Long time coming but I have officially joined World Race America!!! (About 4 weeks ago.) What is WR America? Good question. WR America is a new program with Adventures in Mission. (The organization based in Gainsville, Georgia I’ve been working with for the past two years.) Like the other races and programs they offer, you are put onto a team. On this team we have 12 people ranging from 18 all the way to 36. Which is very new to me and something that I knew would be really challenging coming in. I was very excited to do life with people older then me and be able to learn from them in there walk with the Lord.
We are traveling the states in a van. Partnering with so many different ministries and churches to bring Kingdom and wake up the America church to what the Holy Spirit is leading them to do! Something I’ve been passionate about for years and have pursued in my own home church. This has looked like living in homeless shelters in Ashville, North Carolina, disaster relief in Panama City, beach. Food pantries in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Bonham, Texas this past week. I have had the opportunity to speak to many youth groups empowering them to follow the Lords call on there life and not just do the “norm.” Another thing we get to do is reach out and spend time with alumni. Now this is where my heart is at, after care and re entry. Sitting with people and hearing their stories and then being able to listen to the Holy Spirit and speak into there lives. We get to come along side of them and do life with them wherever they’re at. We have gotten to partner with many of them in their own ministries they started once they got off the race and I have been blown away!
Just this past week in Austin, Texas we lived with two Gap Year alumni who on the race saw the pain of orphans around the world and upon returning home saw the same pain in the foster care system right in front of their faces and chose to do something about it. They are 21 and 22 years old and fought to become foster parents. Like what the heck!? That blows my mind. They get to love and care for kids and walk in there calling while bringing Kingdom. Another super powerful thing is they have full time jobs and they still do this! We also worked with an organization called The Key Stone project in Houston, Texas. They live and minister to a community of refugees that are from all over the world. I am not kidding when I say, it didn’t feel like I was in America! Key Stone trains people to lead themselves, share the gospel, and make disciples under Matthew 28:19! They all have day jobs and they live in the refugee community with the people they are ministering too. A normal day for them can look like going to there 9 to 5 and then coming home to do door to door ministry. Sitting in people’s homes and listening and sharing the love of Jesus with them.
America has been hard for many reasons. Seeing the poverty in my own country but also seeing people with so much hurt. It has also been hard to capture with a camera or even words. It’s been a lot of relational ministry and I’m still trying to figure out how to tell those stories while honoring those people. But with all this to say I have seen Kingdom come! The revival is here! The hurting people are right in fount of you! Your neighbors or maybe the people that are living in your home with you! There is work to be done, child of the King! People are hurting and dying lost and we have what they desperately need! Honestly, I have been so blessed seeing people walk in their callings. So many people all over the states have welcomed us into there homes and cooked us incredible meals and just loved on us.
The current plan is for me to hang out with WR America until the beginning of June and then come home. To do that, I have to fundraise $2,500. (I’m in need of a flight home also, if someone feels lead to help out with that let me know.) Personal funds are also at a all time low. Fundraising has never been my favorite thing but it’s apart of it. America is a lot more expensive then 3rd world countries but we are needed here. I am asking you guys to continue to pray for my team and I and prayerfully consider donating. You can donate above or Venmo! Please let me know if you have any questions about what I’m doing, what the Lord is doing or has done, or more about WR America. Thank you guys so much!!! I seriously couldn’t do anything I do, without you! We need each other to see the Kingdom come. That’s what community is about. So we are currently in Texas for another week and then we will be headed to Oklahoma! More blogs coming about my winter at home, what the Lord did and reentry round two! Much love from Texas!
