Well, it’s official. World Race. October 2018.
2 years ago when I was serving at Mission of Hope in Haiti I met a group of people doing the World Race. They had just traveled on a bus from the Dominican to Haiti. It took hourssss. I thought it was crazy that they would willingly spend 11 months in 11 different countries. Well, God doesn’t think it’s crazy. And although some days I’d really like to stay in my comfortable life here in Minnesota, what fun would that be? I thought about doing the World Race after I got back from my second internship in Haiti. I looked at the routes but didn’t do anything about it. Earlier this year, after 1 week in Haiti I thought more about it, but it was also when I just got my job at Lifetime. I thought to myself, seriously, God? Do you actually want me to do this? I just got my dream job! So, I didn’t do anything about it.
A few months later on a Wednesday night I was listening to my Youth Pastor. She was teaching our junior and senior high kids about what a life could look like if we took everything that kept us from the life Jesus has for us and put it aside. And in an instant the World Race came back to mind. Was I really listening to God by not exploring this option? After more weeks of prayers and conversations I knew I needed to do something about this.
I took my first trip to Haiti when I was 16 years old. I was shallow in my faith, I was impatient, and my relationship with God showed up on Sunday mornings and Wednesday’s for Youth Group but rarely in between. Haiti changed that, it pushed my boundaries; it shifted my view of God, the world and myself. God has used serving and Haiti to radically change my life. In the best way. Because of that, there is no way I can pass on an opportunity to see more of the World God made. There is no way I can pass up meeting more of God’s children.
To do that, I need your help. I need your prayers and your support. I’ve got a lot of time to get there, but I am praying for a fully funded trip by the time I head to my first country, the Philippines. You’ll hear many different ways to support me so keep tuned in 🙂 If you love sponsor letters, send me a note and I’ll get you one of those.
I’m pretty sure I belong to one of the greatest churches on the planet. We’re not perfect, but our community is like home to me. Our community is filled with some of the kindest and most generous people I know. Our lead Pastor preaches Bible based, Gospel centered truth that challenges and convicts me week by week. This week, he talked about the ways and opportunities the Lord calls us to change the world we live in. It brought tears to my eyes knowing God has called me on this grand adventure. We are all a team working to make this earth a little more like the Kingdom of God. And if we are a team, God is our coach. He calls the plays, and we listen to Him. That is my prayer for this journey. That I would wait we He says wait and I would go when He says go. If He is calling the plays, I want to follow those plays. What’s the play Coach? Send me in.
In all honesty, I’m scared for these next few months. $18,000 is a lot of money to fundraise. Experiencing so many new cultures and places worries me. I get teary eyed just thinking about leaving my family for a year! But, the one thing I don’t worry about is knowing God will be beside me and He will go before me on this journey. In the same way He has called me to this, He will prepare me for this.
World Race. October 2018. I can’t wait.
If you’d like to watch the sermon I mentioned, here is the link- http://communityofgrace.church/sermons/sermon-detail/go-before-youre-ready/
