Friends!!! I am SO happy to announce that I have officially been accepted to participate in the World Race next year!! I have been dreaming of this trip for almost two years and the fact that it’s starting to get real is blowing my mind!! If you have absolutely no idea what the World Race is check out their website. Basically what I will be doing is taking a gap year to spend nine months traveling ( to Thailand, Malaysia, Costa Rica and Ecuador) and telling people about Jesus! My two favorite things!! (Also I will be living out of a backpack for nine months-one of my other favorite things :)) I wanted to use this post to explain exactly what I’m doing, why I’m doing it and answering some frequently asked questions.
First things first, I would like to address the frequent negative connotations that go along with the term “gap year”. I am not taking a year off simply to travel for my own enjoyment. Yes, I love to travel, and that will be very exciting. However, I am doing this because it is what God has called me to do. I am not traveling to see beautiful places, I am traveling to meet beautiful people, to show them the love of Jesus and to grow significantly in my spiritual life.
So you aren’t going to college?
I would like everyone to know that I WILL STILL BE GOING TO COLLEGE. Yes, I am taking a year off from school but that does not mean I will never be going back. I fully plan on enrolling at Oklahoma State the first year that I am back. No, I will not “get lazy” and never go back to school. It’s just one year, I promise it’s not the end of the world 🙂
If you want to do mission work for a year, why not stay in Tulsa? There’s just as much work needed right here at home.
This is a very true statement. Our home needs just as much love and encouragement as any other country in the world. Which is why I try to live my life at home as a mission field. I do not have to say “Okay, I’m gonna go on a mission trip to Tulsa for a year” because I should already be living my life that way every single day. However, the biggest reason that I am doing the race instead of staying home is because, as followers of Christ, we are asked to drop everything we have, pick up our cross and follow him. And this is the best way I know how. I will be living out of a backpack, I will not get to see my family, and everything around me will be unfamiliar. This forces me to totally and completely rely on God and God alone, which is exactly how it should be. Now I’m not saying that for everyone to follow Jesus they have to live out of a backpack and travel the world. Some people are able to pick up their cross daily simply by living their day to day lives. And that is very impressive stuff. However, for me to get everything out of following Jesus that I feel I am supposed to, I have to get rid of all distractions and limitations.
How are you going to pay for it?
Well this my friends, is the fun part! I am not worried even the slightest that God will not provide all the funds needed to go on this trip. I will, however, be putting the fun in FUNdraiser!! I have some exciting things planned so stay tuned for that 😉
Long story short, I am so excited to see all that I will gain from going on this trip. I have already learned SO much about putting all of my trust in the Lord and completely giving Him control. I have learned to listen to Him and follow His plan (even when everyone thinks I’m crazy). I am so excited because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is what He wants me to do, and if this is His will I know it will ROCK!! I appreciate all of the support I have been given from my friends and family, and can’t wait to share with you guys how this journey goes!
so much love,
ash
