Wow! I have less than two weeks left on the race. It has been such a wild ride! I can remember the day I was scrolling online trying to find a short term missions trip when suddenly I see a post about the World Race Gap Year. I remember thinking to my self how amazing it would be to travel the world for nine months serving others while showing the love of God. I thought to myself how I would never get the chance to do something as mind blowing as that. However, something inside me couldn’t help but give it a shot, so there I was filling out page after pages of application, and within weeks I received a call saying I had been accepted! I was beyond excited an began the long process of packing and preparation. Time seemed to creep by so slowly, yet I remember so clearly the night I said goodbye to my friends and family how fast it had all actually passed. I remember all the mixed emotions I had. I was so excited knowing I was about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime that still felt so unreal. At the same time, it’s always hard to leave those you love, and even harder knowing that nothing will ever be the same upon returning.
All of that seems to have been a lifetime away. Where has the time gone? I have been through so much and have grown immensely! I have given my heart away to so many people. I have loved God’s children, played with orphans, and shared the love of Christ with every single one. I have prayed for countless people, witnessed miracle after miracle. The amount of girls I have spent time with who have been at risk or have experienced sexual abuse is heartbreaking! I had the honor to teach English to high school students (even though I am beyond unqualified) and became so close to them. The amount of upkeep and remodeling my team and I have done has often left us tired and sore, but seeing the joy it has brought others is well worth it!
I thought on this trip we would be the ones bringing Christ to others, and teaching them about joy. It’s crazy though to think of all the people who have taught me so much more than I could have imagined. Some of the best parts has been listening to the testimonies of those around us. The poverty stricken people who we have been serving are the only ones who can truly teach you joy and faith as they continually seek after God and trust Him whole heartedly!
I have been inspired more than ever before, and have grown so close to God over this past year. My heart has been broken as saying goodbye never gets any easier. My faith has been tested in more ways than one (I mean, raising $15,000 doesn’t seem very possible. Thanks again to everyone who was a part of that!). I have seen God work miracles first hand! There was the time we almost rolled off a mountain cliff. The van stalled and the brakes gave out, we remained surprisingly calm as we believed we were about to be taking our last breaths, but His hand guided us perfectly along the curb and He saved us! My prayer life and personal walk with God has only grown stronger and I can’t wait to bring that home and share it with the ones I love.
So, with that being said, please continue to pray for me and my squad.
- Pray for safe travels back to the States
- Pray for a smooth transition back home
- Pray that we will not fall back into old habits, but will continually use what we have learned
- Pray that we will never forget what God has done for us
- Pray for what is next in our lives (whether that be colleges, jobs, missions, or serving our communities)
