I decided to go on the World Race really late after I had already enrolled in UNCW for the upcoming year (but no worries! I’ll be going there the following year). When I was in elementary school, I knew someone who had done a gap year after high school and I was fascinated by the idea of traveling the world and spreading the love of Jesus before settling down into college. But in high school, I got swept away by all of the college shenanigans — applications, deadlines, scholarships…all that jazz. My mom brought up doing a gap year a few weeks before graduation, and at first, my reaction was, “No, absolutely not, I’ve got the next steps for my life planned out so I don’t want to try to start something new now. It’s just too late!” But the more I thought and prayed about it, the more I felt God tugging my heart to step out of my comfort zone and be a part of the World Race.
It was terrifying — well, it’s STILL terrifying — but I know that this is what the Lord wants me to do! I’m trying to take a leap of faith and share God’s love with the people in Romania, Guatemala, and Ecuador.
I feel like this decision to go on the World Race is one of those things that you don’t really know what you’re doing, but you know God wants you to do it, so you just kinda go for it. Like when it happens to me it’s just kind of a gut feeling that I know I get from the Holy Spirit that’s guiding me to do something. I’ve had this happen before, like playing basketball, for example. I decided to start playing basketball my freshman year and ended up sticking with it all through high school. It definitely wasn’t always sunshine and sparkles, but through all that I made some amazing friends with my teammates who were all able to help each other with everything from forgetting socks on game day to dealing with drama at school. I can say without a doubt that taking a risk with deciding to play basketball paid off, and I know that the World Race is going to be an amazing experience, as well!
Here’s a pic of my beautiful basketball babies from this season
I know this probably isn’t the answer anyone was looking for why I’m going on the World Race, but I’m trying to be as honest as possible! It’s really just a God thing.
I also really want to include this verse in this blog post:
Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
I actually found this verse while I was in the middle of writing this blog and it is SO COMFORTING to me because it’s a reminder that I might not know what I’m doing, but God most definitely does. He knows exactly what is going on and He’ll show me the way to where I need to be!
Thank you all so much for your support, it really means the world to me!
God is good!
Maddie Chase
Feel free to contact me!
Phone: (919) 257-7360
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Maddie Chase
Instagram: itsmaddiee23
I’ll also be posting on this blog regularly to keep everyone updated, too! 🙂
