I have yet to do my official world race announcement but YES! i’ll be taking a gap year next year to go on a 9 month mission trip. Everyone’s first blog is generally the reasons they decided to take this opportunity and I will definitely write that as soon as I get into college, which I will attend when I return. I do not leave until September of 2018 and I return June 2019. I am so excited for what’s in store while I am out on the field and this blog will be my main form of communication for updates on the race!
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Recently I’ve felt as if I’ve been in a really good place, awaiting something bad to hit me. Luckily the Lord doesn’t work in that kind of way and I’ve been able to continue to live comfortably. Living comfortably is okay until you rest inside your comfort zone and hit the point where everything feels too good and you feel as if you’re not growing. Obviously I reached that and here I am trying to piece together what’s been on my heart.
The World Race has been something I’ve wanted to do since before my first mission trip, I felt called to it but did not know how I would do being so far away from home. This past summer I went to Dominican Republic and instantly fell in love with the ability to serve and not even know what turns the next day may take. I spent most of my summer away from home and started to really think about saying yes to the World Race. I applied for email updates and anything to know when I could get a head start and apply. I applied, had a interview and sent my deposit in. Today is one month since my official commitment!
Along the past month I started to contemplate the decision I made so early into my senior year. Senior year is by far not what I expected, I’ve developed so many close friendships that I love so dearly and I cannot imagine what sending them off to college will be like. I quickly realized I made the right decision but my comfortability will be altered when it comes time to say goodbye. I’m not falling off the face of the earth, I’m not disappearing forever and I’m most definitely not going to hesitate contacting those I’ll miss.
“Let go and Let God”
I have a fear of letting go. I have a fear of stepping into the unknown where I know there will be big changes. I have a fear of leaving and coming back to nothing. Fortunatley, one of my best friends knocked some sense into me and allowed me to rest in the peace of knowing that letting go means letting God take control. We’re not in control of any situation and stepping in the unknown allows us to let His will be done. In the new seasons we need to not be afraid but rather excited for what’s to come. Doors we can walk through will open and some will be closed. Opportunities arise and all we need to do is say “YES!”
