Hey everyone! So, this is my first blog post so please bare with me, it could get a little rough. I promise it will get better, or at least I hope! Anyway, so many of you probably have a lot of questions, like what led me to go on this crazy 9 month missions trip. I am here to answer those questions and to tell you a little bit about what I’ll be doing!
I found out about the world race in August, I was searching the web for long-term missions trips because I really wanted to travel. I read every blog and watched every video you can possibly find about the World Race Gap Year. It was this fun little idea in my head, like wow that would be kinda cool to travel the world with a bunch of people my age and spreading the love of God. But I would have to give up everything, my family, my home and everything I’ve ever known and that scared me, a LOT. I tried to forget about the whole idea because I didn’t want to give up my life, I was thinking “well yeah I love God but, but that’s really out of my comfort zone and I don’t feel like I was called to go.” For about a week I just didn’t think about it and I thought it was working. Until one day I was driving in my car listening to the radio when a song came on called hardlove by needtobreath. As I was listening to it one verse literally hit me like a load of bricks “It’s not enough to just feel the flame You’ve gotta burn your old self away” I realized that my whole life I’ve been feeling the flame of God, only to the point that I was comfortable with. I would put my hands around the fire but once it got too hot I would run away, because I couldn’t give myself up. I was sitting on the throne of my own heart and it scared me to give to give it to someone else. It terrified me to have no control. But I wanted to be saved from myself. If God has already broken the chains that bound me to sin, why did I keep holding on to them? This was my breaking point I suppose you could say. I said “God I love you but I’m scared. I want to hold nothing back from you, I am going to give you my life. Take it and do with it as you please, I live for you. I want to burn my old self away.” Now, I can promise you that I didn’t say that word for word but something along those lines. A verse that I have been turning to over and over again is John 3:30 “He must become greater, I must become less.” It is a constant reminder that the world doesn’t revolve around me, that this missions trip is for God and God alone because without him I wouldn’t be doing this. That he is so much bigger than me and his plans are so much greater than mine. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I still have my doubts from time to time but God over and over again shows me his unending love and comfort. I have to constantly take myself off of the throne of my own heart and repent over and over again and give it back to God. This is not going to be a one-time thing, it is going to be a struggle but I can’t wait. I am ready to grow in ways I can’t even imagine, so please follow me along on this crazy journey I get to call my life!
Okay, so what is the world race gap year? Well, let me tell you. It is a 9 month mission trip going to 3 different country’s. I will be going on route 6 which is Swaziland, Thailand, and Nicaragua. I will be leaving next September and I will only be living out of a backpack! While I’m in these countries I will serve in partnership with churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, work in orphanages, minister to women and children trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking and bring the restorative hope of the Father’s love to many tribes and nations.
In order to go, I have to raise $16,600! Wow, that is a big number. Matthew 6:31-32 “So don’t worry about these things… your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” This money will cover my flights, housing, and food for all 9 months. If you feel led to donate please do, any amount is very appreciated! You can donate on the home page of my blog, there are one time and monthly options.
I would love to meet with you and tell you more about the world race, what I’ll be doing! So, please call or text me to set something up! My number is 320-808-4549
with love,
Emily Jones
