Hello Everyone!
My name is Natasha Raines and I am beginning this new journey called World Race: Gap Year. I will be graduating in May and launching out in September, and I can’t tell you how excited I am! This adventure actually began this summer when I was searching the web for potential overseas mission trips to go on with my senior class. As I was scrolling through the search results I came across Adventures in Missions; this was definitely no accident. I clicked on the website and found something that greatly intrigued me: a nine month mission trip to three different countries! I had been searching different colleges and ministry ideas to do after high school, but this was the only thing that stuck out to me and that I kept going back to. My stomach had butterflies in it just thinking about telling my parents. So, over the summer and the beginning of the new school year I continually prayed about this opportunity. Eventually, I sort of put it off to the side for awhile, but the Lord kept bringing it up and reminding me about it. I began to read over the website again, for what felt like the hundredth time. God continually showed me in so many ways that this is what He had for me to do. Slowly, I started to tell my friends and teachers about the idea, but I still hadn’t gathered up the courage to tell my parents yet. It wasn’t until late November/December that I actually told my dad about it! He was up for it, but I still hadn’t told my mom because I didn’t know how. Thankfully, my dad introduced it to her, and then I followed up with her a little bit about it. Soon, Dad booked an appointment to visit the Adventures in Missions headquarters in January. I was a little shaky as we drove there and at the beginning of our tour, but the longer I was there the more relaxed I became. By the end I wasn’t ready to leave! As my parents and I walked out the door and got into the car I just wanted to turn right back around and stay all day there! It felt like home! About a week later I was telling Dad about the way I felt, and he agreed; he wasn’t ready to leave yet either. On the way home from the tour I prayed and thanked the Lord for His continued confirmation that this is what He had for me. There was only one thing I wasn’t sure about yet, and that was which route to take. I had a few ideas, but the more I studied these different routes the more I wasn’t sure which one to take. I talked to my dad about it and prayed about it. Once I decided on the route, I applied; I was so excited I could hardly wait for the next step! Everything was going so well, then I received this email saying that the route I had chosen only had three spots left! I was becoming nervous because I had to wait for my acceptance call before I could put in my deposit to secure my spot. That same day I heard a song called “Prophesy Your Promise” by Bryan and Katie Torwalt. It was as if the Lord was telling me, “Natasha, I have told you to do this, so don’t you think I’ll see you through it”! Then later that day in Bible class we were talking about the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus had asked Philip where they could get enough bread to feed everyone, and Philip replied that they didn’t have enough money to buy that much bread. Philip was focused on the possible through man rather than the possible through God. Then once again, the Lord was telling me that I needed to focus on Him and what He can do instead of focusing on what seemed impossible to me. So, I waited and prayed that the acceptance call would come soon so that I could become a part of the route I had chosen. That night, after I had read the email, I kept waking up. All I could think about was the World Race! Every time I woke up I prayed that they would call soon so I could reserve a spot. The next day I continued to pray and wait, until the call finally came! I was able to hear the words I had been waiting and praying for, “You’ve been ACCEPTED!!!!!!” I was so excited I could hardly stand it. I immediately text my dad, told my mom, and thanked the Lord for His faithfulness! God is so faithful to do what He has said He would do! I feel as if I could wright forever about all the things that the Lord has been showing me and telling me over the past several months, but for now I just ask that you will pray for my family and I as we continue on this amazing journey!
