Dear Friends and Family,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! This coming January 2014 I have been accepted to go on an amazing mission trip called the World Race. This is an 11 month long mission trip, where each month I travel to a different country. The countries that I will be heading to are:
South Africa
Swaziland
Mozambique
Nepal
India
Malaysia
Cambodia
Vietnam
Ireland
Ukraine
Romania
This mission trip has been heavy on my heart since the first time I heard about it my sophomore year of college. It is hard to believe that was 4 years ago, and at the time, it was more of a "that would be cool," but something I would not do because trips like these are for people who really let God be in control of their destiny or even people who have too much free time on their hands. At the time, I had my own plan of graduating college, marrying the love of my life, and then hopefully start a family in a nice peaceful small town. But God was laying something else on my heart, and calling me into something I never thought I would do. Then one summer, God rocked my world.
In 2011, I went a mission trip with the same organization of the World Race called Adventures In Missions (AIM). This is where the Lord took my world, my plans, and even myself and changed everything. That summer God:
I) Revealed who I was /am in Him
2) Showed me my plans are not just my plans
3) Showed me my world is so much bigger than the United States
When I went on the Peru-Amazon trip, my world was rocked in how little I knew about the world around me. That Christianity can be so different over there than it is over here. It was because of that trip my heart grew in a desire to understand more of the cultures around the world, and to see my brothers and sisters in other countries. I feel that is why God has laid it so heavy on my heart to go on this mission trip. Also, a time of God just breaking my heart and spirit in the fact, that this life I live is ultimately for His glory.
"For I have been crucified by Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."- Galatians 2:20
I recently just graduated from Trinity International University with a Sports Management degree, and though I know the route I want to pursue, God Is calling me to take another step of faith and trust where He is leading me. God Is calling me to step out of my comfort zone by going on this mission trip where I will be challenged renewed and strengthened in my faith. He is calling me to be a faithful servant following Him where He leads, and He is leading me on the World Race!
This mission trip, I will be teaming up with a group of about 50 people ages 21 to 35. Our first meeting with one another will be in October where for a week I will be getting to know my team, and getting prepared to understand the countries that we are going to. After the training camp we go back to our home towns and wait and prepare for our next journey.
Now for the ministry part of this trip. The one thing that is unique about this trip is that there is not just one specific ministry to the places we are going. Within these 11 months I will be helping with:
1) Leading bible study at the churches
2) The orphanages
3)Construction
4)Preaching and leading worship
5)VBS and youth ministries(sport camps)
6) Working at a safe house of those who have escaped and been victim of human trafficking.
7) Evangelism
My journey will begin in January 2014 in South Africa and then we pursue the route. Before we go to each country we receive the specific needs of where we are going, and we take time to pray and see where the Lord will be leading us. This is a great time of growth in learning to listen to the Lord and also getting a better understanding of our strengths are and to learn in our weakness.
Though I will be serving in these different countries, this is also a mission trip that is about personal growth. During this trip I will be stretched and challenge like I have never been before. And I know there will be moments where God just takes my world and turns it completely upside down. God is going to soften my heart to His desires, and I really do believe during this trip He is going to show me how BIG He is and really how small I am.
I am so pumped that I have been accepted to go on this amazing adventure, but I can not do this alone! This trip will be tough on a physical and emotional sense, and this trip also does not come cheap. I need people to be in prayer for my team and I in safety and our hearts as we are preparing for our next step. Also, the finances pays for my airfares, food, other travel expenses, place to stay, and ministry work.
If you would love to help whether it is prayer or finances please visit my blog at http://stephaniejohnson.theworldrace.org/ and here you can see the latest updates of what my team and I are up to and need prayer for. Or if you want to be apart financially please click the link on my page that say "support me" and it will inform you on what to do next.
I understand it might seem a little overwhelming, but if you want to make smaller donations in monthly increments, you can do that. An example would be if I get 100 people to donate $10 a month for 10 months that would get me to $10,000.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this, and please let me know if you have any thoughts, questions or concerns please email me at [email protected].
God Bless and with much love,
Stephanie
