Missions is something I have always felt called to do. When I was 14 years old I begged my mom to take me to Haiti. She was a little unsure, but after I showed her that that was a desire of my heart she made sure I went. My first summer in Haiti was amazing. We had a smaller group and I knew I wanted to keep going and doing. I loved it so much I didn’t wanna leave, and being a teenager I got an attitude with my mom towards the end of the week cause I was so mad we were about to head home. From the day we got back home I had a count down to go back. I went the following 2 summers and didn’t go anywhere in 2018, which was hard. When I left Haiti I had always told myself, “when I graduate high school i’m going to be an intern.” Well then I graduated and went to college early. I then told myself, “okay, when I turn 18 i’ll do it, I’ll go and spend a summer interning.” I turned 18 and didn’t. I did go to Cuba with my college group on missions, but as awesome as it was I still felt something bugging me saying i’m supposed to go, not just for a week. I am supposed to live a life of abandonment and go. I moved home and applied to go to occupational therapy assistant school, take the fastest route to getting a degree in what I love and being done with school. Working with special needs children is something I have always had a passion and a love for, so there was no doubt in my mind I was going to get in and that’s what I was being called to do. Until I got a letter saying I didn’t get into school. I was very confused as to what was next for me and why I didn’t get into something I felt so sure was made for me. After some time talking about it and praying, I knew I wasn’t supposed to go to school again and take classes for something else when I want to be an OT. I reevaluated my life and the things I have always loved and it was so clear that I needed to go and take a year growing in my faith. I reached out to a girl who went to cuba with me, that I saw was going on a longer trip and I asked who she was going through. She told me about world race and I quickly looked them up. When I got on their website the first trip i saw was “gap year.” I felt like it was perfect. Before i decided ai looked at a few other trip options they had, but gap year was made specifically for people like me, taking a year off to find what all God has for them. I will be able to return and reapply to school, but until then I look forward to being able to leave everything behind, go and do something I have felt called to do for a long time. I was questioned a lot on why I would want to leave my dog, my family, friends, and all the comforts of my home. I can’t say why, but I know i’m not sad about it, I am ready and excited to Go.
