Recently I bought my first ever pair of Crocs (16 year old Angela would be disappointed in her future fashion sense). I didn’t buy them because I suddenly decided to take up extreme gardening. I bought them because a girl I’ve never met before wrote a blog about how they were the most comfortable shoes to wear for 11 months straight. (All I can think of right now is the quote from Mean Girls: “One time I saw Katy Herren wearing army pants and flip flops, so I went out and bought army pants and flip flops.”) Likewise, one time I heard a stranger wore crocs on the World Race, so I went out and bought (FOR A BARGAIN!) crocs for the World Race.
In all my rambling, I hope you didn’t miss the big news… I’M GOING ON THE WORLD RACE!!!!
If you don’t know what that is, let me fill you in on this little part of my heart that does somersaults when it hears about it. The World Race is an 11 month-long mission trip that will take me to 11 different countries* around the world working with 11 different cultures and ministries. This specific trip has been an absolute dream of mine since I was a freshman at Olivet. But even before then I knew God had put a desire in my heart to love and serve people in some capacity of ministry. After running to-and-fro on what I wanted, what God wanted for me, and what the world expected of me, I switched majors, moved back home, and got a job at my home church. I wasn’t living the dream I imagined.
For a while, though, I was excited about being back in my hometown. I was able to love people I know in a place I know so well. However, it wasn’t long until I got restless. I was confused. I was bitter. I was questioning God and seeking out how He would work good back in this situation like He promise(d)/(s). Now I see that God has used my time in Ottawa to grow me in ways I didn’t even know I needed. He asked me a couple months ago what my dreams were. For a while I couldn’t put words to what was inside of me. Eventually, the words came.
I dream of loving people I’ve never even met.
I dream of traveling the world.
I dream of falling in love with Jesus more.
I dream of living in ridiculously close community that pushes me to be more like Jesus.
I dream of going on the World Race.
And now, God is bringing these dreams (that I thought would stay safely tucked away in my head and heart forever) to life despite my bad attitude and all because of His kindness and purpose.
So, here I am with a pair of crocs (that really are comfortable and kind of cute if you squint and turn your head to the side), empty pockets, and a fire in my heart to travel the world to show people the love and kindness of Jesus. Follow along to see where these Crocs take me. It’ll be an adventure.
*I’ll be traveling to Mongolia, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Rwanda, Albania, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
