The past six and a half weeks have been full of processing, freaking out, feeling overwhelmed and letting the fact sink in that I’ve been given the opportunity to travel to 11 different countries for 11 months. To be honest, it still doesn’t feel real. From my teen years, I loved travelling and the idea of going to new places. However, this time is not just traveling to travel, to see some cool sights, or to be a tourist (trust me that’s amazing, too); instead, I get to see new places while serving in local ministries.
Once the initial shock of the World Race acceptance died down, I asked the Lord what His heart for the nations is and how I could walk more in sync with His heart. In doing so, I was reminded of a time before fully walking with Jesus. I recalled the fear I had of EVERYTHING, from my house burning down, to going to new places because I was afraid of anything and of everything that could possibly happen. I sensed that there’s a fear of the nations that people experience, whether that’s physically going, not having the finances, or of not being enough spiritually to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus. I know I’ve struggled with all three. A common verse for missions is Mark 16:15 where Jesus says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” As Christians, it’s our job and birthright to go unto the nations and share the gospel while being an example of the love of Christ.
So, what’s the condition of heart? My heart is in preparation for serving during the World Race; I want to serve people, to love orphans, widows, and the people I serve alongside. My heart yearns to bring back the stories of the people I meet, the experiences I have, and how Jesus shows up in different places and church services. I know despite negative occurrences in any given country that Jesus wants to move and save. My heart is to be a living example of what it looks like to push past the fear of going, lacking finances, or being inadequate. He loves all; He cherishes people groups globally and moves daily in their lives. I want to experience this first-hand and bring back the heart treasures I collect to share with all of you.
