Here I am.
Living life in a whirl pool of emotions I didn’t think I would experience until it was closer to time to launch.
Crying one minute as I hold my precious niece and think to myself,
“How can I go 11 months without this?”
from screeching with excitement when walking into every outdoors store in town
in hopes to discover the gear I will need for this journey.
Little did I know, the tears would already flow at the thought of goodbyes.
And the joy of fellowship would overwhelm me as I look forward to an
exciting and adventurous future with my new world race family.
How can it be the life you’ve longed for for so long is now at arms reach, almost in your lap and your overwhelmed with the joy of it coming to pass, yet torn on the inside for what this may cost you?
Dream, meaning nothing I could accomplish on my own.
But something only God’s mercy could stretch my hand to reach.
I’m so thrilled at the opportunity set before me, but am quickly being reminded that without God, I can do nothing.
Leaving my precious family to invest into the lives of others isn’t easy.
Leaving my church family to church hop 11 months isn’t necessarily appealing.
Leaving my job I absolutely love to pay thousands of dollars towards something that only lasts for a year sounds absolutely insane to most people.
Leaving my whole closet and living out of a backpack for a year is crazy.
Leaving my comfort and security to live by the seat of my pants is totally against my nature.
Leaving my bed to sleep on the ground in a tent isn’t ideal.
Leaving my hot baths, for a cold bucket of water seems like torture.
Why in the world would I ever do such a thing?!?
Possibly because…
Changing lives through the power of the Holy Spirit and love
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Living a life serving others before myself
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Answering the call
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Being the beautiful feet that bring the good news of the Gospel
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Feeding children who haven’t eaten in weeks
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Loving prostitutes with the real, true, unconditional love of God
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Giving clothes off my back to the naked
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Learning to live a life of selflessness
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Playing as “mommy” for those without
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Educating those who may have no other chance
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Listening to those who have untold stories that need to be heard
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Playing with those who have otherwise been abandoned
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Building homes and houses for the unsheltered
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Bathing those who haven’t in years
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Equipping others in who they are in Christ
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Hugging those who have felt alone
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Giving hope to desperate
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Sharing my story for the benefit of others
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Mending the brokenhearted
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Speaking life to those who feel purposeless
IS WORTH IT ALL.
Being the hands and feet of Jesus
IS WORTH IT ALL.
The list could go on and on.
I sit here.
Looking upon the things I have to leave behind.
Knowing only with God is that even possible.
But more importantly, I think of the things that I will encounter.
They comfort me in a whisper, promising me,
“it’s going to be worth it.
IT’S GOING TO BE WORTH IT ALL.”
The greatest time in History.
When a Joy. A Joy.
Set before a man.
Not just any man, but the son of God.
And He deemed it Worth it.
Worth being beaten.
Worth being hung.
Worth being uncomfortable.
Worth being mocked.
Worth being spit on.
Worth being betrayed.
Worth being naked.
Worth being whipped.
Worth being nailed to a cross.
WORTH IT ALL.
Through the suffering and through the pain,
To God himself, we are still worth it.
May the people of all nations be my joy.
May I declare they are worth it.
& May I be compelled as Jesus was compelled.
If I know one thing about my World Race,
It’s the undeniable fact that
