Post-Race Plans!!
It’s currently nearing the end of month 9 on the World Race and while still staying present, I am excited beyond belief to reveal what God has called me into after the race!
Drumroll….I will be returning to Raleigh, NC on May 24th around 2 pm! If you’d like to come meet me in the airport, I would be delighted to see you…although I can’t promise that I won’t smell because this year has been hygienically rough. haha.
After celebrating my mom’s birthday on May 25th I will be spending the summer visiting friends, family, various churches that have supported me along this journey and then working FUGE camps (God-willing) as a special teamer in July.
Now, to the New News!
Proverbs 24:27 says “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house”
The Lord has been speaking to lately about the importance of seeking him in every situation, including my future as a full time, International missionary. Before I can build my house among the unreached I must first allow for the Lord to prepare my heart, mind and soul for the work he has laid before me. This past year has been a time of stripping away sins that I’ve held tightly to such as pride, people pleasing tendencies, impatience and so much more! Now, it’s been made clear to me that I am in need of a new, firm foundation that the Lord can use to launch not only me but my entire support system (you guys!) into the Great Commission as long term missionaries.
As much as my heart desires to get back out to the mission field right away, I’ve learned this past year that there is no shame in spending a season allowing for The Lord to prepare you mentally and spiritually for the future. As such, I will be attending classes at the Center for Global Action (CGA) in Gainesville, Georgia for two semesters (this fall and next spring). The first semester I will be taking classes on spiritual leadership and the second semester I will be taking classes on long term missions. Although I will still be in America this next year I am viewing this season as missional preparation and submission to the Lords will for my future as a missionary. I will take these 2 semesters to pray and seek The Lord for his next steps for me and will not be making plans beyond CGA anytime soon, so not to limit the Lord’s ability to send me wherever he needs me to go at the time in which I am equipped for the task ahead.
I’m also excited because I have seen how important and AWESOME it has been to step out on faith knowing that God will surround me with believers that are called to send and support missionaries from America. Of course, there have been countless times that I’ve thought “I’d love to get a job in NC or PA and settle down, maybe start a family ” but that would go against the vision God gave me for being a full time missionary 7 years ago. I have a calling, a responsibility to be the one that is “Sent” and we all know what happened to Jonah when he refused to be sent haha. Thankfully, Ephesians tells us that God made us all different members of the body so that we can work together, effectively and as one unified group of believers. Although I have been called to be “sent”, I know through my experience talking to people about joining my world race support group, that many of you have been called by God to “Send” and “Welcome” missionaries. Ive seen how on the mission field, this collaboration of obedience to the Lord enables for missionaries to be successfully sent and supported physically, emotionally and spiritually!
So, in order to make this season of missions preparation happen, I will again be raising support through the same organization, Adventures in Missions, to cover the costs of the CGA semesters while I am attending school (the total cost of housing and classes comes out to 3995/semester). Raising support for this season will enable me to focus on the growth God has set before me and allow for me to finish the CGA program without debt which means I get to jump back into the mission field as soon as possible! YAY!
Thank you all so much for your investment in Gods kingdom through sending me this past year! After prayerfully considering what the Lord is calling you into next, I ask that if you feel led to continue to support me or begin to support me as I start this new season living missionally in southern America I would love to hear from you about how the Lord is speaking to you in this way (: And would love to sit down with you over some coffee to answer any questions and gain any wisdom from you that you may have for me this summer! (I drink coffee now…thanks India! Haha).
This journey is not about me. Its not about me visiting cool countries or seeing crazy things. This is about US, serving HIM… our God, our creator, together. Oh what a precious gift it is to be able to love him in this way! I will gladly give my life to him in service of his kingdom for as long as the Lord allows me to live on this earth before calling me back to heaven. So thank you again for your prayers and your partnership and know that I do not take this calling lightly!
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 28:16-20. The Great Commission
Lastly, Please join my Facebook page by searching “Drea’s CGA Support Group”. This is where I will begin sending updates, prayer requests and weekly summaries of what I’ve been learning at The Center for Global Action! (Perks of having consistent American WiFi next year!!)
And If you have decided to continue financially supporting me, here are some details on how to do that….
If you supported me financially through The World Race, this may be a reminder but here are the different ways supporters can give:
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Send a check by mail to PO BOX 742570 Atlanta, GA 30374-2570. Be sure your donors write the check to Adventures in Missions and put your name in the memo line.
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Give online donations through credit: adventures.org/give, go to the “Mission Trip Participant” link and choose the Center for Global Action (CGA) program.
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Give monthly donations through their bank account: adventures.org/dynapay.
- Give through the “Support” link on my blog. andrearuddock.theworldrace.org
As for some updates on The World Race…I have 2 more weeks in Botswana, then we fly to Mongolia for month 10 and China for month 11!! I promise I will still upload my blogs from Swazi and Botswana but they take about an hour to upload each and I haven’t been able to find strong enough WiFi that stays connected for the whole hour… but its coming!! Please keep my squad in your prayers and feel free to email/fb message me prayer requests of your own (:
Love Always, Drea
