In October of 2017, an article was written about me titled Newly Crowned Mr. UK Wants ‘To Change the World’. The author of this article interviewed me as I was leaving Memorial Hall and quoted me saying something I will never forget: “I want to change the world—but I will start here.” Since this interview, I have strived for my actions to match my words. I’ve worked tirelessly in Kentucky to make a difference, and I am not finished yet. However, I have been given an opportunity to leave my home behind for 11 months.
In May of 2018, only one month after founding Buddies of The Bluegrass, I began looking into a program called The World Race. I talked to people who had completed the race; I asked them questions about where they lived, the work they did, and if I had what it takes to do the same thing. I wondered if I had what it takes to take a leap of faith to leave what God has given me in the bluegrass state, and spend 11 months focusing on the most important things in the world: my relationship with Jesus and intentionally loving the least of these. After that thought struck my mind, I was confused as to why God would allow me to have a desire to leave after I had begun good work for Him here. Then I was reminded that He gave me incredible attention to detail while founding Buddies of The Bluegrass. So much detail, that it would be easy for the foundation to be run without me. At first this hurt my heart- why on earth would God give me such an awesome gift to serve the special needs community in Kentucky if He didn’t want me to do it forever? I wrestled with this question for a year while I was thriving in Kentucky; God allowed me to accomplish amazing things in His name that empowered others, embraced progression, and changed the world for so many people.
I completed my application for The World Race in August of 2019, but I hadn’t heard back as quick as I anticipated. I started a full-time job where I have found myself able to continue working to better Kentucky. I was blessed with opportunities here that I would have never imagined possible; then I received a phone call from an unknown number that changed everything. The voice on the other line informed me that I was accepted to The World Race; I would be leaving in October of this year, and return on my 25th birthday in September of 2021. Honestly, I struggled with wondering if I should accept this opportunity. I wondered if it would be wrong of me to leave Buddies of The Bluegrass and my work here behind, and I was scared that everything I created would end if I did. Nonetheless, God told me to stop worrying. He gave me everything I have in Kentucky, and He will protect it and grow it bigger than I could ever do myself. He reminded me that He created it all, not me, and He will continue to create through me. I accepted my invitation.
In October I will be leaving the US to live in a new country every month: Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. I’ll be with a group of strangers between the ages of 22 and 35 fighting against sex trafficking, nursing special needs orphans, teaching English, and more. In October of 2017, when I said I would start here, God said “you’re right”. Now it’s time for me to continue my story somewhere else, but that doesn’t mean I won’t come back. I’m not sure what I’ll be doing after I finish, but God has never failed me yet.
