During my interview for the World Race, I was asked to talk about three major turning points in my life and how they brought me to where I am today. The last turning point I talked about was the one that can not be defined by one single moment. It’s an ongoing love story where Jesus has waited patiently on me to drop everything I have and come to him with nothing, knowing that He has everything I need. Everything.
Something I have realized is that Jesus has been in wild pursuit of my heart in hopes that I’d be in wild pursuit of His. Jesus has been so patient with me when I constantly fall short in the battle between pleasing my flesh and choosing eternal joy. My turning point was and is coming to a point where I wanted to say YES to Him, realizing the things I looked to to fill me up, only left me feeling empty. I know that the joy of following the Lord is so much sweeter than anything I could imagine. Being in this place of genuinely wanting the Lord to use me is definitely a scary place, but I know that it is exactly where I am supposed to be. And the Lord is constantly reminding me of this.
” For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7
I am thankful for my Jesus that constantly pulls me back to Him, pulling me from my pit of sin, washing me clean and allowing me still to do His work. No matter how many times I turn my back from Him, he never fails to turn me back around to look me in the face and prove that He is a nonstop lover of my soul. He is constantly revealing himself to me through people who have shown me what it means to have raw, selfless love. It is beautiful how God shows up to me through community and relationships, especially in college. Jesus has encouraged me, inspired me, and pulled me closer to Him through this.
Jesus has put in me a desire to see the nations and love on their people and He is so faithful in fulfilling that desire through the World Race. Knowing that we are the living breathing Kingdom here on Earth leaves me with a responsibility and a calling to go where the Lord would have me go, and I couldn’t be more excited for what that will look like starting in July!
Though my heart is overflowing with excitement for my journey to eleven different countries with 59 world changers, I am realizing that my life during the eight months I have before I leave and every month after I get back should look like no less of a reflection of Christ than it will on the race. Whether I am in North Carolina or a foreign country half a world away, I am simply supposed to do what God who gave His life for me asks me to do, love Him with everything in me and to love my neighbor as myself.
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Da Route
Albania
Located on the southwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula, with its coast along the Adriatic Sea, Albania is Mother Teresas birthplace. Did you know that the apostle Paul had actually been to Albania during his missionary travels (Romans 15:19) Albania declared independence in 1912, but then was occupied by Italy then Germany for a few years, during World War II. Afterwards, Albania was under Soviet rule, which ended in the early 1990s. There were only a dozen or so Christians then; today there are thousands. Most of the population identify themselves as Muslim (70%) while the remainder are Orthodox Christian (20%) and Catholic/Protestant (10%). Your ministry: simply connect with the young people. As you build friendships with students, youll get to tell them how Jesus tore the veil — thicker than even the Iron Curtain that divided Europe — that separated man from God.
Turkey
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, modern Turkey was united in 1923 under Ataturk. Its location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia makes it an influential player in European and Middle Eastern politics and economy. Although there is no official religion, more than 99% of the Turkish people are Muslim. Istanbul has long been the headquarters of the Eastern Orthodox Church, but Christians still make up less than 0.2% of the population. The potential for outreach in this country is enormous. Come bring light to this beautiful nation of people who desperately need to personally experience the love of Jesus.
Bulgaria
This southern-central European country is the 16th largest in Europe. Its geography is varied with mountain ranges, plains and a coastline along the Black Sea. Its economy is growing, but among all the European Union members it ranks lowest in terms of income. Organized crime is an issue as is human trafficking. Bulgaria is mainly a source of trafficking in persons yet also, to a lesser extent, a transit point and destination of trafficking. Here, about half the population claims to be orthodox and over 10% are Muslim. You can bring light and hope to this nation caught between “developed” and “developing.”
Romania
The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy community. Though strangers in their homeland and forgotten by society, the gypsies are a strong and vibrant people who embrace the light of Christ in an inspirational way. Here, you will teach English, lead sports camps, live life with the gypsies, and more. It will be an exciting time of learning about a people group you may not have known even existed.
South Africa
While it’s been several decades since apartheid has formally ended, theres still more healing and reconciliation to take place in South Africa. One of the wealthiest countries on the continent yet much of the population living outside the cities is poor. Like the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, this country struggles with a high rate of AIDS/HIV. Host to the 2010 World Cup and breathtaking natural attractions, its also a place full of kingdom potential, waiting to be released — by you.
Swaziland
The Kingdom of Swaziland is one of the last remaining monarchies in Africa. Home to 1.1 million people and breathtaking scenic views, it’s also where the world’s highest HIV/AIDS infection rate lives (26.1% in adults and over 50% of adults in their 20s). It’s estimated that by 2050, Swaziland may cease to exist. Young orphans are scattered throughout this nation in desperate need of attention. For years, Adventures has been committed to seeing these statistics reversed. Here, youll most likely find yourself involved in a variety of outreaches, including education, orphan care, care point feedings, and more.
Botswana
Although its one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, Botswana has the second highest HIV infection rate, next to Swaziland, its southern neighbor. The land itself struggles with drought and desertification yet boasts the largest elephant population in the world in one of its national parks. The majority of the people identify themselves as Christians but very much need people like you to advance the kingdom with love and in power.
India
With nearly a sixth of the world’s population within its borders, India is a country bursting with people and culture. Home to a diverse array of beliefs from Hinduism to Islam, to a blend of folk religions and other faiths, it is a country of pluralism with twenty-nine languages spoken by over a million native speakers, multiple religions, cuisine, socio-economic classes, and political parties. India’s struggles with poverty and crimes of human trafficking, forced prostitution, religious persecution, and more. You might work with local churches to encourage believers and most likely be challenged by their testimonies. Your presence’ll bring hope and truth to those that society deems “untouchable.”
Nepal
Home to Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, Nepal literally sits on top of the world. In addition to adventurous experiences you will have here, you may also visit widows and orphans in their times of distress and protect the innocent who are prey to human traffickers. This month of your World Race experience will submerge you in a culture that is desperate for an encounter with the living God.
Mongolia
Founded by Genghis Khan in 1206, and under communist rule for most of the 20th Century, Mongolia went through a democratic revolution in 1990 to become a parliamentary republic. Containing the Gobi Desert and very little arable land, Mongolia is the most sparsely populated country in the world. 30% of the population is nomadic. The majority of the Mongolian people are either nonreligious or Tibetan Buddhist, and the nation is in great need of missionaries to encourage the Christian population and help reach out to those still searching.
China
Host of the 2008 Summer Olympics and home to 1.3 billion people, Chinas not just grand in land mass and population. Beside the Han Chinese, there are over fifty minority groups. While China has grown in leaps and bounds industrially, intellectually, and economically, it’s still a politically closed nation. Depending on where you are, you may meet Buddhists, Muslims, and Taoists; there are even churches – government approved and regulated. The underground church is extensive and continues growing, even thriving, amidst persecution. While there, you’ll have to pay homage to the Great Wall, and bring light and hope to a people in darkness and depression. How you’ll do that exactly – you’ll find out once you get there.
