The unsettling feeling that overwhelmed me while I was completing my college application confused me. Why was I was feeling like this isn’t the path for me? The thought of college had always excited me in some ways, being all on my mine, not having to be told what to do all the time and to have the freedom I’d always wanted but somehow when filling out all my college applications, it was more stressful than exciting. Nothing felt right, no school felt like it was for me but there was never another plan; only to further my education right after high school. The stress of the college applications consumed my mind and led me to many sleepless nights and it was only a matter of time before I broke mentally and physically into tears. It wasn’t until I began to tell my grandma about my conflicted feelings and hearing her say the words “have you thought about a Gap Year” that everything seemed to click.
The World Race- I thought to myself! It was something I had thought about over the years and was vaguely familiar with. I quickly got out my computer and began to research everything about this trip. It wasn’t long before every tab on my internet browser was filled with blogs about racers, fundraising ideas and finally my application. After completing all my essay and hitting that send button the weirdest feeling came over me. Relief! I never thought about doing a mission trip like this, nine months away from home had always seemed far too long; but in this moment I realized it was never my plan, it was God’s plan. A couple days went by before I had my phone interview, but when the phone rang, I answered with shaky hands and a shaky voice. The stress made me feel overwhelmed and little sick as every minute passed and when I hung up the phone I questioned it that was going to be enough to get me into the trip of a lifetime. But I calmed myself by remembering that God had a plan. They told me the soonest I would hear from them was going to be a week so when not even 24 hours passed before my phone rang again and when I saw the familiar number, I answered with confusion. To my surprise once I answered I was greeted with the words congratulations!!! You have been accepted into the World Race Gap Year program! The excitement overwhelmed me as I accepted the position on my route.
My launch begins in September of 2018 where my team and I will begin our NINE MONTH mission trip. Our route will begin with three months in Cambodia, followed by three months in Ethiopia, one month in Nicaragua and two in Costa Rica. Although I do not leave for a couple of months my preparations begin now! As I take this next step into my future I covet your prayers and support. I will need not only need financial support to reach my fundraising goal, more importantly I will need prayers for safe travel and to prepare myself for how God will to use me to further his kingdom. I am very excited to take this next step and take everyone with me through my blogs as I prepare for launch and while on the mission field.
