I am going on the World Race.
I am going on the World Race.
I am going on the World Race.
I have had to repeat that phrase in the mirror over and over again in the last month to really let it sink in. It is normally followed with me asking myself “Are you really going to do this?” For a long time, I said no.
For years my good friend and mentor, Gretchen, has been pushing me towards the World Race. “You were made for this!” she would say to me across the table as we enjoyed tacos, or pasta, or yoghurt or our next food-venture we planned to connect at. My response was always “Yeah that sounds awesome.” But I never looked it up, never gave it a second look; I was dedicated to my education. I had my own plan for my life.
For some reason, really randomly (although I’m sure if you ask God, He wouldn’t say it is random) I pulled it up the night before my little brother Jackson left to work for camp for the summer. Maybe it was because he was going on an adventure and I was staying at home, working in fast food and wanted to look up an adventure I could go on, maybe it was because I was getting close to my senior year in college and started to worry about what I was doing after, or maybe God just put it on my heart and I took a visit to their website. I’m sure you are looking for that moment here where I say “I cried and I knew in that moment this is what God wanted me to do!” Yeah, nooooo. Doesn’t really work like that.
The next morning my parents and I took Jackson to the airport to head off to Hume Lake for the summer and we went to Denny’s after. I presented this idea to them over my usual Grand Slam breakfast meal and let them watch the video on the website on my phone. As a young adult who always treasures the wisdom and insight from her parents, hoping that they could give me some sort of direction in this big decision, they really didn’t give me much. Psh, typical wonderful parents letting me make my own decisions and be my independent adventurous self. HA!
I put the idea aside and spent the summer of 2015 at home, alone, with my dogs, doing summer school, and working full time at Chick-fil-A. Parents gone, brother gone, and friends from school gone, I really only had God to lean on. [I am now figuratively putting my honesty and vulnerability hat on] It was the hardest summer of my life. That summer began a really rough season that I am still currently in, battling depression, anxiety, doubt, and anger. Amidst all of this though, God kept pushing me towards the World Race. In WEIRD ways to. From multiple people randomly mentioning to me “Have you ever heard of the World Race? I feel like you would be perfect for it!” to meeting people that have gone on it to my own mother meeting a barista in Southern California who just returned from the race and connecting us over Facebook (crazy, right?)
But furthermore, I don’t know why, but I feel the need to communicate that this whole process has not been all sunshine and rainbows. I have battled the idea for a LONG time, one day convinced it wasn’t for me, the next sure this is what I wanted to do. I do not feel “called” in any way to the World Race, but am simply choosing the uncomfortable in order to become a better follower of Christ. Following Christ is not easy, it is not comfortable, it is the hardest thing you will ever have to do, and I think that was the final reason I said yes to the World Race.
Applications opened up in January and I slowly (and I mean slowly) completed my application. I had my phone interview while I was sitting on my bed looking out the window of my apartment. I remember telling the interviewer how I long for so much more as a follower of Christ. More than the 9-5, more than the comfortable American dream and more love, that the world really needs right now. I got the acceptance call at the end of February, again while I was lying in my bed (sick this time) in the middle of me running the Global Ministries Conference at my school (ironic, I know).
I know many of you have “followed” me through social media and have seen many of my adventures and can maybe pin me as a “fearless adventurer,” always traveling, always fundraising but behind those posts, there is a lot of fear and anxiety. Here are just a few things that run through my head when I think of going…
– It’s an entire year of my life! I’m going to be 24 when I get back. Doesn’t that mean I will be set back to what I’m working towards in life?
– I’m sleeping in tents and hammocks and doing bucket showers… FOR A YEAR. (I can do camping for a week or a weekend, but a whole year?! What have I gotten myself into?)
– I will miss out on so much. I’ll probably have friends getting married, having babies, graduating college, making memories and I will miss it all. That part brings me to tears.
– I’m going alone. New people, new languages, new cultures. No one who knows or understands how I work or what I need when I’m sad, frustrated, or anxious. I have to start all over.
– I have to raise over $18,000 while trying to graduate college. I think that one speaks for itself.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a LOT of excitement in being a World Racer! That list is HUGE, but I felt the need to communicate my fear, especially to you who will be supporting me and following my journey and partnering with me in PRAYER *hint hint cough cough. A LOT of my fear subsided when I finally announced I was going and saw the reactions of my communities in support, encouragement, and prayer. I am constantly blessed by all of you. You have no idea how much it means to me.
This is what the next couple of months look for me right now: finishing up the semester and passing my classes. I have a big theology paper that is looming, a big project in my History of Christianity class, and tests that really, I’m just okay getting a C on (if you know me, that’s new for me). I will be spending sometime in the summer down in my hometown in Southern California for family weddings and one of my best friend Emily’s wedding. There I will also be doing some fundraising and getting my fill of beach before coming back and doing summer school and Chick-fil-A again for the summer. It’ll be different than last summer, don’t worry! My parents and brother will be here, I have made friends outside of school so when my people all go home for the summer, I won’t be left alone to just hang with my dogs ;). I’m moving back in with my parents for my last semester at Multnomah to help save money for the World Race and get some good quality time before I leave for a year. My last semester I only have to take 7 credits (HEAVEN), I will be going to World Race training camp in October, and then hopefully graduating college! I look forward with excitement, but also training myself to savor the moments I have now with family and friends.
