During our week in Kasane, Botswana, our team had the pleasure of spending time with a family from the great state of Texas. Their names are Keith and Robin and they have spent the majority of their adult lives serving as missionaries in Africa. They welcomed us into town with open arms and connected us to other ministries in the community. Their hospitality toward our team was a huge blessing.
One night, Keith was telling me about groups of students he used to help lead to become full time missionaries. He made a statement that resonated with me… “Most of the time, when someone goes on a short term mission trip, it is usually going to have the biggest impact on the person going on the trip, not necessarily the people they are going to reach.”
I’ve been thinking about what he said for a while now and I realize this trip I’m on, the World Race, is more for me than it is for the people I have reached and will continue to reach during my time on the field.
What I mean by this is the World Race is essentially 11 short-term mission trips clustered into an 11-month period of time. We start every new month at a new ministry, serve a few weeks, and then have to say our goodbyes. While 11 months seems long term, it’s really not at all when you are bouncing around from place to place. I’ve had some incredible opportunities to dive into different kinds of ministry and meet some fantastic people along the way. I have loved every month and wouldn’t change a thing, except for maybe a little more time at each place.
I know many people ask the question of why they are here or what they are doing on the Race. For me personally, I think its just been revealed to me. Yes, God certainly wanted me to come to these places to serve as His hands and feet, to point people toward Christ and help disciple people. But first and foremost, He needed to change me. He has completely transformed my heart during this season and is equipping me to continue on with ministry in my future.
God continues to show me ways He has changed me. I am learning from Him how to love people better and to walk confidently in freedom that comes from Christ alone. I have always been a believer and have always thought of myself as a good and honest person. But I truly believe he placed the World Race in my path as a first step in Him completely wrecking my world and teaching me to surrender it all to Him.
I know walking along this path and following God is not always the easiest route. Some days are difficult. Some times there is a battle between the flesh and the heart. But I always pray for strength, energy and a positive mindset. If you are ready for a change in your life, and I mean truly ready, I challenge you to ask God to wreck your world in the best way. That will look different for every one. For me, it began with the World Race. For you, it could be sharing the gospel with your neighbor.
Whatever it may be, trust and go… He will give you a better life than you could ever dream possible.
