When I tell people about the World Race the follow up question I usually get is “Why?”. I usually shrug my shoulders and say something along the lines of “why not?”. I usually answer with this response because either I don’t want to take the time to explain it or I don’t think that the person I am speaking to will be interested in the long answer. The real answer is I don’t have time to explain all of the reasons why I signed up for the World Race and I haven’t taken the time to sort through them in my head. So that’s what I’m going to do here!
The World Race has been a dream of mine for over 5 years. I first heard about this program through a girl I went to high school with who dropped out of college because God was calling her to do something more. As I followed her journey and learned more about the World Race, I knew this is what God was calling me to do.
Let me back up for a second to explain what the World Race is. The World Race is an 11 month mission trip where I will be traveling to 11 different countries with 30 other missionaries to do different missionary and community development work. I will be traveling to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, India, Nepal, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania. Each day looks different. Some days we may be conducting vacation bible school while others we may be spending time in an orphanage, building a classroom, or building relationships with people on the street.
So here are the reasons that I am going on the World Race:
1. Over the past 5 years I have taken several mission trips around the world at varying lengths. I have gotten to see and experience different cultures, which makes me want to travel even more. All cultures are SO different and it’s amazing what you can learn about the world and yourself by taking the time to listen to others.
2. I have a passion for Community Health and I strongly believe that everyone needs to have access to basic needs and healthcare in order to live a happy life. Many NGOs around the world help local communities access the resources they need, but there is still so much that can be done. I am excited to learn other ways to help people and how to empower people all around the world!
Lastly and most importantly, I will be traveling to 11 different countries to spread the word of God, but I’m more excited to SHOW what the Word of God means. I’m not traveling to 11 countries to preach to unreached people groups. No one wants to be talked at, but everyone wants a friend. I am traveling to 11 different countries to show people who a follower of God is! I am someone who listens and cares for people. I am someone who wants to make you smile on your hardest day. I am someone who will love everyone. To me, that is how we spread the word of God, by being a disciple and living out the Gospel.
These are the main reasons that I am about to embark on the most challenging yet rewarding experience of my life!
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