Hello! Welcome to my Blog of this incredible journey!
My name is Garrett Stoecker (you know this), and I am writing this to tell you a little bit about myself and how I came to this point in my life.
First things first: I am a graduating senior at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis (where I live), and am undecided on colleges at the moment. I have lived in St.Louis for nearly three years now, and I live part time in Muskegon Michigan during summers while working at Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference.
Born in Michigan, Saved in Michigan, and Baptized in Michigan, but lived mostly in central Illinois for my life, though Michigan is a very special place for me and my family.
So I am going on this World Race for a couple of reasons. Predominantly, I want to fulfill the Great Commission and seek the expansion of the gospel to those who have not heard. My desire has always been to go out and spread the word like Paul did, and I have been inspired by many missionaries over the years to do so. Second, I want to develop fantastic spiritual bonds with the racers and enrich my spiritual state so that I can boldly proclaim the gospel for the rest of my life. I seek friendship and I seek brokenness within my so that I may be built up by the Holy Spirit. Next, I need time to figure out what God’s plan is for me and how I will guide myself through the college years and onward. These are rough times in the U.S. and I want to be fully equipped with the gospel and the strength of God. And Finally, I love travelling and have always wanted to go to Asia and Africa, these are magnificent places and I am so so excited to expand my horizons of this earth. So many new and different cultures and peoples to meet.
I suppose it was the voice of God that led me here. “Go” he said, and so I will go. Now it was not that clear at first, but I felt the call of God every time I thought about college and what I am to do, I put my faith in God and had him guide me to where I will glorify him best, and grow in his love. I want to understand my Lord, Jesus Christ better and to love Him better. He is an awesome God and I pray that he will open my eyes and that through my servitude, other’s eyes would be opened as well. His grace is unending, and for that I am grateful.
I am 17 years of age, 18 in June, and the youngest of my family. Two brothers, one sister, one sister-in-law, one princess of a dog, and two amazing parents. Grant is the oldest brother, Gavin right below him, Mallory (married to Gavin), Madison who is two years above me, and my parents Jason and Gayla (young-ish). Love my family so much (maybe my dog more), and so thankful for the spiritual impact they have had on my life. I am truly blessed and grateful.
Now really about me… I play the piano and sing and a dabbler in other instruments, I love athletic things like frisbee and skiing, I wrestled for quite some time, I enjoy looking at art (can’t draw at all), I am a writer an avid reader and full of almost too much imagination. Also I love nature in all its forms (except cloudy days, because I honestly cannot find any joy in overcast skies…I’ve tried and simply cannot) Awesome. Of course I cannot say everything about me in one post, so more will be explained later.
Some fun facts. Favorite… movie is The Last Samurai, flavor really anything espresso or peanut butter, t.v. show is Grey’s Anatomy or 24, book of the bible is Ephesians or Zephaniah, band is Guns ‘n Roses, book is the Lord Of The Rings (all of them) and Till We Have Faces (C.S. Lewis), and last of all, favorite fruit is most definitely the Mango…unless science one day proves that Lasagna is a fruit…
So That’s “About Me” and I hope you enjoy reading up on my adventures and updates about the World Race and ask that you pray for me on this journey and for all those I will encounter, along with my squad mates who are going through the same 9-months I will be.
God Bless!
