What adventures will the New Year bring? 2015 is around the corner and over the next several weeks we settle into the final festivities of the holidays with family and friends. How exciting it is to reflect on the year 2014 and see the growth and change that year brought for all of us. The transition for me back home into the States from the World Race has had its unexpected challenges. I find myself catching up on my favorite Netflix shows and enjoying the alone time. My dad asked me last week…
"Wendy, are you feeling depressed?" I responded with, "No, no, dad I'm just enjoying the time to relax and be alone; 24/7 with people for 11 months can turn an extrovert like me into an introvert for a short while."
It has been amazing setting up coffee, lunch, and dinner dates with friends and family. Hearing about their year and sharing about mine has been full of laughter and tears. I find myself thinking that the race was an 11 month dream and being able pick up where I left off with people has been a bit surreal. Yet, seeing friends engaged, married, pregnant or with a new baby is evidence that I have been gone for quite a long time. A year that changed my life forever and made my dreams a reality with the prayers and support of family and friends. I fully realize i am now a more confident, strong and humble woman of God. Though, I am still processing through it all, I am thankful everyday that God took me on a journey around the world for 11 months in 11 different countries to help alongside ministries and share his love for his people. In month 10 in Cambodia I started to feel anxious about what I was going to do after the race and so did the majority of our squad. I wrote down a list of dreams/goals i had for the future and began to pray.
"God, what do you have for me after the race?" "Which, one of these options should i choose to pursue?
-Go to Grad. school for Marriage and Family Therapy?
-Squad lead for the World Race?
-Lead a Passport trip for college students?
Then God encouraged me to share these dreams/goals with my team. I showed Deborah my list and she looked at me and said "Well, why don't you just do all of it?". I responded with "Well, because i am 25 and i want to get married someday and have a steady income etc…..".
She reminded me that God showed us this year that our "age" doesn't have to be a timeline of when big events in our lives should happen, even at 25 you still have time to follow your dreams and allow God to take you on adventures…
That week I received an e-mail asking if I would be interested in leading a Passport trip for college students in January. "January, i thought, that is so soon!" "How am I going to tell my family when
I am not even home yet that ill be leaving again in a month? Well, God helped me with all those challenges…and so..
- January 12th, 2015 I will fly out to Atlanta, Georgia for a final debrief with my squad. Then Passport training for the Philippines will follow after.
- January 26th, 2015 I will venture out to Manila, Philippines.
- My team of 4 ladies (Aly, Bette, Melody, and Brianna). and I will be volunteering at
- KIM: Kids International Ministry.
We will be volunteering for 3 months with…
- orphan care,
- schools,
- construction projects,
- saving kids from the sex trade,
- sports ministries,
- feedings,
- prison ministry,
- street kids ministry,
- work with the local churches,
- discipleship,
- evangelism, etc..
I am so excited for the adventures that await! <3
How you can help!
- I need to fundraise $1,800 by Jan. 26th to lead my team.
- Currently, I am at $961 out the $1350 for my Passport trip and would love your prayers and support.
- Any amounts helps! Please be part of this life changing adventure with me.
- If you are able to financially contribute to my journey visit wendymurphy.theworldrace.org and click the "Support me" tab on the left.
- Thank you! Love you all… God bless!
-Wendy Murphy
