The first time I heard about the world race, I was completely against it. Sure, that seems cool for other people. There is no way I could ever raise that much money or leave my life here in the states behind. Slowly but surely, God started softening my heart, and I was eventually in love with the idea. The initial excitement fizzled off and over time just became a cool idea that I would probably never get to do.
A year later, life as I knew it was turned upside down, and I was left shattered into pieces. God used this time in my life to pick me up, show me his grace and love, and heal me from the ground up. He put the world race on my heart again, but I was convinced by my family to put it off while I settled into my new life. God sent me on a test drive to the Dominican Republic a few months later, and I fell in love with missions. As I spent the week learning from the missionary families, loving on kiddos, and living uncomfortably out of my element, I really began to see myself doing His work for longer than a week.
I came back from that trip with a fire in my heart and a desire to do the race. I spent the following weeks in prayer and continued to have doubts. One day, I was talking about the world race to someone, and they asked me my reasons for wanting to go. I was quick to reply with some long-winded super excited response. And then they asked me something no one else had yet – “So, why not?” Oddly enough, that question stumped me. I realized that I had no good reasons, and that I was just getting in the way of myself. It was that question that really pushed me to apply.
So, here I am, a 24 year old girl from Indianapolis, IN preparing to embark on an adventure of a lifetime to be the hands and feet of Jesus. God has sparked this desire in my heart to humbly serve him and passionately pursue him more.
But who am I? Well here’s the basics, not in any particular significance or order:
1. Personality wise, most people have described me as bubbly and outgoing. I’m sorry to tell you that if you are annoyed by those super optimistic cheerful people, you probably will not want to hang around me too much.
2. I love to DANCE! Don’t get your hopes up, I’m no professional, and I have not yet mastered spinning on my head, but put on a good beat and I’ll be happy to jump around.
3. I’m a “Don’t knock it ’til you try it” “Try anything once” type a girl. Wanting to experience something new or eat some weird food? I don’t even need a double dog dare to be your partner in crime.
4. Reading may be my favorite past time. Between connecting with God during a bible study or losing myself in the fantasies of a fiction novel, there’s nothing quite like that break from reality.
5. I LOVE JESUS. I have been on a full out, passionate of pursuit of God lately and am in thirst of a deeper relationship with Him. Matt Chandler once said, “God is infinite. There is always more of Him to be had.” That quote rocked my world as I realized that God will continually give more of himself to me.
