Hey! So some of you may be wondering why I am going on The World Race. Well, I am going to tell you. I was experiencing a lot of discontentment in my current career (youth counselor at a residential treatment facility for teens.) The discontentment was a result of being short staffed for a long time and taking the stress from my job home with me. I was also discontent because my heart has been for the mission field for some time now. I have wanted to be on the mission field for years, but I always assumed that I could only ever do 1 to 2 week trips because of the student loan debt holding me back.
I am sure many of you know of the perils of student loan debt. It certainly has become an epidemic of sorts in my generation. However, around mid April this year I began begging the Lord to “let me go” after reading a book that one of my best friends wrote called Two Heavy Words: Reflections of a First Year Missionary. (<<< Yes that was a shameless plug for M.J. Weissenberger 
) The cry of my heart truly became “Can I go, God? Is that okay?” And He answered! I began to understand that He would provide and that what I previously thought was a deal breaker could be managed by an All Powerful God through stewardship. I could be responsible (what a novel concept) and spend several months SAVING for the bills that I need to pay while I am gone. I also would need to raise support for the cost of the trip. And this should have been cause for fear and trembling, but I know that God provides for those He calls to the mission field.
Now with the responsibility stuff covered I had to decide which route to go on. I had originally been ALL ABOUT the all Spanish route and that was the Route to which I was originally accepted. I was super excited about that route because I had been on several short term missions trips and studied abroad in Spanish speaking countries. However, I truly think that the Lord had other plans. I really felt burdened for people in human trafficking, as well as the desire to step further outside my comfort zone. I began asking myself “What did stepping outside my comfort zone really look like?” And I began to realize that I was kinda scared of ministering to prostitutes, and going in to red light districts, and working with cultures that I have no experience with, and being exposed to diseases and illnesses and food that I have no experience with. I was scared, but at the same time my motto was becoming “Do what scares you, Christina” and “Go big or go home!” So through prayer, seeking wise counsel, and researching I decided to change my route!!! I am now going on January 2015 Route 2 which will take me to Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, and Thailand (In no particular order).
Wait, so instead of going to Central and South America, I am going to be crossing oceans?!?!?! Really?!?! Europe, Asia and Africa?!?! Okay, lets do this!
Go big or go home!
If you are interested in supporting me, I am currently at 0% of my funding. But our God is a big God and if He truly wants me on this trip He will use faithful people like you! Click HERE if you want to support me as God has called me to the bring hope of the Gospel of Christ to the 11 nations I listed above. 
