This last year has been a huge growing year for me in which I have been learning more about myself, as well as who God is. Seeking a deeper intimacy with my creator, I began asking Him to guide me to His will for my life. I have always had a strong desire for law enforcement or the military and decided I would go for it, “if I don’t do it now,” I thought, “I will NEVER do it.”
By November 2013, I had already completed an application for a police department and had my written assessment completed with a nearly perfect score. Madison Police Department wanted me to come back to pass the oral board in January, but I didn’t feel a peace, so I started the process for other departments, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard. I reasoned that God gave me the desire to serve and a career in any of those fields would more than satisfy me.
As I got deeper in all of the different applications I was working on I grew overwhelmed and stressed. A good friend told me that perhaps I should take a break, be still and silent, and listen to God. So I did. One of my friends at this time just got back from her trip with the World Race and another, Patrick, was on his 5th month. As I was scrolling through Facebook one day, I saw Patrick had posted a link to his blog, and that he was a featured racer that month for the WR. I was so excited and proud of him and quickly opened my browser to his blog site.
As I began to read, I noticed his story was similar to mine, a fact I wasn’t aware of until that day in December. You see, I have known about the race since 2011. Every time I heard about it or saw another friend go on it, I would get this tiny flame of eagerness in my heart to go, but I would quickly extinguish the flame before it matured with thoughts like “No one will support me,” or “That is WAY too much money to raise, been there done that with a trip a tenth of the price and not starting that stress again,” or my biggest one, “I am SOO ready for MY LIFE to start! Going on the race will only delay my life that I want NOW”. But as I read, God moved in my heart. Patrick had an awesome job in Dallas, a car, a loft, and was not really wanting to give that up. A friend encouraged him to check out the race and pray and so he did. Needless to say, God wanted him on the race so he quit his AWESOME job, moved out of his loft, and sold his car. I realized, I don’t have a career to quit, I just have a job and a cleaning business. I realized that if I got accepted to a police academy and then two years down the road left for 11 months, I would have to do the academy all over again. I REALIZED, that the life I was waiting to start, actually started 26 years ago on October 26,1987 and that sitting around waiting wasn’t anything to live. And, that life I have, is actually not mine, it is God’s life.
So I prayed and I applied. I was so anxious to hear back from the race, but over a month passed and still nothing. I decided I wasn’t meant to go. But then, the first week of February, I got the call. The call that I am GOING ON THE RACE! To be 100% honest, I wasn’t too excited. You see, I had finally officiated my cleaning business. I had so much going for me with it. I had already accepted the fact I wasn’t going that I was apathetic to my acceptance. I decided to take a week of prayer and fasting to really determine if God does want me on this race before I start asking people for $20 grand. I spent that week praying for each fear and obstacle and was worried when I didn’t feel God all week. I got scared that I really wasn’t supposed to go, but then a friend told me a story of her fasting experience when she was pregnant and that it was similar. She told me that God answers in His time, he doesn’t go by our deadlines, but his. Sure enough, two days after my fast, with my belly full and my headaches gone, I woke up with the most peace I have had in years and I knew. I am going on the race.
While I am new to this and fresh in the fundraising world, I know it is going to be a long tough road to raise all that I need. But I also know that my God is all powerful and that HE will provide in his timing. I am scheduled to leave this July and have so much to do! I am so excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to make this journey! Please pray for me as I start this opportunity and begin to fundraise!
Hope ya’ll have a blessed day! 🙂
