Hey everyone! My name is Samantha Hotchkiss, I am 21 years old and from Syracuse, NY originally. I am currently a senior at Christopher Newport University in Southern, VA. I have a younger brother and older sister, amazing parents and the biggest family you could ever imagine. I love to travel, take pictures, hike, organize/plan events, spend time with friends, adventure, watch gilmore girls, read and talk about God. And this is my World Race Blog!!!!
Acceptance Story: Have you ever wanted a map of your whole life so you could know what is going to happen to you? Well I did, key word: DID. I wanted to know where I was going to go to school, what job I would get, who I would marry and ultimately what God’s plan was for me. It would be the best thing ever, I could know exactly what I was called to do and what I would accomplish in my life. There was a moment in my life when I stopped seeking the answers when a friend told me “If we have a map of our life and know everything that will happen in our life, then we wouldn’t have Faith or Trust in the Lord.” Wow, was my only reaction to that comment, the truth to this comment had me at a loss for words.
This is when I decided I was going to trust in God and put my faith in Him that my life would be meaningful and I was going to do good in this life, even if I didn’t know what it would be. It’s not about all of the great things you do, but about the impact you make. That’s when I decided that I wanted to do something meaningful and make an impact, to love others and show them the Gospel. The World Race.
What is that you may ask? This was my first question about a year ago when I heard about it, well it’s an 11 month missions trip in 11 different countries. Where you spread love to other countries, help those in need and further Jesus’ kingdom! I fell in LOVE with the idea of this trip the moment I heard about it. Yet there was something holding me back, I didn’t believe I could do it, I doubted myself and thought that this was meant for some other person.
God told me otherwise.
October 2016: From there God continued to set a fire in my soul to keep researching the trip and asking others about the World Race. Seeing what it was really all about and what I would do when I was on the trip.
November 2016: God kept putting hints in my life about the World Race, whether it was a conversation with someone who brought it up, a sponsored Instagram post or talking about it with friends who believed this would be a perfect trip for me. There it was, God showing me that I needed to do this, he wanted me to apply to this trip. So I did, I did not need to think about it, and I applied to the World Race.
December 2016: I think the whole library heard me when I got the call about getting into the World Race, I was dancing around the library and couldn’t contain myself (granted it was finals week). Have you ever seen someone dancing and smiling during finals week? Nope. I could not contain myself!! I continued to finish up finals week and headed home for break with a big smile on my face, with two weeks to decide. Well I got in! 11 months in 11 different countries, serving the Lord, traveling and being surrounded by believers in cultures I have never experienced! I prayed about it and asked others what I should do, still questioning if I could really do this thing. I knew exactly what I was going to do.
I have accepted the World Race!!! And so the journey begins….
Why am I going?
God is calling me to this trip! Yeah, that’s pretty cool. I trusted him and he called. I am passionate about helping others, traveling, and my faith in Jesus!! The three things this trip consists of. So, I am going to spread the love of Jesus to countries in need and to help with whatever is needed in that specific country, for example: building a house, working with orphans, preaching to non believers, loving on those who are less fortunate and most importantly teaching the Gospel.
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Mark 16:15
Where am I going? I didn’t even know where half these places were before this trip… Yes I know where they are now!
Chile Bolivia
Paraguay/Argentina Cambodia
Thailand Serbia
Romania Bulgaria
Ethiopia Rwanda
Uganda
How can you help? So many people have already helped me through the decision of this process and supporting me, so thank you! This journey is going to be amazing, hard, joyful, challenging and most of all AMAZING. I would love support in prayer, mostly, so that I can serve fully when I am there and trust in the Lord.
If you feel called to donate towards this mission to further God’s kingdom through my trip, that would also be greatly appreciated! My goal is $18,017 and I know I have a long way to go with this fundraising, but I know the Lord will provide.
You can click the button above to donate to this trip:)
Stay Tuned for my next post and I hope that you all had a great Holiday Season!
