We were asked to share with you why we’re going on this world missions adventure called the World Race. I’m going around the world in 11 months because the Lord has given me a heart for people around the world and I want to be obedient to His calling in my life. But it took me a little while to decide what being obedient meant, and that is the story I am going to share.
    The World Race (WR) came into my life from talking with an old roommate who was thinking about going. As she was sharing her desire to be a part of something like this I was so excited for her but never thought it was something I would do. I guess God had different plans because one night during the week after our conversation, I found myself surfing the WR website and, out of curiosity, I decided to fill out the survey to see if I could even apply. The very next day I received an email back from WR staff telling me I was able to apply and since I had done AIM trips before, I didn’t have to pay the fee (which was something I probably wouldn’t have wanted to do). I kind of thought to myself “hey, why not”, and sent in the application. During the following weeks I sought out people in my life who knew me well and would ask them if they thought this was something I could do. I received a lot of encouragement from the people around me, but still was nowhere near being convinced I could be gone for 11 months.
    During this time I was interning for another missions organization learning how to set up trips and lead teams for their high school ministry. Being a part of this internship was something I felt God had called me to do and even hearing about the opportunity for it was such a “God-thing”. The internship was a year commitment though and didn’t finish until August ’08. I knew if I decided to do the WR it would make the situation more confusing on deciding to stay with the internship as long as possible before leaving, or having to give it up. And that was my problem, I felt God had already called me into an area of missions and was very confused on why He kept giving me other options.
    I literally had no idea what to do. I had two great options before me with drastically different appealing sides. I had a feeling I would be accepted, but deciding to go was a whole different story. But once again, God was in control and knew I needed more time. One of the references I had put down on my application had been currently out of the country and was unable to be contacted for about a month after I applied. The WR staff contacted me and asked if I would like to give a new reference so that I could know the decision sooner. I told them definitely not, because I knew that I wasn’t ready to hear their answer. I was excited to have more time to think things over for myself. I was hoping if this was something not for me that God would give the AIM staff a clear “no” on my application, but I just knew He wanted me to be confused and have to seek out His guidance. Over those next few weeks I was hoping for a clear answer, but it didn’t come until the day before I found out I was accepted…