sometimes I laugh —-
I laugh at jokes, with my friends, and movies that involve either Madea or Adam Sandler. If its super funny, I will even snort to breathe while laughing…haha. When people started asking me what my plans were after high school, I would laugh. Because honestly, I had no idea what the plan was. I was just focused on that day or what I needed to get done in that week, not the next year. So I would laugh it off.
About a year ago, I discovered this incredible non-profit missions organization called The World Race. I remember following this one girl on social media who was on the race at the time and keeping up with her through it. Everything about The World Race was so intriguing but what really drew me in was The Gap Year Program. Instead of enrolling into college fall of 2019, you would go on the Gap Year in September to May, and enroll that following fall semester of 2020 into college. For 9 months, you would travel to three different continents, share The Gospel to those who are among the unreached, and live as a modern day missionary. All over the world, some many routes to different continents and countries, and so many beautiful opportunities to see what Heaven will look like and grow the Kingdom. To truly get to live out what a servant of The Lord is in countries who dont even know who The Lord is. My heart has always been close to missions and how fearlessly beautiful it is. I grew up around missions through church and even at my old dance studio. Missions and serving the Lord in unknown places was never “unfamiliar” to me. So I waited and watched, because I was in 11th grade and not ready to face the idea of “growing up”.
Then senior year happened. All of my friends getting accepted into their their dream schools, knowing what they wanted to do, and so forth. They had their plans, but I was so lost with mine. They aren’t even my plans but His and I battled that. I knew I was going to go to college but not quite yet. Not right after high school. I knew college was always going to be there but exploring the world and discovering true love from The Lord and His people through His creation, sounded beautiful to me. Sounded like exactly where I needed to be and do. To everyone around me, it sounds super foreign. Its not the “normal”.
following Jesus isn’t normal.
It’s risky and beautiful. It’s scary and sooooooo uncomfortable. It’s captivating. It’s being willing and available for what He is calling you to. It’s being bold and fearless. It’s being full of love and hope. It’s sacrifice. Like living out of a backpack for 9 months and fully trusting in Him. It’s all of the above and more. There is always more when we walk hand in hand with Jesus and seek the Kingdom first.
So, I am going!!!!……..I have been accepted into the Gap Year Program for route 4 to Costa Rica, Cambodia, and Swaziland. In Costa Rica we will be partnering with local churches to share The Gospel with rural communities and especially the ones experiencing tremendous poverty. In Cambodia, our team will be investing into the youth. We will be reaching children through teaching English and the Bible while building relationships and showering love over them. Lastly, Swaziland has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the world and as a result 1,000 of children have been left without parents. We will partner with Children’s Hope Chest to operate a large system of care points serving local orphaned and underserved children.
My whole cost for the Gap Year is $16,600 which is incredibly intimidating. So please join me in HUGE prayer and if you feel led, donate. Every prayer and penny is so appreciated. So, here is to new beginnings and purpose. Also laughing…….lots of belly laughs :))
Til’ Kingdom Come!!!
with love,
Brooklyn Dahmer
