories God has written for me and my teammates. God is amazing and I can’t wait to see how He’s going to work in us and through us.
For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
