Niki’s story leading to the world race~
I grew up in a small town in south Tennessee. Going to church is just what you do. It is very lukewarm. You go to church on Sunday, just to go to Sunday lunch. I got baptized when I was 8 years old…because that is just what you do. I always believed in God, but I was never fully committed and living fully for Him.
I was lukewarm, until I went on a mission trip to Honduras when I was 16 years old. After seeing such hurt and pain and suffering, yet unconditional and overwhelming love for the Lord, I looked at my life and saw just how dull my fire was.
After that I completely devoted my life to the LORD. My relationship with Christ since then has grown and moved me to this mission trip.
Missions was always something I knew I would do and now I am finally here and I finally doing what God wanted me to do. All of my life has been leading to now and preparing me for the race. I am ready to live a whole year where my only job is to love Jesus and His people!
Oriolyne’s story to the world race~
I grew up on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten in a christian home, I was use to going from church to church searching for a healthy church home. That never happened, the outcome was me being angry at the church and church people. At 15 I left the church and decided that living in the world was easier than living in a church of liars.
I lived a life where I felt like I was digging a hole and filling it with lies but on the outside everyone saw happiness and fullness. January 2010 my world stopped and was shattered to pieces, the one person who showed me unconditional love was taken from me in the earthquake in Haiti; my grandma was gone and with her all my hope.
I fell hopeless, lost and scared and with all of that I remembered God and fell to my knees crying out to Him and asking him for one more chance to give him a chance. With that I gave my life over to God and haven’t looked back; it hasn’t been easy but I no longer walk alone and I depend on God to fill me with all that I need.
We both have different paths, but they both lead to the same thing. Our Lord has called us to go out…further and deeper. We didn’t know each other but now we are on the same squad, going to the same countries for the same reason. God brought us out of hurt and lukewarm heart into healing and hearts that are totally on fire for the Lord. The world race has brought us together and now we are ready to go out and share our stories all around the world!
