Hello wonderful friends! I am writing to you today from the dirty floor of the Atlanta airport, my first stop on a very long travel day to Belize. It’s hard to believe I’ve only been officially “on the World Race” since Friday. It feels so much longer, and our journey has still yet to even begin!
I asked my dad to write a parent blog for me last week, and gave him zero guidelines other than to write about his perspective as a parent watching his daughter launch on the Race. Needless to say, I may be biased but I truly have the most wonderful family and support system in the world. I’m sure not many parents ever imagine their 21 year old child one day announcing their intentions to pick up their lives and head out to travel to eleven different countries for eleven months simply because “God has asked them to.” I can only imagine the thoughts and emotions I’ve put my family through since committing to the Race. While I’m the one leaving, I’ve always known this is not a journey I’m embarking on by any means alone. I am heading to my first country with the full support of all the amazing family and friends in my life in tow, and that’s a weight I’m overjoyed to carry!
So, without further ado, here’s the World Race from a parent’s perspective:
Thursday night, October 4th:
So, it’s the eve of Mallory officially launching on the World Race. We are taking her to Atlanta for “Parent Launch Weekend.” Mixed thoughts and emotions are running through my head. Will she be safe traveling in today’s world? Is she equipped mentally and physically to travel to 11 countries in 11 months? Does she have the proper support from Adventures in Missions to do this? And, if I’m honest with myself, about 12 months ago when she felt lead to take this journey, as a parent I thought, “18,000?.” I’m all for goal setting and encouraging people, especially my kids, to reach for the stars but, $18,000, that sure seemed like an insurmountable and unreachable goal. Will she ever raise this kind of money?
Mal has poured her heart into this mission trip ever since she was accepted. She has used her gift as a writer to post many things that have produced and continue to produce fruit. She stands up for what she knows is right and isn’t afraid to put herself out there in many ways. (How could one put themselves out there anymore than by going on this adventure in the first place?) She is one of the bravest people I know and most importantly she is completely self aware of the fact that she is being lead to take this trip in spite of the valleys she may go through or the mountains she will have to climb. To me, this is the most important thing about her going on this journey. She has put 100% of her money earned from working into this fundraising process. There is no doubt in my mind that she has poured out more blood, sweat, and tears, REAL TEARS, to be “ALL IN” for this event than I ever could when I was her age.
About 6 weeks ago, Mallory came to us and said, “I am setting a goal to be fully funded by the time I launch, in less than two months.” “Uh, your what?” I said. WOW!!!! By the way, at that point she had just hit the $5,000 mark, which represented about 8 to 10 months of raising money. So, now she is saying she is going to triple that amount in about 8 weeks. Now that is really reaching for the stars……
Well, as I saw her really dig in and do what she does best, began writing blogs and posting things a miraculous thing happened. God went to work through her and used her talents and gifts to produce fruits for her labor. And now fast forward to the Launch weekend, and SHE IS UNDER $3000 FROM THE $18,000 GOAL!
Sunday night, October 7th:
We just got back from the parent launch weekend. I can tell you based on everything and everyone we met this weekend, from parents, to racers, to alumni racers, to AIM staff, Mal and her fellow racers are 100 percent supported, equipped, trained, and will be prepared to begin this journey. And the most important thing, GOD WILL BE WITH THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
You see this weekend, I was convicted of the fact that, from the very beginning I was somewhat of a skeptic, and doubted the possibility of this goal being reached. But I had taken my eyes off God temporarily. God is our Lord and Savior and through Jesus all things are possible. He can move mountains, and is always in control. He sees Mallory’s heart, which we all do, but also works through others to support and give to help her reach this goal.
Father, GOD, I praise you for who you are. I praise you for your wisdom, strength, compassion, love and guidance through this process, not only for Mallory, but for all the racers. I thank you for opening my eyes to truly see your glory and your hand in providing the Holy Spirit to work through others to help her reach this goal. Father, thank you for being patient with me by allowing me to doubt your work so that I can truly experience your grace and power in working through this obstacle and remove the limits I put on you from the start. Father, GOD, I thank you for Mallory and how you are working through her, and I pray that over the next 11 months you will be with her in her highest of highs, and lowest of lows and to guide her to seek your will in all that she encounters along the way.
Matthew 14: 29 says , “Come, Peter.” Then Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But while Peter was walking on the water, he saw the wind and waves. He was afraid and began to sink in the water. He shouted, “Lord, save me!” Then Jesus caught Peter with his hand. He said, “Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?”
Peter took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink. Don’t lose sight of the almighty God and the power of his hand in your life.
Proverbs 3:6 says “Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”
