God is so good! And I am absolutely thrilled to see God at work in this upcoming year and everyday as I am prepare for this journey called the World Race. A quick update: I have started to order my gear for my trip which is super exciting! I am so excited to condense my life to fit into a backpack for an Entire year. I am excited to leave this American materialistic lifestyle, and experience abandonment for Christ. As I begin to prepare for the race, I have written down some of my expectations for the race.
1. I except that all my expectations to be blown away completely. This trip is huge, and I can read all the blogs I want and maybe think I know what to expect. But I serve a mighty God. And He is going to use me to glorify Him in ways that I cannot even to imagine.
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have
received, freely give.” – Matthew 10:8
2. I except to Be Changed!
3. I expect to Grow Spiritually! Through this trip, I expect learn to rely solely on God, and for my walk with the Lord to grow on a daily basis. I expect to learn from God, His word, and from my team which will be my new family.
4. I expect to be Challenged and Stretched! This is a mission trip lasting eleven months, and over this year I expected to be challenged spiritually, physically, and emotionally. It’s going to be hard. But it is in the most challenging times, that I learn the most. God will stretch me and use me. He will take me out of my element, my comfort zone, in order to teach me.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your fait develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1:2-4
5. I expect to be Broken! In these countries, I expect experience brokenness for the people. Some of the communities will be in extreme poverty, some of these communities don’t have the freedom to express their love for Christ, as Christian are being persecuted in some of these countries, some have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ. I expect to be completely broken for these people.
“For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” Ecc 1:18
6. I expect to build Incredible Relationships with my team and with the people of each country I go to. I am so excited about my squad, even as I have just started to get to know them. It is an amazing group of young adults. And I expect my squad to become more like family over the next year. I expect that there will be at least one person or child that stands out from each country. A face/name that I will always remember, a person that touched my heart as I touched theirs.
“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
7. I expect to find God in the beauty and pain of this world!
8. And lastly, I expect Adventure!
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog! I am absolutely thrilled about the World Race and this opportunity. I am excited to see God at work in my life and of the people around me! Love, Rebecca Spires
