For my first post, here’s a little bit of my story and how I got to the point of the World Race!
As a youth and younger adult, I never had a strong desire to participate in church “mission trips.” The idea of traveling to a new place with my friends and serving selflessly sounded fun, but something didn’t sound right. How much would the money and energy used for a week of work affect the long-term lives of people?
In college, I double-majored in Economics and Accounting, with a minor in Spanish. My focus on International Development led me to study the patterns and trends among the world’s developing nations and my Spanish studies opened up a rich culture and allowed me to study abroad in Madrid, Spain. Upon return, the Lord began to put Latin America on my heart, and I began to pray that He would open doors that I might be able to interact with the many cultures and people south of the USA.
As I progressed to grad school, life consisted of countless hours studying reams of flash cards in the cave-like recesses of the SMU business library. It was a challenging season for sure; during study breaks my friends and I would dream of running away. On one of these breaks I discovered the World Race, a nearly yearlong missions program taking young adults from all walks of life and bringing them to the frontlines of caring for the world’s orphaned, widowed, impoverished and spiritually lost.
Thankfully, I was able to keep my head in the books and my mind on the task at hand, managing to graduate, pass the CPA, and begin work for one of the Big 4. To many of my school peers, I had “made it” in terms of starting a career on the right track. I am proud of those accomplishments, and while I continued to work hard, learn the workings of a business, and make a comfortable salary, the idea of boldly living on mission for the Gospel and furthering the work of God’s kingdom continued to press on my heart.
Last year, I was invited by close friends to participate in the first trip to establish missions and development work for Christian ministry, HOI, in Nicaragua. During preparation for the trip, we read Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton, which described the struggles with missions, how to effect long term physical and spiritual development through missions. In Nicaragua, we assisted in community development, encouraging and volunteering our time to the projects that the community had determined for themselves and were themselves contributing countless hours to. By empowering the community, HOI seeks to develop lasting and meaningful relationships that will open doors to sharing the Gospel and true, relational life change.
Fast forward to this summer. During a matter of just a few weeks, the Lord shook my world up a bit. My mother had a serious health scare (she is since back to wonderful health!) and I separated from my job. My family’s health is something I’ve taken for granted and my job, title, salary, and position were a source of serious pride for me. In a blink, these “foundations” I had set my heart on seemed more like shifting sand.
In each situation, as soon as I got the bad news, I verbally stated to myself, “The Lord is Sovereign and He is in control.” I meant it. And rather than become anxious and worry as is my normal tendency when things seem out of my control, He gave me His peace. What grace, to feel such peace in the midst of such rough waters. I was able to rest soundly and to feel restoration from the past several years of intensive study and work and extracurricular schedules.
And The World Race again came to the forefront. A dear friend of mine announced that she will be leaving her job at the end of the year and participating in the Race. I was so excited for her when she announced, and was proud of her courage in her willingness to be bold for the Kingdom. Over the next few days, a little voice inside me (which, I have now come to realize was the Big Voice of the Father) urged, “Why not me? Maybe I should look in to it?” I know that in the Book of Matthew, Christ’s last message to His disciples is that they go into the world, to all nations and peoples, and teach them the Good News that He (Christ) had come to earth, died for the sins of all, and that He is Alive (Matthew 28). What would it look like for me to take a leap of faith and go into the world?
When I browsed the website of The World Race, I discovered The Spanish Route, the first Race that would travel to 11 different Spanish-speaking nations in Central and South America. My heart skipped a beat. I stayed up for hours reading blog posts from current Racers describing the Lord’s work around the world, healing broken hearts and binding wounds (Psalms 147:3). The World Race is focused on working with in-country, local ministry partners to help them in short-term projects to benefit their long-term development goals for the community. It matches perfectly with my skills, abilities, and passions for serving the Lord through serving Latin America.
I spoke to my close family and community at church and together we prayed for the past several months as I applied and interviewed for the Race. And, as of last week, I am excited to announce I will indeed be joining The World Race, January 2015 – The Spanish Route!
Starting in January 2015, I will be traveling with 25 other men and women to 11 different countries in Central and South America (Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile). While there, we will serve practically through teaching and tutoring students, running Biblical after-school and summer programs, providing manual labor to clean, cook, paint and build. We will also be sharing the Gospel through evangelism and preaching opportunities, from door-to-door relationship building to leading worship services in local churches. I am so excited to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ who give their lives to ministry in Latin America, by helping them with the orphanages, churches, and other ministries they run.
Some of you have received my support “letter” already. Read my upcoming post, “How YOU Can Join Me” for more on ways you can support me, through prayer, financial support and encouragement. Also, be sure to *SUBSCRIBE* to my blog (via the toolbar under my photo in the upper left!) to get my blog posts delivered straight to your inbox!
Thank you for reading a little bit about who I am and how I got here. If you have any questions or comments about the Gospel, about my story, or about my upcoming adventure, feel free to let me know.
God Bless!
