Wow. It’s 2017. In my mind 2017 has been a special year I have been looking forward to, and now it is here. 2016 really was a great year, but I can’t wait for what’s coming this year. First off, I will graduate high school in June with not only a high school diploma, but also my associates degree from Cascadia College. In July I will head to training camp for 10 days and get to meet my squad in person, and then in September I launch for the World Race. 9. Whole. Months. No Thanksgiving with my family, or Christmas break. Oh, and somewhere in there my family will travel back to Ethiopia to finalize our second adoption of my new brother Tesfaye. Crazy, right?
My last winter quarter at Cascadia starts on Tuesday, and I am remembering last winter quarter when I found the World Race. I was looking into different Christian colleges, but the idea of finishing my degree right away was not appealing to me at all. Ever since I had gotten back from Ethiopia after my family’s first adoption of Samy and Estif, I had a feeling of restlessness. There’s a song by NeedtoBreathe that you’ve probably already heard, it’s called Happiness, and the lyrics perfectly sum up how I was feeling at the time. It says, “I’ve got dreams that keep me up in the dead of night, telling me I wasn’t made for the simple life.”
There were so many nights where I couldn’t sleep because I was trying to picture my life after high school, and my dreams did not involve going to college right away. At the time I was dreaming of going back to Ethiopia, and honestly, I still am, but then I found the World Race as an ad on Google. Being in Ethiopia broke me. God broke my heart for what breaks His, and there is no way I can live a simple life after that experience.
“World Race Gap Year takes college-aged students on a journey to 3 continents in 9 months to serve the least of these among real and raw community. It’s Matthew 10 in action: ‘Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.’” – https://www.worldrace.org/gapyear/
Backpacking for 9 months to 5 countries with 50 other students who love the Lord? I’m in!
Also, I want to thank all of you for supporting me on my new adventure! I am 65% funded, and I have only been fundraising since October! Praise the Lord!! Continue to pray for my preparation for this trip, and that I can be fully funded by the time I launch in September.
