Hello there, Loved Ones! To those of you who do not know already, after much prayer, I have decided to take a gap year after high school and do the World Race before college, and will post updates regularly on this page. I will be traveling to three different countries over the span of nine months, sharing God’s love all along the way. I apologize for keeping everyone in the dark for so long and avoiding the “so, what are you gonna do after high school?” question all the time, but it was important to me that the only opinion that was affecting my decision was the Lord’s.
Anyways, I suppose if you’re reading this post, you’re wanting to know a little about me. I tend to freeze up when asked to describe myself, but I’ll give it my best shot. I am at the moment 17 and about to go into my senior year of high school, but by the time the race rolls around I will be 18 and have graduated. Let’s see… I greatly enjoy my alone time, haha, and can very much be described as the stereotypical bookstore/coffee shop kind of girl. Some of my favorite subjects are Literature and History (and science!), making my favorite genre of book Historical Fiction. Though, I’ll read pretty much anything besides romance. Also, my favorite author is definitely C.S. Lewis – hands down.
Besides books (which I could go on about all day long if given the chance), there’s not much else that I do for a hobby. Growing up, my knees would dislocate quite easily, and I was thus not ever really given the chance to fall in love with or even try out many sports. After four surgeries, however, I am now capable of running, jumping, and even stumbling without fear of a dislocation. I am beyond thankful to God for this, not only for His physical healing, but especially His mental. This past year He has taught me more than I ever thought possible, more than I could describe in a lifetime. My heart has been filled with a longing to follow wherever and however He leads, and even that desire is something that I know is only possible through Him, not at all out of my own willpower. I still fall short, as all humans do, on a daily (more like hourly) basis, but the difference is found in His unfathomable grace, mercy, and love that He has shown to me to be so much more real than the mere words that over-usage has caused to lose their meaning.
This Race is going to be difficult, very difficult, especially since I have never done anything like it before, and I will readily admit to you that I am naturally a pure and utter coward. Those of you who have known me in my insecurities are aware of this, and my hope, therefore, is that this proves to you that this is entirely the Lord’s doing. Out myself I can do nothing; Without Him, I am a mere cripple, but through Him anything is possible (and thank God!). This is paramount to remember.
To Him be all the glory!
With All Love and Sincerity,
Mary
“when my soul was embittered,
when i was pricked in heart,
i was brutish and ignorant;
i was like a beast toward You.
nevertheless, i am continually with You;
You hold my right hand.
You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You receive me to glory.
whom have i in heaven but You?
And there is nothing on earth that i desire besides You.
my flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
…
but for me it is good to be near God;
i have made the Lord my refuge,
that i may tell of all Your works.”
psalm 73:21-26, 28
