WOW I am SO EXCITED!!! I am officially going on the World Race Gap Year mission trip!!?? The WRGY is a 9-month mission trip to several different countries for Christians ages 18-21. My squad of 40 people is going on Route #3: Thailand, India, and Costa Rica. I leave this September and get back in May of 2020! My and my squad will be able to be involved in several different ways of serving in the mission field; including human trafficking, construction, teaching English, cooking, cleaning, and sharing the Gospel!
From the day I could walk and talk I’ve been in love with our broken world and its people. I have a heart that constantly wants to reach out to those that are hurting, no matter where they come from in life.
God cemented His presence in my life during the summer after my 5th grade year– As I was praying (i.e. pleading) with God to reveal where He would take me in my future, a still, small voice whispered one word… “missionary.”
…Yeah, my little ol’ twelve year old self wasn’t exactly expecting that!
Nevertheless, I embraced it. Since that day, my dream to follow God’s calling to serve Him my whole life out on the field has grown and changed in ways I couldn’t possibly imagine!
My first missions trip happened a couple years later, when I was in eighth grade. I journeyed with my youth group up to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a week of serving at Urban Hope, a center that focuses on teaching and showing Jesus to the kids and teens of Philly. The moment I stepped out of the van, I was hooked.
Even in the midst of all the filth, drugs, abuse and poverty, Jesus was present in EVERYTHING– He was in the vibrant sunsets over the city skyline, He was in the crooked grin of a dirty but happy little five year old, He was laughing as all of us ran into the street to play in a fire hydrant spurting cool water, He was in the hearts of the leaders as they sang children’s worship songs with all the kids, and so many more.
After the Philly trip, I went to Leslie County, Kentucky, the most drug ridden county in America to teach Vacation Bible School to the county’s kids. Most exciting of all, last year my mom and I went on my first out-of-country, two week missions trip to Thailand and Cambodia with a team from my church. Our church supports an Asia’s Hope orphanage in each country, where we went to play and love on the kids (though most of us would say that the kids love on us!). Words can’t express how EXCITED I am to be going back to Thailand!
So you’re probs wandering what kind of person wants to go on a nine month missions trip to Thailand, India and Guatemala… well let me tell you a little bit about myself, then:
I LOVE Jesus (obviously). I also love reading, drawing/artsy crafty stuff, playing piano, studying the Bible, and deep conversations. I could die happy eating nothing but pasta and pretty much anything chocolate!
I live in northern Indiana with my dad, mom, and three younger brothers… yeah, it can get pretty crazy in our house.
I’m a history nerd, especially when it comes to diving into the Bible.
I’ve been co-leading my public high school’s Christian club, Raiders for Christ, for 2-3 years now. It’s been both stressful and a blessing to have God give us this chance! (If you go to Northridge High School: RFC is every Wednesday in the choir room, 8-8:45 am. Come check us out! Instagram @raiders_for_christ_ (; )
