Hey! My name is Kourtney Ellis. I’m a sweet, Georgia Peach from Carrollton, GA. I am 24 years old, and I studied Christian Ministry and Psychology and Counseling at Ozark Christian College in good ol’ Joplin, Missouri. I am currently working in Carrollton at Phoenix Resource Center. Phoenix “offers client-centered and family focused care for families referred by the Department of Family and Children Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice.” I really enjoy working with the children and their families. It is hard at times, but it can also be very rewarding. I lived in Joplin, MO for 5 years, before moving back to the great state of Georgia to be closer to my family.
My amazing family consists of two outstanding parents, a wonderful younger sister, my brother-in-law, and my adorable niece. (All Pictured Below)
And here’s me and my favorite little niece.
While I was living in Joplin, I volunteered and interned for an organization called Rapha House which exists to Love, Rescue, and Heal girls that have been rescued out of human trafficking. While volunteering with Rapha, I applied and went on an awareness trip to Cambodia to see the work God is doing through Rapha in Southeast Asia. It was such an incredible opportunity. Through volunteering and participating in the awareness trip, God continued to open my eyes to those hurting and in need of Him outside of the United States, and I was beginning to better understand the things that break His heart, because they were breaking mine.
Some of the sweet kids I met in Cambodia.
So now you’re wondering how the World Race worked its way into my life? My cousin left for The World Race October 2011, which was right after my trip to Cambodia. I was able to read my cousin’s blog and see her experiences, and I knew this was the next big leap of faith for me. Now, here I am 3 years later embarking on this journey. Let’s be honest for a second, I am not the first person you would pick and say,”Oh yeah, I could see her living in a tent and out of a backpack for a year.” I am not a camper, and if we really are being honest here, I may be slightly terrified of the outdoors at night. I enjoy my nice queen size bed, my closet full of clothes, and all my many other comforts, like enjoying those things in a comfy house. The truth is that sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zone and experience God in new ways and allow Him to truly be our Rock, so that’s what I’m hoping to accomplish. Also, I told someone once,”If you know God is calling you to do something, then why wouldn’t you do it?” and I can’t not take my own advice. This is an adventure I feel God has called me on, and although I am absolutely terrified at times, I am more excited about the ways God is going to grow me through this experience.
So this is me and I hope you’ll join me on my journey.
