My name is Jackie, 21, from Corpus Christi, Texas. I graduated from Del Mar College in Corpus with my Associates in Psychology in December 2014. Fluent in Spanish. Love to read and would like to have a library like the one in Beauty and the Beast. Completely in love with anything Disney. Would love to learn how to play the guitar and piano. I love me some really good coffee! My first mission trip was to Guatemala in September 2014. I had dreamed of doing a mission trip since I was in middle school and when I got the opportunity I was ecstatic. Guatemala I love you!
God has really been working on me for the past two in a half years. I’ve always been very shy and would try to avoid eye contact with anyone as much as I could. In January 2014, God prompted me to audition for my church worship team and that experience helped me with my timidity, that audition helped me break out and stop being so shy. I didn’t make the worship team, but I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to audition and step out of my comfort zone. I guess when you pray and ask God to make you uncomfortable He takes it seriously. For the past year, my prayers have consisted of God making me uncomfortable and doing what I would never consider doing. I started volunteering in children’s ministry and a year later went to serve with students, where I have been for about 6 months now. My middle school and high school years weren’t that great and the thought of leading students was intimidating, but God said, “do it,” so I did and I love it!
So what made me sign up to do the world race?
In December of 2014, God prompted me to start preparing physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Now the physical part was difficult, but God just wouldn’t let it go, until I finally got in a routine. About mid-June of this year, I couldn’t go to bed, so I picked up a book I was currently reading as I texted a friend and all of a sudden what I was reading was matching up with what I was texting and I just heard God say, “Go.”
I asked God to make me uncomfortable and this is a HUGE step for me. I have never left my parents for more than a week. I’ve always tried to do all I could to please my parents and make them happy, but this time I’m putting them second and putting God first. I know God has something great in store for my parents and siblings while I’ll be gone and I can’t wait to hear all about it when I get back. I’m still a couple months away from leaving, but I already feel like I am over there. I can’t wait to see what all God will show me, how he is going to build me up spiritually, and how strong our relationship will be at the end of the 11 months.
But the journey doesn’t begin in January it starts now. Fundraising is a big part of mission trips and I ask that you prayfully consider donating and helping with this HUGE leap of faith I am taking. Any amount helps! You can do a one-time gift or set up a monthly donation of whatever amount you’d like, it can be $10, $40, $50, or even $100 a month. Whatever God is leading you to give, I say thank you for your obedience in being the hands and feet in God’s church.
I would greatly appreciate prayers! God has something AMAZING in store and I ask that you would pray that I would do all that he is calling me to do and also for everyone who God has called to go on this adventure. Please pray that we would all be fully funded and open to what all God wants to do. Once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
And the JOURNEY BEGINS!
