Do you remember being asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” so often as a child? That question seemed to follow me everywhere I went, and I thought that when I got older it would go away. Turns out, people just ask it differently as you get older. Go figure!
My answer to those questions was, and sometimes still is, forever changing. But one thing has been with me for as long as I can remember. Traveling to other places specifically wanting to help people. There was no verbiage for that at the time, only me pleading with my mom at about 7 years old to let me go on the trip the high school students went on to build homes. Now at 23 years old I can look back on my childhood and remember vividly dreaming about going to wild and unreached places, laughing with people who looked nothing like me, being taught about different cultures, and just loving people. I also remember being too young to go on trips like I wanted to, but longing for the day when I was old enough. At about 14 or 15 years old, I almost went on my first mission trip to Costa Rica, but God closed the door for that season and I continued to search for the answer to “What do you want to be when you grow up?’. High school was full of many random ideas: english major, author, teacher, pyrotechnician, medical examiner…. the list goes on and on. Not surprising though, I never did settle on anything. Nothing felt “right”. But Jesus knew the answer.
After high school I attended 3 years of ministry school where I grew so much and began to understand my calling. I had the opportunity to go on outreach in several places across the west coast of the US, and finally attend my first mission trip! God took me to San Quintin Mexico and you guys. Wow wow wow. It was hard, beautiful, inspiring, painful, and somehow in some inexplicable way… I was HOME. My second mission trip to India was more of the same. More challenging, more fulfilling, more joyful, more growing pains, and more feeling at home across borders. I knew a girl from high school who was gearing up for the World Race around the time I was getting ready to go to India, and I was very intrigued by it, but eventually the idea faded to the back of my mind. About 6 months ago my whole world felt so bland, and I was struggling to know what the next step of my life was to be because I could sense a change coming but I didn’t have peace about anything specific. But Jesus knew the answer.
Suddenly the quiet whispers popped in my head. “What about the World Race? Why not now?” I knew in that moment that it was time, and I was ready. Maybe not quite 100% ready, but ready enough to take that leap and at least try. Almost 3 months ago I sat crying of joy in my car because I’M GOING ON THE WORLD RACE in 2020!!! I’m ecstatic, thrilled, pumped, and in all ways ridiculously excited for all that God is going to do. I am forever blessed by how God continually is revealing the answer to that pesky question to me and blessing me with indescribable opportunities to live my calling.
Much love,
Laina
