“Christian tourism,” “you’re just being adventurous,” “yeah good luck with that,” and “is it really safe” are just a few of numerous negative reactions I received after choosing to do World Race. Everyone seemed to focus on the reasons I shouldn’t do it rather than the reasons I should. The most hurtful part of negative reactions isn’t even what the person had chosen to say because everyone is entitled to their own opinions and believe me when I say they’ve been expressed. The most hurtful part was these people were so involved in making sure I heard their opinion, they neglected to hear mine. Their lack of understanding was purely frustrating. There is a simple, three letter word, which would’ve immediately turned the conversation around.
Why?
Why?
Why are you doing World Race?
The easy answer is to say I want to help people but that doesn’t do my conviction to World Race justice. For me, traveling across the world rather than go to a school 15 minutes away seems to be the more realistic move. That is how I know it’s right for me.
So much of my education has been equipping me with the tools to sustain myself. At this point in my life, I feel this goal has been reached- way to go Warwick. World Race is a program about helping others around the world and equipping them with the tools to sustain themselves. Impoverished communities don’t even have the resources to sustain themselves, and that’s where my missionary work comes in.
At this point in my life, I want more. I want to make an impact. I want to do whatever I can to help people, and if I can bring the love of Christ to them in doing so that is the ultimate plus. I want to wake up every morning with a purpose for each day. At the end of each day, I want to be able to reflect back and say, “I’ve helped at least one person.” So, you’re probably wondering couldn’t I have done this in college? Couldn’t I have made a point to help someone every day, in college? The answer to that question is yes, I probably could have. Now, let’s rephrase the question. Couldn’t I have done this locally? The answer to that question is yes, absolutely. Everyone has the opportunity to make a difference in their community. Over the past six years I’ve been apart of multiple organizations that have allowed me to do just that. My mission in my community is done, and it’s time to take this global.
God has a plan for all of us and this is his plan for me. Going to college is an amazing decision. World Race is God’s plan FOR ME in this current moment.
There’s a whisper inside all of us that tells us there has to be more than this and there is. World Race allows me to be apart of something bigger than myself. I was born to be outside my comfort zone, to love the way that Jesus loves, and to live radically while serving others.
