When I was a little girl the two main things I remember wanting to be when I grew up were:
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a zoologist
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a worship leader
Growing up in church, I had seen from a distance the different things people did in ministry. There were the worship leaders with their edgy hairstyles and posh clothes, the pastors with their wisdom, the missionaries that brought with them stories of Glory from far off places, and the evangelists who often went off script. I had a fairly good concept of what each position entailed and as I got older and came into myself; I realized I didn’t like school enough to be anything with an “ologist” at the end of it but I knew I wanted Jesus and I thought that being a worship leader was the way to do that. However, the one thing I was more sure of than anything was that I did NOT under any circumstances want to be in the mission field or go on mission trips (I was a BIG fan of toilets and hot showers).
Once I graduated high school I went to bible college and that’s where my heart did a complete 180 degree flip-flop. As I sat through different classes and heard different speakers I realized that being a “worship leader” wasn’t where my heart came alive. My heart came alive when I’d hear speakers sharing their stories about ministering to girls who had been trafficked or going to nations where people have never even heard the name of Jesus and being able to show people who He is. I came to the conclusion pretty quickly that the Lord had been softening my heart for the nations and suddenly cold showers from holey buckets didn’t seem like a terrifying thought.
Fast-forward to today, and the reason you’re reading this. The World Race, not to be confused with the Amazing Race (which is an amazing show, but no, will I not be on TV). I came across the Race in February, and had no intention of applying. I thought it was such an awesome thing but I had just started a really great job at my church and I felt very planted where I was. As the months went on, the Lord kept dropping and stirring the Race in my heart. So I entertained the idea and began to pray about it. Within a week I felt my heart begin to come alive and I was taken back to those moments in college where I’d hear speakers sharing their stories from the mission field and my heart would stir with passion. As I thought of the countries I’d be going to I was filled with passion all over again at the thought of getting to do exactly what my heart has yearned for for so many years, to serve and tell people who Jesus really is. It became something that I knew to my core the Lord was telling me to do.
The World Race is an eleven month mission trip that spans across eleven different countries which equals out to one month in each county. Each month will look different, my team and I will be partnering with a local ministries which means one month we could be teaching english and the next month helping plant a church. Beginning next August, I will be traveling to *drum roll*: Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, and Greece. The next year will definitely be a time of preparation in and for my heart, spirit…basically everything. If you’re wondering how you can help in this amazing journey of mine, the first thing you can do is stand in prayer with me in this season leading up to the Race and the year that I’m on the field. The second thing you can do is donate. The World Race is not free and I will need to raise a substantial amount of money for an entire year overseas which will include food, travel, lodging, and everything to meet my basic needs, any amount will be a huge blessing. You can choose to do a one time donation or a months donation, nothing is too small.
Be sure to subscribe for my blog as I’ll be sharing the different things the Lord has placed on my heart in this time leading up to the race as well as sharing my experiences while on the World Race. I can’t wait to share this adventure with ya’ll!
