“Wow that’s awesome! But… how did you hear about the World Race?”
I get asked this question each time I talk about my new adventure and I’m JUST NOW realizing I need to take the time for the backstory.
Well, it was actually what most people would call an “accident” or a “fluke,” but really I think it was by design.
Sitting in a room full of women I never thought I’d meet, in a city I never thought I’d be living in, came an idea that sparked passion back into my heart. Ever since losing my identity as a softball player, I was lost and confused. My relationship with God, up until this point, was no more than mediocre at best; mostly a passing thought throughout a handful of my days. So, when I decided to become my Church and focus my eyes on God, things stopped defining me and I found myself for the first time.
That’s when The World Race was introduced into my life and I couldn’t believe I’d lived without knowing it existed. A friend in my women’s group had listened to my story for a few of our gatherings. After knowing more about me and my adventurous spirit, she took the leap of faith (I believe God had whispered to her) and mentioned the Race to me. She’d known a friend who’d gone on it and loved it so, she planted the seed in me.
I didn’t think much of it at the time… well, really I thought it was outrageous and there’s no way I would be good for that kind of trip. I mean, a mission trip? C’mon. Those who have known me, know my not-so-squeaky-clean-past and well, all the memories came flooding back like a terrible nightmare.
I put the thought of the Race to the back of my mind, hoping it would never surface again. Little did I know, that’s all I would think and dream about over the next two weeks. I found myself poking around the site for a few minutes and then shutting the idea down to myself completely, until finally I spent a whole night reading everything about Adventures in Missions and the World Race. This tugged at my heartstrings night after night, day after day until it was time for me to fill out an application annnnd… then leave it in “Awaiting Submittal” status for the next week. I kept telling myself, “Dude, there’s no way they’re going to pick you. You are NOT missionary material. Get. REAL.” I had been telling myself this lie for weeks. I had been telling other people this lie for weeks as well. It wasn’t until another voice popped into my head who said, “They can’t not pick you if you don’t at least apply. But you’re mostly scared they WILL. Just do it.” (Yeah, yeah. There’s a double negative in there, get over it lol.)
So, I did it. What was the worst that could happen? They would call to say I didn’t get accepted and I’d be in the same place I was – accepted to a crash course in teaching to certify me to be a 5th grade reading teacher the following fall semester? Not too bad if you think about it.
Website says 7-10 business days before you should hear anything back. A couple days go by and I get a phone call to interview, it takes about an hour, nothing too scary; clarified aspects of my application. A couple more days went by and I was called to say they wanted to contact my references – which I was SURE were going to blow it for me lolololol! And about 3 days after that, I received a call from a man, whose name has escaped me since that day. What I do remember clear as day was what he said to me…
“Hi Paige, I’m calling in regards to your interest in the World Race.
(This was it.. DENIAL TIME.)
I just wanted to know how you feel about being accepted?”
Tears.
TEARS PEOPLE.
Tears came uncontrollably streaming down my face. I don’t remember crying about a phone call since the day I got offered my full scholarship for softball. That’s when I knew. I knew all this floating had been for something. It had been leading me to this moment.
To igniting passion in me again.
Helping and serving others is not only a passion, but my purpose in life. Taking a journey around the world with that mission and no other instruction is liberating, exhilarating, and spiritually fulfilling! So many emotions and feelings come flooding in when I try to imagine God’s plan for my life over the next 11 months; I have already seen Him do so much work building up to my launch date. I have already felt Him changing me from the inside out – from worrier to WARRIOR.
Asking for money to fundraise for something so personal leaves you feeling exposed and vulnerable. I have a God-sized goal to hit ($18,700 to be EXACT) by the time I launch in January – the 3rd or 4th to be less exact.
I ask that you please help propel me forward in meeting this goal! Become a WARRIOR with me or share this with a worrier in your life. This goes so much further than just my Race; it’s a calling to educate others on the love He has for us.
