On January 12, 2015, I had some time to kill before school so I sat on my phone doing what most sophomores would do, scroll through pinterest. I somehow found myself reading this blog about adoption and although it didn’t do much for me, it kept mentioning this thing called the World Race. I didn’t know what it was, so I googled it.
Two years later, here I am.
That morning ignited this passion in me that I didn’t even know I had. After reading about the World Race, I went home and expressed my thoughts in my old black journal. Here is a word for word entry from that night. Please excuse my somewhat embarrassing writing, as some of it makes me cringe (lol). But these words took me back in time as I read them this morning and they serve as a reflection of how far I’ve come and how cool God truly is.
January 12, 2015
“The thoughts of the World Race consume me- I don’t know how to make this a reality but it needs to happen. The world is huge and if I begin trusting God, things will come together. My heart is near bursting, it’s hard to describe the desire I have for this yet it is so far away. Maybe a gap year is actually possible? I have read so many positive and uplifting articles- please let this feeling continue and let it be real.”
Looking back, I can see myself sitting on my bed writing all of this as quick as possible. I was so excited and hopeful. I pictured how my life would go and how I could make my dreams a reality. I couldn’t sleep because my mind was all over the place with thoughts.
Now here I am, still not able to sleep because of my overwhelmed mind and heart. Today I hit the halfway mark in fundraising! How crazy is that? I have received more generosity and love than I could have ever imagined. There have been people that have known me since I was two years old supporting me both physically and spiritually to the point where I have cried because I can hardly comprehend their goodness.
These last few months have been full of people that have supported me in every way possible. My church family has prayed for me, encouraged me, and given me more love than I could ever ask for. Without their guidance, I don’t know what I would do.
My parents. They deserve so much credit for making this a reality. They heard me out when I told them I didn’t want to go to college right away. They believed me when I told them I was confident God was leading me to pursue the World Race. They have listened to me day in and day out as I struggle and celebrate through each moment. They have been nothing but a solid foundation.
It’s people like this that have gotten me through the past two years and honestly, I could go on and on about them and how blown away I am, but I’ll save that for another day. This time has been filled with so much growth. God has worked in crazy ways to provide and prepare me. He has taught me the importance of hard work and patience. He has shown me His peace and fulfillment in the moments where I have chosen to simply trust Him. And I’m pretty sure He’s just rolled His eyes at me in the moments I am all over the place and stressed out, because let’s be real, that happens a lot, too.
But at the end of the day, I know that living a missional life is not bound to travelling across the ocean. It is a daily decision that revolves around simply serving God to the greatest of our abilities. God has called all of us to love and follow Him; no matter our age or location. I see it in my daily life as I experience the goodness of those around me.
As I sit here and attempt to conclude this blog, I am at a loss for words. I had this post all planned out and ready to go in my head, but the second I started typing I just couldn’t seem to express everything that is happening. My life is wrecked in the best way possible! As I said in my journal entry, my heart is near bursting. One thing has changed though, and that is the fact that this feeling IS real and it WILL continue. So shoutout to all of y’all, because without the support and constant love, I doubt I would be here. Thank you x a million.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE: I am still selling shirts! I only have smalls left so if you or someone you know would like a small, let me know. They are $20 and comfort colors. Also, I recently set a date for a tea party in the Spring! It will be on April 1. Details will be coming later, but it will be a time for ladies of all ages to dress up, have some yummy food, and simply celebrate how much God loves us. And as always, you can donate money through this blog page at the top where it says “DONATE!” in the orange rectangle. Thanks for the love and support. Your prayers are so important and I could not be more thankful for them. Have a wonderful week 🙂
