It is so surreal to be at this point in the journey where I get to speak definitively about my plans for next year and get to share my heart with all of you!
A little synopsis on me- Since I was super little I’ve had a hunger to do missions. (I can remember sitting on the couch with my mom watching American Idol: Idol Gives Back in 2008 crying because I wanted to live in Africa and love the people shown on the TV screen.) I’ve grown up in an incredible family with parents who seek after God’s heart and always work to point our eyes towards Him. For me personally however, my faith didn’t truly become my own until this past year. It has been a year of learning what it means to unabashedly follow Christ whatever the cost. It’s been so incredibly liberating.
For me, along with probably every human being on the face of the planet, I’ve always had a preconceived idea of how I saw my life turning out. When I’ve imagined my year after high school I’ve always pictured college, majoring in Special Education, rushing a sorority, and that’s about it. Missions has always been in the back of my mind, but I had pushed away the thought because I was focused on my own personal timeline. Despite this, God kept sweetly reminding me of that call to the nations, and the more I prayed and sought the more I felt sure that God was calling me to make the world my classroom in the year 2015-2016! Ultimately the Lord’s timing is so much greater and higher than my little game plan for myself ever could be.
After an extensive application and interview process, I am thrilled to inform all of you that I am accepted into the World Race Gap Year Program where I will serve with a team in Thailand, South Africa, and Nicaragua, spending 3 months in each country. For me to live is Christ. That is all I know. This opportunity isn’t about me, my ability to minister, or my personal aspirations. My words, talents, and dreams will always fall short when founded on self reliance. “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) It’s not about me!! May every breath I have lift up praise to My Maker. May the world see who He is, and the magnitude of His relentless love and abounding grace. So many people define living as a heart beating and a body breathing in oxygen. May the people I encounter find what it means to be truly ALIVE in Him.
The next step? Fundraising! I must raise $12,500 for my 9 months on the World Race. Our God is the great Provider, and I have complete faith that the Lord will provide the resources, people, and opportunities to help fund my journey. I would so appreciate your prayers in the next 6 months of preparation- preparing the resources and funds but also preparing my heart!! (And all of the hearts I will come into contact with on this adventure!) I can’t wait to witness my Creator’s world! The created and the invented can’t give glory to themselves, it all belongs to Him. Faith must be attached to action. So I go.
If you feel led to support me in this step of faith the easiest way to donate is by clicking the tab on this page marked “Support Me.” Thank you for taking the time to read my heart!!!
