The World Race. 11 countries, 11 different months, missionary work. To some people, this sounds like a grand adventure. To others, a way to live out Matthew 28: 19 in a real way.
To me?
This is the scariest life decision I have ever made. The only time I have ever been out of the country was for a week to Mexico, which really was not that bad at all, because I knew what I would be returning home to.
This. This is a whole other level of extreme. I am packing up everything I own, and leaving everything and everyone behind for 11 months. For those of you who do not know, video games is a big part of my life. I use it to connect with friends, but also connect with the jr high and high school students who attend the youth ministry I serve at Ignite.
I HAVE TO GO 11 MONTHS, NO VIDEO GAMES.
W H A T
I currently work at Starbucks. And I love what I do. I like the fact I get a paycheck. I like knowing what my day is going to look like and what my game plan is for the day and night time part of the shift.
I AM GOING ON A TRIP WHERE I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER HOW MY DAY LOOKS OR WHAT I WILL BE DOING.
I love food, however I am a super picky eater. I eat out alot, just because, lets be honest, I am too lazy to make my own food and buy it from a grocery store. However, i hate foods like rice, onions, seafood. I hate vegetables.
I AM GOING TO COUNTRIES WHERE RICE IS THE MAIN FOOD ITEM AND SEAFOOD IS A DELICACY.
My friends are my life. I spend a lot of time with them, and they constantly point me back to Jesus. I have a solid group of guys who are constantly encouraging me and pushing me to be better with every day. My best friends know anything and everything about me.
I AM GOING ON A TRIP WHERE 85% OF THE PEOPLE GOING ARE FEMALES, AND SO FAR THERE IS ROUGHLY 6 GUYS, WHO I DO NOT KNOW VERY WELL.
But God is so much greater than all those things. God is so much higher than all those worries.
Matthew 6: 25-27“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
People keep telling me “The world race is going to change your life in so many ways”. And I want to agree with them, I really do. All of my boundaries and everything I know and love is being stripped away.
BUT.
That’s not what is going to change me. Jesus is going to change me. No missions trip can change anyone. Its not a missions trip I am passionate about, its Jesus. I look at all these small problems i listed above and I think to myself, “ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Grow up kid. This is not about you! This is about showing Jesus love to people who are in dire need of it.”
I have been learning a lot recently about stepping out of my boat and walking on water. I think in reality, its a lot easier said than done. It is almost like “If Johnny told you to jump off a cliff, would you do it?” and we reply, “well how far is the drop, is there water?” What I think is funny about that question is we’re asking more questions on top of it. Jesus doesn’t want us to ask questions about us stepping out of our boats. He wants us to trust Him. So that’s what I am doing. I am stepping out of my boat onto unsure waters, but I am keeping my eyes set on Jesus. Will i fall sometimes? Of Course. Will I start to sink sometimes? More than likely. But I know if I keep fixing my eyes on Jesus, He will get me through it.
Am i excited as all heck to be traveling to 11 different countries with 40 people I don’t know very well? HECK YA. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.
However, I am so excited to see how God is going to move on this trip and watch as He radically changes not just me and my team, but also the people we are going to. Lets do this Jesus.
Isaiah 6: 8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
I would love for you guys to consider partnering with me on this trip. I cannot raise all the money on my own. The total cost is 18, 200, which seems like alot of money, BUT we have a GOD who IS BIGGER THAN THAT!!! Please feel free to give whatever is on your heart, but also, prayer is something i definitely need right now.
List of things to pray for:
For me to guard my heart this next year and a half, since we are encouraged not to date during preparation or during the race.
For the funds to be provided.
For my prayer life to deepen with Jesus.
