When I told people that I was going on the World Race, one of the first things they would ask me was, "What do your parents think about it?"
Well, the whole thing started because my dad sent me a link to a blog. The blog had a video about some girls on a missions trip who went to the red light district of some large city to minister to the people there through worship songs. They ended up getting a gig at a bar and people came to hear the American girls sing. The audience didn't all speak English, but they got soaked in worship all the same.
I thought that was so amazing these girls had the courage to go into a situation and declare praise to God in a place like that.
I looked at the website the blog was from and watched some other videos, and read some more details about this World Race thing. It struck a cord in me and soon I was filling out an application and praying about God's will for this.
My parents have been behind me the whole way supporting my decision to go. Mom's been helping me come up with ideas for raising money, and Dad has helped me with purchasing my gear I'll need on the road.
So, back to the question of what my parents think, I would always answer that they are supporting me. But I realized I had
never asked them specifically. So that's what I did.
This was my mother's response: "Well, at first I was kind of afraid. Then I figured the safest place for a person to be is in God's will. So if you go on this trip, and God's calling you to do it, then that's where you have to be. I'm confident in His provision and protection."
I asked what affect she thought the race would have on me and she said with a thoughtful smile, "It'll grow you and stretch
you and break your heart."
When I asked my father what he thought about me going on the World Race he said, "I have peace that the Lord will take care of you. I have peace that this is what the Lord is leading you to. And this will be an experience you couldn't get anywhere else [or] any other way."
And when I asked him how he thought it would affect me he said, "I have no idea." Then he laughed and said, "It will affect
your appreciation for life, for different cultures, for different approaches to life, for different approaches to worship. [It will affect
your appreciation] for God and for relating to other people outside your family. It will be amazing."
And that is what my parents think about it.
I love them so much and I am very grateful for them and for my sisters. I know I will miss them enormously when I'm gone, but no matter what happens I will see them again.
God is good.
