I’ve had the privilege of meeting some of my amazing squad mates as we’ve been part of a Storytellers Workshop prior to Training Camp. I’d like to introduce you to one of the girls on my team and share with you her story on why she’s going on The World Race.
Meet Jessica! She is 22 and is from Greenville, Illinois. This is her story in her own words.
I first heard about the World Race when a friend did the Gap Year program a few years ago. I thought it sounded incredible, but I pretty much disregarded it as a potential plan for my own life. A couple of years later, during my junior year of college, I started to research graduate school programs. As a psychology major, pursuing a graduate degree was the obvious next step.
However, I was super discontent with the idea of grad school, and I did not feel like God was leading me in that direction. In the summer between junior and senior year, I was talking to someone about different programs, and he said, “Jessie, don’t go to grad school. You don’t want to, you don’t feel led to, and it’s just a lot of money to spend on something that will make you miserable.” I found so much freedom in that conversation, and started asking Father to guide me and give me clarity in his plan for my life.
That summer was filled with prayer for guidance and so many conversations with a mentor who kept telling me that she didn’t know what was next for me, but she knew it would be big.
One Thursday morning, in the beginning of senior year, I started reading in the book of Mark. I was reading the story of Jesus calling out to the fishermen, and I stopped when I got to Mark 1:18, which says, “And immediately, they left their nets and followed him.” I was astounded. I asked Jesus to teach me that kind of faithful obedience, but I had no idea how quickly and clearly he would respond to my prayer.
That night, I “randomly” decided to apply to the World Race, and the next day (Friday) I received an email that I should expect a call in the next few days. On Monday, I received a call that I was accepted and needed to confirm my spot by the end of the week. I knew that God heard me ask him to teach me the kind of faith and obedience that the fishermen showed, so I talked with friends and family members and Jesus, and I confirmed my spot that week. It’s been quite a journey learning how to leave my net behind, but Father has been so faithful and gracious in teaching and leading me every step of the way. His abundant love and provision has been so clear, and I am incredibly grateful to be here at training camp with my fellow racers.
