When someone once asked about my expectations for the World Race, I wasn’t sure how to answer.
I have several specific reasons that I am going on the World Race:
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To experience my faith and grow outside of my comfort zone.
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To partner with Jesus to encourage, equip, and empower people all over the world to walk in the love, joy, peace, and power of Christ.
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To invest in, encourage, and walk with my teammates as they live out their own faith/World Race journeys.
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To share what happens around the world with my friends, family, and former students back home. After all, Revelations tells us that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
But I don’t have very many expectations.
I have decided that instead of placing specific expectations on this journey, I will simply walk in expectancy that God is going to show up, good things are going to happen, and the best is yet to come.
Still, at the beginning of this journey, I found myself holding on to a couple of expectations:
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I expected that I would be homesick from the moment I set foot on the airplane in Springfield, Missouri. (This is not to be mistaken as a lack of excitement for this journey. I am thrilled that I am going on the World Race, and I have great anticipation for all that is to come, but leaving home and the community I sought for so long was still difficult.)
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I expected that my first Sunday away from my church family would be so hard.
Here are the realities of these situations:
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I had been so nervous about leaving home, but as I walked through airport security, something suddenly changed. As if I had some force field around me, I was overcome with confidence and boldness. I suddenly thought, “I CAN do this. The Lord has prepared me for this, and I am ready.” A sense of calmness washed over me, and by the time I got on the plane, I felt warm all over. That plane ride was one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever had.
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Sunday was the first of nearly a year’s worth of Sundays that I will miss being at my home church. I thought I would spend the day feeling so sad because I was not with my church family. While I thought about my church family often, I was, instead, full of peace.
There’s a reason that the realities of these situations were not at all what I expected:
I have been sent.
I am not just going on the World Race; I have been sent out of a church (as well as a community of Believers outside of my own church body).
This means that I am not going on this journey alone. While the Lord is always with me, He has also given me members of the Body of Christ who are actively seeking Him on my behalf and supporting me in every way that they can from afar.
They have prayed and prophesied over my life in big, bold, beautiful, powerful ways. (And I know that they will continue to do so. When these people say they are praying; they actually mean it.)
They have commissioned me:
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To make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18)
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To baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:18)
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To teach (Matt. 28:19)
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To be used as a vessel of signs and wonders (Mark 16:17-18)
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To be a witness of Truth (Acts 1:8)
They have proclaimed a transfer of the church’s anointing.
And they are entangled with me through Christ (look up this physics concept; it’s so cool!).
I am surrounded by the support of so many, and I can feel it! Every day since I left Missouri has felt like a warm hug from 650, 1626, and soon-to-be 8895+ miles away.
If I could recommend anything to you, I would recommend that you put down roots and commit to a church body. Get involved. Volunteer. Find a small group. Allow yourself to be under spiritual authority. Be teachable. Seek growth. Work to form a foundation. Because I can attest to the power of being connected to and backed by a group of Believers.
Thank you, Abundant Life Church and my many other friends, for your deep, authentic support. As you follow along and support me, know that this is not just my journey but your journey. What happens on one side of the world is a result of your support on the other side of the world.
I believe that God created us for community, and what a beautiful thing it is to be entangled with other Believers.
As always, thank you for being a part of this journey.
XO,
Jami
P.S. I am currently in Los Angeles, California. My squad flies out tonight and, after a lengthy flight and a very short layover in New Zealand, we will be in Australia. Please pray for the people of Australia, as they have experienced deep devastation from the Australian bushfires. May they find hope and peace in Christ. Additionally, please pray for continued unity, peace, and love between the members of my squad, as we begin living in extremely close community 24/7.
Thank you to those of you who have chosen to financially support this journey, as God works in and through me. I am currently 82% fundraised, and I cannot wait to share the miraculous ways that the Lord has provided, once I am fully funded. If you would like to join this journey through financial giving, please click the Donate! button at the top of the page. I will be praying for many blessings over your lives in return.
