Wow. Words cannot describe how excited/scared/jubliant/nervous/inadequate/expectant I am to be leaving on this incredible journey in September! Seriously, most days I run the gamut of emotions. Some days I'm so incredibly excited, and other days (or hours) I'm scared out of my mind! But I'm thankful for those moments of terror and inadequacy, because it shows me that I will lean on God, instead of myself, to get me through this journey around the world. So why did I agree to do this?
It started several months ago when I was doing some research for my job. I work at the YMCA in the year-round Track Out program, and we have themes that make our program more fun for the kids. We were getting ready to start an Around the World theme and I was looking on the internet for some fun activity ideas. I stumbled across the World Race when I did a Google search and clicked on the link. However, instead of closing the window when I realized it wasn't what I needed at the moment, I began reading. I read all about what the World Race is, read a couple blog entries, and looked at the routes. I though, "Wow, wouldn't that be so awesome? What an experience! I would love to do that!" Then I looked at the cost ($15, 500!) and the fact I would be gone just short of a year. And I closed the window. I thought, "I could never do that. It's too much money, and I love my life here just like it is!"
And yet, I couldn't get it out of my head. I kept coming back to it and thinking about it at the most random times. I began reading blogs from Racers on the field sometimes. The idea wouldn't leave me. I kept saying to myself that it could never happen…it was too much money, it was for too long a time, I'm a homebody, I have a life here, my family is here, etc. etc. etc. Any excuse that I could conjure I fed to myself. And yet it still wouldn't leave. Finally I said, "Okay, God. Maybe this is You telling me to at least consider it. Please help me discern if this is something You want for my life." So I began praying seriously about it. Any moment I thought about it, I would stop and pray about it. Over a few weeks, I really felt like God was calling me to this journey. When I started lobbing excuses at Him, He would quietly say, "My child, don't you trust me? I have you in My loving hand and I will provide for you. Let me show You." So I took the plunge and told my parents about the World Race one night in February. They immediately said that I should go for it, that they felt like this was a great opportunity for me, and they felt like this is where God wanted me too. I also confided in a few close friends, and they said the same thing.
I applied for the Race, got accepted, and am now working on pulling the details together so I can go on the Race in September! It seems unreal that in a little over 5 months, I will be leaving behind my life here to walk in God's will for my life. I am so excited to begin this journey, and I am excited about what God will do in my life and in the lives of others I will grow to love in this next year. Thank you for journeying with me! I will definitely need support in this journey! I need prayer, prayer for me, my squad, my team, the people in the countries we will visit, and for travel mercies. I will also need financial support. If you would like to help me, you can either click on the link to left that says "Support Me!" or you can contact me to find out how you can send a check to Adventures in Missions. I look forward to sharing my story with you!
