Fourteen months ago, I left the United States to spend a month in a children’s home in Uganda.
I woke up most mornings to the sound of roosters and giggling (sometimes crying) babies ready for bath time.
I spent play time with tiny arms reaching up for me and the little smile on the other end exclaiming “Auntie Kearstin!”
I held little Isaiah in the hospital for his malaria treatments after he arrived at the children’s home.
I took Maxy to the kitchen for a glass of milk to cool the fire in his mouth after eating a mysterious hot pepper from the yard.
I went to bed under a mosquito net every night scribbling away in a notebook and talking to God about the gratitude I felt to be on such an adventure with and for Him.
Since then, in the corners of my mind, I’ve referred to that time in Uganda as the best 30 days of my life.
Thirteen months ago, I came home. I finished my last year of college. After graduation I got my very own apartment, big girl job and a brand new (to me) car. I even adopted my very own fur baby, a pug mix named Pepper. Man, do I love her.
Even after hitting those milestones of what becoming a self-sufficient adult in the United States looks like, those 30 days in Uganda are still, in my mind and my heart the best of my life.
Over the past few months, the Lord has been showing me that He has no intention to stop taking me on adventures in His name anytime soon.
My God is one of surprises, love and adventure. And those three things are the cornerstones of where He is taking me next.
I was recently accepted into a program with the ministry Adventures in Missions, called The World Race.
The World Race is an 11-month mission trip that goes to 11 different countries.
It is designed to provide long-term relationship and care, through partnership with local ministries, adding to what is already done by local people.
In August 2019, I leave the United States to work in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.
But the adventure starts right now, here at home.
It starts with a year of allowing the Lord to prepare my heart and mind. Already, He is teaching me lessons of humility and reliance.
I am under no impression that this is something I can, or should, do on my own. I want to share this experience with you.
As you may have noticed, this is my World Race blog! Yay blog!
This is where I’ll be sharing updates about the preparation process, talking about fundraising and bringing you into all the nitty gritty details of what the Lord is doing in my heart along the way.
This is also where I’ll be sharing stories of adventure, heart change and lots of Jesus once I enter the field next August.
I want you to be a part of this journey.
I want to make my adventure, our adventure. It starts here and it starts now.
Here are three simple ways to join me:
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The most important, pray. Right now, I’m asking that you would please pray for the Lord’s preparation of my heart.
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Subscribe. If you want to subscribe to my blog and stay up to date on what God is doing in my life and in this journey, click the orange “Subscribe for Updates” in the top left-hand corner.
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The Lord is doing neat things, guys. Among all nations. And I’m blessed to be a part of it in 11.
“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” -Psalm 96:3
