If the Christian is truly obedient to the Great Commission, he will give his life to go down into the mine or to hold the rope for those who go down (William Carey). Either way, the rope will be burned into his hands. The depth of the scars will demonstrate or prove the extent of the obedience. Have you surrendered your life to go to the lost peoples of the world, or have you surrendered your life to support those who go? What has the Great Commission cost you? Where are your scars?
EVERYONE AND THEIR MOMMA: Lacey you graduate high school soon, what`s next? What is it that you want to be? Do you have your college picked out? Where are you wanting to work? What are your plans after college?
ME: I am doing, The World Race Gap Year.
EVERYONE AND THEIR MOMMA: What is Gap Year?
ME: Gap Year is a 9 month mission trip, diving into three diverse regions: three months in Central America, three in Southeast Asia, and three in Africa. As the World Race puts it, “Gap Year is not the traditional path. It’s not norm and doesn’t meet the status quo. Gap Year is for those looking for adventure and complete transformation. -Leave your mark on the world as you work to expand the kingdom. You’ll find yourself changed.”
EVERYONE AND THEIR MOMMA: When would you leave for that?
ME: I have training camp in July, and then I leave for the 9 month trip in September.
EVERYONE AND THEIR MOMMA: What is training camp?
ME: Training camp is a week of intense preparation for the 9 month journey. It`s a time, where people from all over the world come together and form one team. I`m excited to go from talking to my team over the phone and computer to actually coming together and meeting my team face-to-face. As the World race puts it, “Training Camp week is not for the faint of heart. Come ready to rough it, get your hands dirty, encounter the unexpected, and live in close quarters with people that will soon be considered family. Come ready to allow the Spirit of God to move in a new way.”
EVERYONE AND THEIR MOMMA: Sounds crazy. and awesome. but mainly crazy. How do you feel about doing Gap Year? Being away from home? are you scared? what about the American Dream, isn’t that your dream?
ME: I am scared, and very excited at the same time. When it comes to the American dream, God has called me to a different path. The path He has called me to is summed up in the quote of Amy Carmichael, “Does it not stir up our hearts to go forth and help them, does it not make us long to leave our luxury, our exceeding abundant light, and go to them that sit in darkness?” I will miss my family because I love them very much but I believe God is calling me to do this, and I am too put Him first above all else. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” -Matthew 10:37.
EVERYONE AND THEIR MOMMA: Really cool. So how did you hear about Gap Year?
ME: So I got saved when I was 15 years old. When I was 16, my church, Harvest Christian Fellowship was handing out flyers with mission trip opportunities on it. Out of a few places, HAITI was what I was drawn too. So I prayed about going, not understanding why I was wanted to go in the first place. Everything worked out and I was able to go. As I was preparing, I looked on YouTube too see if someone posted a mission trip experience so I can get a feel for it. I clicked a video, and it was a video from someone who went on The World Race. I started to watch their videos, and like Haiti, I felt drawn to do the World Race. The world race is 11 countries in 11 months, and you have to be 21-35 years old. Since I am too young, I was praying and asking God what He wanted me to do after I graduate. The World Race posted about an opportunity to do Gap Year, So I opened it and began reading about it. It said, do you wanna do the World Race? I SAID, YEAH. It said, are you too young? I SAID, YEAH. It said, keep reading, this is for you….SO I kept reading and by the time I was done, I knew IT WAS FOR ME.
EVERYONE AND THEIR MOMMA: What are some things your hoping to get from this 9 month journey?
ME: I`m looking to be totally TRANSFORMED and my faith totally INCREASED. I`m wanting to be comfortable being uncomfortable in order for me to grow and experience God in new ways. I`m wanting to be completely broken so that God can heal me by, molding, shaping and transforming me into His image. I want to die to self. I want to decrease so that God may increase. I want to see everything through the lenses of Christ. (I want to learn to not be afraid to be used by God, and be willing to so YES for whatever He ask of me. God opens many doors so that He can use me, but because I look at myself and say HOW CAN “I” POSSIBLY DO THAT I end up closing the door. I want to learn to say YES and to take steps of faith and watch how God is going to use me and speak through me.) I want to be the hands and feat of Jesus to nations who are in DESPERATE need of the Gospel. I want to love on the orphans, and tell them Jesus calls them His sons and daughters. I want to hug, and love on prostitutes and tell them how much Jesus loves them and how He died on the cross for them, and how worthy they are, and how beautiful God has created them… I want to bring HOPE to the HOPELESS.
EVERYONE AND THEIR MOMMA: Well, how much is the trip and how are you going to get the money?
ME: The trip is $11,900 + $589 for my insurance on the trip + money for my camping supplies + money to take with me when I go. My deadline is $9,000 before June 24th and the other 3 thousand before August 15. God will provide for me and He may be wanting to use you to do so. GOD IS SENDING ME OUT ONTO THE BATTLEFIELD AND I NEED SOLDIERS TO SUPPORT ME, BY PRAYING FOR ME AND IF IT`S ON YOUR HEART, THROUGH DONATIONS. I CAN`T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU FAMILY. GOD BLESS YOU.
“GO, SEND, OR DISOBEY”
WHICH ONE ARE YOU DOING?
