Yesterday, 50 racers including myself arrived to Adventures in Missions offices in Gainesville, Georgia. Training camp starts later today where we will be joined by 230 more racers. We came early to attend a storytelling workshop where we were asked to create a vlog or photo journal of why we chose to come on the race. Here’s my attempt.
these pictures take you through what I feel has led up to me accepting this calling
My first day of school in Chengdu, China. Familiarity with the life of a missionary came from living overseas for 7 years. This was not the life I wanted for my future.
After backing out of one summer project, South Africa brought me back into the global mission field for the first time since moving back to America 8 years before. The day this picture was taken is one that has stuck in my mind since. We drove 3 hours into the mountains to a community isolated from the city. We walked around the village that had nothing but a few round huts and more goats than I’ve ever seen. We worked in a school called Khula that provides a place for the children in the mountains and provides them with some of the only food they receive day to day. Some children walked hours to come to the center. This day I watched children walk in from all over the mountains, little kids carrying littler kids, no shoes, big smiles.
This picture by my sweet friend Hannah Broadwell captures some of the beauty in these people. Khula was the first time I felt my heart break for the Lord’s people. He knows each one deeply and loves them steadfastly. For the first time I felt my faith becoming my own.
Last summer I jumped at the opportunity to spend another summer on project, this time in Albania. This was our last day working a camp for children in a small mountain town called Elbasan. It was in Albania that I felt the Lord really bring me to life. Investing in those around me and sharing the joy that comes from knowing the living Jesus felt right. It felt like heaven touching the earth . I wish I had better words to describe it.
A few weeks ago I was lying backward in my bed watching the sunset and wondering why I would ever want to leave the life I have to sleep in a dirty tent for 9 months. As I was there and deciding I was out of my mind, I felt the Lord remind me what my life was for. To stay at home is to settle for comfort over my calling and what He has made me to be. I was reminded that I get the privilege to know the Lord and share him among the nations. This is an opportunity that is nothing less than a blessing! I get to do this???!
Our packs today at training camp. Full of potential and waiting to be carried across the world.
These are three of my squad mates (Haven, Abby, and Abbey). I wish I could tell you more about life as a racer but we’ve been here only 24 hours and training camp hasn’t officially started. What I can tell you is that the Lord is undeniably moving in these racers and this camp site is about to filled with 281 world changers.
