Well here it is everyone! I am so excited to finally announce that I will be leaving August 2018 on the World Race!! I have been waiting to share this news with all of you and I hope your as excited as I am! This first post is sharing with you how God called me to go on this crazy journey, and hopefully answers any questions you might have! I know this is long because I am a very talkative person but please read til the end because I have a lot to share with you!
The call- Ever since I graduated high school, I’ve struggled with knowing my purpose in life. It seemed like everyone in my class knew exactly what they were going to do with the rest of their lives, and I didn’t. At different points in my life I wanted to be a teacher, a nurse, a vet, a massage therapist, and a missionary. I was completely undecided, and so I chose to put off college until I knew what God wanted me to do. And so ever since I graduated I have been working as a server at Cracker Barrel. As part of my job I get to meet so many different people, whether I’m serving on them or working with them. I love the fact that I get to be with so many people but I knew this was not what I wanted for the rest of my life. And so when one of my friends from church announced that she was going to be going on the World Race 2 years ago, something inside of me stirred. It was like the idea sparked a dream I had inside of me that I didn’t even know that I had. However this dream also terrified me, and so I wanted to make sure that this was really what God wanted me to do at this point in my life. And so I prayed, and prayed, and prayed. I prayed everyday for almost a year that if this was what God wanted me to do, that he would make it clear to me. Then one day last year, God answered. It was during a service at my church where my pastor was speaking about dreams. And that if God was planting a dream inside our hearts, we needed to do everything we could to pursue it. Not only did God Personally call me through that service, right after my best friend told me that God spoke to her and told her the same thing. That the World Race was my dream that God gave me and he wanted to make it come true. And that was it! During the next year up until now I would apply for the race, be accepted, and am now writing this post announcing this journey that is finally beginning!
What is the World Race?- The world race is a Christian missions trip to 11 countries in 11 months through an organization called Adventures in Missions (AIM). While on the race our squad will be split into teams of 6 to 7 people and will spend 1 month in every country doing ministry. Ministry will look different every month, but will include loving on orphans, praying over locals, church planting, working with victims of sex trafficking, teaching English, and building the kingdom where ever we go while living in constant community.
Where am I going?- This is the most exciting part for me! My route is subject to change, but as of right now I will be headed to Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia!
I am so incredibly thankful for this opportunity that God has given me and I want to do the best that I can in every area of this journey, both before the race and after. Overall I want my race to build the Lord’s name more than mine. And one of the ways that I can do this is by laying my pride down and asking for support. I can’t do this alone and I need your help!
First things first I need all the prayers that I can! There are so many things that go into preparing for a journey like this and all your prayers are doing to be needed. Also while I am on the race, I will be pushed completely out of my comfort zone, and experiencing things that I’ve never done and I will need them even more then!
Lastly in order to fully be funded for the race, I need to raise $18,100. If you feel called to to give, please consider becoming a financial supporter in this journey of mine! I know just typing that number took my breath away, but I know that my God is bigger than that number! I also know that he called me to this journey, and he will provide! Now this money does not include personal spending money during the year but it does cover International airfare, food, lodging, medical insurance and other travel expenses while on the field. Your financial support can be given as a one time donation, or can be given as a monthly supporter! Either way any donation, big or small, is greatly appreciated! And so if you feel led to give you can click the “support me” button on the top of my blog page. Adventures in missions, IC. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization an a long-time member of ECFA. All donations are tax deductible as well!!
This dream is finally beginning and I am soooo excited for how God is going to use me this year and to be able to share this with all of you! Thank you in advance for all of your prayers and support! If you have any questions don’t be shy in contacting me!! God bless all of you as you consider partnering with me!
With love,
-Lakota
