It’s probably time I answer the question of why I’m going on the World Race in the first place so here we go!
Two years ago, I was scrolling through Facebook and happened upon some pictures of beautiful landscapes, children laughing, and people serving, all posted by a girl from my church who had recently left on the World Race. I was immediately drawn in and curiously looked through every picture, read every caption, and eventually found myself enthralled by the blog posts from far away lands. I remember seeing where she had gotten accepted and had begun fundraising, but I had just scrolled right on by, not taking the time to look in to what exactly it was that she was going to do.
After reading a few posts I began looking on The World Race website and learning all I could about what Adventures in Missions stood for and what their goal was. Spreading the Gospel, that was the bottom line. Letting people know that there is a Savior who died for us and loves us unconditionally all while serving and loving on them. How could I not want to be a part of that?!
In the beginning the idea of going was more of a curious nudge. I didn’t think I was equipped or qualified to be discipling (is that even a word?) to others, I still had so many questions myself! As time passed, however, it went from being a curious nudge to a spiritual tug. I found myself spending more time thinking about it and talking about it, it was something that had found its way in to almost every single one of my prayers. I continually asked God for clarity and direction, for Him to keep His hand in the decision making process and to not allow me to make any decision out of selfish ambition or self-righteous desire.
This summer while working camp I endlessly flip-flopped between being 100% about applying and being 100% that there was no way I could ever do something like this. Each time I found reasons as to why I wasn’t “good enough” to go, God put another person in to my life with ties to the Race and He showed me 100 reasons as to why I should go for every reason I found as to why I shouldn’t go. God continuously reassured me that I was “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalms 139:14) and that His plan was more glorious than any excuse I could come up with.
After years of prayer and one application process later, I was accepted. All that I had been curious about and longing for was coming true. In the end, it’s not about getting to see other countries or cultures, it’s not about having another thing checked off of some “Good Christian Checklist.” It’s about getting the opportunity to love people who have maybe never known what true, divinely inspired love is like. It’s about learning to rely on God to fill every need we could ever have up to, during, and after the World Race. It’s about having the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus and serve others in a way that will (hopefully) impact them for eternity. It’s about being Kingdom minded.
In eight months (and some change) I get to step out in the most wonderful faith journey imaginable. Am I nervous? Of course. Is it scary? No doubt! Am I absolutely beside my self with excitement? You have NO idea. Regardless of all of the “what ifs” that are constantly thrown my way, I CAN NOT WAIT to see what all the Lord is going to do in my life and in the lives of so many more people over the next year and a half.
I was told the other day that “this whole World Race thing” takes dedication and I honestly disagree. It’s not dedication, it’s submission. God’s will, His plan, is perfect and pure and my one job is to submit to His command. Simple as that.
Submit to His plan.
Serve others.
Build the Kingdom.
Because what good is a kingdom if it only has one person?
Love always,
Katie
