So why am I going on the World Race?
Why am I leaving behind all the things I know and love and am familiar with, to go somewhere I know nothing about, to a people I have never encountered, for 9 whole months?
About a year ago I wrote something that I feel answers this question pretty decently.
“I really want a full, adventurous, satisfying life. I think I would find that if I got into missions – something I think I would love but would also low-key terrify me. I want to look back on my life and see that I did the hard things and that those things I thought were hard became easy, and that amazing things came out of hard decisions. I want to see that I didn’t turn and run from the things that scared me, I want to see that I faced them and they were no longer an obstacle. I want to see that I went on adventures and lived on the edge, that I reached out and helped people, brought them the gospel, and showed the love of Christ to them.”
To me, life is about more than just going to a good school and getting good grades, so that I can get a good job, that will lead to having a great career. There is nothing wrong with any of those things, but I have found that those things do not satisfy me. I have found that what my heart longs for the most is to see and enjoy and learn as much as I can about this beautiful world, while loving the people in it as our Father does.
Matthew 28:19 says “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.” According to this verse, our purpose as Christians is to take the gospel of Jesus out into the world. For some of us, our mission field is across the globe, sharing the Word of Christ with people who have never heard it before. For others of us, our mission field is our homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods, with people who still may not have heard the gospel before. For me, the mission field I have been called on is a 9 month journey with World Race into Thailand, India, and Costa Rica, to spread the love and hope of Jesus Christ to every person I encounter!
<3 Alaina
