The past two weeks God has been showing me just exactly what I’ll have to give up next year. He’s starting the process now, actually. And it’s been rough!
This isn’t just a glorified vacation where I get to travel the world for 11 months. This is sacrifice. This is sanctification. I’m not saying this to brag on myself and show everyone how “godly” I am. But I do want to clarify that I’m not just traveling the world for fun; it’s not going to be all picture perfect Instagram-worthy shots and rainbows.
Through blogs I’ve been reading to things I’ve had to give up in order to focus my complete attention on the Lord and preparing myself for the Race, I’ve come to see what the Race really is. It’s denying myself, my comfort, my life in America with my family and friends, even my safety… for the glory of God; to make Jesus known to the nations.
This is the most important thing I could ever do with my life. I can do the same thing here in America. I may not be the best at it. But I try. And now God is calling me out deeper — to the next level. And I want to follow. Because I can’t just ignore this pull for something more. Something more than just a 9-5 job, the daily grind, living paycheck to paycheck. I have my whole life for that stuff. God calls us to be missionaries where we are. And sometimes He calls us somewhere else.
God has called me somewhere else next year.
3 Continents, 11 Countries:
Asia: India, Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
Europe: Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria
Africa: Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa
Through Adventures in Missions, the World Race is a ministry to serve “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40) while amongst real and raw community. It facilitates discipleship through the process of discovering the abundant life God has promised us (John 10:10). If you want to read more, click here: https://www.worldrace.org/?tab=about. I will be traveling with about 50 other people, ages 21-35, my squad, to the countries listed above and we will be separated into smaller groups called teams. I will be getting up close and vulnerable with my teammates, and them with me over the 11 months. However, teams tend to change every so often throughout the year. Each month, week, even daily, ministry will look different on the Race. We will do construction work, VBS camps, loving on orphans, the elderly, the sick and disabled, praying over people in hospitals and on the street, and one ministry I’m most intrigued and excited for: building relationships with women stuck in prostitution, something called bar ministry.
One of the most frequent questions/concerns I’ve gotten after hearing all of this is about my safety. It’s valid, especially in today’s world. “When is the idea of taking a risk really just a cover for foolish behavior?” (Taken from Seth Barnes’ blog: http://updates.theworldrace.org/?filename=seven-safety-concerns-of-a-world-race-parent) The Adventures in Missions staff work hard to assess the risks that we will encounter. However, we are adults and part of becoming an adult is learning self-governance. Take a moment to click on the URL above and read the blog post if you’re concerned. “Random violence can happen anywhere. Here in America it happens in schools, on highways, and even on Army bases. We live in a different world since 9/11. Terrorists strike in random and calculated ways. We look at the level of violent Muslim activity and political upsets before going into countries, but we can’t anticipate random violence.”
I have a copy of “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper sitting on my shelf that I got at a church in Milan, Italy, that I still have yet to read. But in this book, there is one part that talks about the myth of safety. Before hearing about this, this is honestly exactly how I felt regarding safety on the World Race: there are hundreds of ways we could die right now. Nothing is guaranteed. I think we all realize that, with cancer, death, and tragedy running rampant. That’s just the fallen world we live in. As Piper says, it is right to take risks for Christ — since we take risks every day. Did you know that you’re more likely to die in a car accident than in a plane crash? The odds of dying in a plane crash are 11 million to 1. Compare this to dying in a car accident which is 1 in 5,000 (I encourage you to fact check me). You’re more likely to die on the way to the airport than flying in the plane! And yet, we rarely think about that when we hop in the car (I actually do)!
We are only kept alive because God breathes His life into us. He can take us at any moment. He has already numbered our days! (Job 14:5, Psalm 139:16) I don’t want to put off what God is asking me to do NOW, today, for Him for when I’m in my 50s. I’m not promised those years. I hope I get them! But all any of us has is today. I may have procrastinated in school, but I’m not going to procrastinate my purpose, my life, away. It’s way too important for that. People’s souls are hanging in the balance. I know God wants me to be a part of that. He doesn’t need me. He can do whatever He wants! He could save the entire planet if He wanted (well, He actually saved our souls 2,000 years ago on a cross…). But He doesn’t just bring us to Heaven in one fell swoop because He wants His children to partner with Him and lead the rest of His creation to know Him.
In a devotional called Loop I get emailed to me twice a week, there was the perfect topic titled, “Why I Rescue” and here is an excerpt:
“I paid a price for you, and I would do it again. I would never stop rescuing. But I did it once, and it was complete. So that, yes, you can rescue now daughter.
I call you to imagine possibilities of hope so that now you can rescue. I carry my name within you—my heart beating in time with yours. Go forth into openness with Me. Bring forth those daughters and sons who don’t know what rescue means.
I rescue you.
Now go tell them.”
So that is what I will do. Will you join me?
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If you want to help rescue alongside me but are not able to go yourself, consider financially partnering with me! A one-time donation or monthly donation no matter the amount will go a long way! Donations are tax deductible. There are 3 types of missionaries. Some are called to give. Some are called to pray. And some are called to go. Which one are you?
