Oh my heart is just brimming with so many “God Stories” of how I ended up being accepted for the World Race Expedition Route and committing to leaving this August 2018!! I could honestly write pages and pages or talk to you for hours and hours about all of the Lord’s little fingerprints and touches on this life decision, but suffice to say I am going on this trip with a heart to share the only thing I have that matters: Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.
Coming to the close of my college experience at Grand Canyon University and with graduation on the horizon, I truly decided that my heart was bent on mission work in the coming year. I have had a taste of full-time work and honestly loved it, but there has been this constant desire to see the world and see God differently in the back of my mind since I was young. You see, I have been on several short-term mission trips, and I decided long ago if I left again it would be for 6 months to a year because I wanted to go deeper–building lasting relationships and truly serving wherever I ended up.
God met me right where my heart was at and arguably lead me to this point where several months ago I started to look at different organizations to partner with. I came across the World Race and it seemed so crazy at first but my mind raced with excitement and this strange reoccurring thought, “This actually makes sense Lord!”
As a fresh young graduate, I am more free in this season than I will probably ever be again. By grace, I do not have debt, I am not neglecting anything, I do not have any prior obligations, I don’t own anything, I am not supporting anyone, I am healthy and able, I have a heart for serving others, I am a peace-maker and a people person, God has been training me in community for the past four years, and the list goes on. Suddenly, my apprehensions about the race started to be toppled with reasons why it actually “makes sense” for me in this season of life.
As a cautious person, I weighed every angle I could think of, consulted my close community, and of course prayed continuously over this opportunity. Suddenly there was a post that the trips were filling up, so I went ahead applied, interviewed, and waited. I asked God specifically for this Expedition Route and prayed so many times if it was not what He wanted for me that He would close the door and open something else up. However, I couldn’t help feeling, with my little finite perspective, this trip is what He has been preparing me for. Three days after my interview I got the call and they offered me the last spot on the team!
This was such a confirmation of all that God had been doing in my life and heart! I technically don’t meet the age requirement (which I had no idea when I first got so excited about the Expedition route), I applied when the trip was 98% full, and I questioned my maturity in the Lord fearing not being ready. Yet, He just gave it to me as such a beautiful gift!
Now, I am committed to leaving for this crazy adventure in August. In short, alone I am not “fill-in-the-blank” enough for this trip, but with Him I am complete and have everything to give!
Looking forward to sharing more of my heart and story in-person. Please comment and share. This blog is an amazing tool for me to stay in contact with you through this journey–start to finish.
