Welcome to my World Race blog!
Who am I?
My name is Monica Elder and I am about to enter my last semester at Liberty University. I have a brother (14), a sister (19), and two amazing parents!! I grew up in the church and was saved at a young age. I was living life and not really knowing what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus. However, God rocked my world the summer of 2014 by renewing my faith and showing me what Jesus dying on the cross for my sins truly meant. There was no turning back, I was hooked. God has shaped and refined me these past two and a half years and no doubt has a lot more work to do on me. Anyway, since I’m about to graduate college and I am not the best decision maker (I changed my major 4 times) I decided to take a “gap year” (sounds better than saying “I don’t know” when people asked “what are you doing after college?”) between now and who knows what.
Which brings us to:
Why I chose to do the World Race!!!
Throughout college and even now, I ask the question “What do I want to do with my life?” “What career do I want to have?” “What am I passionate about?” I mean my answers to these questions are going to determine the rest of my life, right?? Wrong. But that is what it seems like when everyone around me is asking me the same question. And because of I do not have definite answers to these questions, I feel a little bit like a slacker and failure in the eyes of the world.
But God does not ask me those questions. Recently God has been asking me “Can I have your life?” “Do you trust Me?” “Will you obey Me?” It’s the answer to these questions that will determine the rest of my life. So I said “of course, God, I’m all yours” And then I literally stumbled upon The World Race, an 11 month mission trip to 11 countries, while googling something and clicked on the link and I knew this was what God was calling me to. I would be lying if I said that when I applied and I was super excited and not scared and felt total peace the minute I hit submit because none of those things are true. It took a few weeks but over time God has worked in my heart to provide His peace, to instill excitement (I do get a little scared when I think about it at times), and is really teaching me to just trust Him. So you may be asking, why did you even apply or say yes even though you didn’t feel peace about it? Because even at the time I was applying, part of me just knew it was what God was calling me to do and that my flesh is the one that does not want to leave the comforts of home in this next season of life and I’m not called to question God, I’m called to simply obey.
I’m pretty sure by now you are thinking “WOW! What can I do to help you with what God is calling you to????” Great question!!!!
Here’s what you can do:
First and foremost, pray. Pray for those that on my team, myself and the people we will be interacting with in other countries. For our hearts to be softened to the Holy Spirit, for unity within our team and for every single person we come into connect with to know God’s love. Also pray for the fundraising process, as this seems like a daunting task.
Secondly, if you feel led, please donate to this trip. I am excited to see what God has for me but I can’t do it without you!!!!
Lastly, subscribe to this blog to stay updated on this journey God takes me through!
Thank you for taking the time to read this!! And for your thoughts and prayers as I prepare for this task and go out to show others in the world Jesus!!
