Hey y’all! As many of you know, I’ve been called to put the school books down for a year. I got accepted to go on the World Race Gap Year and I am beyond excited. I will be serving the Lord in three different countries (Thailand, Malawi and Guatemala) for three months each. Nine months away from home and away from my family sounded a little scary and not something I could have ever seen myself doing, but when God calls He calls loud and there was no ignoring this. “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” Matthew 10:39 This verse means so much more to me now. Here’s my story of how I decided this is what was next for me!!
I went to Haiti for spring break my tenth grade year and it truly impacted my life in ways I was not expecting. I had the mindset that I would go and play with some kids, talk to some people on the streets, help build a church, and feed those who didn’t have food. We did all of those things, but that is not even the beginning of what God had planned for me in this week. The people of Haiti completely broke me, but in the best way possible. My church starts at 10:45 on Sunday mornings. I have a car that I am able to drive to get there. I have so many dresses in my closet it’s ridiculous for me to complain about how “I have nothing to wear”. The number of churches in Haiti are scarce. People wake up at sunrise, get dressed in suits and ties and long dresses, WALK to church in the 100 degree weather, and get there at 6 am and do not leave until 12, sometimes 1 pm. They do so with the biggest smile on their faces. They are overjoyed to get to go to church and worship God, even if it takes a lot out of them and their day. And here I am, complaining about not getting to sleep in, not having anything to wear, having to go at all. It was a huge wake up call that I was only going through the motions in my walk with Christ, and very poorly doing so. These people had nothing, but the way they acted you would have thought they had everything in the world. In a way, they absolutely do. Jesus was with these people every day, every minute. It became surreal how much Jesus loves us. I took a step back and looked at my life and felt ashamed at where I spent all my money, time, and thoughts. These people made so much more of a change in my life then I ever would be able to make in their life, and that truly broke me.
Ever since, I have thought about how I could do more for people. I went back to Haiti the following year. It became apparent to me that all we really can do is to love like Jesus loved. Then, I heard about the World Race gap year. I became obsessed with the idea. I looked at their instagram every day (go follow it if you want to see some amazing people do amazing things @theworldrace) and visited the website every day. I read so many blogs from current racers and it kind of consumed my summer. It was the summer going into my senior year. Everyone was deciding where to go and who to room with and it just did not appeal to me. I prayed for God to reveal His path for me. Soon, football season was upon us and I started going to Oxford and Starkville, MS every weekend. I became selfish and started thinking about what I wanted instead of what He wanted for me. I decided I was going to college and found a roommate and everything. It did not take long for it all to start to fall apart. My roommate decided she didn’t want to go to college anymore, and the World Race just kept coming up in everything I did. I was confused and prayed to God. I asked that He would put me where He wanted me, not where I wanted. A couple weeks later, something happened that showed me exactly what God wanted from me. I received a letter.
This letter was from a man I don’t know and have never met from Yazoo. He told me his church was praying for my future endeavors and that I stay safe while doing my mission work.
It also said his pastor had anointed a prayer cloth for me in the name of Jesus. It all blew my mind. I called the World Race the next day, and about a month later got accepted to the Gap Year Route 1. Now I’m not really into the whole ‘I opened my Bible and it was on a verse that told me to go do this’, but there’s no way that I can deny this was God speaking directly to me, and I am more than willing to go where He calls.
It’s mind-blowing. He picked ME. I am no one special. I have made more mistakes than I can even count. I have messed up in big and public ways, yet God still believes I’m worthy to go tell people about Him. He trusts me to love the way He loved and He has given me abundant chances. That’s some love, y’all.
“And having chosen them, He called them to come to him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them his glory.” Romans 8:30
“May He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to Him forever and ever!” Hebrews 13:21
It’s so important to remember that this is all for God’s glory. It isn’t about what I’m doing, but what He is doing through me. I believe God doesn’t call on people who are equipped, but equips the ones He calls.
If you want to help me in any way, PRAY PRAY PRAY. Pray for me, as well as for my squad and for the people we will be reaching out to. If you feel led to help me in bigger ways you can donate financially. I have to raise $13,805 in order to be a part of the World Race. When God calls, He provides and I believe the money will come!! You can click the support me button above, or you can buy the t shirts I am selling. I love all of you!!!! – Taylor
