These 11 months of counting are coming to a close and the greatly anticipated Month 12 is now, as Pocahontas put it beautifully, just around the river bend. Every month in between on The World Race people are asking in one way, shape, or form, “So what are you going to do next?”
Ask anyone on The Race throughout the year and their answer is bound to change. From, “I legitimately have no idea” to “I feel God calling me to this country long term”, to “I’m going back to my job in America but with a new heart and outlook on life”. No answer trumps another and it’s been beautiful to see the dreams and desires God has put on each individuals heart.
So what’s next for ME? That’s what you really want to know, right? What am I (or rather, what is God) going to do with my life after this world adventure?
Alright so here’s the dealio.
Upon arriving back in America on August 1st, I’ll spend a week at home in VA to rest briefly and visit with some friends and family. Then I’ll quickly return back to my job at Disney in FL to fulfill work obligations, as I’m super grateful to still hold my same position there despite my time off. I’ll work for a little bit through the end of September, minus a few days toward the end of August in which I’ll have one last reunion with my Squad at Project Searchlight in GA (Searchlight is something AIM holds for Racers right off the field. Kind of like a missionary job fair/place to help you figure out your next steps and processing the return home).
Around the end of September I plan to return back to VA for a little while longer just to rest and spend more time with family and friends. I love that I feel so connected and consider both VA and FL my homes. I’ve established myself both places, although I desire to permanently settle myself in Orlando eventually with a job and place to live in the coming months.
Throughout the Race, God has laid some new and exciting desires on my heart to fulfill within my life. I have no idea the time line or locations for these things to be fulfilled. So in the meantime I’m just going to continue to pray circles around my dreams and desires until God gives me a clear answer.
For me, I feel strongly that I’m to stay in America. The World Race has given me a much larger perspective on life, people, and the world. But even more so, it’s given me a huge passion to support long-term missionaries and ministries financially and spiritually.
I have been SO blessed by every person that has given to me financially over the year and has prayed for me every day over the past 11 months. Now, I’m ready to be that for someone else.
I want to be able to help high school and college students have the same opportunity I’ve been given with going on a STMT (short term missions trip). I want ministries and missionaries overseas to rest in peace knowing their tangible and essential needs are being met so they can focus more of their attention on Kingdom building. I want them to have someone across the world fighting for them in prayer daily. That is my passion. That is my desire.
I would still like to stay involved with STMT in the future since there are still several countries I’d love to go to (and return to)!
I’m passionate about bringing justice and a stop to sex trafficking in Thailand. I want the people of Japan to hear about Jesus and know there is hope through Him. I want to continue to pour out my love and efforts to the children and ministry of El Shaddai in Swaziland. I want to visit other parts of Africa. I want to disciple and pray over the people in India as they live amongst a busy culture that worships everything but the Lord Jesus.
But for now, my mission field is America, and I’m happily content with that. My passion is for discipleship, encouragement, coffee, community, health and nutrition, and to continue to tell others the Truth about the full like of love they can have through a Father who will never let them down.
So what’s next in a nutshell? Home & work. And continuing to pray over and trust God with everyday of my life and with whatever He has in store for me next!!!
Lezbehonest, this race never really ends.
