Hey hey!
I hope all is well on your end of cyberspace!
Well, folks, I cannot believe that this is really happening. I, Heather Jean Tobey, am going on the World Race. My grand adventure started exactly a week ago when I received one of the best phone calls of my life thus far: a call from the AIM admissions office telling me that I have been accepted into the World Race January 2015 Route 4! I am ELATED!
Can you believe it?! I can hardly believe it, myself! This has been a dream in the making that is finally coming true. More on that later, though. For now, let me share a bit about myself!
I am a native to Richmond, VA (RVA). It is much like a smaller version of Portland, OR. A.k.a. it is full of hipsters who drink Kombucha and cold brewed coffee, wear our grandparent’s clothes, and take great pride in both the food and art culture of our city. Just watch an episode of Portlandia and you will have a better idea of what goes down in the RVA. This is video that shows what RVA is all about!
My family is everything to me. Dad, Mom, Andrew, Sarah, and Adam. They are my biggest encouragers, and I just love them so much! This is us on Christmas Day 2013:
Adam (no, he is not Jase from Duck Dynasty), Andrew, Bella (dog), Dad, Mom, Sarah, and Me
They are the greatest blessing in my life. I often find myself overwhelmed by God’s grace that He demonstrates to me day after day through my family. My parent’s wisdom is astounding, and my siblings support (as well as their general weirdness) make my heart overflow. My favorite time is Christmas when we are all under one roof again – even if for the a short time.
Nothing compares to the joy I find in my church family. My heart swells with love when I think of them. Without their prayers and support through all of my ups and downs, I do not think I would be going on such an adventure as this. They taught me how to love people even when it doesn’t feel good, to never give up on God, how to sing and dance, how to worship in all aspects of my life, and how to be a an integral part of something so much greater than myself and my city. I am currently serving in the missions department and loving every second of it. God is doing great things in that place and being a part of it is so exciting.
I live at home with my two best friends, Mom and Dad, while I finish up college. I am a Public Relations student at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond City. Graduation is in December 2014! Hollah! Believe me when I tell you that graduation day cannot come soon enough.
The Lord is doing crazy things in my heart and moving me in ways I could never have imagined. The World Race is only the beginning of my life-long ministry as an ambassador for His Kingdom! My little heart can hardly stand having to wait seven more months to get this party started, but Jesus has already given me much grace and spoken to my anxious, passionate self. He keeps reminding me ever day that “the preparation stage is just as important as the ministry stage.”
I have a lot to learn at the feet of Jesus as I prepare for the World Race. Pray that my heart is open and ready to receive all that the Lord has for me both before and during the race!
Let the great adventure of following Jesus’ voice begin!
A Few Things I Love
I love to spend time with people over a cup of coffee or some really great ethnic food. I dance in my kitchen while baking gluten free treats… it’s quite the show. I love the performing arts. I love to sing in my car at the top of my lungs and try my hardest to hit whatever heavenly high note Kari Jobe sings in her latest album. I love being a part of the anti-slavery movement. I am incredibly completive, so watch out… it’s the Tobey Way 😉 I very much enjoy getting sweaty at the gym and then coming home to get puppy kisses from my sweet lab, Bella.
