Yes, my name is Summer. It’s been a journey, but I can say
that I love my name and how it represents me. I am a warm, passionate, goofy
27-year-old woman who is seeking the alternative path that God has been calling
me to follow. It is apparent to me that the only consistent pattern I can see
in my life is that I desire to seek new experiences and pursue different
opportunities as they develop.
My walk with the Lord has followed that same theme. During
my college years, I traveled throughout the United States and the world without
Him. After recognizing the powerful call that God has placed on my life and the
lives of all those who are willing to follow Him, I promptly settled into the
sedentary Christian life. I wanted to be on fire, but without support and
confidence I felt weak, helpless, and adrift. However, I have come to realize
the truth that “when I am weak, then I am strong.” God was using that time to
birth in me the desire to travel for Him and reach people who were struggling
in other countries. At the same time, I was pursuing a career in the
educational field.
Currently, I teach students with emotional or behavioral
disorders in the junior high. The high calling of being a teacher is very
challenging and rewarding. However, I also recognize that I am not an
individual who highly values long-term careers, retirement plans, tenure, and
security. I want to live on the edge for Jesus.
In the last year, I have had a vision of the Christian life
as an underground missionary movement that overtakes the monotony of everyday
life. In some daydreams, I see individuals who appear out of nowhere, meet the
needs of those around them, and quickly leave to minister to others in need.
This dream encourages me to be missional in my daily life, yet I still desire to
travel, lean dependently on the Lord, and make an impact on the world for His
Name. I believe that the World Race is one way to begin to achieve these dreams
and inspire others to seek the missionary life whether at home or abroad.
