For those of you that know me, you know it has been quite a journey getting to this point. My heart longed to go on the world race after my mission trip to Guatemala back in 2011. That was the year I knew God was calling me to something more than myself. Something bigger. At the time I was living with a roomate who was very familiar with the world race and she was the one who told me about it.
For those of you who don’t know, the world race is an 11-month mission trip to 11 different countries. During these 11-months, my team and I will be partnering with the local church and serving alongside each other. Hospital visits, working with children, and rescuing women out of sex trafficking could be a part of our ministry. Whatever God has in store for us.
When I found out about this amazing journey, my heart so longed to be apart of it. I applied but ended up not going because I was not quite done with school. My parents at the time really wanted me to finish school first before leaving for a year and I wanted to honor them. Since then, it has been a long and difficult road. All I knew is that I had a heart for people and missions. So making myself stay in school and picking a degree just because thats what you are supposed to do, was extremely difficult. Especially when I was feeling my heart pull in an opposite direction.
For so long its always been about school. It’s been drilled in my head to do well in school and get my college degree. When I was around 16-17 years old, I said to myself, “When I’m 22 or even 23 I’m going to have my college degree and be married with hopefully one kid if not one on the way.” Well here I am, 23 years old and my life couldn’t look more different than that. I realized that I am not going to have that ‘cookie cutter’ life. God has something different for me.
I found that longing in my heart to go on the world race a couple years ago never really left. So why wait any longer? School can come later if that is apart of His plan for me. But an 11-month long mission trip? That opportunity won’t always be there. When God calls you to do something, He isn’t going to let you fall.
So yes. Yes to being apart of this amazing journey.
But I am going to need your help!
I would like to call all prayer warriors to the stand. I would like to ask for prayer for my journey before, during, and after. I have no idea what this trip will lead to and I am excited to think of all of the possibilities. This is by far the biggest step I have ever taken. Prayers for protection and good health. Prayers for my team leaders and the people we will be coming in contact with. Prayers that we will be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.
Raising money isn’t exactly my favorite part about missions, but it is extremely important. It’s important because God has a chance to show up in incredible ways! I have experienced this with previous trips. I have been on 6 mission trips. Mexico, Guatemala 3 times, India, and China. God has provided for each and every trip. For the world race, I have to raise $14,243. My goal is to have all of this raised before I depart, which is January 2015. The easiest way for you to donate is online. If you scroll to the top of the page you will see the link, “Support me,” which you can click on and continue the donation process. It takes a couple days for donations to process so the meter will not increase instantly. You can choose to donate once or monthly.
More information on how to donate will be in my next blog and I will also be sending out letters. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. You are a blessing to me.
-Carlie
