First off, let me just say that, not once in my ENTIRE twenty-three years of living have I ever thought that I would be doing something as CRAZYYYYYY (and self-sacrificing) as the World Race. In fact, I still don’t really believe it. Not to mention the number of times I’ve had the overwhelming thought of, “LASHONDRA, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?????” But, despite these things, I am going. Willingly. hahaha J .
Why? Because it’s going to be the BEST. THING. EVER!! DUH! But more importantly, I believe that I have a responsibility to go. That I have been mandated. Commissioned. “Called,” if you will. In fact, I believe that we all have. That as children of God and as followers of Christ, we have not only inherited the promises but the purposes as well.
In John 13:14-15, Jesus says to His disciples, “And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”
We are to do as He has done for us. What did our Savior do?? He spent his entire life emptying himself for the sake of the world. For both you and I. So that ALL may know Him and through Him have life. He is our perfect example.
Therefore, it is my desire to spend my life emptying myself for the sake of the world and for the sake of the Kingdom of God. so that all may know who Christ is and have the opportunity to experience life through Him. I want to so desperately to love like Jesus loved, willingly laying down my life so that others may know what true freedom is.
That said, in the last few months, God has been revealing His heart to me through His word and I have been overwhelmed by how much God really wants to see justice in the Earth. We serve a God who cares so deeply about the poor and the oppressed and the afflicted. In fact, all throughout scripture, God is constantly calling for justice on their behalf. And I believe He has called us to be the ones to implement it.
Therefore, I will be spending eleven months in eleven different countries just serving. Simply serving. Spending time In orphanages and refugee camps, visiting hospitals, praying for the sick, building homes, feeding the poor, teaching little kids, and working with women and girls who have been trafficked and forced into prostitution, all while sharing the love of Christ.
I do not count it robbery. In fact, I think it is such an honor and a privilege to be a part of something so incredibly powerful and life altering. And on days when I am exhausted beyond belief and want nothing more than the comforts of home, I will count it all joy, for I know that He is with me and that life is found in doing the will of Him who sent me.
