Well here I am… I’ve been accepted into this crazy thing called the World Race where I’m going to be leaving all the “knowns” and comforts of home to live out of a backpack for a year. What could have brought me here?!
I’ve felt called to missions for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I remember sitting and listening to visiting missionaries and romanticizing their stories and dreaming of tromping through jungles to bring the Gospel to those who haven’t heard it. As I grew up, I developed a more realistic view of what it means to be a missionary, but I still had this desire to “go”.
When I was in high school, I was blessed to be able to go on two one week mission trips. One was to Tijuana, Mexico and the other was to Washington DC. They both extremely different experiences, but just fueled my desire even more.
When I started university, I went around clubs fair checking out the various student groups on campus, entering countless draws, and racking up tonnes of free swag. One of the draws I entered was for a group called Campus for Christ (now called Power to Change) where I had to fill out a survey and check if I wanted a free magazine (free anything?! Yes please!). I knew it was an organization that my dad had been involved in but I had approximately zero desire to get involved with it. Not long after, I received a phone call from someone with the organization asking if I wanted to meet up and get that magazine. At that meeting, the gal asked if I wanted to join one of their Bible studies- I didn’t but I was so passive at the time that I agreed. (I figured I’d go to one and then never again).
In the weeks leading up to me going to the meeting, I had two significant encounters. One was with an extremely shy gal who approached me during a midterm review seminar that I attended. We got to talking and realized we were in the same lecture and began sitting next to each other in class. The other was with a gal with whom I had attended a Christian girls club. I hadn’t seen her since Grade 9, but she took the same bus as I did. I wasn’t sure if she would remember me and so I didn’t approach her. One day we were sitting rather close to each other on the bus and she asks if my name is Rhema- voila connection reestablished!
Anyways, back to this Bible study. So I walk into this room with no intention of ever coming back after that meeting, and lo’ and behold both of these two gals I had recently connected with were sitting in the room, part of the Bible study group. – Ok God-hint taken…. I’ll join this group….
It was in this Bible study that I was first introduced to the World Race. Our leader had mentioned it as something that she was thinking of one day doing. It really intrigued me, so I went home and looked into it. As soon as I saw the price I immediately dismissed it! Who was I kidding?! I couldn’t come up with that much cash!!!
The more I thought about it, and discussed it I realized that, you know, that’s actually not that bad if you consider that it’s basically everything you need for a year…. including travel…. but still!! There was no way I could ever come up with that much!
The very next month, I received my newest edition of Relevant magazine. To my astonishment, there was a three page article in it about the World Race!!! I may be dense at times, but I can take that blatant of a hint! This was something God wanted me to do.
Over the next couple of years, every time I would dismiss the World Race or change my mind about wanting to go, God would bring it into my life in some way or another.
A good example was this past summer. I made up my mind that this whole thing was too scary. Too intense. I decided I’d do something else once I graduate- maybe hang around Edmonton, travel a bit on my own, or go to England to teach. God made it pretty clear to me that the World Race was where he wanted me. There was a World Racer who was support raising at a farmer’s market close to my house, and my mum picked up a business card of his and passed it along to me- a real live racer contact! ahhh! In addition to this, I also had a connection made to a WR alumni! Pre and post WR experience?! How could I even ask for anything more?!
I’ve never been more certain about God calling me to do something in my life! I know this is where I’m supposed to be. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be worth it! I can’t wait to see what adventures God has in store!
Psalm 45:10-11
(This was mysteriously mailed to me years ago. It has since become one of my favorite verses and a source of inspiration, motivation, and encouragement for me! )
