Hey guys what’s up it’s me, Mady McHugh. I live in Austin, Texas along with my parents, two younger brothers Cole and Spencer, my older sister Kelsey, my two dogs Parker and Lucky, my two cats Greyson and Kennedy, and my brothers terrifying bearded dragon Robert. Blogging is honestly something I never imagined myself doing so I’m not sure how this is gonna go but ya know its alright.
Over the summer everything started to kind of settle in for me. Knowing that in literally a year my friends and I would all be going our separate ways to college and then into the real world. Not gonna lie, it freaked me out a ton. I kept thinking there has to be more, I need more time to grow as a person and not just be thrown out into the real world. I hadn’t even started looking at what colleges I wanted to go to or what I even wanted to study, it was so stressful. This year has basically just consisted of multiple SAT and ACT tests, college applications, essays, and so much more to prepare for my future to college. Mission work wasn’t even in the picture. Towards the end of the summer I started to consider taking a Gap year.
I really started to pray over the summer, asking God for a little help in guiding me toward my future and just getting everything in line so I wouldn’t be freaking out all the time and eventually he did answer my prayers. I had just gotten back from a camp called Pine Cove (best place on earth) where I spent my whole week reflecting on life and what God had to offer and I got nothing. I was feeling so hopeless and lost and confused and it wasn’t a great feeling. So I got home Sunday night feeling stressed about getting nothing out of camp and decided to say a quick prayer. I complained to God over my frustration of still having no idea of what I wanted to do with my life. After I finished my prayer I felt this super weird sense of peace And you guys it was the craziest thing ever. I have no idea how to describe it but it was the most calming feeling in the world. Everything just clicked together and all my stress went away. And I knew it was God saying that he had a plan for me and I just needed to trust in him and put all of my faith in his hands, so I did. And ya know what, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and that is a big deal coming from someone who can’t even decide what to eat for breakfast.
I’ve never know what my future would hold for me, but I’ve always had some kind of idea of what it would consist of. Going to college, hopefully get married someday and having some kids, ya know the usual plan everyone has for their lives. Never would I have thought that I would be signing up to do a 9 month Gap year across the globe away from my family and friends who I hold so dear to my heart. But things happen! When I heard about the world race I knew it was too good to be true. The world race was one of those things I used to dream about doing until I figured out it was a real thing. So when I started doing research about it I automatically knew I was going to do it. I didn’t know when I would do it but I knew I was going to.
I really started to consider the world race towards the end of summer. I hadn’t talked to my parents yet because I was scared of what their reaction would be and when I did tell them they were a bit sketched out at first. But after talking it they realized that thsi was something I was very passionate about and so far have done nothing but support me which I am so grateful for. So, when I got their support I applied to the World Race. I applied and waited for a response. It was so stressful just waiting for the phone call that would basically help me decide what my future would hold for the next year. After a few days of waiting they finally called me back. I was shaking when I answered, scared that they would tell me I didn’t get in when I wanted to so badly. I didn’t want to have to tell my friends that I didn’t get in after they had been doing nothing but supporting me and telling me I would get in without a question. I didn’t want to have to see the look on my parents face if I told them I didn’t get in, you know the sad empathetic try again next time face? Yea that one. And then the sweet lady on the other line simply said I got in. And literally my response was “wait what did you say to me? you are lying” and she was like nope you got in and I cant wait for you to go this amazing adventure sharing Gods love and being the light, and that was it. I hung up and had no idea what to do. I immediately called my sweet friend Clare and told her the great news, then I went to school to tell my other sweet friends Hannah, Peyton, Bella and Maya. And you guys the support I got from all them was so beautiful. I have never felt so loved and supported by such great humans. I cant even describe it, just writing about it right now makes me smile to my ears, realizing how lucky I am to have such amazing humans in my life, I cant imagine going through life without them.
So here I am, preparing for the next 9 months of my life to do what some people dream of doing, visiting orphanages, teaching and tutoring children, doing construction work, and spreading the word of God. But I need your help preparing. I need to raise $15,800 to be able to go on this mission trip which seems impossible. I’m completely putting my faith in God on this one and I know he will provide. Anything helps you guys, donations or just a simple prayer would be great. I know that this is what I am called to do and this is the life I was given to live. I am beyond excited to go on this adventure God has laid out for me and I cant wait for you guys to be a part of it. Thanks for reading this weird first blog ever and learning about how I got to this point in my life 🙂
