Why I’m Going on the World Race
Even though I have touched on it here and there, our squad mentors asked us to write a blog dedicated to why we are going on the race. So here is “My Why.”
I have always had a love for helping and serving people. So, when God placed the opportunity to embark on a nine-month mission trip before me I wasted no time to apply. Missions have been something I deeply loved ever since I went on a mission trip to Guatemala the summer before my freshman year of high school. Since that trip, I have returned twice to Central America and fallen deeper and deeper in love with missions.
Prior to my decision, I looked a lot into colleges. I even found some I really considered, but I felt defeated. My soul hungered for something more. I knew God had a better plan for me than just going straight into college after high school. I did not want to get a degree in something I was not passionate about, and I did not want to get a degree that would be put to waste. I didn’t want to waste four years of my life when I could be doing or pursuing something I love. So, once I came to terms with what I wanted, I started considering gap year programs, specifically the World Race Gap Year. It was a God thing that I did not have a heart attack. Just reading about it made me well up with tears. The idea of spending nine months of my life in different countries doing different kinds of missions work and learning hands-on from experience about missions made my heart flutter. It took a lot of boldness, and even though it was the hardest decision I have ever made, I know it is God’s plan for me to go.
Fast forward to where I am right now: writing this blog, being accepted to go on the trip of a lifetime, and preparing to leave my friends and family. Through this trip, I will see the good, bad, ugly, and glory in the world of missions. So here I am preparing to test myself and see what I can handle. It is going to be the trip of a lifetime, but it also will be a hard period of growth, and I couldn’t be more excited and ready to watch God overwhelm me with His amazing power and grace. I feel very strongly that God has called me into this mission. He has called me to this Gap Year not only to have a great experience and journey with him, but also to equip and prepare me for my future. Although if you know me, you know I am incredibly indecisive. I may decide to go to college after this trip and get a degree, I may decide to pursue a church internship, or I may discover whatever other opportunities lie ahead of me. (Or maybe become a full time beach bum.. definitely worth considering haha kidding of course) Clearly the world may never know! All I am going to do is trust in God and follow Him where He leads me, and right now He is leading me on this trip. I could not be more thrilled and overjoyed!
On top of it all, I want to expand my world, improve my communication, grow as a person, know God deeper, spread love, be the hands and feet of Jesus, and discern His calling for my future career. I want to serve Him while I can in gratitude for all that He did for me and I am eagerly anticipating life with God in heaven. I don’t know a better or more noble reason to go on wild adventures and travel the world than to share the Good News of Jesus Christ!! I’m hoping to take away so many beautiful relationships and memories, but most of all I want to grow in Christ. He’s calling me out of where I’ve been so he can work in ways that I cannot. I want him to transform me more into the image of Jesus. He’s got another purpose in using me and all of the other racers than just to bring our brothers and sisters, who haven’t yet heard his name, into the kingdom… He’s interested in transforming us into the likeness of the one whose likeness we were originally intended to reflect.. His. I want to have a more intimate relationship with him. I want God to take me into depths of his character and his affection so much that I wouldn’t be able to experience as fully or as clearly if I don’t go. I want to learn to rest my identity in Him completely. I’m eager to see what God could do in my life and through my life if I gave Him my undivided attention for 9 months.
The time is rapidly approaching and I would appreciate as many prayers as possible as I make the transition from a high school student into a worldwide missionary! Thank you all for the overwhelming support (financially and physically) and love I have already received in this journey. I feel more than blessed. God is so good!!
