Sure, I like adventure. Sure, I’ll be traveling to 11 different countries. Sure, I’ll get some pretty fancy stamps on my passport.
But, no. None of those reasons are why I joined the World Race.
The journey starts about a year ago when I spent five weeks in Kazakhstan. While there, God reminded me of the incredible joy of sharing the Gospel, specifically to unreached people. I’ve never felt more full in my life than when I am telling girls how much God wants them as His daughters. I distinctly remember being in the midst of sharing the Gospel with girls and thinking to myself, “This is the best thing ever! If I get to spend every day of my life telling people how much they matter to God, then that will be the fullest and greatest life I could want.”
On that trip God pulled my heart into a greater life on mission for Him. I made a promise to God to spend at least a year after I graduate doing international ministry for Him. The question was, where do I go?
For some that’s an easy decision. But for me? Nope it wasn’t.
I really struggled with this. How do I hear from God? Is there a right decision? What does being in the “will of God” look like? Do I even want to go? I felt frustrated and alone in this decision. I wished that God would just stamp a place on my heart like He had done for so many people that I know. Have you ever heard anyone say, “I just have such a heart for (insert place in the world)”? “Aw man, God, I just have a heart for the whole world,” I complained. It’s actually hilarious that I was upset about this. Why would I ever be upset that God’s given me a love of so many cultures and peoples?
So I spent the year looking into so many different organizations and none of them felt right. I either had too much debt or it wasn’t the right timing or I didn’t feel peace about it. Then out of nowhere, I looked at the World Race routes. The excitement started. I met up with a great friend (you know who you are 😉 ) who shared with me again about her experience of the World Race many years ago. Something was different this time. I could do this! I want to do this!
The expedition 10/40 window route combined my love for going to places without the Gospel and my passion for discipleship. After a year of sitting at the feet of Jesus and seeking his direction, it became so clear to me that the World Race was it, that the expedition route was it. It’s hard to describe, but I felt, and feel, so confirmed by the joy that God has given me towards this trip. The peace and excitement feel supernatural and special. God revealed himself to me in a way that I wasn’t expecting, but was so clearly Him.
So now a new journey is beginning. God is moving so join me in this adventure!
