During my entire high school career, I have wanted to be a world racer. Ever since I heard about the Race in 8th grade I have pursued God and asked him to provide a way for me go. I have daydreamed about what it would be like to leave home for an entire year in order to serve Gods people in a challenging way. And I am so excited that He has provided the opportunity for me to live out this dream that he gave me all those years ago.
I was 14 when I first heard about the World Race, and it was on the only international trip I have ever been on. The trip was to Manzini, Swaziland, Africa. My church partnered with Adventures in Missions (AIM) to plan the two week trip. We were able to work with AIM missionaries on the ground and help them with their ministries. Scott, one of the full time missionaries that drove my church group around while we were there, knew about the Race. During one of the longer car rides he told me about it. The way he described a bunch of crazy college kids traveling the world for a year and living in community all the while following God’s plan for their life made me badly want to go. After explaining the Race, he paused for a moment. He then said “Nathan, I would like to speak a little prophetic word over you right now. You will be back to Africa. I’m not sure if it will be Swaziland again, but I know that you will back, probably many times.”
Swaziland 4 years ago
Looking back on the trip now I realize that it wasn’t that long ago, even though it feels like a lifetime ago because of the four years of high school. A lot has happened since but I haven’t forgotten about the Race and how much of an opportunity it is. However as I got older I began to think that I would not be able to go. The traditional World Race is for 21-35 year olds, meaning I would have to after college. Finances and other opportunities made me think that maybe God’s plan for me was to do the traditional college path. Now that I am finally a semester away from graduating from high school, God provided in the first big way. Adventures in Missions came out with the World Race Gap Year for 18-22 year olds. I was extremely excited when I saw it, because I thought that God might be giving me the opportunity that I had been asking for so long for. I immediately started praying for clarity and discernment to see if this was to be God’s plan for the next year of my life. I started asking several people I respect to also pray that I would have clarity in my decision, starting with my parents and then asking several of the pastors at my church to pray as well. After a few weeks of praying, I felt both an increased excitement about the trip and an increased certainty that God wanted me to at least apply for the trip. I applied and paid the $40 fee, figuring that if God didn’t want me to go AIM would deny me. I filled out the forms and scheduled a phone interview. I felt like the phone interview went very well and I couldn’t wait to hear if I was accepted. A few weeks later I heard that I had been accepted. I rejoiced and praised because God had made his will for my life clear and my long time goal a reality. I am so excited to be going wherever God is leading me and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for me.
God Bless,
Nathan
