Around the time I entered my senior year of high school, people began asking me the question of “what’s next?” This thought terrified me because I had no clue if I even wanted to go to college, let alone where I would go or what I would study. College is just what is “expected” or “what you’re supposed to do next”. I wanted something more than ordinary. I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to change the lives of others, but most importantly, I wanted Jesus to change mine.
About six months ago I googled “The World Race” because my Young Life leader had mentioned something about it to me. The first thing I saw was a video of former racers describing their lives in one word before and after going on The World Race. Some words they used to describe their lives before attending were “sad” “lost” “lacking purpose” and “empty”.
It was then that I realized I don’t have to clean myself up before going on this journey. Before, I felt as though I was not “spiritually mature” enough to go and tell other people about Jesus. I thought that I had to be perfect. Then, I saw that all of these people were just like me. They were just kids who were lacking purpose and looking to do something that mattered. I think that this journey is designed to change the lives of the participants just as much or more than the people we will be serving.
Some words they used to describe their lives after attending were “full” “meaningful” “joyful” and “beautiful”. I wanted that. I wanted to feel what they felt. This inspired me to apply. I got a little taste of the feeling “joy”, that they described, when I got the phone call telling me that I had been accepted. I cannot wait to feel the amount of joy that I will feel when I actually finish this journey.
I am more than excited to begin what will be the most incredible year of my life. Am I scared? Absolutely. However, I know that I wouldn’t have gotten accepted if this was not God’s will for my life. I trust in Him 100% and I know that He will watch over me during this journey. Whenever I start to doubt or think about how crazy it is to drop everything and leave for 9 months, I think of Matthew 16:25. It says, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
I am willing to lose everything that I once knew in order to find the best, most fulfilling life with Jesus Christ. Is this journey what most people would do next? No. Is this journey what I am supposed to do next. Yes. I believe that God has called me to go serve the people of His kingdom who are in desperate need of a savior. I also believe that I will fall more and more in love with Him every single day and find the real meaning of “life to the full”.
I hope that you all will follow my blog so that you can go on this journey with me. Your prayers and monetary support would be much appreciated. God bless :))
