Hi everyone!
As I embark on this exciting new chapter of my life, I have really been thinking about why I decided to do the World Race. It’s crazy to think that in less than one year from now I will be off to Peru to begin an 11-month mission trip!
To be honest, I had never even heard of the World Race before July of this year. I was doing an internship abroad in Cape Town, South Africa when I met Mackenzie Bell—someone I am so blessed to now call a friend and who introduced me to this journey! We worked in the same office and soon became good friends and even roommates. It was crazy how much we had in common and we just instantly seemed to click! It was so nice having someone I both had things in common with and who also fundamentally had the same beliefs I did. Pretty soon after meeting, Mackenzie mentioned that she would be doing the World Race after graduating college in May. When she explained what the World Race was (at the time I’d never heard of it before!) she began by saying it was an 11-month long mission trip to 11 different countries. All I could think was WOW! It truly sounded amazing. We had both talked about how we were unsure about what we wanted to do after college, both graduating this coming May. The more we talked about it, the more I resonated with what she was saying. I’ve always struggled to find something I feel drawn to, something I feel passionate about career wise. It’s been frustrating and disheartening, especially as more and more people ask the daunting, “So, what are your plans after graduating?” I’ve almost always had a plan, something to look forward to or work towards. So, admitting that I honestly had (and still have) no idea was difficult and scared me. We talked about this and Kenzie told me about how she doesn’t think God wants her to have it all figured out just yet, and I found that to be so awe-inspiring. One day she said, “Hey you should do the World Race too!” I laughed at the time and denied the excitement that went off in my mind at the idea, instead saying “No that’s your thing! I couldn’t…” But she encouraged me to think about it, so for the next month I couldn’t get it out of my head and for a month after that I decided to seriously think and pray about it.
Finally, one day, I just couldn’t say no anymore. I had been praying about my decision, asking God for strength and guidance. As I sat doing homework I decided to take a minute to myself because I couldn’t focus. I was so torn about what to do with the World Race. I couldn’t deny that it sounded amazing and was exactly what I didn’t even know I was looking for (taking a year off after college wasn’t even something I thought about, much less doing a mission trip, but in all honesty I have no idea what I want to do and I guess I was just playing the waiting game hoping to figure it out when the time came). This may sound cliché or crazy, but I turned on the radio to K-Love (music has always been a source of calm for me) and I prayed for a sign. A song had just finished playing and Matthew West’s “All In” came on the radio. I started crying as I listened to it.
“My feet are frozen on this middle ground. The water’s warm here but the fire’s gone out. I played it safe for so long the passion left. Turns out safe is just another word for regret. So, I step to the edge and I take a deep breath. We’re all dying to live but we’re all scared to death. And this is the part where my head tells my heart. You should turn back around but there’s no turning back now. I’m going all in. Headfirst into the deep end. I hear You calling. And this time the fear won’t win. I’m going, I’m going all in”
As I listened to the words I realized what had been holding me back—fear. I was scared of missing out with family and friends. Scared of not being Christian or religious enough. Scared that I didn’t know enough about the Bible or that I wouldn’t be good enough to do the World Race. I feared disappointing my mom and my grandparents. I had been so wrapped up in fear that it was tearing me away from what I knew I felt deep down. And that was that I wanted to go. Not only wanted to, but I needed to. I’ve been so fortunate to travel to many places and I have had some wonderful experiences, and while I will always love traveling, I have been craving for something more. To do something more meaningful. To actually make a difference. And I could feel that this was exactly what I needed to do!
I applied and within a week I was accepted. It took me an entire day to fill out the application, and I remember being incredibly nervous about the phone interview. But, when I got the call, I couldn’t help but cheer with excitement! I started to tear up and the overwhelming sense of peace and excitement I felt in that moment was indescribable. A million thoughts started to buzz in my mind, and I couldn’t wait to take the next steps.
I really feel that God placed Mackenzie in my life at the best possible time. Not only has she been a great and constant friend, but she introduced me to an experience that I truly feel will change my life. (She’ll be participating in an August route, check out her blog here: mackenziebell.theworldrace.org ! 🙂 I’ve always wanted to do a mission trip, but I have never had or really made the time to do one before. Now, I’m going all in and I can’t wait to grow in my relationship with Christ and to see what He has in store for me!
If you don’t know me, want to learn more about me, or have any questions at all please head over to my “About Me” page or feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Thank you so much for stopping by! (:
Love,
Kalee
