I feel like the story of how I met Jesus isn't very exciting, in fact I don't really remember the details. I grew up in a Christian home with Christian friends in a very tight knit church community. Jesus has just always been a part of my life and I feel so blessed to have grown up in that environment. But as I grew up I began to realize that my life was comfortable and my Christian walk was comfortable. I had no reason to fully rely on God and no motivation to step out in my faith. I was content going to church on Sundays and ignoring God for the rest of the week.
Eventually I realized that my level of so called “comfort” was making me uncomfortable and I was beginning to resent the environment that I had once considered a blessing. There is a verse in the Bible where God says "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth" I had read that verse many times before, but I specifically remember the moment where I truly saw myself in it. I knew I was a lukewarm Christian, and that was a terrifying realization. I knew something had to change. I have always had a heart for helping people and I had always thought a missions trip was something I wanted to do. It was around that time that a friend of mine showed me the World Race website, and I knew instantly that I wanted to do it. I remember reading the blogs of these amazing Christians and wondered if I was worthy enough to go on a trip like this. I wondered if I was completely crazy to think about throwing away my plans and giving up a year of my life to travel the world.
One of the closest people in my life, and one of the most amazing Christians I knew recently lost his faith. He went from striving to live like Christ to utterly denying the existence of God within 6 months. My heart was completely shattered. He had always been the stronger Christian of the two of us. He was the one who I had always looked on for advice and was the person I could rely on to challenge and encourage me. Seeing someone like him fall so far made me question and doubt everything I believed in. It was a huge turning point in my life. I realized that I had been too easily relying on this person instead of making God my rock. I realized that if I believed Christ died for my sins than I had better be living like I believe that everyday. I decided I was ready to take a leap of faith and give this next year entirely over to God. It was at that point that I finally put in my application to the World Race.
Since then, I have thrown out everything I thought I knew about Jesus, and I have met him all over again. It’s a powerful place to meet Him at the cross and realize you are ready to surrender EVERYTHING for Him. I can honestly say that I am falling in love and He is blowing me away everyday. I can't wait to see the person He would have me become at the end of this year.
On September 4, 2012 I am beginning my 11 month journey around the world...Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
Philippians 1:21 says: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. So yes! I know it's is going to be hard. I have never seen real poverty or truly known anyone who has lived it and I am fully expecting to be forcefully shoved outside of my comfort zone. But, I am ready to be radically changed by truly living and experiencing life as Christ did. I am ready to be a servant and to love like He loved. I know that it’s going to be worth it and I can’t wait to start this journey!
The team of people I am going to be traveling with this year are incredible. We haven’t known each other for very long, but quickly became a family. We gave ourselves the name “Team Pursuit” because we have decided that this year will be all about pursuing God and letting Him pursue us. Check out their blogs! (Amanda Grimwood, Anton Lewko, Cheyenne Hardy, Clark Moser, Cathy Carty and Chelsea Saiz) and pray for us this year!…pray for each of them by name that we will support, challenge, encourage and LOVE each other, and that we will come home looking more like Christ and less like ourselves.
