Back in March of 2023 I decided to go on a missions trip to Belfast, N Ireland. While we were there, we worked with a company called Salt Factory Sports. With this amazing organization we used sports to minister to schools and communities in the area. Each day got exponentially better as it felt like I was in my element. I have always had a passion for two things: Travelling and serving people. I got to do both of those things all throughout Northern Ireland, which is what made this experience so impactful for me and my relationship with Christ.
Before the trip to N Ireland I never prayed much. I would do the generic prayer, pray whenever I was asked, or whenever I wanted something. So going into this trip I was challenged in that part of my spiritual life. Our leader, Chris, gave us time to pray a lot during our time in Ireland, we would have close to 30 minutes of quiet time spent with God daily. The main thing I asked God for was to show me what my future would look like. It was my senior year and I was committed to a college that i wasn’t super excited for, it was a season of uncertainty. The more i prayed and the more time i spent. With no answer I got more and more angry to the point where I was cussing God out and having a prayer battle with Him in my head. I kept asking what God had planned for me and how He was going to use me. As this went on and on I was done praying and done asking for what my future is, and as I opened my eyes there was a big map of the world on the wall and I felt a spiritual push towards it. So I grabbed a leader to pray again but with him and God confirmed it in my heart that missions was something God was calling me to do.
I prayed more after my trip about what I should do in the fall and I still felt that missions was the right path. So I deferred my year for college and started to research missions organizations and trips. Through this I found World Race and I am beyond excited for this next stage in life, however I am also scared by the uncertainty. Now i know though that even in the uncertainty you have to trust Him day by day and i will take this with me on my 9 month trip with World Race.
Glory Be To God,
Nick Furtado
