World Race is an 11-month mission trip to 11 different countries around
the world. It is a multi-denominational mission, with racers from a
variety of Christian backgrounds from across the US and Canada. We will
abandon a traditional lifestyle and serve in very unique capacities in
a variety of different cultures. We will be involved in working in
orphanages in countries such as Romania, giving career skills to those
who are victims of the human trafficking
for those who have been abandoned by the AIDS crisis in Africa, and
spreading love and hope where it is lost.
During my first week of
ministry in Thailand, I was blessed to have had the opportunity to serve in a
neighborhood that was classified as a “Leper Colony.” Leprosy is
something I had only read about in the bible and had little to no understanding
of…..so, through my experience with these people, I wanted to share with you
all a more detailed picture of what people with Leprosy are dealing with and
who they are.
Leprosy has affected humanity for over 4,000 years; it is a chronic, mildly
infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium,
affecting the peripheral nervous system, skin, and nasal mucosa and
variously characterized by ulcerations, tubercular nodules, and loss of
sensation that sometimes leads to traumatic amputation. Skin lesions are
the primary external sign. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing
permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. Contrary to folklore,
leprosy does not cause body parts to fall off, although they can become numb
and diseased. As a result, the disease commonly deforms the hands & feet-
appearing to look as though there are no fingers or toes.
Leprosy stigma is a kind of social stigma, a strong feeling that a leprosy patient is
shameful and is not accepted normally in society.
Not only are these people
dealing with pain of disease in their bodies, the emotional drain of constant
doctors visits, and the fear of watching their physical body deteriorate before
their very own eyes- but there is a judgment that society has put on them.
This condemnation is birthed from fear and a lack of knowledge. People turn their heads away from them,
look down on them, and forget that they exist.
I want to
introduce you to a
friend of ours who shows what it means to truly be content in any
situation;
what it means to have faith; and how to receive and give the love of
God. Lim
is a man who has dealt with the pain of disease and abandonment from
society
for over 40 years. He is living proof of the following passage. You
will see through his life that God’s burden is light and His yoke is
easy not matter the challenges you come across…
Come to me, all you who are
weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28
May you be blessed by his
brief testimony….
My Race May Change, But His Will Remains
made the decision to drop the comforts of the life I had known and follow the
call that God had for me. The only
thing I knew was that I was called to serve in the nations, and the World Race
was going to be the vehicle. By
October of 2009 God had revealed that He had a different call on my life- That
not only did He want me to serve the locals of each country we entered, but
that He called me to be a team leader of 5 other racers while on this journey. By the time we launched in January 2010,
I realized that my selfish expectations for what I was about to encounter
needed to be let go. In that moment I committed to follow His call for my life,
regardless of what that might look like. Every other motive inside of me needed
to die. I quickly learned that
obedience to His call was truly the only thing I could control in
my life.
My last 3 months
of the World Race have been filled with learning, growth, transformation and
freedom. Leading my team is an incredible blessing and has taught me how to love
people in ways I have never known. Just as things had become comfortable – God
now reveals another chapter of His call for my life.
In May our two
Alumni Squad leaders (Tara & Robby) will be ending their time with us and
will be raising up two new leaders that will guide our 60 person squad through
the remaining 8 months of the World Race.
God has called me to be the female Squad leader to serve alon
g side our
new male leader, Austin Robertson. I am humbled at the thought of serving this
group of people, as they are they are some of the most passionate, capable, and
inspiring people I have ever met.
I am honored to
learn from Tara & Robby this month as we travel with them in Malaysia- as
they are two people who know God’s voice, are obedient, and bring life wherever
they walk. Working with Austin is also and incredible blessing. He is a man of
God who is a joy to follow, who I respect greatly, and will be a great
compliment to my crazy ways! To learn more about this awesome character….go to (http://www.austinrobertson.theworldrace.org)
Austin and I have
now stepped out of leadership with our small teams and set out on a journey to
listen and follow what God has planned for this squad. We will no longer spend
our days in one ministry location; rather we will spend our time traveling to
visit each team at their different ministry locations throughout the
month. We will personally invest
in the growth of each individual on this squad. We will prayerfully make
decisions on where teams are placed in ministry and what locations they will be
at. We will cast vision and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us. I couldn’t be more excited to follow
this call on my life and to lead this Squad- God is taking us to amazing places
with Him.
