Simply stated, I joined the World Race because I LOVE Jesus. I have no other purpose in life but to follow His will, for the sake of His kingdom, to show His glory.
A few months ago, I felt a could-not-ignore-type of conviction to get into God’s word. Although I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home, for years my relationship with Jesus remained un-extraordinary. I felt God calling me into a deeper relationship with Him. I began intentionally seeking God’s guidance through His word and in prayer. In His faithfulness, God opened my eyes to His plan for my life. It was not a practical plan. It was not a comfortable plan. It was a plan that required great faith and one that I could take no credit for.
Jesus laid it on my heart to GO.
I first learned of the World Race last November when my mom returned from Ethiopia, where she had met a group from the Race. I immediately felt a push to look into it more, but I didn’t want anything to get in the way of my own agenda. I attempted to keep missions in the back of my mind while waiting for a more convenient time—like when I finished college. However, upon hearing the call to go, I began to pray for God to open doors if the World Race is where He wants me. I felt (and still feel) an unexplainable peace knowing that my life, as I planned it, was forever changed.
The World Race is a backpacking journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve “the least of these” while living in community with them. I know the greatest news in all the world through the Gospel and my heart breaks for those who do not know Jesus. I am confident that God will use me and the other members of my January Route 4 squad to grow His kingdom in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Malawi, and Zambia.
God deserves all of me—my heart, my soul, my mind. No sacrifice I make can ever come close to giving Him what He is worthy of. The desire of my heart is to make disciples of all nations one person at a time.
Words cannot express how excited I am to go on this journey with Christ. I hope you will prayerfully consider how you might journey with me. I have never been the blogging type, but I am so grateful to anyone who has taken the time to read about what God is doing in my life.
“The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
