HELLO FRIENDS!
My name is Aleisa Mifflin and I’ve recently been accepted for the World Race, January 2014 Route 4! I’ll start by giving a little background info about me, and then explain how I came to be a part of the WR.
I was born and raised in Bentonville, AR (Fun Fact: It’s the home of Walmart!). I come from a pretty big, fairly scattered, family. They are so supportive of me, and mean the world to me! I’m truly blessed to have them all in my life. My friends are amazing…they’ve seen me through thick and thin, and always have my back. I wouldn’t trade them for the world!!
After I graduated from high school I moved to the small town of Bolivar, MO (near Springfield, MO) where I attended Southwest Baptist University. I studied art and photography (and started a freelance photography business on the side-Aleisa Mifflin Photography). I graduated in 2010, and then moved around a bit to pursue different job opportunities. Finally I found my way back to Springfield. Up until a few months ago it had always been my goal/dream to be a full-time photographer, settle down, get married, start a family…basically follow the typical “life plan.”
A few random facts…
-I love puppies!
-I love the smell of rain and winter.
-Fall is my favorite season (despite above fact).
-I’m rarely seen without my camera somewhere nearby.
-I try to take at least one road trip a year.
-My favorite color is green.
How I came to the WR…
I’ve always had a heart for missions, but for years I was so afraid to pursue a life of missions. I wanted to participate, but from a distance. I was afraid of the unknown. Afraid of failure. Afraid of not being good enough, or “Christian” enough. I doubted my ability…therefore also unintentionally doubted God’s ability. Then I heard about the World Race and I started to become unsure about my future. I felt I was being called to greater things, and I was being pulled in so many different directions! That’s when God called out to me, multiple times, to TRUST IN HIM. Fully, and without doubt. To hand everything over to Him and trust that He has plans far bigger than I could ever dream imaginable.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)
Now I’ve been familiar with these verses basically my entire life…but I never fully felt that they were real until that moment. In that moment I KNEW that God had a plan…for ME. And of all things…this plan included the World Race! Suddenly my goals/dreams to follow my “life plan” seemed completely meaningless.
Within a month of beginning my application I moved back home to Arkansas to be closer to friends and family, and everything seemed to just be “falling into place” so to speak. A few weeks later I completed my application, had my interview…and a week later I was officially accepted to join the WR!!
Looking back on my life, it is incredible to see how God had been working all along to lead me to where I am today…how certain things/events happened that have made me a stronger person (emotionally and spiritually) that will help me while on this journey…along with certain things/events that didn’t happen that would have hindered me while on this journey.
I am SO incredibly blessed, thankful, and excited to be given this opportunity and I absolutely cannot wait to see what God has in store for me and my fellow World Racers! And I can’t wait to meet my squad and team members!
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)
God Bless!!
Aleisa
