Well, it’s my first blog… whoo-hoo! I have been looking forward to writing my first blog for a while, specifically this one which explains how I came to the World Race. It was definitely God leading me, and while terrifying at times, it was extremely exciting. One of my favorite parts of ministry is sharing how I’ve felt the Lord acting and leading me in my life in all aspects, especially something as big as this. So get ready for lots of blogs over the next seventeen months, and as one of my friends tweeted: #blogsonblogsonblogs
Step One: give my future completely over to the Lord
Entering into my senior year at college I knew it wouldn’t be long before I needed to figure out what my future would look like post-graduation. Before coming back this year I had made some significant changes in my life by dropping out of the Teacher Certification Program a month before the final semester of Student Teaching, and desired to pursue ministry. Practically, I had no idea what that might look like for the rest of my life – join a ministry, volunteer on the side, no clue. All I knew was that one day I wanted to marry a godly man and settle down with him to begin a new chapter in my life pursuing Christ together. But immediately post-graduation, I knew I wasn’t being called to that, so instead I desired a gap year where I could do ministry (not one type of ministry but instead serve God’s kingdom in various ways), not be settled down in one area (right now I’m young and want to live and explore!), and take time to figure out the rest of my life. Where was I going to find something that met all those expectations? No idea.
Rather than be nervous for my future, I was excited to trust in the Lord and allow Him to completely direct me where He wanted me to end up. I actually wanted no part in deciding my future because I knew that anything I could come up with would be nothing compared to what He would provide. My expectation was that I would start to figure it all out sometime second semester, but the thing about letting God have the reins with our lives is that His timing is perfect and not necessarily what we expect.
Step Two: feel God calling me to World Race
Sometime this past November I created a tentative future plan to apply for a yearlong internship at a ministry that would start in January 2014, meaning I would have May-December completely free. I was not interested in sitting around doing nothing during those months, so I started looking for short term mission programs. As I looked I stumbled across World Race, a mission program that would last 11 months and travel to 11 countries. My first thought was “Wow that sounds really cool, not for me, I could never do that, but that’s cool.” I pushed it aside and continued looking for other options.
But the Lord kept calling me back to World Race. I thought it wouldn't hurt to look around on the website and read some blogs… little did I know how dangerous it could be! Once you start reading those blogs it is really hard to stop, they suck you in! I found myself getting more and more curious about World Race and what they did on this year long mission trip.
Suddenly I had a feeling God was calling me to this adventure, and I was terrified. I again gently tucked the idea aside, knowing a year away from home doing ministry in challenging countries would be difficult for me. But I couldn’t help having a sense of anticipation, wondering if God was serious about wanting this for me.
I began praying, and through my nervousness, emerged excitement. I realized that the Lord still had so much to teach me before He gave me the desires of my heart and the hopes for my future. He wanted me to have a completely intimate relationship with Him to reestablish myself as His daughter once I graduated before getting swept up in “the real world.” He wanted to push me out of my comfort zone to learn more about the world and His people everywhere. He wanted me to get uncomfortable and take an amazing adventure with Him. He wanted me to realize that I was single (which I was already aware of) but He wanted me to realize that I was single – I could go on this kind of adventure and make this kind of decision without needing to ask anyone besides my heavenly father if it was ok. When else would I get this opportunity if in the future I had hopes to get married and settle one day?
Everything I had been praying for with my future was found in World Race – a gap year to have time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, doing ministry but not one type of ministry, and not being tied down to one single location. Around this time the Lord had also been pressing on my heart to drop all my expectations of the future and to give it all over to Him. Something that World Race tells their Racers is to drop all expectations.
As I started to realize all this answer to prayer, excitement set in. The Lord wanted me to do this, He was calling me to do this, it was everything I had prayed for and more, and I wasn’t sure anything else could fit more perfectly to my prayers.
Step Three: battle Him because it’s terrifying
Despite my excitement and knowing World Race was my path, it took me a few weeks to officially apply. I wanted to take Winter Break to pray and really talk with the Lord about this gigantic decision. I wanted to be 100% sure I wasn’t making a mistake and just being spontaneous. During the drive down to Florida with my family for Christmas I looked at all the July and September 2013 routes and highlighted which countries had something that sparked my interest. After going through all seven routes, I realized that September 2013 Route Four was completely highlighted. I had found my route. One step closer…
Step Four: accept His direction and get excited
In passing my dad had once asked me if I knew anyone personally that had done the Race and could talk to me. I told him I didn’t but that it was a good idea and maybe I would reach out to someone on the field. While we were in Florida visiting family, I met my cousin’s new fiancée and discovered that her friend from college had done the World Race about four years ago. Whaaat? That was totally a God moment; He had provided someone to talk to that wasn’t a complete stranger. That’s when I knew this was actually a reality; the Lord had provided the gap year, the route, and now a connection… He was serious about me committing.
Step Five: apply, interview, wait, acceptance!
After the New Year, the big day happened and I applied. Two days later I interviewed. Seven days later I was told I needed to wait an extra week due to sickness in the missons office (my friends were more anxious than I was!). Nine days after that I was officially accepted. Now the adventure begins, and I could not be more ecstatic to partake in this journey and bring other loved ones along with me each step of the way.
Until next time, this verse is offering me comfort right now: “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)
In about six and a half months I’ll be losing everything I know about my life and giving it all entirely over to God, and in that process, I have complete faith that I will actually find where my life truly lies.
