Hello everyone!
I’m so excited to finally announce my T-Shirt fundraiser!
The design was envisioned by myself, and hand-drawn by my super talented dad! You definitely need one of these tees! All of your kids need one! The old lady down the street and all her cats need one! Everyone needs one!
So, what’s up with the design?
When I was drawing up the blueprints for this T-shirt I wanted the design I chose to be much more than a cozy advertisement. I wanted it to tell a story: the story of who I am and what the World Race means to me.
My story begins sixteen years ago, at the ripe old age of four. I remember proclaiming—in my very four-year-old way—to anyone who would listen that I was going to be a doctor one day. Some people were supportive of this announcement, but lots of people just chuckled and told me that I had set an unattainable goal for myself—if not with their words, with their expressions. But I would just chuckle right back, because I knew something they didn’t.
You see, I didn’t decide to become a doctor because of my competitive nature, or because of the rush I get when I finally solve a mystery. I didn’t decide to become a doctor because I enjoyed taking care of the people around me, or because of my fascination with the many intricacies of the human body and the world around me.
Those things came later.
I decided to become a doctor because I had an overwhelming feeling that I was being called in that direction. I knew undoubtedly at four years old that God wanted me to become a doctor, and my proclamation of my career choice was my way saying yes to Him. I giggled at people who didn’t think I could do it because I knew that God had a plan for my life, and there was no stopping that.
Now, let’s fast-forward ten years.
As continued to work diligently towards my future career, a part of me wanted to so badly to just get up and leave Portland. I knew that there was so much more to life and this world than what was going on around me. God created this massive earth—a giant melting pot of beautiful landscapes, cultures and people. I needed to see it and experience it.
So, at this point I knew two things… (1) that God had called me at a young age to pursue a career as a physician, and (2) I had a deep desire for travel. However, I didn’t understand why I was given the latter as a passion, nor did I know the two could ever coincide.
That is, until I found out about medical volunteer programs (e.g. Doctors Without Borders). I realized I could help deliver medical care to the communities which have the greatest need for it—those in areas of crisis, natural disasters, epidemics, and communities that lack access to adequate healthcare. My mind was blown. Suddenly, it all started to make sense.
God hadn’t just given me a desire to travel. He gave me a heart that beats for the nations. He didn’t just want me to be a physician. He wanted me to use my medical experience to go out and serve “the least of these”.
As for the Race, my intention for going on this journey has never been to go save the world. Only Jesus can do that. Yes, God is alive and actively pursuing the nations, and I fully believe He is going to do some super rad things in and through my squad this year…maybe even save some people! But, right now my goal is just to go out and love and serve the people of this earth in the same way that Jesus does. And in the same way that I have been called to do.
So to me the design represents this: the very God of this universe gifted me with a heart that beats for the nations—a heart of love and of service. It beats too strongly to ignore, so instead I am saying YES to God, and embarking on a journey across the globe to pour out every single ounce of that love I have onto the communities of 11 different nations! And I couldn’t be more excited for it!
T-shirts are just $20 each, and hoodies are $40. If you would like to purchase one to support me, you can either donate directly through my blog or to me personally. Either way, be sure to let me know what size(s) you need.
T-shirts come in sizes Youth XS-XL and Adult S-4XL
Hoodies come in Adult S-3XL
Much Love,
Grace
