I've been debating for a while what my first blog ever should be about, and finally thanks to the suggestion of a good friend I decided to inform the world (or at least the fraction of the world who will see this blog) how I was called to the World Race. My journey to this point has without a doubt been entirely inspired by the Lord and I fully believe with no doubt at all that this is what God has in store for me during this next year of my life.
There are certain opportunities in life that arise, and when they do you feel it in your heart that you were meant for this type of work, or that you should be where you are and on the path which you're walking. When this opportunity arose, the opportunity to experience the World Race and all that comes along with it; I felt that way, like I was where I belonged.
These last several months have been a Journey all on their own. In May I graduated from College with a degree in Christian Ministries, and shortly after that I began a fellowship at a Church on the near east side of Indy, just a short bike ride away from home, and it was great. Over the summer I was a third grade "teacher." And by teacher I mean that I attempted to teach lessons to a class and I did not succeed; at least not in the beginning, but I did have a lot of fun, loved a lot of kids, played way to much soccer, and gained an infinite amount of respect for my third grade teacher in the process!
Unfortunately the summer had to end though and when it did my role changed entirely. It wasn't long after the change that I began to feel like I didn't necessarily fit the role I was in. I was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole, and for that reason I put my two weeks in, trusting that the Lord would have an answer to my next step, and wouldn't you know it, He did.
The same day that I left the church, I got a phone call from a close family friend. In this phone call I learnt that a girl I had grown up with since I was a wee little guy was in a dark place and because of her place in life and her lack of motivation to face the next day she tried to avoid that next day and attempted suicide instead. News of this hit deep and struck my heart in a way that I never wish it to be struck again; however, as only God can do he made, and is still making beauty from the ashes.
Because of the rather large gap I was going to have in my schedule her family decided to let me move in and be her "body guard" which is a manlier way of saying I was a nanny. We had many good conversations and I think she made a lot of progress while I was there, and is still making progress. She now wants to be a therapist and she wants to work with teenagers who are going through some of the same things that she went through. Which is one of the single most beautiful transformation stories I've ever heard and I'm incredibly proud of her!
Towards the end of my time there I was wondering what was next in my life, and because of a friend I have who has gone on the World Race, and some of the stories that she shared with me, I decided that it wouldn't hurt to apply. So I got online, looked through the site, read a few things, watched a few videos and eventually got around to applying. I didn't really expect anything to come from it, but because I opened a door, God decided that he was going to use it and send me through it, and now here I am, walking with my eyes closed and trusting God to lead me.
Thanks for Reading,
Chris Stepp
