When I tell people I am going on the World Race they are either instantly excited for me or they ask me this string of questions. The first time someone asked me why I really didn’t have an answer. I spouted of some things about getting a chance to do ministry, going on a mission trip and getting to know God better, all of which are true, but the conversation forced me to take a step back and really think about it.
If you had told me 6 months ago I would apply to go on a mission trip I would have thought you were crazy. Six months ago I wasn’t in church anymore and I hated God. God used my close friend and now mentor to force me to confront my anger and make a decision. In January I surrendered my life to Christ and asked him to really change and heal me in whatever way he wanted. That was the start of my great adventure.
Ever since then my life has taken off. It’s felt like everything is changing at an impossible speed. After three months of petal to the metal life changes I felt God telling me I needed to look in to a mission trip. “Alright God does two weeks this summer work?” He said I’m thinking bigger. “Ok God how about two months in Senegal does that work?” He said not what I have for you. Then I remembered a woman I knew going on the race and started to do some research. As I read more about it and began reading blog after blog my heart started beating faster and faster. “God…do you really want me to give up a year of my life, putting off all my other plans to go on the world race?” “Apply” he said.
I got accepted, and yes, I am excited. I am excited because I get to go to eleven different countries and do ministry in eleven different ways; I am excited to be joining this amazing community of world racers and getting to know God better; I am excited for the people I will get to meet and serve and love along the way; but, more importantly, I am going on this trip because I am being obedient to God. I have been praying for him to use this trip however he wants, where he leads I will follow. I have no idea where the world race is going to take me, but I will be following God all the way.
I hope you all will join me in my prayers for guidance and raising support, and I thank those who are already praying for me. I also hope that you will prayerfully consider investing in God’s work by supporting me financially. I need about $16,000 to make this World Race a reality. That may seem like a lot but we serve a big God who works in big ways. He can use anything big or small to accomplish his plans. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
