Why the world race? This is a question that has been asked many times this past month as many of us have become homesick. We miss our family and friends, and the luxuries we took for granted back home.So why am I here? Why have I left everything behind to live out of a backpack?
The answer to that question begins with a prayer. That prayer went something like this “God show me what You want me to do this next year that I would not only be closest to You this year, but also for the rest of my life.
Later that week God kept asking me if I trust Him. My answer every time was Yes Lord, I trust You completely. That same day I had dinner with a friend who encouraged me to do missions, she knew it was what was on my heart. She asked me where I would want to go and I told her either Africa or Latin America.
Earlier that year I had a very strong desire to go to the Caribbean. I was very frustrated that I couldn’t go right then and didn’t know what to do about it. Later that night my friend sent me a link to the World Race. There it was,the first route ever made up entirely of Latin American countries, including two countries in the Caribbean. I knew I had to go. The next day God told me that I need to email my parents to tell them about it, I decided I would rather do it later. That night my dad sent me a message asking if I had thought any more about missions. So I told him I would write him an email.
It took me a long time to apply for the race, I was scared of giving up certain things. God knew how to help me realise that He is worthy. I found out that the training camp date for the World Race was at the same time I had a 50% assessment for one of my courses. Either I go to training camp and fail, or I sit my test and don’t go on the World Race. I have never been one to give up that easily. I was on my knees before the Lord telling Him that He is worthy of everything, I just want to serve Him.
So I began to look at other courses that I could do, none of them had me even slightly interested. Then one of my friends told me about her favourite course that she did. It was a Geography course, development studies, with a big focus on inequality in Latin America. This course became the only way for me to go on the World Race.After a few days of trying to get signed into this course, I was finally accepted about an hour before the final deadline for changing courses. I ended up getting the best grades in that course of my entire time at university.
The time came around for my interview and as many others I found myself thinking why would they ever want me to go on this trip? I am not equipped for this. After my interview I could not help but praise and worship the Lord. My heart broke for those who do not know Him and do not yet know how much they need Him. There was nothing I wanted more than for them to be able to worship Him as I was. Despite the feelings of inadequacy, my dad kept speaking truth over my life and telling me that I will be going on this trip. Sure enough, a few weeks later I got the phone call that I will be going on the journey of a lifetime.
Now, a few months in, although it may be difficult at times, I can not imagine being anywhere else or doing anything else. I absolutely love serving the Lord and seeing Him work in and through me. There is no better place to be than in God’s perfect will.
