Okay, we know what you’re thinking: “They are trying to raise all this money and they just bought a home?!?!”
Well before you get too worked up, here is a pic of the home we just bought—
Yup. It’s a tent.
Now before you say, “That’s not a home!” We would love to let you know that it most certainly will be in the coming year. For the majority of 2018 this bright orange tent will be our home. For most people, especially young married couples like ourselves, buying your first home is a symbol of stability. In a way, it’s making a statement that you have chosen to remain planted in one area for the foreseeable future—but that’s not us. That’s why our home looks a little different. That’s why our home crumples up and fits in our backpack as we journey on to what’s next!
We have been told countless times that we are crazy for wanting to live out of a backpack for a year. “That’s CRAZY!” “Are you serious??” “I could never do that.” “Is it safe?” “Aren’t you scared?” “What if you can’t fit everything you need in a backpack?” “Sleeping in a tent sucks!” ….These are all things we have heard, and the others are too many to write here.
Yes it’s kind of crazy! Yes we will probably miss our bed. Yes it won’t be the most comfortable. And yes it’s not the ideal “first home” for a young married couple to buy, BUT THERE IS A REASON WE ARE DOING THIS!
We are going to the nations, to the poor, to the lost, to the lonely, to the forgotten, to those who are in need, and to those who have NOTHING, because that is what we are called to do.
Even Jesus didn’t come to be served, but TO SERVE OTHERS, and give His life for the sake of mankind.
(Mark 10:45, Kaydan’s Paraphrase Translation:)
Does the World Race sound like a cool experience? Sure. Are we probably going to enjoy traveling? Of course. Will this be an experience of a lifetime? Without a doubt.
BUT if the World Race turns out to be a wash. And the traveling is miserable. And the living arrangements terrible. And the food awful. The awesome thing is: THAT’S NOT WHY WE ARE GOING!
The beautiful thing about this all is that we are in it for the people! There are so many people out there in need. Many many people who have physical needs, and many many more people who have spiritual needs!!
The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 5:13 “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
So that’s what we are going to do: To serve. To show others the love that God has shown us.
?? SO WHAT CAN YOU DO ??
This is where the spotlight shifts off of us, and onto Haiti. Onto the Dominican Republic. Jamaica. India. Nepal… Thailand. Malaysia. Cambodia. To Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda.
We write these blog posts, we post pictures, we post fundraising ideas. BUT, what we really need is your prayer. Pray for the people around the world that we are about to come into contact with. Please pray that we would humble ourselves, and get US out of the way and let GOD do His work. Pray that their hearts would be receptive to the Gospel, and that the World Race would be more than a mission trip, but an opportunity to show the love of Christ to someone on the other side of the world.
When that little boy in India sees us helping out in the street, or the widow in Jamaica is given her next meal… when we are helping the old married couple in Africa and they are scratching their heads thinking, “Why did these young Americans come all the way over here to help us??”
Please pray that they would see Christ’s love in us.
Once again, we thank each and everyone of you for your support. We are thankful for such a wonderful support system! God is truly using the people in our lives throughout this process of preparation. So please continue to love on us and support us, because it really does make a difference.
P.S. Please feel free to share this post with others in person or on social media! And leave a comment below because we would love to interact with you:)