God continues to
confirm that no matter how much change happens in my life, that His will is
always constant and that He will always give me the option of being obedient to
His call for my life. With honor and excitement I say YES God!
As we head into
this transition period, I would
love to ask for your prayers of protection, strength, clarity & new
revelation.
Following Him Away from the Familiar
no matter the cost?
A Touching Prayer “Lord I pray you will go with Krissy as she puts her faith, trust and life in your hands. Direct her steps and path and help her to hear your voice as she gives of herself to those with physical needs, spiritual darkness or need encouragement in their walk with Jesus Christ. Bless Krissy, her team and leaders as they journey to carry your love to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bless Doug, Cheryl and Krissy’s entire family to surrender their concerns to You and that they will walk in the peace knowing that Your love for Krissy is far greater than theirs. That can in itself be difficult to comprehend but we know it to be true. Open the doors for this team to be a godsend far above what they are dreaming of right now. Lord we will continue to uphold Krissy in prayer and for her team as well as all giving of themselves to take hope to the needy and lost. I pray for You to be lifted up and glorified in this journey. I pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen – Amen”.
How I Was Called to the Mission Field
Posted in Missions Trip Thoughts by Krissy Whaley on 7/15/2009
We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to do this mission trip. Here is my story…….
God has carefully shaped me and prepared me for each specific moment in which He has presented to me throughout my life. Every situation, relationship and experience has been carefully constructed and given to me as a blessing. Every joy and every challenge has been carefully sewn together into an intricate puzzle that is His story for my life. He has presented me with many different paths of opportunity but always with a choice…..a choice to follow Him.
Throughout a life of incredible blessings, I haven’t always chosen the path of following Him – at least not in full trust. My intentions have been good by nature, but with myself at the center and my personal goals and desires clouding my vision. Since I started my relationship with the Lord my Junior year of college….I have to admit, I have had one foot in- and one foot out….just in case following Him was inconvenient or difficult, I always had an easy way out and a list of excuses.
There are many moments in which God put before me that led up to my decision to go on the World Race. I have always had a heart for working with people and serving the Lord. The opportunity to work with at-risk youth in New York sparked my desire to serve, in particular…those in need. Throughout college I began to realize that it wasn’t only those who were classified as “in need” by society that needed the Lord, but the friends, family, and co-workers I encountered every day. I then realized that not only did I have a heart for service work, but wanted to tie in the message of Jesus – Hence, I became a High School youth group leader at my church. The students I worked with were incredible in their selfless desire to know God. We would discuss life questions, hot topics, teen issues, and biblical questions. I desired for them to know God, and for them to learn from all my mistakes. I wanted them to understand how much God loved them and prayed for them to follow Him. We talked about missions and life, but I began to realize that I wanted this relationship so badly for my girls and encouraged them to not limit themselves and to truly trust God – and all long I wasn’t seeking this out in my own life.
I have had a deep desire for mission work since high school but have never acted upon it due to my own fears, and telling myself I was not worthy enough. For six months after I found out about the World Race, I lined up a stack of excuses for why I couldn’t go on this trip, and how it would be simply impossible for “someone like me.” I didn’t have the money, I couldn’t leave my job and ever be successful again, I didn’t want to lose my house, I wasn’t spiritually ready, I had loved ones that I would miss too much, and frankly…it just seemed crazy! Over the past six months, God has consistently broken down the doors of every excuse I could come up with. He continues to open doors pointing me in the direction of missions in a way that I can’t deny. With this trip, I am laying down all my fears, selfish desires, and excuses and going all in. I am giving it all up to God in ultimate trust to use me in the nations as He wishes. Not only do I know I am very clearly being called to this mission trip to touch the lives of people over seas…but I strongly feel that I am being called to this trip to rock the foundation of my family, friends, and co-workers in ways that inspire them to take risks, follow God and do great things. I can’t wait for you to go on this journey with me! Thank you for reading.
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