Have you ever wondered why someone would want to uproot themselves from the comfort of their home and familiarity of their life to be a servant of the Lord in 11 different countries? Oh yeah, me too! But now you’re wondering, “Summer, isn’t that what you’re doing?” That’s why I sat down and thought about it myself, and came up with 4 reasons why I’m not going.
Reason Number 1: I’m not going on the World Race to travel the world.
Yes, it is absolutely amazing that we are going to have the opportunity to travel to 11 different countries on this trip. But these are not vacation destinations ridden with 5-star hotels and tacky tourists. Okay, maybe WE will be the tacky tourists. I am going on the Race because the Lord planted a desire in my heart and I had a “yes” in my Spirit to go. Throughout the course of the race I may sleep in airports, tents, hostels, hotels, host homes, buses, boats, trains, or any space of ground I can curl up on. The luxury of a working toilet and shower are two things that will be left in the U.S. for the majority of the trip, and I am 100% okay with that, because I am not doing this to see the beauty of the world. I am doing this to see the beauty of our Lord and how He uses us to further His Kingdom, all over the world. >>Matthew 28:19-20<<
Reason Number 2: I’m not going on the World Race to find myself.
This year is not about me and my relationship with myself. This year is all about my relationship with Jesus. I am not doing the Race so that I can learn how to happy with myself, figure out who I am, etc. This is a stepping stone into finding intimacy in my relationship with the Lord and learning how to find my identity in Him. Over the course of Training Camp, my eyes were opened to how much I put my identity into worldly things like good grades and being the best at everything I do (perfectionists I know you can relate). I also learned the meaning and importance of being still and just sitting in the presence of Jesus. When I put these two things together, I sat with the Lord and found my identity in Him, and immediately saw myself through different eyes. So this year is not about me, but about Him, and I get so excited thinking about learning and seeing more of Him and growing in my relationship. >>John 1:12, 1 Corinthians 6:17<<
Reason Number 3: I’m not going on the World Race to boost my resume.
I have heard time and time again people talk about how great mission trips and studies abroad look on resumes and applications for school. What they don’t know, is that the Race was never in my own plan for my near future. My plans for graduate school were brought to a screeching halt when got the call from Adventures In Missions saying I had been accepted to go on the Race. I had already started applications, paid fees, and was getting ready to take the GRE when God had to remind me that I am not in control, and that He has plans for me that are better than any I could ever think of. With a “yes” in my Spirit and a LOT of prayer, I put aside the plans that I had set for myself and decided grab hold what He had put in front of me. Since then it has been a crazy ride, and I haven’t even left yet! He has taught me so much about myself and has broken down my pride and perfection that I have built up over my college years. The Race is God’s plan, and He is going to do amazing things. >>Jeremiah 29:11<<
Reason Number 4: I’m not going on the World Race because I can.
These month leading up to Launch have been some of the hardest of my life. The amount of preparation, steps, fundraising, and stress from it all has been almost overwhelming at times. I just graduated from college in May and then finished up two more classes over the Summer, so trying to balance between getting ready for the Race and finishing school with good grades was beyond tough. Because of that, I have suffered a bit in my fundraising journey, and am now having to make it up in the last month before Launch. The Race is not something that I am able to just drop everything and go for. Every single person on my Squad has put in incredible amounts of effort to get to where they are, and we all still have work to do. Between juggling work, finishing a Bachelor Degree, fundraising, vaccines, gear, and stress, there have been a couple times where I thought I couldn’t do it. And I was right, I can’t do it, not on my own and believing only in myself. After one particular breakdown, I realized that instead of believe in God I had been doubting that He would provide. I sat in bed and prayed, and by 2:00 the next morning, He had provided everything I needed and more. I am not going on the Race because it’s something were I can just get up and go, I am going because I believe that God will provide for those who love Him. >>James 1:6<<
