“What are you thinking for colleges next year?”, “What are your plans after graduation?”, “What are you thinking for your major?”
Those started to become my least favorite questions. Ever since I went on my first trip to Nicaragua when I was 12, there was no doubt in my mind that I was packing my stuff and moving there the second I walked off of my graduation stage. Especially as I got to be 14, 15, I mean if Katie Davis (author of Kisses from Katie) can do it in Uganda I can certainly do it! I mean we even have the same name! But as I got older, I became more and more unsure. We went on school trips to college campuses and took classes preparing us for college, and it seemed so fun and I didn’t want to miss out! I really started to doubt my original plan.
Was I just young and set my mind on something way to early? I mean I still want to be a missionary but when do I go? Does college matter if I am going to be a missionary? I probably won’t make much money even if I do have a solid degree.. What was I going to do if I just moved by myself? Wait I would be going by myself..
To be honest, initially God did not really get a say in this as I started worrying about it. I never really asked Him what He wanted. It was always what I wanted or thought I did. I became really irritable towards the question. My parents would agree with me (sorry guys). After a while of constant stressing about my future it finally dawned on me that, I have this really cool God who has created me for a purpose and loves me so very much, why don’t I talk to Him about it? So I really started to pray about my future and what He wanted me to do.
I remember I knew a few adults who went on The World Race 11 in 11, and I thought that was the coolest thing. One night I was stressing about these questions and I felt this tug to look The World Race up online. I watched the videos, read a couple blogs, then I saw something different, Gap Year. What is this? The original race was for ages 21-35 but this one was 18-22. I read about it and saw the routes. 3 countries in 9 months, 3 months in each country. Financially it was significantly more than my trips to Nicaragua. I continued to search for other options but I kept coming back to The World Race. After a bunch of prayer, asking for opinions, and many attempts at convincing my mother later, I took a big step and applied.
The original route I applied for was the October Route 1, going to Thailand, Malawi and then Guatemala. Once I was accepted I was told the route was already full but that they were working on either a new route, or they would switch me to a different route. Just recently they added the September Route 1, but instead of the regular 3 in 9, it is 5 countries in 9 months. It goes to Costa Rica and Nicaragua each for 1 month, then Ethiopia and Nepal each for 2 months, then finishes with the Philippines for 3 months. After this new route was posted I knew this was the one I should go on, I have prayed about it and I have officially switched to this route.
I am so excited for all that God has planned for my squad and I. I hope that you are just as excited as I am, and I ask for your prayers as I go through the preparations and while I am out in the field! Thank you for reading, I know it is very long!
Love,
Katie
