When I first applied for the World Race, I applied for their expedition route leaving August 2018. The expedition route is more intense than a traditional route, takes less people, and serves in the 10/40 window (the most unreached areas in the world). When I saw this route and the countries it was going to, it had my heart.
However, because there are very limited spaces on these routes, I did not get accepted. But they did accept me into the traditional routes. So I was given the choice to pick one of the 3 traditional routes leaving in August 2018.
When I looked at the traditional routes, there was not one that immediately stood out to me or excited me. So I picked the one that was most interesting to me, with the knowledge that I was going to wait for the October 2018 routes to be announced and see if there was one of those I was more excited about. Either way, I was still going to go on the World Race. My calling to that had not changed.
After I chose the route for next August, I was still having a hard time with not being accepted to the expedition route. I really wanted to go on that and my heart had “attached” to a lot of the countries on that route. I did not want to keep feeling this way, especially when it was time to go on the race. I wanted to be able to engage fully with Christ and this mission no matter where I was going.
So I prayed and asked God that if it I was not meant to go on the expedition route, He would take away this deep desire in my heart for those countries. And you know what, He did. Which is not what I was hoping he would do 😉 No, I was thankful, and when the October routes came out, there were none I was particularly interested in so I stuck with the one I had picked from August. Honestly, I was starting to get a little more excited about some of the countries I was going to.
So that was it. I had my route for the World Race. I had it memorized and listed off all the countries anytime someone asked me where I was going. I was set. And then the twist came.
Recently I have been feeling bummed again about my route. I really wanted to go to South America because I’ve never been there and I LOVE exploring new cultures and learning about how it impacts who they are. I also was bummed out about a couple of the countries in Africa my route was going to. I wanted to go to countries farther north.
Side note: I went to Kenya 2 years ago on a mission trip with my college. That trip and the people I met there had such a deep impact on me and my heart. So much so that I know my time there is not over. I know Kenya will have a place in my life for the rest of my life. And my heart aches to go back. But I knew I would not go back before the World Race. I had never seen a route for the World Race with Kenya in it. So that was not even a thought in my mind.
With all this going on in my heart, I was looking to God to help my heart not focus on these things, but look to what He had in store for the route I was going on. He had a different plan though. Turns out, He put those hopes and desires in my heart for a reason.
Two weeks ago, we got an email from our mobilizer that there were so many people who applied to go in August, that they were adding another route. I immediately asked if we could switch, if we were interested in the new route, and he said yes. I asked because I thought there might be a chance there would be a couple countries on the new route that I was more excited about. But I didn’t think anything big would change.
So when the route came out last week and I saw the countries it was going to, I honestly did not think it could be true. Route 4 of the World Race, leaving August 2018 goes to Chile, Peru, Colombia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Haiti, Dominican Republic.
Not only does it go to South America, specifically Colombia (which is where my dad was born because my grandparents were missionaries there), but it goes to Rwanda and Uganda (which I have special connections to) AND it takes me back to where I left a piece of my heart…Kenya (which is the last thing I was expecting).
Four days later and I’m still sitting back in awe of how perfect this route is for my heart. I’m in awe of how God orchestrated everything throughout this whole process. I’m in awe that He puts desires in our hearts, and then really does fulfill those desires in His timing, the perfect timing. I sometimes still cannot believe that this is actually true, that I am actually going to these countries. And it’s in those moments that all I can do is praise God and thank Him for His love, provision, and plans for our lives.
