Upon returning to my parents home this past Summer, I jumped right into the life of an adult. Aside from the fact that I still live under my parents roof, I am working and paying all my bills. Starting off this idea was exciting… finally, I'm an adult. I can do my own thing, make my own money and spend that money however I please. But after a few months, I found myself in the rut that I called my routine. At twenty years old I never expected I'd be living this way… going to work, returning home, eating, watching some television, and finally going to bed just to wake up the next day to do the exact same thing. I felt trapped.
Being a poor post-college kid, I had no way to change where I was. I began to pray that God would either show me where to go or give me contentment and peace where I am now. After weeks I still had no answer… and no peace. One day on the way to work I desperately cried out to God, "I need SOMETHING…. there has to be more to life than this."
No more than a week later, God answered my cry.
I was on Facebook, checking on my friends, when I saw a video my good friend, Josh, had posted. It was a video entitled "A Man's Promise" (http://vimeo.com/36926654) Aside from being moved by the message of the video, I also was left with curiosity, wondering what the heck is this guy doing? I clicked on the link to his blog and began reading. This was my introduction to the World Race. After satisfiying my curiosity I went on with my day. Although I thought the whole thing was cool, I never imagined I would soon be pressing the link to apply.
The idea of the World Race caused me to spend some time reminiscing on my trip to Uganda, Africa in 2009. Flipping through photos, I was reminded of the people there that had made such an impact of my life and the fire that was lit in my heart upon returning… how could I have let it fizzle out?
From that moment on I could not get Africa out of my head… and even more I couldn't get the World Race out of my head. Could I do this? No, that's crazy… But God kept pressing the World Race on my heart and in my mind until finally I gave in… and here I am.
I have a big mess of emotions rolling around in my head and heart. I am so incredibly excited for the next year and all that it will bring… but at the same side I am so incredibly nervous. My feelings about all of this are so bipolar. One minute I feel as though I may burst with excitement. The next I find myself thinking "What have I gotten myself into??"
I don't know what's ahead of me.
I don't know where all the money is going to come from.
There are so many unknowns…. but you know what?
I KNOW I have Yahweh-Yireh, God our Provider, on my side…
I KNOW that there is a passion in my heart to reach the people of the world with the Gospel and the hope that it brings…
I KNOW that I can't imagine spending next year any other way.
My name is Hannah Coulter… and this is my World Race.
