Hello!!! My name is Ricki Joy Smith and I am 25 years old!! I was born and raised in Barboursville, WV, where I still reside. I am an only child and still live at home with my mom and have loved every minute of it because she is my best friend. 🙂 She is the most amazing woman you will ever meet and I am so blessed to be able to call her my mom. She has directed me in the way of the Lord for as long as I can remember and I thank her for that. My parents have been divorced since I was two years old and although I have always lived with my mom, I have stayed close to my dad as well. I usually see him at least once a week and talk to him on the phone every day. I am so thankful to have the most amazing and supportive parents in the world and feel so blessed to have them. I am also engaged to my high school sweet heart and it has been a blessing to have been able to grow together and experience this life side by side.
I just graduated college this past Saturday from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with an area of emphasis in graphic design and a minor in dietetics. My college experience has been a long one but God definitely had different plans for me than I did and I was happy to let Him lead. I have been in college for the past seven years, starting out as a dietetics major for the first 3 and a half years and then, realized my heart was not in it and changed my major to graphic design. After changing my major, I joined the sorority, Alpha Chi Omega and was blessed to meet some of the most amazing women in the world. Without changing my major, this opportunity would not have presented itself and I would not have been enriched by these beautiful women. Graphic design has been a major challenge for me but also a very fun process. Although, I did not know why I decided to change my major on the spur of the moment, in my last semester of dietetics, it felt like the right thing to do and so I went with it. After about a year into graphic design, I started to examine my work and realized that my passion for God and urgency for missions was bleeding all over the pages of my portfolio. Once, I came to this realization, I started to understand that I never chose graphic design at all, that God had chosen it for me and led me exactly where I was supposed to be. I realized I could make a huge impact on people by making the issues of the world known and showing the world how Jesus works. This brought an excitement for me that could not be contained and I was able to graduate knowing it was exactly where God had placed me.
I am a very happy go lucky kind of girl who loves JESUS with everything inside of me. I love to smile and laugh and see others do the same. I love my friends and family with my whole heart and am so thankful to have them in my life. I love the outdoors and spend all of my spare time outside!! I have been an avid snowboarder my entire life and was sponsored for about two years. I believe it has molded and shaped me into who I am and I cannot begin to express how much it has meant to me throughout the years. I love camping, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and so on. I spend most of my summers boating, tubing, wakeboarding, knee boarding, jet skiing, etc. I love meeting new people and travelling as much as I possibly can.
I always knew in my heart from a young age that I would do mission work and God has let me know that it is finally time. I have spent the past 25 years learning, experiencing, exploring and getting to know Christ more and more everyday and now it is time for me to really let Him take over and allow Him to use me to speak to the nations. My heart is breaking and yearning to help the lost and there is an urgency in me like never before. I am uncomfortable being comfortable anymore and will not feel right until I am doing everything I can to tell the world of His unconditional love. I am extremely excited for the race, the team, the good, the bad, the beautiful, the change, whatever it is, I am ready for it. I have already fallen inlove with each and everyone of my teammates and I have not even spoken to most of them yet. I am praying for each and everyone of you and cannot wait to get to know you more!! So, all that’s left for me to say is Here I am Lord, please send me!! YEA :0)
Embark on a Life-Changing Journey with The World Race: Gap Year!
Discover, Serve, and Grow – Join a Global Community of Change-Makers!
Explore diverse cultures, make a lasting impact, and deepen your faith on The World Race. Our global missions program is your chance to step out of your comfort zone and into a world of transformation. Join us on this extraordinary journey of service and self-discovery.
When you sponsor a child it not only provides a hot meal, clean water, discipleship, and basic medical care for the child, it also supports their family by inviting them through the gates of the CarePoint to receive training, discipleship and mentorship.
Consider linking arms with us to impact children, families, and communities in Eswatini, South Asia, or Guatemala!
Explore Italy in 2024! Are you ready for a life-changing experience? 🌟
Immerse yourself in the rich culture, history, and beauty of Italy. Make a positive impact through service and community engagement. Challenge yourself, grow spiritually, and develop leadership skills. Forge lifelong friendships with like-minded adventurers. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore Italy like never before!
Three months in Italy… say less!
World Race Study Abroad 2024
The ultimate semester abroad in Italy – explore ancient history, vibrant culture, and deepen your faith. Join us for a journey that will equip you to impact the world, while earning college credit.
