You may be wondering why I chose the World Race. Well let me take you back to October of 2015. I had just made an important decision in my life. I decided to give up a big dream I had been holding on to for years and fully give my life to God. What I mean is that I was living my life by making my own path. Since I was about 16 years old, I had been in love with Japanese culture, and it was my dream to live there. I had done everything in my power to make it happen, but it always fell through. So there I was in my room with tears running down my face, making a bold statement to God. “You can have it all. Use me here,” I told him. “I’ll do whatever you lead me to. Japan is in the past. It wasn’t your will. I want your will. ONLY your will.” I wasn’t kidding. I began moving out of my comfort zone. I began attending ministries in people’s homes and doing what I could to become a part of those ministries. To be honest, I still felt like something was missing. I didn’t quite fit into what I was doing, but I kept going. Before I knew it, I could hear God speaking. I couldn’t hear him before. He began guiding me, and I became so excited, I wanted to do more. I asked him for more.
A little more than two weeks had passed since I had given it all to God. I picked up my phone to check the time, and I had a message from a friend. I opened it, and my heart skipped a beat. It was about a job teaching Japanese children as a missionary. The first thing that popped into my head was that there would be something to disqualify me. I didn’t have a degree, and I had no experience as a missionary, so it was obviously not for me. I turned off the screen and decided it was an impossible option. I couldn’t ignore it though. It was there in my head, and it wouldn’t leave me alone. This is my dream! So I prayed and then replied to my friend with some questions. She put me in touch with the lady who told her about the job, and that lady put me in touch with the people in Japan. They answered all my questions, and I was perfectly qualified. The only thing left, and most important thing, was God’s release for me to go. I had been praying since I got the first message from my friend, but I wanted some serious confirmations before I made such an important decision, and God didn’t disappoint. So there it was, God was telling me to go. I was so amazed. I had been trying for years to make it happen and failed. I gave it to God, and he gave me everything in two weeks time. Amazing. I contacted the people in Japan, and told them I would come after the fall semester ended at my university. They were thrilled, and I bought the plane ticket and would arrive on January 7th of 2016.
It was just a short time after accepting the job in Japan that I was invited to go to a local church that was hosting healing and prophecy rooms. If you don’t know what that is, it’s where you sign up and people pray for you for healing or words from God that he has for you. I signed up for prophecy. It was my turn and they began to speak things that God was revealing to them. It was amazing. I hadn’t told them a thing, and they were already speaking about the journey ahead of me. I’m not new to prophecy, but it still amazes me when God speaks to me through strangers. I was listening and taking it all in with so much joy. Then one of the women said something interesting to me. She said that Japan wasn’t the only country I would go to. It was just the beginning. I was excited and overwhelmed at the same time. What do I do with this information? Japan had been a country I had loved for many years, but it wasn’t the only one. I was fond of so many cultures. I wanted to travel the world, but Japan was number one in my mind. I decided to just put what she said at the back of my mind and concentrate on the adventure at hand. If God wanted me to travel to other countries, he would confirm it in some way.
A couple months later, and I was on my first flight to Japan. Well not just my first flight to Japan, but my first flight in my whole life. It was terrifying and wonderful. God had followed through with all his promises. He had given me one of the deepest desires of my heart, and I was so in love with him for it.
We’ll skip forward a year and about 9 months…
I was at a church worship event. I had signed up for prayer and prophecy yet again. When I went into the room and sat before 4 strangers, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was mostly hoping for some encouragement and clarity. I had spent the last 9 months in America growing spiritually and waiting for the next step. It’s a funny thing; living out a long desired dream, and then it being over. What next?… They prayed for a moment and then each took took turns speaking. One of the men told me that I would go many places carrying the beauty of God, and I would share that beauty with other people. Then a woman spoke after him and said that it would be intercontinental; international. I was surprised. How would this be possible? I decided that when God was ready, he would direct my steps. About a week later I was sitting at my computer browsing Facebook, which believe it or not I rarely do. I see something that catches my eye, and I stop scrolling. It was a man bent down in front of a young boy with no hair wearing an orange saffron (monk’s robe). He was praying with him. My heart began to stir. I look up and see that it’s an add for the World Race. I had heard of the World Race. In fact, I had met someone who had gone on the World Race. I remember that I pushed the thought of going to the back of my mind because the thought was too overwhelming after returning from Japan. This time was different. I was excited by the thought, so I clicked on the add and read some more. I then found myself on YouTube watching videos that other World Racers had posted, and I couldn’t stop crying. This was it. All the things God promised me met here in this moment. I could feel God’s presence, and there was no doubt that this was the path.
I applied. I interviewed. I was accepted. I was amazed. I’m still amazed.
I can’t wait to see what’s next…
