It is crazy to think how much God has been shaping my life and preparing my heart for the World Race without me even noticing! While I am sure there is an innumerable amount of events that have gotten me to this point, I am going to focus on the main few that I attribute to my passion for going on this amazing journey!
First, I have always had a passion to help people. Growing up, I recognized the injustices of the world and the blessings I received from just being born into my specific family where I was loved and supported in all of my pursuits. Because I realize how truly lucky I am have to live the life I have for the past 21 years, I find no better way to start my journey into the “real world” than by giving back to those who haven’t had such luxuries. I have never woken up in fear of being sold into sex trafficking, nor have I ever reached a point so low in my life that I have lost hope. But that is not the case for everyone. These are the people that have been placed on my heart to help.
So I have a passion to help people (which is awesome), but, as some of my closest friends and family can tell you, I am quite a homebody. I am not the adventurous type, and I have a hard time giving up control in most situations. I think that if you would have told me even six months ago that I would be traveling to 11 different countries for nearly a year, I would (politely) laugh in your face. That was not in my plan AT ALL! But in my passion to help people, I looked into serving in the Peace Corps which is doing some pretty cool things around the world. That commitment would have kept me in one country for 27 months. I think God put that on my heart for two reasons. The first is to become comfortable with the idea of living in a foreign culture for an extended period of time. Secondly, looking back on it, 11 months is not nearly as long as 27! God knew if He first approached me with an 11 month commitment, I coward away.
At that point, God had shaped my heart to desire to help people in foreign cultures for extended periods of time. As I stated, my original interpretation of this calling was the Peace Corps, so I went about following my own plan instead of His plan for me. I had been blessed to be accepted into such an amazing organization, but I still felt like something was missing. Luckily, I have the world’s most AMAZING friends who are called to serve the Lord through missions all over the world. Through their work and support, I began to understand what God’s plan was for me. I need to become the hands and feet of Jesus and bring hope through the love and teachings of Jesus.
That’s when I decided to forgo my ambitions of serving in the Peace Corps and apply for the World Race. Right before my phone interview, I was a complete case of nerves! Was this really what God has in store for me? This has nothing to do with my 5 year plan I established myself. Am I mistaking this as God’s plan because it involves ministry work or is this what He really wants me to do? And by the “Amen” of the opening prayer during my phone interview, I had received confirmation that that is what God has placed on my heart. And now, I am diving head first into bringing love to the every corner of the world.
Because in my opinion, His love is the only love that can truly save the world.
With God’s Love,
Lindsey
