Wanderlust: [won-der-luhst]
(n): a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.
My wanderlust began when I was a child and started to watch the Discovery channel; I got to see so many amazing and unique places that seemed to call my name. In middle school, my family and I traveled to Japan and I got to experience another culture other than America for the first time. In high school, I went on a short-term missions trip to Mexico and then later to the island of the Bahamas. In college, I had the opportunity to go to Panama and use the game of basketball to share Christ. In each of these experiences, I got to taste something that I had imagined for so long…and I loved it. The people. The culture. The food. The music. The history. The way they worshipped. It was all so rich, so new, and had so much life to it.
It wasn’t until high school that I realized that this passion could be used in a way that wasn’t selfish. Lust usually implies a strong feeling or desire for something, but almost always carries a negative connotation. Wanderlust can often be focused on exploring, “finding yourself,” or “healing your soul,” but I began to see how God has been using my wanderlust in order to shape my future. From a young age, God gave me a heart for travel, discovery, and new things, but I began to see how Ephesians 2:10 more clearly applied to my life- “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” I can see how God had been stretching me, challenging me, and strengthening my faith for such a time as this.
I overheard a friend talking about the World Race for the first time a few months ago and my heart must have skipped a beat. Traveling to 11 different countries within 11 months, sharing the Gospel and building community…what could be better? After I heard about the opportunity, I instantly prayed about it, told my family, applied online, did an online interview, and a phone interview. I was accepted right before my first in-season college basketball game. After hearing the news, one of my teammates said in passing, “Nothing like getting life changing news right before a game.” Although the rush of it all was rather shocking, I knew it was more of a confirmation, rather than a shift in God’s path for my life. Sure, it was a major answer to prayer and crazy timing, but somehow, I knew I was on a mission that God had for me.
Like I said earlier, the wanderlust is real. So real. God has given me this desire to travel, serve, and love on others, and He has finally shown me an opportunity that is more than I could’ve dreamt of. Two things that I’ve come to realize through this process:
- God uses imperfect, broken people to share this perfect Gospel message with others.
- The Gospel has no borders or boundaries. It is not just for Americans or those who have it “all together,” but it is for all people, at all times, and in all walks of life.
Combine the two, and you have messed up, sinful people bringing God’s beautiful Word of hope and grace to others, which creates a beautifully broken picture of God’s love for the world.
Check out the video below to hear where I’m at with all of this, more of what the World Race is, and how you can be a big part of this opportunity:
As I mentioned in the video, I really do need your help to make this happen. I am completely dependent on God and His people throughout this process. Please consider getting involved in one or more of the following ways: praying for my team and I, telling others about my trip, and/or supporting me financially. If you’re interested to see the exact countries that I’ll be traveling to, Click Here to join in my wanderlust. My adventure begins now. Will you join me?
