I have always loved the idea of a gap year, ever since I was in middle school. When I brought up the idea to my parents they were opposed (God truly does fulfill our desires) The gap year I have always wanted was nothing like what I am about to do in September. It was selfish- I wanted to go to Europe and do whatever I wanted. Serving people was the last thing I wanted to do in my gap year (in my 8th grade mind set). I would watch videos on youtube of people talking about their gap years and what they have done and where they have gone. Now that I am in my senior year of high school, my intentions and my views have changed LOTS! It wasn’t until my sophomore year that my heart for missions was really showing through. I really knew for sure I was going to make missions a big part of my life in my junior year, when my Spanish teacher’s parents came into my class and talked about their life living as missionaries in Mexico, and countless miracles they have witnessed and the many mercies and graces that God has given them. Something struck in me that day, and while missions was not at the top of my list, it was still something I held on to.
Fast forward to the morning of New Year’s Day, 2018. I was scrolling down facebook (which I never ever do, I was only on to get rid of a notification. I only ever go on instagram.) and I see an ad. “Next September you could be among 330 students on World Race Gap Year. Travel across 3 continents in 9 months, live out of a backpack, share the Gospel, and be led by the Holy Spirit. Click to learn more,” I scrolled past it at first and then I scrolled back up and read what it said again. I screenshotted the ad and the first thing I did was send it to my mom and told her it looked cool. I was waiting for my friend to wake up for 4 hours, and in those 4 hours I knew almost everything I could at that point.
I could not get it out of my head. I felt so sure of this. It felt so meant to be, I have always wanted to go on a gap year, and I have a heart for missions. Before this I completely shut out the possibility of going on a gap year and I was applying to colleges that I was getting rejected from and touring campuses just because I could. Getting accepted into the World Race felt so right, it is the only thing I have gotten accepted into thus far. And it is such a blessing. It feels so unreal that in just 6 months I will be on my way to Cambodia. I am going on route 3 to Cambodia, Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Disclaimer: I am still planning on going to college, I have always wanted that experience. However, if I had learned anything from this journey so far… It is to yield to the Lord when it comes to my plans. His are better anyways!
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