At first, I wasn’t sure what God was calling me to do after I graduated. He had been pressing the World Race on my heart for two years. But I didn’t know if the World Race was my plan or God’s. Then I met Attila…
As far as I know, God first started pulling my heart strings for the world in seventh grade. It began with a report in social studies on Finland, but it steadily moved towards Islamic nations. In class, we spent a month learning about the Islamic religion. We covered Mohammed, Ramadan, and the other five pillars of faith. I was uncomfortable at first learning about Islam. It was that awkward stage in middle school when you hear about world views other than your parents and feel somewhat offended. Well, it didn't last long because I was hooked. Not that I was planning on converting or anything; it was simple curiosity. For the first time in my life I fully realized and acknowledged that not everyone is a Christian. Mind blowing, right?
So now 10 years later, God still has me hooked. But my feelings have shifted from curiosity to desire. A desire to share the truth of Christ with the world. When I was a sophomore in college, and still completely devoted to the American dream (white picket fence, raising a family in quiet Wisconsin, and all that jazz), my friends sensed God’s plan for me before I did. For my birthday, they gave me some candy with witty puns attached on Post-its. Two of those notes still reside in my Bible. Here’s what they said:
“Here’s some sugar for the sweet lover as you go around on your random SPREES.”
“As you travel the world people will look at you and think, ‘Wow, look at HER,SHEY’S beautiful!’ Love, Heidi & Amy”
The summer after my sophomore year, God started to grow that little inkling in my heart. That’s when Turkey came in. I spent six weeks in the summer of 2009 sharing the Word of God to Muslims. God broke my heart for the world and showed me that someone needs to tell His “secret.” During my trip I combatted such myths as:
“I thought you believed in three gods.”
“Judas died on the cross, not Jesus. It was a hoax.”
“Mary is your god, too.”
It broke my heart to her such lies. Lies that clouded people from believing in Jesus. From that point on I became determined to spread the Truth around the world. And it was in Turkey that I also heard about the World Race for the first time. For two years now, I’ve heard God whispering His plans for this coming year. But is it really God’s plan, or is it just mine?
Now, you’re probably wondering who is Attila and how does he play into this. First off, Attila is not a Hun. Well, there is an Attila the Hun but I’m not referring to that one. This Attila is an 11-year old boy and a first generation Bulgarian. The story begins at the Holiday Folk Fair in Milwaukee this past fall. I was volunteering for a class, but honestly I wasn’t given much to do but judge the cultural displays. So a classmate and I went exploring. We saw marvelous displays from cultures all over the world. The Philippians, Mexico, Japan, Holland, Ireland, Finland, Russia, you get the point. While walking around though, our stomachs began to lead the explorations.
We ended up at the café area with food stands. I saw “Turkish Food” and bolted right there. (I miss real Turkish food a lot!) So I ordered a Dolum Durum, which for the American in all of us basically means a gyro, and sat down on the crowded picnic table. As we were eating, a man and his son stood looking for a seat. Cue Genghis and Attila. We invited them over to sit with us and spent two hours chatting away. Genghis and his wife were born in Bulgaria, making Attila a first generation here in America. I found out that Genghis lived in Germany for a while and is also part Turkish! The entire time I spent talking with Genghis and Attila I tried to keep from “over-smiling”.
After we said our good-byes and “nice to meet you’s” I sensed God SHOUTING His plans for me. I could tell God was tired of whispering, tired of waiting for me to get the hint. Surrounded by cultures from all over the world, head spinning from an amazing conversation with two Bulgarians, God couldn't be more transparent. The World Race is God's plan for me. I finally heard Him calling…
