Hi friends, If you are reading this, you have already figured it out, I am going on the World Race Gap Year! I hope you have the minutes to make it to the end of this blog as I hope to explain what that is, why I am going, and how the Lord has impacted me and guided me to the place where I feel confident that I will be apart of His plan while taking on this challenge.
The World Race Gap Year is a nine month long trip with an intentional mission. During this adventure we will travel to different countries serving others and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. On my route I will be going to Costa Rica, South Africa, Thailand, and Myanmar.
I have decided to go on this mission trip for many different reasons. One of my biggest passions has always been traveling. I will travel anywhere if I get the chance. However, traveling for me can often be selfish. Going somewhere to make ME happy. So many times I’ve heard the question, “How does it affect your eternal life?” and this question is something that has impacted my decision making. It is easy to feed the flesh and make simple and complex decisions with little reflection beyond my own wants and needs. I want to keep in mind that I am not the center of it all, in this life nor in eternity. I want to have that resonate more often as I make decisions. To live day by day asking myself how it can affect me eternally rather than just in that moment or even just my future here.
Since traveling was something I want to pursue, I decided I wanted to find a way to travel “for God.” My goal is to spread His love and His Word to others. The Gospel is in fact good news. I want to use the resources I have to be a part of how He can make that clearer to those who are far from Him.
The coolest thing about all of this is how much I have felt God really guiding me through this whole process. At 17 having just graduated high school, I had no clarity about the future. I knew what I didn’t want to do (college) but still had no idea what I did want to do. So when all of my friends and small group girls started going off to college, I was just left behind. I had never been on a mission trip so many people told me that starting out with a nine month mission trip was crazy. They recommended I start with something small to see if I even like missions before I dive into a huge long mission. But I sensed strongly God pulling me to the World Race.
Missions has always been an interest but I really made the decision that missions was my passion when I was 18. Of course, at the end of high school you always get the same question over, and over, and over again, “Where are you going to college?” At the age of 18, I was DONE with school, so I told people that my plan was to pursue missions rather than school. However, if people asked for any further details, I didn’t have any. I had an idea but no plan. There were two ways that conversation would usually end, they would either be supportive and excited, or tell me I should go to college with the reasonable argument that I might have a successful future.
In fact, one time a co-worker asked that same question and I replied with the same answer but instead of the usual response she started telling me all about the World Race. I was intrigued and began seeking to learn more about the program. Matthew 28:19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” I knew that I didn’t just wanna go on week long mission trip. While those are still amazing and God can do wonders through them, I want to be able to make disciples which takes more time. When I got the call that I was accepted to be a part of The World Race, 2018, I can’t even begin to tell you the excitement I was feeling.
I am excited about this journey. It is an amazing experience just getting prepared for the Race it has been hard but very exciting. I would be honored if you would follow this blog. Even though we do not leave for several months, I want to share this journey with you starting the day you read this. There are many ways for you to support this effort. Stay tuned for more information and fun ways for you to share in this part of my life.
For God’s Love and Leading,
Ally
