I was asked recently to write a blog about why I want to go on the World Race. I have dreaded writing it since, because it is hard to put into words the reasoning why I feel the World Race is for me. When I do put it into words, they don’t do it justice. Although, I am going to try, and I will start from the very beginning.
I remember sitting in church in middle school as a woman came up to the front to talk about a mission trip that she was fundraising for. She explained to the congregation that for 11 months of her life she will be going to a different country each month to spread the gospel. She would live out of a backpack, cutting out some of the luxuries people often take for granted. For that entire 11 months, she would put all of her focus into spreading the love of God, all while traveling the world and making herself a better person. Finding herself. Quite frankly, I wanted to be her. That is the first time that I felt called to missions, and that feeling has stuck with me ever since.
Fast forward a few years to my junior and senior year of high school. I had started going on college visits, taking the ACT, thinking about my major, etc. I visited UT Knoxville, UT Chattanooga, Arkansas, you name it. I liked a few of the colleges, but nothing felt right deep down in my gut. As soon as I would pick my favorite, I had doubts and mental unrest. I couldn’t understand why, since every detail of the college was what I wanted, and I even had a good scholarship to one. One day, sitting by the pool, I saw a link to a blog pop up on my Instagram page. I clicked it and read the most amazing blog from a girl serving in Africa. The blog was on a website called The World Race, the same mission trip that the woman at my church went on. I started reading more and more off of the website. I was hooked. It is like I was my middle school self again, daydreaming about being in these missionaries shoes. I told my parents that day that I wanted to pursue World Race Gap Year. I was expecting them to have doubts, seeing I had to raise $16,600 and leave for 9 months straight, but they were supportive and prompted me to pray about it.
At that point in my life I believed in God, but I was far from pursuing a real relationship with him. I rarely read my Bible or prayed, and when I did it was weird for me because I didn’t really know how to pray. All I knew was I wanted a real relationship with him, and I had an intense passion for missions, traveling, and helping other people. So I started praying and studying my Bible, searching for answers. Throughout that time, I went ahead and applied to the World Race to see if I would even get in. Deep down I did not think I was going to get in. After all, I was not the most devout Christian, and I had made so many mistakes. I was messy, and I didn’t think they would want me. Then one day as I am riding through the mountains on the way to visit my sister in Arkansas, I get the call. I was accepted. They did want me. I was overwhelmed with both excitement and fear. I don’t think I ever thought this would actually happen. I told my parents, and they felt the same excitement and fear as me. (More fear though, sorry Mom.) The next few months I would continue to do more praying and reading in the Bible, more than I had ever done in my whole life. I finally came to the conclusion that God was indeed calling me to do this thing. I prayed that I would feel peace in the option that is His will, and the World Race was what I felt the most peace in. Which is CRAZY seeing how far it is out of my comfort zone that I so often like to pretend isn’t there.
I think the World Race is for me for so many reasons. I have an overwhelming sense of peace surrounding the situation. Also, I have always had a passion for helping people. (I was actually planning on going to Nursing school before all this happened.) Most importantly, I have always had a void inside of me that needed to be filled, and throughout this entire process I have realized it can only be filled by God. I have already grown so much as a Christian in this process, and I haven’t even gone yet. On a side note, I have always dreamt of traveling the world, so I am a good candidate for this trip. It will also be a great way for me to disconnect from our fast-paced, pleasure-filled world, to help me really find myself and grow in Christ. I get so hyped up talking about it because there is so much opportunity to experience God as well as help others/ better myself at the same time. Words cannot correctly describe how passionate I am about World Race Gap year.
This blog has turned out to be pretty lengthy, so if you made it to this point, thank you! I have started fundraising, and I still have a whole lot to go. God has taught me so much through fundraising, and I could not be more thankful. I would also like to add that I have experienced so much love during this process. If you feel lead to donate you can through my blog or by contacting me personally. All I ask is if you have a spare moment I need all of the prayers I can get. Thank you all so much!
