The main question I get when I tell people I am going on the World Race usually is “ARE YOU FORREAL?” Here I am to tell you yes! I am 100% for real going on the World Race!!!
Let’s start with why though. If we are going to be honest here one day during August I had a complete meltdown. I had a realization that I have no idea what I want to do with my life and I am not ready for college, one bit. My whole high school experience I did well in school so I could get into a good college. I always assumed I would be a teacher and go somewhere I loved and was accepted into. However, life rarely goes our way. But don’t think I am doing the World race to escape the real world, if anything I am going to be in the real broken world. It is not going to be 9 months of luxury and resort’s; I will be living in Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Thailand. I will be living out of a backpack people. Anyone who signs up for this knows exactly that it won’t be a trip to paradise literally. But the World Race will be the most rewarding, hardest, and best 9 months one could ever experience. I am being called by God to do this; He put this on my heart so this is what I will be doing.
I truly met God at a Young life camp the summer going into my sophomore year. After coming home I was so ready to start this relationship. Keep in mind though I was VERY NEW to this. I say this because after I got home from camp, that night I was told my Pap had passed away while I was gone. Immediately I was crushed and instantly put the blame on God. I wondered to myself “How could this perfect God allow me to have the best week of my life and then tell me this horrible news” I completely turned my back from the Lord and just had so much rage towards Him. This lead to one of the hardest parts of my life I experienced so much struggle, but I decided I would go back to camp that summer. This was the bounce back I needed, and I was able to mature and really understand more about God. I had the right people around me and was in a much better state of mind. Junior year came much easier because I was able to rely on God when things did get tough which was something I never really knew. This past summer I gave a month of my summer away to volunteer at a Young life camp and be a dishwasher. I saw God move people in ways I have never seen within the people around me, the campers, and even myself. I know that my heart has a passion for serving the Lord, and fulfills me in ways I have never felt.
However, if you would have told me a year ago I would be going on the World Race I would probably shake my head and just laugh. Let me tell you some things about myself. My whole life I have been in control. I pick the safer routes that result in a safe outcome. I’m not a risk taker, never have been. I don’t like failure or not succeeding. I struggled with separation anxiety and being away from my family sophomore year. I almost went on a trip out of the country but panicked because I was scared. Now if you’re logical, you would read this and think that maybe I should not sign up for a 9 month long missions trip… out of the country…. with none of my family. Yeah, I would say you’re right. However, when God has a plan He works in mysterious ways. I believe that He has a plan for me to go and do this. I have matured in ways I didn’t even know, which is why I believe I can do this. When I think about the World Race I get giddy, happy, and just excited to talk about it. The World Race gives me a sense of peace and I think that’s because God called me to do this. I get more scared and panicky when I think about college, but I couldn’t be more excited to do the World Race.
The World Race is a BIG CHANGE with how I live. It is going 100% out of my comfort zone, and the biggest reason is money. This trip is $16,600 and looking at it right now it seems so far away and I don’t even know how I am going to do this. This trip truly is putting 100% trust that God will be there with me. So now if you’ve made it this far this is me asking for your help. I ask for you to keep me in your prayers. I am starting to meet and get to know all the people going on this with me so I ask you to keep them in your prayers as well. I ask that you keep my family in your prayer for them just supporting me and going through this with me. Prayer is so beneficial so the more I could get the better. Also this trip is super expensive! I am definitely working on fundraising ideas, but also if you ever would like to donate then please, it would be so greatly appreciated! If you want, the easiest way is through my blog. Just click on the donate button, and it’s a super easy process! These donations are nonrefundable, because Adventures in Missions is a nonprofit organization! I give so many praises just for the fact that I have a group of people supporting me and that I am able to be able to do this
I am SO excited to be starting this journey and that you guys can live through this with me!
Love always,
Melanie
Romans 8: 28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
