My name is Mariah Silvas, I am 20 years old and have been set apart by the death of my Savior.
I grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. Living on the coast made me fall in love with the beach and I always feel at home near large bodies of open water. My parents worked very hard my whole life to provide anything I could possibly need and up until now I have lived a very comfortable life.. but that’s all it ever really was.. comfortable.
Though I am blessed to have lived this very nice life and never really experienced the struggle of poverty and starvation, I long to grow. I long to seek growth in the form of being lost. To seek growth in being uncomfortable and experiencing new and scary things. I seek growth in being half way across the world from my family and the only person I can count on to keep me safe is my Father, My Love, My Savior, My Lord, my only hope! My God.
This is why God called me on the World Race. An 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries, where I will be the hands and feet of Jesus. Doing whatever I can to bring God’s kingdom to Earth! Which includes construction work for new churches, giving love to orphans, ministering to sex trafficking victims and anything else The Lord calls me to do!
It’s a very very daunting task to raise money in such a short amount of time. And I can name more people that will love to see me fail at this than will rejoice when I say “God has provided for me once again!” And that is just the sad truth of the “reality” I am in.
Reality. What a funny word. So many people have been throwing this word at me lately.
See the world’s reality is that I finish my 4 years of college, then find a “real” job and go through the motions of a mundane life. No offense to anyone who works that 8-5 everyday. More power to you! But did you ever sit back and think “there has GOT to be more than this”?
Well because THERE IS! The routine life is the world’s reality. Not mine. Not what God has planned for me. I have many people telling me that this is impossible and that I need to be “realistic” about life. But who’s reality are we really living by? Yours? Mine? The world? I can tell you that it is definitely not God’s reality.
I can name several times that God says in scripture that ANYTHING is possible if we just believe and that we can do all thinks through God. And if you need some physical proof, let me whip out some scriptures for ya.
“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” – Jeremiah 32:17
“But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” – Luke 1:37
Here, God is telling us that we can do anything through Him! ANYTHING. Absolutely, anything!
God has not given us, His children, hearts of fear but hearts of courage and optimism! He is the end and the beginning. He is life and death. He is good and loving. And I know God has great things in store for my life, as well as yours. I am willing to look like a complete fool to the world and literally beg people for donations. I am willing to give up being comfortable. I am willing to leave the known for the unknown.
This Christian life is not easy at all. But it’s worth it, and so I extend this invitation to you. Come with me on this journey and see what God has in store for you. I promise, you won’t ever be the same. And you’ll be glad of it.
As it says several times in the book of Joshua:
“only be strong and courageous.”
Humbly,
Mariah
