What is the World Race?
In quick summary, the World Race is an 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries that is through the Adventures in Missions organization. There are many different route options, but the one that I chose is called Fusion. It’s an intercultural community of Christ-followers from all over the world that come together to help further the Kingdom of God. On this trip, the World Race will be partnering with the organizations that Adventures in Missions have established relationships in the countries that we will be going to. Those countries are Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Spain, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Serbia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Because we will be partnering with different organizations that are already established there, we don’t really know what we will be doing exactly, but when we get there, the organization will tell us what the need is and we will help according to that. It could be construction, it could be helping out with a camp they’re running, it could be serving at a food pantry or school. It could be something completely different. Whatever it is, the organization will know what we need to do and will direct and guide us through the project.
What lead me to doing this?
I’ve been listening to this song lately called “Now” by Mallory Hope. This song captures everything I have ever felt about this trip. The first part of the song goes like this:
This is not the place I thought I’d be
This is not the road I had in mind in front of me
Don’t see the reason, and sometimes I’m scared
But I know you’re leading, even when I don’t know where So I’ll put one foot in front of the other
Take one breath and then take another
Lead the way, God, I’m gonna follow you
I have gone on mission trips in the past, but that was only for a week and a half or so. As an Education student at Calvin College, I thought I was going to get a teaching degree, end up teaching for the rest of my life. God changed my mind about teaching during the first summer I was a camp counselor 3 years ago, and it was during that summer that I found out about this trip. I still wasn’t sure what it was that I wanted to do or should be doing, but all I knew was that teaching was not it. After much contemplation and meetings with professors and mentors, I changed directions and got a degree in education, kinesiology, and recreational therapy. Right before I graduated, I was in agony about whether or not to apply for this trip, a job, or seminary. I had multiple meetings with advisors and professors to try to sort it all out. Everyone I met with told me that this trip was an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity and to go for it. I didn’t listen. I applied to seminary to be a youth pastor and looked for jobs, but this trip was still on my mind. Seminary didn’t work out, and I got a job instead. This trip was still on my mind even though I had thought out at least my immediate future. I still could not shake the feeling that I needed to go on this trip. After I started my new job, I had this recurring thought of “is this all there really is to life? How do you serve God in this position? You go to work, you come home, go to sleep, then wake up and do it all over again. Surely this can’t be all there is to life.” Those thoughts lead me to pursue multiple rounds of conversations with mentors…again…this time actively pursuing it as an actual option rather than just thinking about it. Through many conversations about what I was feeling, more than one person told me that maybe God is calling me to go on this trip. “He keeps putting it in your mind and 3 years is a long time to be thinking about something” my mentors said. They said, “Apply. See what happens. If He does or does not want you to do it, then He will allow that door to be open or closed.” Of all the uncertainty surrounding this trip, I am 100% sure that He wants to use me and if I let him, He is going to take me on one heck of a wild adventure, one that has meaning.
So why this trip?
Why couldn’t I find a job that has meaning here in the States where I don’t have to go out into the unknown? This may be a question you’re asking yourself, and if we have talked, the chances of you asking me that are pretty high. I don’t have an answer for you. I’m sorry to disappoint. I don’t have it all figured out, but I have figured out that I’ve fought God for 3 years on this and I’m done fighting with Him. I’ve learned that when you fight with God, you ALWAYS come out on the losing end. I’m not sure when or if I’ll get an answer as to why I feel so strongly about going on this trip, but I do know that I have faith that he will lead the way and it is my job to follow. That brings me to the 3rd lyric of the song-
“But I know you’re leading, even when I don’t know where So I’ll put one foot in front of the other
Take one breath and then take another
Lead the way, God, I’m gonna follow you”
I know God is leading the way and I believe that God has lead me through my 22 years on this Earth so far, so why would He stop now? I’m going to take one step and breath at a time and trust that God will NEVER lead me wrong. I know “He is was with me then, and He is with me now.” I highly encourage you to listen to this song. I will post the link below, so just click on it, take a few minutes and listen.
If you have faith that God will never lead you in the wrong direction, then the adventure is life-long. I will admit that I’m scared. Scared of the unknown, scared of not raising all the money I need, scared of leaving comfort, but I know that God is enough and through the ups and downs He is with me 100% of the time. I know that He is active in my life, I know He has a plan for me, and I know that I need to follow Him.
This was by no means an EASY decision. It has been the hardest decision of my life up to this point. It’s hard to take a leap of faith and just trust that God knows what He’s doing. Thank you to all of you who have talked with me, prayed with and for me, and supported me financially. It means the world to me.
So God, lead the way, and I’ll follow even when I don’t know where we’re going. You were with me then, and you’re with me NOW.
