Why the World Race? That’s such a great question, isn’t it? It’s a very important question, but one that I haven’t received very much. I’ve gotten plenty of questions about WHAT The World Race is, even more about what I’ll be doing, a few about finances, safety, and I’ve even received this gem: “Saige, is this a reality TV show?” I kid you not, that really did happen. But you know what? I haven’t received one single “why”.
My answer to that one very important question is simple: I’m doing it because the Holy Spirit told me to.
I can’t deny the instantaneous reaction I had when I discovered, or, actually, when I rediscovered the World Race. I had briefly come across the World Race through a link posted on Facebook from an old acquaintance and out of curiosity I clicked the link, perused the site, thought it was great, and forgot about it. Three months later one late December evening, that same acquaintance posted another link, indicating to anyone who was reading that her boyfriend, who was a part of an September 2012 squad, had posted a new blog. I, of course, clicked the link. One paragraph into his blog, I was shaking. By the end of a second blog, I was practically convulsing. Ok, maybe I wasn’t convulsing, but there were some serious shakes and shivers happening in my body. And by the end of the third blog, and after digging in a little deeper and really finding out what this whole World Race thing was about, I was in tears. My reaction was uncomfortable, overwhelming, and totally awesome. That same night, at 3:30 in the morning, I called my boyfriend, and asked him what he thought about me doing The World Race.
Honestly, this couldn’t have happened at a more convenient yet inconvenient time. My life is moving really smoothly right now. I have a wonderful job where I work with people that I adore, and I have this wonderful God-given relationship with a man who is not only my boyfriend, but my best friend, as well. It would be so inconvenient to leave at this point.
While I love my job, it’s not necessarily something I see myself making a career out of. Jeremy is here now, and I have no doubt that he will still be here at the end of the 11 months, and at this point in my life, I am not in school. Convenient. Really, there is no better time than now. Honestly, God’s timing may not ever be my timing, but His timing is still the perfect timing.
Why the World Race? Because my love for my Father is BIG, and my heart for His people is huge! He planted passions deep inside of me when I was a little girl. My heart is for the broken, hurt, and lost. My heart is for the ones that most would deem, unworthy. They aren’t unworthy, but most never give them the opportunity to know about the One who thinks they are treasures. My hope is that I will have the chance time and time again, to show the “unworthy” how truly worthy they are. How truly loved they are. How truly beautiful they are.
Why the World Race? Because I’m itching for an adventure, and what better adventure is there than traveling the World, dancing with Africans, becoming genuine friends with prostitutes in Thailand, playing in the slums with Cambodians, and hanging out with Gypsies in Romania all for the purpose of showing them Christ’s love; all for the purpose of giving them an opportunity, one that may not have been given, to have hope; to know our precious Father. That is the biggest adventure of all.
Why the World Race? Because the Lord gave me the heart for ministry a long time ago, and I’ve been running in the opposite direction for the last 4 years. But running away from God’s plans is exhausting, and I am so ready to embrace His call on my life. It says in Psalms 32:8 that God will instruct me and teach me in the way that I should go, and that he will counsel me with his loving eye always watching. My hope is that through these 11 months, while being surrounded by a community of brothers and sisters who are passionate about their Father, and through full immersion and total dependence on God, my eyes and my heart will be open to my Father’s plans. It scares me to death, but I know his plans are big, they're good, and they're going to take me on the ride of my life.
