When you look at all of my other member's blogs, you see why they were called to the World Race.
I would absolutely love to tell you why I was called.
But I can't.
I don't know why I was called to leave my family and friends and my boyfriend for a year.
You are probably thinking, "Who in their right mind would just get up and leave their whole life behind them to just go and be a missionary for a year?"
Well, I guess I'm not.
Right now, I am just answering what I know God is calling me to do.
So since I can't say why I am called, I will just have to tell you how I was called to the race.
Growing up in a church, I always heard my pastor say that we are ALL missionaries, whether it is here, or in another place.
I never understood what that meant.
When I was 16, my youth minister at the time wanted to take a group of kids to Romania for a mission trip.
Seven went, and I was one of the seven.
Honestly, I went because I wanted to have an awesome experience, and be with my friends the whole time.
I had never spoken the Word of God before, teaching wise.
And when it came my turn to do a lesson, I freaked out.
I had to just pray and pray to God for him to help me out and say the right words to these Gypsy children.
Of course, God heard my cry, and decided to help me out.
It was amazing.
This is when I knew that my passion was missions.
My next mission trip I went to the Dominican Republic with my church and my whole family. This was an eye opener for me. I knew on that trip that my calling was to children.
As for the next summer, I decided to switch things up and go to Japan.
Obviously, I was not prepared.
I was not ready for that place.
I was used to going to places where people were starving and craving for the Lord.
In Japan, the people had idols to worship, and electronics to obsess over.
I was not ready to be spat on, kicked out of places, threatened many times.
I was not used to rejection.
This was God showing me that some people are oblivious of the Lord, and didn't think that they needed him.
Especially like I needed him.
The last two summers I went back to the Dominican. It was amazing because I got to see my kids grow up, and I got to build relationships with so many people.
And I was comfortable.
But, are we just supposed to be comfortable in our lives?
Aren't we here to make Him famous?
Why should we live comfortable lives knowing that there are millions of people in the world that have never even heard of my God?
My friend Ruth went on the World Race.
If it wasn't for her, I would have never known about it.
As her months went on, I became obsessed.
It was to the point where I could quote what her blogs said.
I was jealous.
And not in a bad way.
In a way that she was going out of her way and risking her life for her God.
While I sat at home, reading her blogs. Comfortably.
This is when I started praying.
For six months I prayed if this was something that I needed to do.
And I kept it to myself.
At our church, we had a month called Missions Month.
The whole month my pastor spoke about missions.
This was a God thing.
Every Sunday I cried.
I was torn if I should tell my parents and my family about my decision.
One Sunday a missionary named John Burns came to speak.
When he spoke, I could swear that God slapped me up side the head saying,
"OK Payton. Listen up. This is for you."
My Pastor, David came up to me after the sermon.
I could tell that he knew something was on my heart.
I broke down to him, and even called him a butthead for making me cry!
David sat there and listened and prayed for me.
That night, I sat down and told my parents.
I know for a fact that they are torn apart and sad.
They are excited as Christians, but nervous as parents.
I don't know why I was called to do this.
But I am ok with it.
I am ok with the fact that I will be sleeping in a sleeping bag for eleven months.
I am ok with the fact that I will probably never take a hot shower until I return.
And I am ok with the fact that I am going with complete strangers.
Because I am going to return with a new mind.
I am going to return with a rejuvinated spirit.
And I am going to return with over fifty new family members.
