Welcome welcome to my very first blog!
I have been trying to write this blog for quite some time, going back and forth, deleting and retyping, and never can really find the right words. But here it is:
College has been something I’ve looked forward to forever. When you graduate high school, you’ll go to college, you’ll get a degree, you’ll have your life figured out, everything will just fall into place. It was something that was actually set and sure.
About 4 months ago this changed.
Coming off of a summer of a lifetime in Albania on a missions trip with some of the best people I have ever met, I felt this tug on my heart. I didn’t really know what is was or why it was happening but it was definitely there. I felt this part of me that just knew I belonged in missions. That is where I came alive, where I had purpose.
Even though I knew it couldn’t be ignored, I tried my best to dismiss it because college!! The dream!! The plan!! The EASY plan!!
As time went on I realized the Lord really is calling me to this. He opened doors that I didn’t even know existed and showed me parts of my heart that I hadn’t explored because I knew it would lead to tough choices, like the one to put off college for a year and give my trust completely to the Lord.
SO, if you don’t know, World Race Gap Year is a 9 month, 4 country missions trip that I am so much more than excited to be going on. My route will be going to Guatemala, Swaziland, Thailand, and Malaysia, spending just over two months in each country with around 50 of my (future) World Race friends. In each country, we will be doing a whole lot of different things like running VBS, ministering to women coming out of sex trafficking, and helping the local missionaries and our hosts. Everyday will look a little different.
As I have slowly let the news come out that I will be going on the race, I have been met with doubt, excitement, questions, and so much more in the reactions of my friends and family. I have definitely felt that same doubt and hesitation and excitement myself… honestly you name it and i’ve felt it when it comes to the race.
When asked why I’m going on the race and if I feel ready for this, I can’t really give you an answer. To be honest I don’t feel ready. I don’t feel equipped or adequate and I really don’t know what this 9 month adventure is going to look like…at all.
I’ll admit that at first, my heart was filled with uncertainty as words like “are you sure that’s a wise move,” “you know college is more important than some trip,” and “you should really prioritize your future over going off to travel” rang in my ears. Through my doubt, certain truths were so evidently shown to me. The truth that the Lord works through your inadequacy, your uncertainty. The truth that I was made to glorify him in all that I do. The truth that I was made by him and for him. The truth that I can be scared, I can be unsure, but if I’m trusting in Him and have a heart to serve glorify him, then He will not lead me astray.
There’s a passage in Luke 5 where Jesus tells Simon to cast his nets after speaking to a
crowd. Simon, who has been trying to catch fish ALL day and has caught nothing, is understandably doubtful but, in verse 5 he says “…But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” …! I read this in part of my devotional and I was hit with the willingness and trust that Simon had. I want to be like Simon! Because the Lord placed this tug on my heart, even though it goes against my whole life’s plan, I want to drop my plan and follow HIS plan wholeheartedly.
Galatians 5:13 says “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” The Lord has set me free indeed and I cannot wait to use this freedom to serve Him and his people in ways I can only dream of.
So on this blog i’ll be posting about World Race updates leading up to the race and for updates about the crazy things I KNOW the Lord will be doing on the race.
Thank you thank you thank you a million times for supporting me and loving me. I could not do this without the spiritual and financial support of family and friends.
I can’t wait to tell you more and more
World Race, I’M READY.
L
