Welcome to my World Race blog! Whether I know and love you dearly, was given a recent opportunity to meet you, or you found me from the World Race website, I am so glad you are taking time to read my story.
In introduction, here are a few things to know about me:
I grew up a (North) Carolina girl…there’s a song about that, and I’m pretty sure it is all true.
I am an artist by nature, an interior designer by profession, and a photographer in training.
I am ever fascinated with psychology.
A favorite thing to do on a rainy or snowy day is to hide away in a coffee shop… reading, talking to friends, and people watching.
I adore the beach at any season – the sun, the sand, the crash of the surf…just everything.
I went to college in the Blue Ridge Mountains; they will always have my heart.
I have the joy (and occasionally the aggravation) of being from a big family – I have one sister and three brothers.
I am totally obsessed with sunrises and sunsets. I confess to chasing them on occasion.
Why the World Race?
If you know me well and are surprised to find me on this journey, I am right there with you. Over a year ago, I found myself on the World Race website and God began chasing my heart. As I was browsing the website, I found myself wishing I could be brave enough to go. Ever since that night, God has consistently been leading me to trust and follow.
Let me be honest, I fought God long and hard over going. Tried to run away and became miserable in the process. Tried to ignore the call but it would not go away. There is a quote from the movie We Bought a Zoo that says ‘All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage’. One night, I was exhausted of running from the call – I prayed for those seconds of courage and applied for the Race.
When I applied, I honestly didn’t think I would get accepted, but I did (oh crap). Yet despite my many (and seemingly logical) fears, once I stopped running, I determined to keep walking through the doors God opens… which finds me here, with a World Race blog and preparing to leave in July.
I do not know why I am called to go. I never had a desire to serve in overseas missions, never planned to be in ministry ‘full time’, and certainly never thought about (or want to) live out of a backpack for a year, but the call is unmistakable. So I have chosen to choose obedience, each scared step at a time.
Have you ever felt a deep ache in your walk with Christ? Not the initial ache before salvation, but an ache, a restlessness, at times a burning pain that only gets bigger the deeper you go? The times when you cannot, for the life of you, find contentment. When you do not know what causes the ache or where to turn, but it is a whisper of something greater, bigger, deeper, higher.
Abandon self. Defy mediocrity. Seize love. Proclaim freedom. Go. (Author unknown)
Below is a beautiful song by my friend David Olinger that I hope you will listen to. Whatever obedience He is calling you to, let’s walk the road together. His heartbeat is the sweetest sound.
Thank you so much, dear ones, for all your love, support, and encouragement along the way to get to this point. I am excited to see the story God writes over the next year. I hope you will join me for the journey.
