Greetings and welcome to my World Race blog! To get this party started, I decided to make an introduction post explaining who I am, why I am here, where I am going/when will I leave, what you can expect from this blog, and how to get involved in my journey!
First, the WHO: My name is Jessica; I like to go by “Jess,” but that’s your choice. I am from Midlothian, Virginia (it’s outside of Richmond), but I currently live in Harrisonburg, VA. I graduated from James Madison University in December with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. My life goal since 2010 has been to be a Speech-Language Pathologist in a hospital setting working with adults with swallowing deficits (and also be a missionary and a mom), and I am currently working as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant in an elementary school administering speech therapy. I lead a small group of sophomore women called the Original Rat Pack and those women bring me so much joy wow I love them. My interests include wearing chacos, using pens, taking bubble baths, hoarding journals, and coconut oil. I have an unhealthy and never-ending obsession with Lypsyl.
The WHY: I am here on this website and writing this blog because I have been accepted to and have committed to go on the World Race! The World Race is an 11-month mission trip through Adventures in Missions that will take me to 11 countries in 11 months. On this trip, my squad and I will be partnering with local churches and ministries to meet the needs of the communities in which we will live and most importantly share God’s love and the hope of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet. God has been setting me up to go on this trip for YEARS, and I decided to throw my plans for my future and the expectations of others out the window and walk into obedience by applying. I was accepted in January right after graduating and starting a full time job, so things really do happen in threes.
The WHERE/WHEN: I am a member of a squad that will depart the U.S. in October of 2017, and we are going to Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Swaziland, Lesotho, South Africa, China, and Mongolia. The route is subject to change, but I am excited to be a part of this squad. To join this squad or learn more about it, click here.
The WHAT: This blog is intended to be a tool for me to share with my family, my friends, fellow/future Racers, and the World Wide Web what God is doing in and through me before, during, and immediately after the Race. I will be sharing my experiences, my struggles, what I am learning, and how God is working. I haven’t blogged since high school, and I’m feeling rusty and dusty and wordy, so bear with me as I learn. Feel free to share my blogs with anyone and everyone; the more the merrier!
And finally, the HOW: The World Race is an incredible journey that the Lord has called me to, but I cannot do this alone. A lot of people have already begun to ask me, “What do you need?” and “How can I help?” I am tremendously thankful for all of you. There are many ways you can get involved and join me. I, first of all, covet your prayers. Please be praying for me as I prepare my heart for this journey. Please be praying for the members of my squad as we add to our number and prepare as a community to go on a journey of abandonment, brokenness, and dependence. Your prayers are so important and so powerful.
Secondly, I ask for your financial support. I wholeheartedly believe that God does not call us into anything where He will not provide for us in that place. As a member of this squad, I need to raise $18,017 by this time next year. I am not afraid, but I do need your help. In the menu on the lefthand side of my blog there is a button that says, “Support Me!,” and that will take you to a secure site that you can use to donate directly to my Race. I will also be sending out support letters in the next few weeks, and if you would like to receive one and donate by mail, please let me know.
Finally, you can support me by hitting the “Subscribe for Updates” button at the top of my blog! This feature allows you to plug in your email address, and you will get an email notifying you when I have posted anything new to this blog. That way, you will never miss a post!
Thank you all for taking the time to read this first post and for your desire to join me on this journey! I am so thankful for the people God has put in my life and all of the ways you all have blessed, loved, and supported me. You guys rock and I’m so thankful.
If you have any other questions about my Race, how you can get involved, Adventures in Missions, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact me or leave a comment! I’m sure I left out a lot of important info in this post, and am more than willing to answer any questions!
To God be the glory.
xoxo, Jess
