Even in June the early Georgia morning was much cooler than the Florida summers that I was accustomed to. I loved everything about being at the Adventures in Missions base in Gainesville Georgia. I was there for my 10 days of training camp, eager to learn more, as teacher after teacher equipped us for our 11 month missionary trip called The World Race. We were required to do something I never thought I would ever do; camp outside. And, I was pretty uncomfortable, but something about this new experience made me feel like I was finally exactly where I should be. (Read more about my training camp experience here: God’s Voice)
I spent most of those early mornings in a small field, admiring all the different fauna of the woods. Those were one of the sweetest moments I’ve ever had with Jesus. There on my knees, feeling the morning dew of the grass and watching tiny ants crawl by was where my ears were being refined to hear His small still voice, my eyes were being opened to see above the worldly perspective, and my heart was being filled with His unfailing love.
I fell in love with all of Him.
10 days didn’t seem like enough time to endure what we would face as missionaries overseas. But, ten days was never supposed to be enough. In fact that was just the beginning. The whole 11 months was a refining process preparing me to live my whole life for Jesus. I will never be the same. (Here’s a testimony from life overseas: Letting go of my Bible)
When those 10 days were over, we were in front of the Adventures in Missions base getting our things loaded into a van that would take us back to the airport. It would be another month before we would officially launch on our international missions trip. My heart was a bit sad leaving Georgia. And of course, Papa God knew of my saddened heart and He said, “You’ll be living here one day.”
I held on to that word for about 2 years until one day in January 2020 I got offered a position to work full time with Adventures in Missions. I knew immediately that this was the door that God opened for me to fulfill His promise, “You’ll be living here one day.” After some more prayer, affirmation, and wisdom from loved ones I excitedly said, “YES!”
These past 2 years have been challenging as the Lord called me into greater surrender and greater levels of freedom. It’s been a season of letting go of my expectations of the picturesque, ideal life I thought I’d be living and exchanging it for one that’s centered in Jesus. I have this great desire and need to spread His Kingdom, especially in a world so full of hurt, spiritual death and apathy, falsehood, and hate. What I know for certain, with every part of my being, is that Jesus is real and present even today.
When I got home from my 11 month international missions trip, the Lord told me to lead a team for 6 months through one of Adventure in Missions’ newer program called World Race America. It was during this time of preparation and leading that Jesus revealed to me an even greater sense of urgency. The Gospel must be preached to the ends of the Earth. And now is the time in which the Lord is calling our nation, United States to repentance and Revival! The Lord gave me a softened heart that loves and mourns for our nation. (You can read more about my heart for America here: Why America?)
Me saying “YES!” to partnering with Adventures in Missions will allow me to work directly on World Race America as an Affiliate Missionary to further help the program be ready and able to train, equip, and raise up more missionaries. Our goal is to empower these Spirit filled disciples so that they will be able to take what they learn during this 11-month program and apply it to their own communities.
Since World Race America is a new program, with only 2 years of experience, we are continuously, with dedication working towards improving this program to carry out the vision of God for the USA. As an Affiliate Missionary working towards development of World Race America, my job position will include but is not limited to:
- Connecting and building relationships with ministry partners and hosts
- Assisting in training and equipping future World Race America participants
- Assisting in Travel Route Formations
- Assisting in Training Camps and developing material and activities that will equip participants in their roles
- Development of Social Media platforms and promotional advertisement
- Assisting in duties that will help to further integrate World Race America as a long-standing program within Adventures in Missions.
To steward this role well, the Lord has given me the provision to move to Gainesville Georgia! It’s been 6 days since I’ve settled into my new home and I officially began work on August 3rd. So far, it’s been am enriching time of connecting with staff members, getting trained on host/ministry communication, reuniting with old squad mates, and having one on one discipleship with a few people that I mentor.
To further continue on this journey with Adventures in Missions, I am praying for more hearts to be moved towards partnering with me as a long term Affiliate Missionary!
Will you pray alongside me and consider partnering with me by becoming a monthly sponsor? Your monthly support of $15, $25, $50, or whatever is in your heart to give will help me carry out my job duties for World Race America as well as give me an opportunity to further spread Kingdom by continuing to mentor and disciple those that the Lord placed in my life. To donate, simply click on the orange “donate” button above. Choose “support a current of former world racer” and enter the “monthly” giving option.
If you know anyone who would be interested in learning more about Adventures in Missions and World Race America, direct them my way and I would love to chat with them! Feel free to subscribe and share my blog page also!
I’m so grateful for all the spiritual and financial support I’ve received from such generous and obedient hearts! And thank you for continuing to send encouragement my way! This is a whole knew season for me with a lot of unknowns. But, what I do know gives me all the confidence; Jesus is Faithful!