Welcome to my first blog!! I am going to go ahead and warn you that writing is not my thing so just ignore all the mistakes lol!
I am going through so many emotions ever since I got accepted to go on the World Race. One minute I am so excited, wishing I was leaving tomorrow and the next minute I am thinking what in the world am I doing. It’s not every day that someone gives up their whole life to travel the world and share the gospel, with people who don’t even know what that is. A lot of people think I am crazy for doing this and ask why?
I have always wanted to travel. Years ago when I didn’t know Jesus I decided that I wanted to go to Africa one day. I was on the right track, but had no idea at the time I wouldn’t be there just to sight see. I asked Jesus Christ into my life about 4 years ago when I was a sophomore in college. I was involved in a Christian organization called Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU). This is where my relationship with Jesus really started to grow. About two years ago God laid Africa on my heart, but, in a different way than before. God didn’t want me to go to Africa to travel, He wanted me to go there for Him. CRU offers state side and international summer projects which are mission trips for college age students. I had decided that I was going to apply for an international summer project in Kenya until I found out that two of the staff on my campus was leading the trip to Senegal, Africa. My first trip there lasted 6 weeks in the summer of 2009. I would have to say this is where God opened my heart to the world. I was so enclosed with the comfort of home that I had no idea that there was a whole world outside my door. God taught me on this trip how desperately people need to know Jesus. It is scary to think that people in other countries don’t even have access to learn about Jesus and who He is. Do you know just how powerful God really is? I sure didn’t before the summer of 2009. I saw Gods power work right in front of my eyes when 50 plus people accepted Jesus into their life in a village where we couldn’t even communicate. All we were able to do is share a film about the life of Jesus Christ (Jesus Film) in their language of course. I knew when I returned home to Kentucky I was going back. Sure enough I was back in Senegal, Africa the next summer for another 6 weeks. God used this trip in my life to strengthen my heart for the nations. God helped me to realize how desperate these people are for Jesus and how passionate I am about missions. How are they going to hear unless I go tell them?
Why the World Race? The idea of this trip started about 2 years ago after my first trip to Africa. I thought how awesome would it be to travel to 11 different countries! Over the two years as I prayed about it God began to change my heart to think how awesome would it be to share Jesus with 11 different countries! I also had the option to spend a year in Senegal, Africa where I have spent my last 2 summers. Yes, I love Senegal and would love to go back there because I am comfortable there, I know how to get around and I know people. God on the other hand has a different plan for me. He wants me to step further outside my comfort zone so that I will have to rely on Him and Him alone. I want to be challenged and see God move in my life in ways that I never thought possible. I know I am called to missions because it is my passion and is one of my gifts that God has given me.
Thanks for bearing with me on my first attempt at this blogging thing. Hopefully I will get better as time goes on.
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17
