I Will Go!

 

A month ago, I was told that I had been given the opportunity to join the World Race. In that moment everything felt like it was moving. My voice was shaking as I talked to my mobilizer thanking her for the great news. My hands and legs were trembling as I was pacing back and forth trying to let out some of the excitement that I was feeling. My heart was beating so fast as I thought, “this is actually happening.” After the phone call was over, I just stopped in the middle of the room in disbelief realizing that God’s calling to be a disciple in 11 different nations was just beginning.

For several years I had been trying to find a way to serve internationally. I have always had a desire to see the world and discover new ways to serve people that lived vastly different from me. When I graduated from UNT in 2013 I looked for several ways to go out into the world and serve. I considered teaching English in Korea, becoming an Au Pair, serving families in Spain, among several other things. In the mist of the desires of my heart, I always asked God to guide me and show me the way that would be glorifying to him and not myself. God was quick to close some of those doors and whisper, “Trust me. It’s not time yet.”

One of the first Christian songs I learned in college was called I Will Go by Starfield. Something inside me yearned to go serve every time when I would sing out, “I will go, Lord send me. To the world, to the lost, to the poor and hungry. Take everything I am, I’m clay within your hands. I will go, send me.” It’s been five years since the first time I heard that song, but time has only magnified my desire to follow that call. As I was trying to research the lyrics of I Will Go, I came across a beautiful poem by Steve Green. Just like the song, the poem lit a fire in my soul to follow the Caller’s calling and go!

I Will Go

On January 7^th, God gave me an opportunity to be a part of a great calling. That is the day I joined the World Race. I will be able to travel to 11 different countries, 11 different cultures, 11 different environments, but all filled with my brothers and sisters bearing the same image of 1 awesome and faithful God! I recently was reminded of a beautiful message. As believers and disciples of Christ, we want to be builder-uppers – building people up to be the best representatives of Christ they can be; start from the ground up by investing in people through encouragement, spurring them on by speaking truth, through prayer, through whatever it takes; responding to the call that God gave each and every one of us is the best gift to Jesus! We are servants, not the ones to be served on this earth. We have to be willing to work in the zones of distress, making it our zip code and writing our address in pencil to be ready to go anywhere that God is calling us to go! I said yes on January 7^th. I choose to see past my comfort, fears, control, and normal life to join the Caller and go. My yearning to go serve will turn into action as I hear the Lord saying, “Trust me. It’s time!”

Please keep me in your prayers as I go in pursuit of an awesome calling for the next several months of my life and beyond. Check out the video links I have added below that highlight some of what the World Race looks like. If you would like to help support me, please consider making a donation through my blog by clicking support me or buying an awesome t-shirt for only $20. 

Thank You!

Ashley

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. – 1 Thessalonians 5:24

VIDEOS

The World Race: More Than a Mission Trip

World Race- 11 Countries, 11 Months

World Race Alumni: Brittany Priess