The story of how it came to be:
I “stumbled” upon the World Race website because a friend on Facebook (thanks Karen!) reposted a blog from a family friend of hers whose daughter was currently on the race. Who knew Elizabeth Snyder’s blog post would change my life. You should also check out her blog at elizabethsnyder.theworldrace.org!
Here are excerpts from my journal that tell the story:
4.23.15
“The World Race. Wow. How absolutely terrifying this seems. To go. To serve for 11 months in 11 countries. God, You have called us to serve. You have called me to serve. I don’t know in what capacity. My current job is good but I am itching to go. The fundraising goal for something like this is an average of $15,000-16,000. That is a lot. That alone is enough to scare me off but Lord, You are bigger than money. I want to know if this is something worth pursuing.”
{Jump ahead a few days to my church’s Women’s Retreat. I’m ready to seek and receive.}
4.25.15
“Allison, I will not lead you into something too big. Do you know how big I am?”-God
The retreat theme song was “Called Me Higher” by All Sons and Daughters. Go listen to it. The words of the song resonated with everything my heart was feeling. Was this a confirmation from Him that I should continue to walk forward?
4.28.15
“Okay, God, this World Race is still very much on the forefront of my mind. I asked for you to send someone for me to connect with that had done this trip before and You did (shout out to Tina Fast for having connections!). God, we also dealt with some fears I’ve been having, over the retreat this past weekend. My next question is, am I really cut out for this? And if I am, when do you want me to go? God, You know how I am…no good at planning ahead. I trust You will guide me in this. Close the door if this isn’t best.”
5.5.15
“God, I am beginning to get anxious about which route You want me to choose. I guess I’m not drawn to one specific country. I would like to go to Southern Asia and somewhere in Africa. I am slowly narrowing down my options. Would You confirm one or another?”
{Insert a week of panic, fear, anxiety, and clinging to God like I never have before.}
5.11.15
“My breath prayer: God will provide everything I need.
God, thank You for this. I have a renewed excitement for what You are doing. Fear has NO place here because with You there is NO fear. I feel like I have already learned so much and I haven’t even been accepted to join the WR. Even if I don’t, well, You have already showed me how to look to You in the times that seem nearly impossible. You will provide for me physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.”
“On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.”
-Psalm 138:3
5.21.15
“Well, this morning I found out I got accepted to the World Race! I am excited for the moment so I am going to sit in this for a while. I know doubts and anxiety will come again but I have these truths in my arsenal:
-I will take care of you.
-Walk in this with Me.
-I will provide everything you need.
-I made you for this.
-Adequacy only comes from Me and through Me.
-I will equip you.
-Do not be anxious about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself. Live right now.”
“God, this is absolutely the scariest thing I have ever done. This is the only thing I have fully surrendered to the Lord. Everything else I have done in life has had an element of comfort, safety, or familiarity. This trip has none of those. But this is God we are talking about- He is Sovereign. Why not truly experience Him in this? I know I will. God will get me through because He is Able. I should be clinging to Christ this much everyday. My whole life I have just been skating through doing it on my own…not now. It will be impossible for me to do this on my own. “
“I love you, Lord. Let’s do this.”
