Hey there friends! I am so excited to be sharing this exciting news with you all!
I am going to be going on a 9 month missions trip to Swaziland, India, and Guatemala in September 2018 with World Race Gap Year! I will be sharing the love and grace of Jesus Christ with the lost and the broken.
” ‘I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ ” –Romans 9:17
God has been moving in me so much this year, building up to this amazing opportunity He has planned for me. The idea of shooting straight out to college after high school never truly excited me, but it seemed like the only option for so many years. On a mission trip in Mexico this summer we met a missionary who spoke to my team and me. He told us he had seen so many people go off to college and get lost, when he knew that they had a true heart to serve. When he began talking about taking a gap year to serve for the Lord my heart sped up, my mind started racing, and I knew that God was speaking to me through him.
Throughout the past few years, God has been revealing pieces of His plan to me.
In 2016, the Lord planted the country of Swaziland into my heart. I was in a freshman welcome club and needed a theme for the group of freshman I’d be welcoming. Together, my partner and I decided to choose a small and unknown country as our theme because we thought it would be unique. When we chose Swaziland as our theme, it was merely a fantasy that we would one day travel there and meet the Swazi people. Never in a million years did I think that dream would come true!
As I sat on the deck and journaled at Hume Lake Christian camp this summer, it was as if God had dropped a giant piece of the puzzle in my lap. The country India appeared in my mind. Previously this year, I had dreams of being in India and walking in the streets, and never truly understood them until that moment.
When I shared this calling to India with my father , he was hesitant at first. One of his responses was “what about somewhere in South America, like Guatemala?” At the time this was just a simple statement I brushed off, but I now see that this was the last piece of the puzzle.
When I found the World Race and saw a trip that would take me to all three places, there was no turning back. I filled out the application and when I got the call of acceptance my heart soared. I have never felt so much joy for the future!
I have a long journey leading up to the race and then finally I will GO. I can’t wait to share it all with you guys– the highs and the lows, the struggles and successes. Subscribe to my blog to get updates when I post so you can come along with me through this AWE-some experience!
I would love if you could help me– here are a couple ways to help:
1. PRAY! This is going to be a very challenging and rewarding process. Your prayers for me, my team, these countries, and safe traveling are so valuable to me! A little prayer can go a long way.
2. DONATE! I will be fundraising $15,800 for this trip and I would love your help in this amazing fundraising experience. Even a dollar can help!
Thank you for reading and supporting me, God bless you!
Danielle
