Hello friends, family, and anyone reading this!
I recently heard the word of my acceptance into The World Race Gap Year! This is such an amazing blessing to have been accepted, and I know it is going to change my life forever.
So what is this thing you call World Race?
The World Race Gap Year will make me a missionary for 9 months. Although, it is not your normal mission trip, it is a new way of living and preaching. It’s a total of 9 months and will take place in 3 countries. I will be spreading the Word of God with other young people ages 18-22 in Albania, Philippines, and South Africa. I know, I still can’t believe I have this opportunity. We will be working with orphans, women in trafficking, teaching english, fixing and building homes and churches, and so much more that I will experience when I’m there. Most of all, we will be sharing, teaching, and spreading that Word of God. Some people ask me, “Lizzie why not do this in your own country or community?”, and my answer is simple; I have always felt a calling to go out in the world and travel, but more recently I have heard the word “missionary” a lot. I am called to teach the Gospel to those who don’t have easy access to it. I want to teach to those who are unable to just walk in a church Sunday morning. I hope to show God’s love and make a change and touch someones heart in each of the countries I enter.
Psalm 96:3 really stands out to me, “Declare His glory among the nations,
His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” I think teaching others the truth of the Bible is more than a calling for me, but a way of life that I am so excited to begin.
Up until January of 2016 I was planning on taking a gap year to just travel, but God wasn’t first in my plans. This is the path I wanted but not the path that God wanted me on. I kept on listening to Him to hear his plans for me and always went back to Psalm 25:4 for guidance. It reads: “Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.” I never knew what He had in store for me and started getting worried as I had no clue what was going to happen after I graduated high school. I prayed countless times about an opportunity and something to do for my Gap Year. But I heard nothing back… Until recently. HUGE thank you to Ellen, the cake decorator at my work, for telling me about World Race. I look up to Ellen for her wisdom and guidance and really value her opinion. So I looked more into World Race and thought this is something I need to do. I continued with the extensive application and interview process and heard the word of my acceptance a few weeks after her telling me about the Race. Without her I would still be lost and confused as to what I am doing next year. I am still not sure what I will do after the Race is over, whether school or whatever the Lord has for me. But it is comforting to know that He will lead me just like how he brought me to the World Race.
I am in need of two things. Prayer and financial support. Prayer for the uncertainty, my fears, safety, my team, the countries I am going to, and prayer to truly touch peoples lives in a positive, Holy way. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. This trip will be an amazing experience and definitely life changing, but it does come at a price. I need to fundraise $13,805 plus extra for equipment, traveling to and from training camp, and spending money. I am in need of this before I leave in August of 2016.
If you would like to support me, you can donate here on my blog or I will be sending out support letters and it will have a fundraising card to mail. In addition to asking people graciously for their money, I will also be having different fundraisers such as T-shirts, bracelets, and more!
Thank you to all who have supported me throughout these years. Especially thank you to my parents for keeping up with my changing plans every week of what I wanted to do after high school. All the prayers have led to this! I’m so excited to begin this new journey and watch people’s lives change by hearing the Word of God, but also watch my own life change throughout these nine months.
“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” [Mark 16:15]
