Between senior year madness, fundraising, and preparation I really haven’t had the chance to look back and reflect on why I made the decision to defer from school and travel the world. When I am asked what my plans are for the year to come, my answer is automatic. Swaziland, Thailand, and Nicaragua. But I feel like i’ve become numb to the feelings that accompany such a big decision.
So a week or so ago when I was thinking about training camp and launch I was genuinely surprised about how excited I felt. I had somehow forgotten that I get to go to far off places and do something that I am passionate about. That rush of adrenaline was a reminder that this is something I really want and have felt called to do. So now that I have been reminded of them, here are some reasons why I made the decision to make the World Race Gap Year my next step.
1. I feel called to mission work.
Four years ago traveling home from my first missions trip I heard the call loud and clear. God was working in my heart and calling me to live a life of service. Over the years my mission field has changed, but opening this opportunity was the Lord’s way of steering me. This is the path He has called me to, so this is the path I will follow.
2. My heart has been broken for what breaks His.
There are things now that I am so passionate about that four years I could not care less about. My experiences have shaped the person I am today and given me empathy for the people hurting around the world. My broken heart yearns to love the broken and the hurt.
3. I want to challenge myself spiritually and mentally.
The World Race is an opportunity to do something that I really love but it’s also an opportunity to do something I really fear. Leaving everyone and everything I love terrifies me. Oh my gosh it’s so scary. But if i’m only following the Lord when i’m comfortable then am I really following the Lord? Next year will be one heck of a challenge, but a challenge that I need to face in order to grow.
4. I want an adventure!
This is definitely the most selfish reason, but a reason nonetheless. There have been times when I have watched a movie where the main characters go to Europe or South America or Africa and I have called my mom crying and begging her to let me drop out of school to travel the world. I crave adventure. I want so badly to explore and gain a new perspective of the world around me. So getting to combine that passion with God’s call is simply unreal.
5. I want to share my blessings.
Traveling has shown me how blessed I am. I have been given everything I could ever want: food, shelter, education, freedom, and so much more. And so much of that is solely due to the fact that I live in this country. There are so many people who will never have access to many of the things I take for granted. I know these blessing are meant to be shared so I am choosing to go share them.
There are probably fifty more reasons why this is the path I have been chosen, but I think these five sum them up pretty nicely. And I pray that next year when I am far from home, exhausted, missing my friends, sleeping in a tent, and facing struggle after struggle, I can look back at these five reasons and be reminded that it is all worth it.