With all this said, I have a long journey ahead of me. There is fear, oh believe me, there is fear, but there is also a lot of hope.
With all my love,
Jamilyn
I asked a few close friends and family members what they thought when they heard I was doing the World Race and these were their responses:
“Well after I figured out it wasn’t that game show thing that does a race around the world I thought it made a lot of sense for you to want to do it. You’ve told me about profound experiences and encounters with God and as you said “He gave you a heart for His lost children.” It’s a no brainer to see you going to help others for the first year of your true adult life.” -Matt Dingman (friend)
“I’m so thankful God finally gave my sister a missions trip that will keep her and her heart overseas loving and doing what she was made to do. After all this time, she can now live out of the U.S. to see God’s heart and grow exponentially. I believe and pray that God now would provide financially for her to make this dream come to reality so that she may make other people’s dreams a reality.” -Campbell Cummings (brother)
“I thought it was perfect for you. I remember feeling really excited about it… and have been ever since! It’s a move toward what you have always wanted… something that would give you tremendous experience and clarify your role in missions whether stateside or overseas.” -Julia Cummings (mother)
“I was… THRILLED and my heart was pounding with pride because I saw this as a perfect fit for you.” -Steve Cummings (father)
“I was super stoked! It made a lot of sense that you’d want to do that and was no surprise that you got accepted 🙂 I know it’s going to be challenging but I also know that it’s going to be an incredible and growing experience for you.” -Brittyn Maietta (friend)
“It just seemed like the next right thing for you. I had thought about it for you way before you even said anything about it. You were made for missions and this just kept coming into my mind and then you told me you were thinking about it and it just felt like that God moment.” -Gretchen Stone (friend and mentor)
“My thoughts were: PERFECT! A whole year of travel and missions? What could be more fitting for Jamilyn? I knew that it’d be stretching and difficult, but I also knew that you would thrive and grow because you’d be loving people from eleven different portions of the world.” -Kristin Brown (friend)
“I was stoked that after the applications and acceptance was all said and done, you moved into real action and committed! That’s a lot more than a lot further than many of us can get. You’re taking a huge step of faith and though you may not feel prepared now, the Lord is going to equip you to be the most effective for His kingdom on this trip!” -Jessica Bujarski (friend)
“When I heard that you got accepted it was a bittersweet feeling. Knowing they chose a very wonderful candidate whose joy is contagious to others but knowing I won’t see you for a year is the sad part. Knowing you’ll be impacting the lives of others all over the world makes up for it though.” -Grant Warner (friend)
“I felt like God was providing exactly what God intended for you to do. For so many years, I have known you with a heart to explore and I think that this opportunity is one that God has given you to confirm your love for traveling and your passion for sharing the gospel in more than one country over the course of a whole year. I think it is what you are made for and made for exploring God’s creation and giving and discipling. Super excited for you and that’s what I felt when I heard!” -Emily Pihl (friend)
“When I found out you were applying I was SO stoked. I thought that it was the absolute perfect opportunity for you just knowing your heart for missions and God’s children, and of course your constant itch for adventure! You said how you were nervous and didn’t know if you would get accepted or not but I wasn’t even worried. I knew that was where you were supposed to be and that you were a perfect match for this opportunity. And when I found out you got accepted I’m pretty sure I actually did a happy dance. I am seriously so excited for you. I know you are nervous and that it’s going to be challenging. But I know how strong and capable you are of basically anything God puts in front of you. You bring so much joy to everyone around you and I am so excited for the rest of the world to meet such an incredible woman that I know will make a difference in the lives of everyone she meets. God is going to do so much work in you and through you over this coming year and I am so proud of you for taking such a huge risk and for the sacrifices you are making for God’s kingdom.”-Kara Swanson (friend and roommate)
“Well when I found out you were applying I was like “Yeah, sounds about right.” And when you got accepted I was sooooo unbelievably stoked for you. It makes sense though it really does. There is a reason why you have been a prominent figure in your Global missions major and there’s a reason why you were the director of the Global Ministries Conference. There’s a reason why YOU of a toooon of applicants were chosen to be a part of an elite force that God has chosen to impact the lives of many throughout the world. Over the last couple of years, as difficult as it has been, I’ve watched God cultivate talents, skills, abilities, and passions within you that line up with this calling. Jamilyn, you are a incredibly talented human being. You are gifted in so many ways and it’s astounding and ridiculous. Whether it be through arts, through teaching, through serving, through joy, etc… His work in you is evident, your talents and skills are clear, and all the crap you’ve gone through is making you into someone who’s ministry will save so many and bring healing to so many. I’ve always looked up to you and know that God is going to do so many amazing things through you and cannot wait to watch you be a beautiful vessel so He can show His lost children His heart for them through you. I’m honored to call you my sister and so privileged to call you my best friend.” -Jackson Cummings (brother)
