As a senior in high school, I am constantly bombarded with questions about my plans after high school. For the longest time I had no idea what I wanted to do and what God wanted me to do. I still don’t know long term plans but, I don’t mind because God is guiding me one step at a time.
This next step He is taking me on, The World Race Gap Year, was not even on my radar at first. I remember, during my sophomore year, my Western Civilizations teacher talked about her experience on The World Race. I found it interesting but I didn’t think much of it until my mom found it and suggested I should consider it and pray about it. I was reluctant at first, because I wasn’t sure this trip was what I should do. I had in my mind my childhood dream of moving to NYC, making it on Broadway, and then television.
As unrealistic as this sounds, I pretty much had my heart set on going to school for theater. I applied to Western Carolina University and UNC Greensboro which both have reputable drama programs. As I was waiting on college acceptances I decided to apply for the World Race and continued to pray about it and research it. My mom would tell me she had a peace about it but, I was skeptical because I didn’t feel this peace right away. It wasn’t until a few weeks after I applied that I felt like the World Race could be the right fit for me.
In Theology class we had been working through Romans and we were talking about God calling people to missions. We talked about how some people are called overseas and my mind immediately thought about the World Race. I felt a tug towards this overseas mission trip but, I still pushed this thought down in the hopes I would get into a drama program.
When the phone interview came along I was accepted right there on the phone. I knew at that moment that the World Race was what God was calling me to do. It was as if God was asking me to do this for Him. Ever since I have seen God continually push me and encourage me in this direction. I was accepted to both Western Carolina University and UNC Greensboro and decided to defer my acceptance to WCU for one year and will have the option to start there in the fall of 2020.
Whenever I’ve had doubts, the next day, maybe in chapel or class, we’ve talked about missions and God’s calling on Christians for spreading his Kingdom. Whenever I’ve been discouraged about fundraising, God has told me to trust him through a new donation the next day, or an encouraging text from my youth pastor asking how he can help, or my little brother randomly saying how great this next year will be for me. Whenever I’ve been sad about leaving friends and family, He has had a discussion with me through close friends and family telling me not to be sad because “I am there.”
It’s been amazing to see how God has continued to encourage me and how He has showed me that the World Race Gap Year is the next step He has for me. I have no idea what’s coming after the race, but right now I have peace that God will show me. He will continue to be with me through everything.
In short, why did I pick The World Race? Because God asked me to.
Matthew 28:19-20
Kate:)
