If you’re coming to read this blog you probably have a lot of questions like who, what, where, when, why and how? I’m going to do my best to answer them!
What?
The World Race sent out it’s first squads in 2006. The mission is to serve “the least of these.” The World Race partners with existing ministries throughout the world. The opportunities to serve include helping with churches, orphanages, hospitals, construction, fighting against human trafficking and much more.
Since 2006, hundreds of people have left their comfort zones to step out in the faith that God has called them to this. It really is a journey of faith and massive amounts of trust. Click around the World Race website to find blogs from current racers if you want to learn more about what God’s doing through this organization!
Who?
Currently, my squad is made up of about 80 people from all over the United States. We’ll travel from country to country as a squad, but we’ll break off into smaller teams in each country and help with different ministries. We are Z Squad! I get to officially meet my squad for the first time at training camp in October, but we’ve all been chatting on Facebook a lot already. They’re pretty great!
Where?
We’ll be traveling to 11 countries in 11 months. Those countries are: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, China, Thailand, Cambodia, India & Nepal. I’m particularly excited about Uganda, Rwanda and India!!
When?
Our launch date is the beginning of January 2014. We’ll return at the end of November 2014.
Why?
Well that's a loaded question and I'll do my best to answer it, but I would also love the opportunity to share my heart with you all one on one if you have any additional questions!
For a lot of you this might seem like it’s coming out of nowhere. I promise you, it’s not! The World Race process itself has been going on for months. Why I’m just now getting around to announcing it is another story for another day.
I’ve been interested in missions since my first missions trip to Guatemala in 2008. I absolutely LOVED it! I loved experiencing the gratitude and the joy of people who by American standards have no reason to be joyful. It was so humbling to be able to serve and love on these people. I left there with a new perspective on the world and a strong desire to do more and see more.
Fast-forward 5 years and no missions trips later…
I was beginning to be a little frustrated with my life. I haven’t felt any specific calling to anything or anywhere. My career life was a huge roller coaster thanks to the economy and closing companies. I’ve cycled through unemployment, discouragement, employment, discontentment, unemployment, discouragement, over and over since I graduated from college in 2009. Every time I found myself unemployed I’d look at travel or missions or volunteer opportunities abroad. I’ve always had this urge in me to leave and didn’t really know what to do with it.
Well this time I wasn’t looking. The World Race found me. I don’t know how I found my way onto the website, but I did and I was interested. Except I was at a point in my life where I didn’t want to leave. I liked the way most things were going and I wasn’t ready to give them up just yet. Well God wasn’t having any of that! He slowly stripped it all away from me until I had nothing left here to cling to apart from Him. It’s been painful, but I know it’s necessary if I want Him to shape me into the person He needs me to be.
Through this process I’ve learned that I have very much been trying to control my own life and it’s outcome. This race is already testing my faith and trust in God and it hasn’t even started yet!
How?
Absolutely none of this would be possible without God. I know that He has called me to step out and trust Him and that is what I’m going to do. That goes for financially and also physically, spiritually and emotionally. I am literally giving everything I am and everything I have and I can’t do that without the strength of God in me.
But I also can’t do this without you. More than anything I need your prayers. I need your support and I need your encouragement. God has put an AMAZING community of people in my life. People I KNOW I can rely on. People filled with love and compassion. It’s because of God moving in all of you that I am who I am today. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t have my church family, my blood family and my friends that have inspired me to grow in so many ways. I love you all and I’m so grateful for your influence in my life!
If you would also like to support me financially, there’s a “Support Me!” button to the left. Right over there <–
The goal is a big one, $16,285 by June 2014, but God doesn’t call you to something without providing a way. So I’m not worried and neither should you be!
If only 18 people decide to invest $100/month, I’ll be fully funded by the last deadline in June 2014! But every penny counts if you can’t give monthly! I’ll also be having fundraisers so be on the lookout for those. If anyone would also like to organize their own fundraiser for this trip, I would be eternally grateful!
One thing that blows my mind is the amount of people that will be blessed by your giving. Not just me and the people my team will personally encounter overseas, but people right here! The people around you! I can’t wait to share the amazing things that happen so you can be blessed and encouraged by the stories, but also share them with the people around you. Lives are going to be changed all over the world, even here at home. I can’t wait to hear your stories too!
Don't forget to click subscribe to get updates from me 🙂
