Taking a tiny bit of a break from going through the armor of God, and I am going to answer a question most people have asked me when they hear that I am going on the World Race. That question is…….WHY???? The answer can simply be boiled down to “ I have been called,” because his divine calling is enough even without any understanding. But by the grace of God, He has laid on my heart many reasons I am passionate about my upcoming adventure. The main reasons are: International missions, community, and the hard days.
International Missions
God has placed in my heart a love for absolutely anything international. Every day is a mission no matter where you are placed, but I have such a passion for the hearts of those abroad. Throughout this year, I have been blessed with the opportunity to host a German exchange student named Max. He has been such a fun energetic addition to the Mullins family. Many conversations have come up about Christianity and how different it is in Germany. It breaks my heart to hear about how it is more of a religion than a relationship with our good good Father practiced in not all but most German churches. Getting closer to other exchange students from many other countries, and learning more about the lost and culture of their countries has also just poured gasoline on the fire inside me to go and love on their people. I am anxiously waiting to be able to show the orphans in Swaziland, sex traffickers in Thailand, and the lost in Nicaragua what a relationship with ABBA looks like.
Community
I CAN NOT WAIT TO MEET MY SQUAD MEMBERS WOOOOOOOOO!!! I have been blessed to grow up in a Christian school and blessed with the best friends I could ever ask for. I am pumped to continue on and grow closer to 50 other people from all over the United States with the same goal in mind as me: spread the Gospel to the world. I can not wait to be thrown into the craziness of the World Race with such steadfast, godly people. I am so beyond excited to learn all of their testimonies and really just everything about them. My squad mates will be there to hold me accountable and open my eyes to things about the bible I may have never thought of before. We as a team will be able to pull out each others strengths and weakness, and all work together for His glory. I am ready to experience the whole hodge podge of emotions with my team that the world race will throw in our face. We will lift each other up throughout the good, the bad, and the ugly of these next nine months. From sharing absolutely everything when someone’s pack gets stolen, or caring for each other when we get food poisoning, or those days where your just tired and your teammate cracks a joke to put you back on track. God has divinely called each and every person on my route, and He has role for every personality and quirk. I am anxiously waiting to enter into this new family.
Hard Days
Hard days…. There will be plenty of them. The days I barely sleep, because I will be on a mat on the floor. The days I just wanna have a southern home cooked meal with a tall glass of sweet tea. The days I just want to see my friends and family and animals in person. The days where it’s hot and I have gone a week without a shower. There will be PLENTY of them. I may not like them in the moment, but I am excited for the growth I will receive from them. I am ready for God to push me out of my comfort zone, and show me how much I am able to endure and do with Him by my side. I’m ready for the hard and the uncomfortable. I am ready to fully rely on Him and His sovereignty in all things. I am ready to be teachable and humbled. I am ready to say goodbye to such an easy going, materialistic life, and live with only what I can fit in my backpack. I am ready for all the distractions to be stripped away to where all I have is WHO I need.
While traveling the world, riding elephants, eating good food, seeing new things, and being immersed into three different cultures are all exciting, that is not why I am going. I am going, because I know many people all over the world are trapped and hopeless. I want to share with them the hope of the Lord and their divine purpose through Him. I not only want God to do a work through the lives of others, I want change and growth in my heart as well. I want my world to be knocked around and my eyes open to the starvation and pain that is constantly happening all over the world each and every minute. With only three months left and $4,000 til I reach my fundraising goal, my passion for the race is being fanned in the flames with every day that goes by.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
-Mathew 28:19-20
