My parents met in camp ministry, and when they were called back into ministry when I was 9, I knew I ultimately wanted to do some kind of mission work. However, as I got older I tried to create my own plan of how missions would look. When I first began to research about the race, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to apply. Honestly, I did not believe it was something that I would actually pursue. God had a completely different plan that He has revealed to me as far as His plan for what missions looks like for my life. I was thinking like camp counselor or maybe a short term mission trip. However, He has opened every single door for me, and I have no doubt that the race is what God has for me in this season.
Trusting that the Lord’s plan is best has always been something that I have struggled with. Yet, through my disbelief and doubt, God is showing up and providing for me in even the simplest ways. He has proven to me that He cares about even the smallest desires of my heart. God has shown me this through several different ways recently. First, I was very concerned with how my parents would feel about me going on the race before I finish school. I brought this to the Lord before bringing the race up to my parents, and I felt God asking me to trust Him to handle the situation. When I approached my parents about the race, I was surprised that they were in favor of me going if I felt that the Lord was calling me to go. I am so blessed that they have been very supportive of this next chapter in my life.
A thousand thoughts have been flooding my mind with things to do and how to prepare for living out of a backpack for 11 months. I have never been out of the country so sometimes the preparation is overwhelming. My biggest challenge with this has been letting go of planning and allowing God to provide. When I begin to worry about funds, equipment, or what life will be like, God tells me to be still. For someone with my personality, being still is not something that comes easily. In these last couple of months God has also been teaching me that pursuing Him is costly, but it is worth the price.
I ask that you please pray for myself and my squad as we prepare to launch in October. I also ask that you will pray that the Lord continues to provide for me. In order to meet my next fundraising goal, I need to raise $5,000 before July 22nd! I appreciate all the prayer and donations that I have already received, the out pour of love and support has been incredibly humbling! I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store as I follow Him out of comfort and into the race!
