Hey my name is Maria. I am 22 years old and I live in New Jersey. I am so excited and honored to have the opportunity to participate in the World Race. Here are a few things about me:
1. I am passionately in love with Jesus and I am on a constant journey to grow closer to God.
2. Singing is something I do almost constantly, I apologize to my squadmates ahead of time for this one. I am super blessed to be able to sing on the worship team at my church almost every week
3. Learning about other cultures is one of my favorite things in the world.
4. I write… a lot… I write poetry, spoken word, and music mostly but I also will sometimes write stories and I have a personal blog that I write in occasionally.
5. I am a people person. I am energized and I thrive when I am around other people. I love meeting new people and building relationships, most especially ones where I have the opportunity to love like Jesus loved.
A little bit about my vision/reasons for going on the World Race
When I was 12, I read a book called Angel of Hope by Lurlene McDaniel about a girl who went to Africa on a mission trip with Mercy Ships. I looked at my mom then and said “Mom, that’s what I want to do!” Ever since then, my dream was to go to Africa on a mission trip. Last summer I had the opportunity to go to Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa with Jesus Film Mission Trips. While we were there we taught English and showed the Jesus Film. When I came home from that trip, I again looked at my mom and said “Mom, this is what I want to do with my life.” This was the beginning of my journey towards the World Race.
I came across the World Race when I was looking for mission trips before I went to Africa last year, and thought little of it at the time, but for some reason it stuck with me. God has spent the last year preparing my heart for the time when he would ask me to give up the comforts of home to go live for 11 months giving my life to Him for His purposes and His ministry.
I am a certified English Second Language teacher and I am hoping that after I return from the world race I can go over seas and teach ESL while doing mission work. My overall vision and desire is to unite the global church creating international ministry partners who can come along side each other and help further God’s kingdom. Imagine how much more the Church could accomplish if we were all supporting one another in achieving the mission Jesus gave us and working together as one body. This is, in many ways, what we will be doing on the World Race as we partner up with ministries in each country to support the work that they are already doing.
Anyways, that’s just a little bit about me. I am so excited for this opportunity that God has given me, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
