One of my favorite parts about not doing the traditional high school directly to college route is seeing peoples faces when I tell them, yeah I’m doing a nine moth missions trip to five different countries.
Some times I get the wow yeah good for you, I don’t actually want a conversation looks, but there’s also times where I find people who are in the same boat as me. Their faces light up and they really can connect and envision what I’m doing. Just tonight I was talking with a buddy’s dad and his face when I didn’t say oh yeah I’m headed to that one college that everyone from my high school is going to too! (totally nothing wrong with going to that one with all your high school friends but thats so not me.) It’s just really cool seeing people’s expressions when I say I’m breaking the social norm.
I never really thought about anyone, including myself, taking a gap year. The more I talk to people at school and talk to their friends I find all the students who are taking a year off to serve the one they love. It’s so cool being able to relate to people I’m barely friends with just how much college is terrifying! Talking through the process of why, how, and when shows weird commonalities and it starts to make me think that this is not such an different thing to be doing. I mean as I continue meeting my squad, I notice there isn’t another person from Tennessee. This means that teenagers all over the world are going through the same struggles as me. Not only struggles but breakthroughs as we find amazing things like the World Race to participate in!!
I love telling each person I meet about this insanely awesome exciting journey that I’m going on in only a few short months. When I say a few short months that means September, which is close but also so far. It filled my heart when one of my eighth grade girls ran up to me at church tonight asking when I was leaving then sighing in relief that I was going to be here for the summer. I am so excited for this that God has called me to but also I am going to miss little things like helping with the JR. High each week. I am for sure terrified about leaving for a whole nine months but I know I will be having the time of my life.
For those of you my age out there that know what college you’re going to and your major, I’m so jealous. I’m happy for you and your future! I just pray that as I go on this race that God opens my eyes and points my heart in the direction he wants me. I’m hoping I find what in the world I’m gonna do with my life!
The coolest thing right now is that God has opened this door for me to go on the World Race. That’s all I can ask for and I’ll take it day by day. I’m so so excited for all the things to come, I mean how cool is it that I’ll be staying in five different countries for over a month at a time?!
God is good, and I’m so excited to serve him.
What is the World Race: Gap Year?
The World Race: Gap Year is a nine month missions trip going to five different countries. I chose a route that is going to Romania, Ukraine, Chile, Peru, and India. We will be traveling to these countries and loving on people just like Jesus did! We will be learning and sharing the gospel in such depth as we get to travel and experience life changing events. I will be leaving in September 2017 and returning May 2018 without coming home.
Want to help out?
I would LOVE for your help either through financial support, donations of backpacking gear, or simple prayer support. As you can see I have to raise a little under $15,000. I could really use your support, any amount helps so much. Just click the orange “donate” button on my home page at abbymoore.theworldrace.org! I will be backpacking the whole time so I would love your words of wisdom! Please give me advice, do’s and don’t’s, or preferences on gear. If either of these don’t speak out to you, I would greatly appreciate your prayer support as I continue to grow closer to my race every day.
Thanks you so much for keeping up with me as i continue this journey. I could not be more excited, sometimes as I think about it, it seems unreal that I’m going to be gone for nine months, I’ll be living on the other side of the world, HOW COOL!!!! Oh my I am so excited.
