Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrew 11:1
Well, it’s hard to say I never saw this coming, but I never saw this coming.
God’s been really working in my heart for a few months now. Not baby steps either… more like… roller coaster, lightning speed. I’ve been interested in mission trips for so long now, but nothing ever REALLY grasped my heart – and the one’s I did like… never worked out.
So, as my cousin was leaving for her trip to Greece for the A21 campaign, I began to think: why can’t that be me, yet? The night before she left on her flight, she came over and I asked her if she knew of anything long-term that she knew of that I could attend…She proceeded with: “Well, I heard The World Race was a great mission trip, have you ever heard of it?”
No… surprisingly I never have. So, I looked it up… and fell IN LOVE. I felt like I was feeling joy for the first time in my life. I felt like… a child on Christmas.
The World Race is an 11-month mission trip that goes to 11 different countries. My goal is to spend this time, of course working with those in need around the world, which I’m so super pumped for, but to also use this journey to discover what God would have me do with my life and my education for Him.
I Can’t Control My Need to Leave
“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.'”-Isaiah 6:8
When I attended school, I changed my major many times. None of it felt like a calling on my life from God. It all just felt like applying for “another job”. So right now, I’m not in school and when people hear that, they look at me like I’m crazy. It’s hard to explain to people who can not feel this certain calling that God has placed on my life.
Not saying I’ll never go back, and not saying I’ll become a full time missionary. What I am saying is I didn’t know I would be right here 2 years ago, and I don’t know where I’ll be 2 years from now. Whatever God wants me to do, wherever He wants me to go… I’m packing my backpack and hitting the road. I don’t know what kind of job I’ll have or where I’ll be geographically, but right now, He told me I don’t have to have it all “figured out” because He does, and I just have to trust Him. I don’t need to know everything… shocking? I know. The only thing I know for sure is the burning desire inside of me to live for Him, the love for His people, and the heart to serve the nations.
So I’m going to stop wondering and stressing and over thinking and let God do the talking and show me while I’m out here across the world, doing what He’s called of me right now.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5.
It’s Not Forever
In October of 2016, I’ll be getting on a flight and leaving America for The World Race. It’s an 11 month trip to 11 different countries.
- Costa Rica
- Nicaragua
- Honduras
- Guatemala
- Malaysia
- Thailand
- Cambodia
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Uganda
- Kenya
Let me rephrase the word “trip” for you… I won’t be living in a hotel room and dressing up for nice foreign dinners, being able to take nice warm showers and then blow drying my hair and applying my makeup to hurry and go catch an UBER to the next tourist stop… In fact, it’s the COMPLETE opposite. I’m abandoning this luxury life we live. Yes, it’s luxurious. We have a house, whether it is small; we have a car, whether it not be the “coolest”. We have hot water heaters, air condition, filled to the top pantry, dresser drawer’s filled with clothes, etc. We are so spoiled here and yet we want more and more and more. We want that new sports car, that huge mansion, the nice clothes. With that being said… I’ll be living out of a tent and a backpack for 11 months with a team who will serve alongside me. To some it may sound crazy awesome, to some it may just sound crazy. But, I like crazy. And I am overjoyed and humbled about this unimaginable opportunity ahead of me. We will be spending about a month or so in each country getting to know the people, living with them, doing life with them, serving them in any way we can, showing them true love. Those who know me, this is my dream. Dreams do come true. Nothing else I’d rather be doing.
11 months may sound like a loooonnnnggg time away from home and family and friends, but it’s not forever. I’m leaving my amazing family for a short time to go and restore the hope lost in the broken souls around the world- to be their family. This is just the beginning of my life race.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” -Hebrews 12:1
Because It’s a Call, Not a Suggestion
“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out”- John 10:3
Most importantly, I want every one to know and understand, this isn’t something I just decided to do because I was ready to travel and ready to get away. In my testimony you would hear all about how God placed the desire and lit the flames of the burning passion inside of my soul and told me that I will be sent to the nations at age 15 and then I would proceed to tell you how I ran from that call for 6 years. I was headed down the wrong path, the path of what I thought I wanted of my life… not caring what God wanted. But it began to eat me up inside. God began to tug harder than He ever has before. I was slowly breaking. He began to tear down the tallest towers I built inside of me. August of 2015… my life changed. He said “Sarah, I don’t want just 99% of your heart anymore, I want that other 1% you’re still trying to take control of.” So I gave up. I surrendered. I left everything that I knew… down to the T. And God has blessed me unimaginably and has lead me here – to The World Race. I am SO excited to experience Jesus out there.
Bigger Than Me
This journey is not about me or my love for traveling, even though God instilled that desire within me to lead to the race. It’s about something bigger than me and traveling. This is about the people all over the world who have never heard the name of Jesus. It’s about the kids and orphans and widows or just an average everyday human who may never have experienced pure love – true love – the Love.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” -Galatians 2:20
- Here’s where you the reader, my friends, and or family step in: I need prayer, lots and lots of prayer before my trip, during, and after. This is going to be a huge transition and very difficult and challenging out there, as you can imagine.
And then there’s the part that no one ever wants to really talk about. I’ve struggled with this whole fundraising thing for a while. How do you ask people to fund you going on the trip of a lifetime? These aren’t medical bills I need help paying for, I don’t have a life threatening disease. But that’s just it. I may not have a life threatening disease, but this trip is to reach people who do. My eternity isn’t at stake. If I don’t go, my soul condition doesn’t change. I will still get to stand before my Creator and be welcomed into His Kingdom. This trip is not about me. This trip is about God working through me to bring His people back to Him. I’m not asking for a hand out to fulfill my dreams; I’m asking for a partnership to reach the lost and hurting. This is an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than us.
16,000 is a lot of money… an overwhelming amount. People have given me a list of what I could buy with this amount. I’ve heard it all. But if anything that I’ve learned is money is just money. And God is faithful. And an ultimate provider.
I am asking for support in any way that the Lord may be calling you. I have no doubts and no fears that He will do exactly what He has promised. Where He guides, He also provides.
So to say the least, I’m extremely excited for what’s to come and can not wait to share this journey with you from here on out.
With much much love,
Sarah Roccaforte
