-'You are a letter. An email. A message. Your everyday life is more than just a story being written. Your life is a letter. You were created to recieve and send a message intentionally into the lives of the people you do life with daily.'  -Jason C. Dukes
 
        – Every Christian is 'CALLED' to be a missionary and to share Gods love across the nations… so why do people act like I am doing something spectacular? Where in the Bible does God say 'Hey..I was just wondering…if you feel like it…and if its convenient…and as long as you don't have to give up too much time or money or comfort… would you mind going and telling people about me?' Not everyone is able to go live out of a backpack for 11 months, but each and every person has their own unique ways to fulfill this calling.  When I was student teaching in March in a 3 year old classroom, the video below of a children's song spoke to ME while surrounded by hundreds of young children singing and dancing to the words of Matthew 28:19-20 in chapel.

        I have always been a go-er….a 'yes man'…an adventure seeker… and I find myself most of the time wanting to go and do more than the people around me. Many other world racers that I have talked to experience the same situations when friends, family, and coworkers do not understand and are just working their way up the American Dream ladder. I know a lot of families who have wonderful lives here and they seem happy…but how happy? All the new cars, big houses, vacation homes, all the nice clothes and jewelry…I enjoy all of those things and I am glad that I am surrounded by people who have been so blessed. But when they sit down and have a conversation… how far does all the stuff go?

  What can you do with the extra money that might not only satisfy you, but satisfy the hunger of a child in Africa…or free a 13 year old girl from sex slavery in Malaysia? I have held and played games with 5 year olds who were raped and abused by their own fathers and you would never know it…they are so happy, and they are safe now…but where will they end up?
  Pictures and videos do not give the same understanding as a personal relationship with these people. For years, I have wished that EVERY one of my friends could go and experience Guatemala with me, but most of them are too busy…or they can't afford it…or they just can't stand to miss a college spring break trip to Panama City.

   During my senior year of college this year I started to realize that I want more because there IS more, and God has planned for me to do more. I decided I needed to extend my missions to other places besides Guatemala. I had heard about the WR and it sounded perfect! I wasn't sure if I was ready for this big of a trip, so I started searching all over the place for the perfect trip for me to go on this summer or fall. NOTHING was working out. I just kept coming back and reading blogs on the WR site each night, and after a few weeks I had filled out the application, applied, and been accepted! In January I will be leaving with a team of around 60 strangers carrying backpacks and tents, to live with them in 11 different countries for 11 months. God is doing amazing things through The World Race and I cant wait to see what my squad and I get to bring to the ministry. I am not nervous or worried at all, I never have been a worrier and that is why I know I can do this! I do and will continue to need prayers and support emotionally and financially throughout this entire journey.

        I will be writing my support letter and other things this week, but if you would like to go ahead and begin helping me financially you can click the 'Support My Journey' link and choose to give a one time donation, or set up to do a monthly donation. The total cost of my trip to the Adventures in Missions organization is $15,500 which covers airfares, food, and other general expenses. I also have to buy my gear, immunizations, insurance, etc. Any amount will help! 

 
 'You smile because you know. You know that in the end you are not really giving away anything at all. Instead you are gaining. Yes, you are abandoning everything you have, but you are also gaining more than you could have in any other way. So with joy-with joy!-you sell it all, you abandon it all. Why? Because you have found something worth losing everything for.' -David Platt