If you’re reading this, HELLO! Im glad you’re here:)
My name is Elizabeth, I’m 19, and I’m from a super small town about 60 miles south of Chicago. A lot of people have been asking me why I decided to take a Gap Year and dedicate almost a year of my life to ministry. As cliche as it may sound, truly it was all the Lord. Anyone who knows me, knows that my family is extremely important to me. I am the third youngest of eight children and we are all so close. Choosing to leave them behind for 9 months with minimal contact was not a very easy decision to come to terms with, but this is how I came to this decision.
Honestly, I’ve been putting off writing this for lack of words. Even now I find myself struggling with how to word what I’m feeling, but I am going to try. 2020 was a very difficult year for me (as it was for everyone). However, if I’m being honest high school was really hard for me as well. All throughout high school, I felt extremely abandoned due to very important people in my life such as peers, mentors, pastors etc. picking up and going their separate ways. While they were leaving to pursue what the Lord had called them to do, it was still extremely difficult to bare, and I was angry. Flash forward to summer of 2020, I started to feel so much better. High School was over, I had formed some pretty great friendships over quarantine, I was getting ready to start college in the fall because that was the next logical thing to do. This was all GREAT however, I was holding onto all of this with all of my might for fear of losing it. I was so set in MY ways, and My plans, that I hadn’t even asked God what I was supposed to do with my life.
I first felt called to take a Gap Year in August of 2020. Some of my best friends were packing up and leaving for college and I just felt left behind. After road tripping to drop a friend off at LU, I started looking into schools to transfer to. I ran across the World Race website, and I clicked on it just for fun, I didn’t really think anything of it. Oh boy, did the Lord have different plans for me! Gap Year ads started popping up everywhere, sermons at church were talking about giving God our “yes” I was able to come into contact with some pretty amazing people who were former racers, they started pouring into me. It hit me out of no where and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I told myself this was something I was going to do but only “IF ____ ” I was putting conditions on God’s plan for me. I was holding on to my plan and people that were so important to me, with a closed fist instead of palms up. Well, God took those people, and my plan. He put me through whole lot of hurt these last couple of months and made it crystal clear that this is what I am supposed to do. So here I am writing this to you, SO Excited about the future. I am so ready to be the hands and feet of christ. To share God’s love and forgiveness to the beautiful souls we are going to encounter. I am READY for whatever is to come, and I am ready to keep giving God my yes!
How can you be praying for me?
Prayer for my team. That we continue growing close with each other, keeping the Lord at the center of our conversations. that the enemy does not try to steal what we have or what is to come.
prayer for endurance. That I don’t get burnt out. I am currently working two jobs, and going to school full-time trying to finish the semester strong.
If you would like to support me financially, you can press the “Donate” button above, OR keep an eye out for future fundraisers! My family and I are working really hard to come up with fundraising ideas! Seriously ANY little bit helps tremendously, and gives you an opportunity to be apart of something amazing. I wouldn’t be able to do it without you guys <3
If you are interested in staying up to date throughout this journey you can click the “subscribe for updates” button below my profile picture!
lots of Love
-LB
