Wow, I can't believe I'm finally starting this journey with the World Race. Pretty much a year ago I received an e-mail from one of the most amazing women I know, she told me she was going on this thing called the World Race, 11 countries in 11 months. My ears shot up and I was immediately interested. I googled the site and looked into all the information, I even told my partners in the Pacific Rim that I was thinking seriously about going on this journey.
A month later when I returned to the States, I was still trying to decide between the WR, seminary and a two year program with the International Missions Board. I was never fully into the idea of seminary because I worried that I would begin thinking of the Bible as just a text book, so that idea got shafted. Then the WR started fading into the background because I knew my heart was full of my own desires to see these 11 different places instead of being excited to do the work of God. I started the application and couldn't even finish it because I knew it wasn't the right time. The two year program also didn't end up working out.
So here it was August – 3 months after being in the States- and I was no closer to going over seas than when I first returned home. I started looking all over the internet for mission trips that I could go on, and God kept directing my heart back to the America. I found this program with Center for Student Missions, working with urban missions and leading youth groups around the city..it couldn't have sounded more perfect. Over the months from August untill March when I finally arrived in San Francisco, God moved in a way that was beyond words. I was not happy about staying home, I'm just not a home body and I start to get anxious. God calmed my soul and used that time to grow some relationships, to teach me more about His word, to give me time to read about missionaries in the past, to just learn a lot. I was working with a local church's youth group and one of the girls said to me, "You know so much about the Bible, it's really cool." I was shocked, somehow in the last year or so, God had taught me so much and now I was able to give this understanding to others. (Just to tell you how quickly God has done all this, literally 5 years ago I remember turning to a friend during a sermon about the woman at the well and being so excited becase it was talked about in FOUR different places in the Bible!! It had to be true! That's when I learned about the gospels.)
March came and I was very ready to leave, but as I'd been reading my friend's blogs of her time on the WR, I could really see how God was challenging her in ways I wouldn't have expected from this. I wanted that, I want to be pushed beyond my comfort and have to depend on God. So I prayed, and prayed, and prayed and talked to my mentors about the idea of applying to the WR, but I still wasn't fully committeed. Finally I decided just to apply and leave it in God's hands. I had been keeping track of the routes for this year and continually when I prayed about if I should go and when I should go, God said September. So I applied for September #1 route. Then I had the interview and it was fantastic, half of it took place inside a closet here in San Fran because it was 7am and everyone was waking up and I had no where to go!! Then I heard back and guess what? They actually wanted me to go. I was in the van with a group when I received the phone call and was told that the Sept. #1 route was full, but that I could pick one of the other routes if I wanted.
Even at this point, two weeks ago, I was still unsure about the whole thing. My director here started telling me about an apprenticeship in Toronto that works with refugees, human trafficking and homelessness…three things my heart breaks for. I talked to my mentors about what was going on in my mind and just how unsure I was. He told me, "It's not like you are trying to choose between sin and God. You are choosing between God and God. Just pick one. If He opens the door, walk through it." So after much more prayer, a day of fasting, and finally just giving in, I decided to make this journey and luckily there was a second route going out in September.
Now that I've committeed, I can see that God has a lot in store for me. I was a little worried about finances, but as I look around at all the people God has placed in my life, I know that He has prepared me for such a time as this! Thanks to everyone that is praying for me and supporting me financially. I wish I could truly express my love and gratitude for each and everyone of you!!
