Attention everyone! I wanted to let you all know that I am officially over half-way funded for the World Race!! YAY!!!!
It has been a little over six months since I filled out the application that started this whirlwind of an adventure and I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you a little about how I got here! When I first heard about the World Race four years ago, I was a senior in high school. A friend of mine, whom I look up to and love SO much, said she was going on the Race. I went home and immediately looked it up. I thought it sounded like an unbelievable opportunity. However, I was too young and it sounded like too much money, so I quickly dismissed the idea of it.
Fast forward two years.. I was coming home from an incredible nine months at a Bible school in England. While at school I learned so much more about Jesus and His love for His people. Ever since I was little I have wanted to be a missionary. But where in the world would I go and how exactly I would do that? I didn’t really know how that could happen. Leaving Bible school, I felt that desire for missions grow even more and I just continued to pray about it. I looked up different trips and places to go, but nothing really clicked. When I got home the inevitable question, “what’s next?” came up over and over. A few people suggested the World Race, but I was still too young and did not think it would ever happen, mainly because of the money.
As the months went on, the World Race kept coming up. Even though I was worried about the money, I started to look into going on the trip. It seemed INCREDIBLE and I began to really feel like the World Race was what I was supposed to be doing. I began reading blogs, looking at pictures and praying about it and suddenly, going on the World Race became a dream of mine. Only one thing held me back: money. There was no way I could raise that money! You know how people say that if you are supposed to go, God will provide? I had heard that, but in the back of my head I really thought that I would have to do all the work and that that was just a nice saying to calm people down.
During the summer of 2013, I went on a trip with my one of my best friends and her family. One night we decided to go out to dinner and as we waited for our food we starting talking. My friend’s dad asked us, “What is one thing you would do if money wasn’t an issue?” Everyone had a hard time thinking of something, except me. I immediately blurted out “The World Race!!” I will never forget the words that came out of his mouth: “Shannon, you know that if that is what you want to do and feel like you are supposed to do, the Lord will provide the funds, right?” At that moment something clicked. I had heard that so many times, but this time it felt different. I felt like the Lord was speaking right to me. I suddenly knew that I was supposed to apply for the World Race and if it was what God wanted I would be accepted, and He would provide all the funds.
…So I applied for the World Race. …AND I was accepted! Once the phone call saying I was accepted had sunk in, and I knew I hadn’t just dreamed it, I thought I would start freaking out about the support raising. But you know what? I didn’t. I have been so at peace with the whole thing. I cannot tell you how many ways I have seen Him at work over the last six months. It has been one of the most incredible things I have ever seen!
So that is the story about how I got here, to being 53% funded for my World Race. If you have read to this point, thank you! Seriously, there is a huge chance that you have supported me financially or prayerfully and I couldn’t do it with out you! The Lord has been using your generosity to teach me so much and I am so thankful for that.
It is so crazy to think that I haven’t even left on the World Race yet and the last six months have already been a beautiful adventure! I cannot wait to see what the next six month have in store!
Shannon
