As most of you know, I have been ACCEPTED into The World Race! I’m still in awe.
I’ve been getting so many questions lately about what the WR actually is. To put it in simple terms, it is a journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve the “least of these” while living in real and raw community. This unique mission trip is a challenging adventure for young adults to abandon worldly possessions and a traditional lifestyle in exchange for an understanding that it’s not about you; it’s about the Kingdom. The WR looks for places in the world that need love, hope and peace the most, and sends young adults who are willing to go there. It’s not just a year long mission trip. It’s simply living your normal day-to-day life, but in different countries. I will be traveling with my squad (a group of 40-50) to each country where we will then be split up into teams of 7 with our assigned ministry for the month. That team is who I will spend the entire month, and entire race with. I get to meet them at Training Camp in June!
- What does “your everyday life” look like on this race?
Well, everyday might look a little different. Each month my team and I will be assigned to a specific ministry. Construction, evangelism outreach, VBS, building relationships with orphans, befriending women and children enslaved in human trafficking, praying for the sick at a hospital, establishing churches.. but there will also be slower days – grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking and walking through the community we live in.
- How do I pack for an entire year, you ask?
I don’t know.. I can only take a regular sized backpack and a duffle-bag sized pack. Somehow I must fit all my belongings for the year in those two bags. This teaches us that we really don’t need a lot of “stuff” to survive and we must only take the essentials. There is a packing list we are advised to go by, but ultimately this is each racer’s individual race. Whatever we think we need, we can take.
- How much does it cost?
A lot. I have to raise $18,100 by November 2018. This is going to take a lot of prayer and trust in the Lord but I fully believe that I was called to this race, and therefore He will provide the funds to execute it. If you would like to donate, click the orange “Donate!” button in the top right-hand corner. I will have another blog that is entirely about fundraising, so keep a look out for it!
- What about school?
Well, I’m simply just taking 2 semesters off. I still want to pursue medical school and I will most definitely continue that pursuit once I get back, but for now I feel called to do something else right in this moment. School will always be there. I have my entire life to study, listen to lectures, attend labs, take exams.. but The World Race is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity. I will not let this pass by.
- What about work? Don’t you have a job?
Yes, I do have a job! I’ve been working as a Scribe in the Emergency Department at Mobile Infirmary Medical Center for a year and a half. I can honestly say I have never loved anything more. I have learned way too much for my brain to handle, I’ve built relationships with incredible physicians who have taken the time to mentor me, I have the best co-workers in the world, and I’ve seen the world of medicine first hand.. And, I’m quitting! That tells you how much I value the WR and my desire to go. Maybe I’ll try and get re-hired when I get back in the states or maybe I’ll try and get other experience and exposure to the medical field. I haven’t thought about that too much yet. I am so thankful for everything MIMC brought me and I will forever value my time there.
- The world isn’t safe, I don’t think you should go…
Of course it’s not safe, it’s the world. If I let that stop me from pursuing this incredible adventure, I would hate myself for the rest of my life. And that’s pretty much all I have to say about that.
It took me over a year to finally apply for The World Race. When I first found out about it I thought it looked absolutely incredible. After realizing how much it costs and how long I would have to be gone I immediately gave up on that dream. Months later, I started thinking about it again. I researched more into it, talked to people who have been on the race, read hundreds of blog posts and prayed over and over. It’s kinda funny because I kept praying for God to give me an answer. I was literally waiting for a “yes” or a “no”. And then one day I realized I had the answer all along. We are all called to go. Some of us are called to go to all nations, and some of us are called to stay where we are. But we must all make disciples. I’ll be the first to say that I am no preacher and I’m not even worthy of going on this trip, but for the first time in my life I am finally saying “yes” to God instead of letting my fears win. This whole time I was waiting on Him to give me a “yes” when He was waiting on me to say it.
