Hey!! For my first blog post, I wanted to explain why I am even going on this crazy trip… so here’s how it happened! Also it’s all over the place so, just stick with me!
One Sunday in middle school, a man came to talk to our youth group about his missionary work. I always grew up going to church and was raised in a Christian household, so I knew what missionaries were, but I never thought anything in my future would pertain to mission work. The idea that seemed always so far off and not even on my radar quickly reversed when I learned the man talking to us had gone to my church for his whole life and attended the same youth group I did, just a few years prior. Suddenly, I came to the realization that anyone in my state or in my city could become a missionary- even me. Spreading God’s love, getting to travel to places you might never have thought of, meeting amazing people, and having an experience unlike anything else… I thought jokingly “What if I became a missionary?” Dismissing the idea, which still seemed pretty far off, an opportunity presented itself to go to the Navajo Reservation. My eighth grade curious self jumped for it and it was life changing.
Every year my church brings in two seminary interns to work with our youth- one for middle school and one for high school. My freshman year, a crazy lady, Angie Blattner, walked through the door and was introduced as the new intern and my grade’s leader for the next two years. As I got to know her, I learned that she went on the World Race just a couple of years prior. At my church’s winter retreat, my friends and I laid in our room and listened to Angie tell us a bunch of her World Race stories. I have never laughed harder or wanted something more. All I could think was “I want to go.”
Throughout my last three years in high school, I was blessed to be able to partake in two different mission trips (to Juarez and Camp Barnabas) three times each. Every trip, I was reminded how great God’s people are and how amazing tasks can be accomplished with Him. He radiated through people and challenged me in unexpected ways. When I left each trip, my heart yearned because I felt like I could be able to do missionary work for a life time without getting sick of it.
People started asking me about my plans for after graduation. When I informed them of the possibility of the World Race Gap Year, crazy things started happening! People I would never expect began asking me to send them letters if it came together and I ended up becoming a racer. A shocking amount of people knew somebody who was currently on the race or had already completed it, and encouraged me to become a racer, as well as talking about what an amazing experience and smart decision it was for their friend or family member.
I can hardly believe this is coming together and I ask you for your support with your prayers and donations! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog!!!!
