I am Chelsea Gottman. I stay up much later than I should, and feel inspired at the most inopportune times.
When I first stumbled upon the World Race website, it was around one o'clock in the morning. I was searching for a job that would entail coordinating and leading youth missions trips, and Adventures In Missions had a job description that fit the bill.
It was exciting.
But then I saw a link on the side-bar of the webpage to the World Race site. I had heard about the trip before, but I never really thought it was something that I would or could ever actually do.
I clicked.
And that one click led to hours of blog-reading and video-watching. And when I finally tried to fall asleep around three in the a.m., I was unsuccessful. My mind raced at the possibility of actually going on the World Race. I felt ridiculous! So what did I do? I flipped open my laptop and spent another hour soaking in stories of God's miraculous power and revelation.
The Race encompasses so many of my desires. I want to break away from our highly individualistic, Western culture and build relationships with the poor and broken of this world. I want to grow in my relationship with God and within a close-knit community of believers. I want my view of God to be stretched and to be awed by His love and power. I want to see Jesus change lives, and I want Jesus to change my life. And I believe God will do this through my experience on the World Race.
And now, over three months later, I lay in bed writing this blog entry at nearly 4:30 in the morning. My eyes are droopy and my body is weak, but I am determined to finish this post. Ideally in the next ten minutes.
My last post expressed my confusion over God's will for me on the World Race. I had met with someone who didn't believe the World Race was a practical missions opportunity, and when that happened, fear and uncertainty entered the equation. Since that conversation, I've gained some perspective.
I'm sure most of you will agree that as much as we'd like Him to, God doesn't tend to speak in a clear, audible voice. There comes a point when we have to make a decision, and jump in. Commiting to the World Race allows God to move in one direction or another. If He wants me there, He'll reveal it through the fruit that comes from following His heart. If He doesn't want me there, I won't see the fruit. Simple as that.
"Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails."
So, I have jumped in.
Wanna join me?
