Hello, friends!
First off I would like to ask you to bear with me. This is my first attempt at blogging and I am not accustomed to writing down my thoughts and feelings, much less sharing them with anyone. However, this information not only concerns me but YOU as well, so I should probably let you in on it. Here goes…
I am delighted to announce that I will not be attending college this year! This piece of information may come as a shock to you (as it did me) seeing as how my life has revolved around school for the past few years. However, I have recently straightened out my priorities and now it revolves around something, or rather someone else. This someone has called me to nine months of serving, spreading the gospel, living out of a backpack (yikes), and fulfilling my purpose: proclaiming the finished work of Jesus Christ to all nations, or four nations in my case.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am still going to college! It’s just being put on hold for a year so that I can be involved in a program called The World Race: Gap Year. This is essentially a nine-month mission trip to 3 continents in which I and about 50 other 18-20 year-olds will, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). Starting in September we will be traveling to ministries in Thailand, Malaysia, Costa Rica, and Ecuador doing anything from helping in orphanages to building houses to working with victims of sex trafficking.
So you’re probably wondering what all of this has to do with you, and it’s pretty simple. I need your help. As an introverted homebody being surrounded by people for nine months in foreign countries will not be an easy task for me, so first and foremost I ask for your prayers. Pray that I would remain steadfast in knowing my purpose, pray for my faith, pray that I would continue to put my trust in God, pray for my squad mates, for safety, and most importantly that we would be able to show “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40) the love that God has for them.
Another way that you can support me is through your finances. In order to go on this trip, I have to raise $15,800 which unfortunately isn’t just lying around the house. I have no doubt in my mind that God will provide and so I would ask you to prayerfully consider donating to help further His kingdom. Any amount would be a huge help! I will also be having several fundraisers soon so subscribe for updates to find out more!
If you have any questions about the race, donating, or you just want to chat please feel free to contact me!
E-mail: [email protected]
Instagram: connalyakiyama
Facebook: connaly akiyama
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
