That statement was all it took for my life to be turned upside down, or right side up, however you want to put it. This is the story of how I was led to become a World Racer!!!
It happened over a cup of coffee with my past youth group leader and mentor Sam. I had been weighing out my different life and career options for quite some time at this point. The past couple years of bouncing around schools social work/mental health positions without obtaining full time status had got me to thinking of where God was leading me and where I was supposed to be. But back up a couple weeks….
I was in my car on my way to work listening to K-Love Radio Station and one of the hosts put the question out there to listeners "If you could be anywhere right now where would you be"? Now my immediate thought very well could have been "the couch", "on a beach sipping on a mojito", "vacation", etc. But my heart was in another place that morning and I blurted out "At the orphanage in Honduras." Now for those who don't know, my junior year of high school I traveled with my church and youth group to Honduras where we help fund an orphanage called Hogar De Ninos. Well that week of serving those children completely changed my life and has led me to where I am today. I have always wanted to go back to mission work overseas. However, college happens and then the student loans start kicking in and my focus was more on paying my bills, getting my social work career going, partying with friends, being active, etc. But my very Freudian slip that morning stuck with me.
So back to the coffee discussion. Sam and I were discussing my different careers and life options. I was contemplating moving out west (Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California, etc), teaching overseas, and other service work abroad. We got on the subject of what countries I could serve in when she asked the earlier question of, "Where do you want to travel the most"? I responded "Everywhere". She then was reminded of a mission trip called The World Race, and when she briefly explained what it was, my jaw dropped in amazement. How had I never heard of such a wild, crazy, awesome, exciting, and exhilarating opportunity?!
I went home and immediately started researching The World Race. I showed my mom, who actually elicited the statement, "I could see you doing that". That was all it took for me too click Apply. After a long few weeks of waiting for my phone call, acceptance phone call, and finally my mobilizer to contact me, I am finally in by the Grace of God!!!!!!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3
