Hey everyone! I am so excited to share with you some of who I am and why I feel called to go on this adventure! 🙂
Where I’m from. I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. I am currently attending Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL and will graduate this year with a degree in Business and Economics.
Family. I love my family. So much. My mom and dad have been great role models and have shown me what it looks like to follow God with all your heart – even through the hard stuff. They have always been there to support and encourage me and guide me to Jesus. I have a sister who is two years younger than me. I don’t know where I’d be right now without her. She is kind, caring, compassionate, a natural leader, and my best friend. I also have a brother who is seven years younger than me. He completes the family with his natural ability to entertain and make others smile, his wisdom beyond his years, and his love for others. If I’m ever just having a bad day – he’s the guy to talk to. I also have two incredible sets of grandparents who are nothing but encouraging – always wanting to catch up and hear about my new life adventures and where the Lord is leading me. All of my aunts/uncles/cousins are pretty fantastic too!
Also, I can’t forget to mention the pets of the family. We have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a turtle. I’m totally a dog person though so that is who you get to see 🙂
Beyond my immediate family, I also have a huge support system of extended family. I grew up living in a Christian boarding school (don’t worry, with my family!), and the staff and students at the school were a huge part of my life. I have more “aunts”, “uncles” and “siblings” than I could ever count. As well, I studied abroad in Australia for a semester and stayed with a host family who became my family away from home.
Hobbies. I grew up on a lake in the middle of the woods so I love being outside and having a good time. I love waterskiing, wake boarding, swimming, snowboarding, biking, hiking, camping, running, etc. I also grew up playing basketball and soccer. I am currently in the process of becoming a certified personal trainer and love learning more about health and wellness. I also love to read, watch movies/tv, play board games, and hang out with friends. And I am always up for an adventure.
Why the World Race. The last couple years of my life have been all about me. In many ways, I think that this has become the norm for college students in today’s society. It is so much inward thinking: what do I want to do with my life? what degree am I going to get? how do I make time to hang out with my friends and do the things that I want to do? As I make the transition from college to.. the rest of my life, I want to also make a transition in the way I approach life. I want it to become less about me and more about Him and His work in my life and His purpose for my life.
The biggest lesson that I have learned during my college years is that I grow the most in hard times. And by hard times, I don’t necessarily mean bad times. I mean the times where I am following God and am being stretched WAY outside my comfort zone. Why? Because that’s when I have to say “God, this is all you.” I am given the choice to just give up or continue to step out in faith and trust that God has it all under control.
As I have been trying to figure out what to do post-college, many ideas were floating around in my head. I could go anywhere. Do anything. I thought through many different options but one kept nagging at me: The World Race. I had first heard about the World Race in high school when I was searching up different missions opportunities and have wanted to do it ever since. Yet, as this idea kept coming to me, I kept pushing it away thinking that if I chose to participate I would be putting MY life on hold and I would miss out on so many opportunities.
So I kept praying about it and the feeling only became stronger. This is what I am called to do. And it’s something that I’ve wanted to do for years! My life isn’t about me. I don’t want it to be about me. So I am going to go where I feel called. I am going to follow. And I honestly can’t wait! I can’t wait to show the love of God to those all around the world, and I can’t wait to see how these people are going to change me. It’s scary and exciting and is going to be hard. But remember?! That’s when I grow the most! And I’m always up for an adventure.
Thank you. Thanks so much for taking the time to get to know me a little better! If you would like to follow me on this journey, please click the link on the left to get updates :)!
~Maria Bayles
