“Go everywhere in the World and tell the good news to everyone.” Mark 16:15
I know how crazy it sounds. I’m taking a year off of school, quitting my job, leaving the comfort of my own bedroom and car to pack all my belongings into a single backpack and leaving for an 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries.
If you told me a year ago that I would be preparing to leave in eight months for the World Race, I (probably) wouldn’t have believed you. I mean, yeah, I followed alumni racers, but taking a year off when there was internships to apply to, networking to do, and college to be finished, there was no way I could do that. Nope, the World Race wasn’t for me.
It’s amazing how God works.
THE BACKGROUND STORY: Summer 2013 my life was turned upside down when I found out a week after graduating high school I would need to have brain surgery. After I was released from the ICU to recover at home I met an elderly man while waiting for my mom to get the car. Keeping the story short, he told me that he had seen me walking with a nurse in the ICU and asked what had happened. I told him I had a cyst removed from my brain and he shared that his wife had just had open heart surgery and the doctors said she didn’t look like she was going to be with him much longer. I had SO much love and support in my recovery, so I asked the man if I could pray for him and his wife. That was the first time I’ve ever openly prayed with someone. When he looked up tears were in his eyes and he told me that God gave him me for that reason. As my mom pulled up the car, the man told me that I am lucky to be so young and strong, that I should never let anyone stop me from following my dreams, and that God has so many good things planned for my life. I know that man thinks I was a gift to him, but I know that God gave me that experience to show me that this life is so much more than what I was living it for.
The next two years, I researched the World Race after my cousin had been accepted and launched for his race. I would be at the library studying and without fail, within minutes I would be watching videos and reading blogs about the World Race instead. It was like a little whisper saying, “Aly, go.” every time. I tried to fill that space in my heart with internships, jobs, moving, but soon realized that the thing I was putting on the back burner was the thing I was being called to the most. After my cousin returned from his race July 2015 I was able to see all the positive influence it had on his life. Of course, the race isn’t easy, but he told me that for the first time in his life he fully trusts the path God has for him, even though he has no idea what that path is right now. I realized that I was trying to make my own the path for life. I was getting four hours of sleep every night trying to keep up with this lifestyle that, honestly, I don’t even want. I was trying to add to my resume to impress my peers for the acceptance of “making it,” but what does that even mean? God literally picked me up at my lowest point and said, “Aly, you are enough. You are worthy. I love you.” I want everyone who doesn’t know that love to hear it! I want everyone to know that no matter what life is throwing at you – today, tomorrow, or six months from now.. There is a man that died for you because He loves you and all your struggles in life are only because He is setting you up for something so much greater then you could ever imagine.
11 months is a long time to be leaving when the only missionary work you’ve done is volunteering in your own backyard, and I have no idea what is going to happen while I’m on the race, but I don’t want to live my life for myself anymore. God has a bigger plan for all of us and truly believe that I’m being called to the World Race for a reason:
To know Him
To make Him know
Believe me, I really do know how crazy the World Race sounds.. But if God said “Go.” Would you?
Ways to Support My Trip:
1. Pray – I would love to have you pray for my squad and I as we prep for our race, but I would also love to pray for you. Don’t be shy! If you have a prayer request please contact me at anytime!
2. Spread the Word – Feel free to share my blog or any of my social media posts with as many people as you’d like. Not only will this spread the word of my trip, but we can share what God is doing through my squad with thousands more! Subscribe to this blog for updates on all I’ll be doing before on the race and while I’m on it. You can also find me on Instagram & Twitter at: aly_lundeen — Here is a link to The World Race website for more information: theworldrace.org —
3. Donate – This is the area I’m really having to relay / trust God and others, not my most comfortable area. The World Race costs $16,561. This will cover my traveling insurance, lodging, food, and travel the whole 11 months I’ll be gone. If you would like to donate to my trip I want to say thank you (so so much) in advance and I will leave the information below.
Love you all,
Aly
