This is what everyone wants to know. Why now? Why the Race? Since I’ve announced my plans for 2016 on the World Race, I have been asked this question repeatedly. To most, it seems absolutely absurd. Why would I “throw away” the wonderful life I’ve spent so long working for? I have my own house, a car, a salaried job that I absolutely adore, and the very best family and friends. I have a life most 25 year olds DREAM of! So why am I about to pack it all away or sell it off? Why am I trading my house for a tent, my bed for a sleeping bag, and the comfortable life I’ve built for myself in Missouri for a ticket far far away?
The simple answer, if there is such I thing, is because I don’t want to be “a Jonah” anymore.
Jonah: You know the story. Jonah runs away from God’s instructions and gets swallowed up by a whale. But let’s break it a part a bit…
Jonah Flees the Presence of the Lord
“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil[s] has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:1-3
You all know that question you’re asked in school, “If money didn’t matter and you could do any job in the world, what would your dream job be?” Most people answer in the fashion of: athlete, artist, professional traveler, the real life version of a superhero or other fictional character etc. My answer though, for as long as I can remember, has been: a missionary and a mom….
(insert quizzical stares from the class here)
But to be honest, until now that thought becoming a reality has TERRIFIED me. So I’ve ignored it, shoved it back in the deep dark depths of my heart or better yet, pulled a Jonah and ran away… sometimes even literally. (We’ll get to that part of my testimony another day)
Jonah Is Thrown into the Sea
“Nevertheless, the men rowed hard[b] to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them… So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging… And the Lord appointed[d] a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:9-17
No matter what the men on the boat did to try and help Jonah (or get away themselves) it didn’t work. My own excuses over the years have eaten me alive much like the whale… No matter where I ran or what I did, I was left unfulfilled. My soul is and has been restless running. I’ve spent years buying into the lies the devil has been selling me. You’re weak. You’re too young. You’re not ready. You’re not “Christian enough” (like what even IS that?).
Jonah’s Prayer
“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,
“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,
and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
and you heard my voice.
For you cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
passed over me….
The waters closed in over me to take my life;
the deep surrounded me...”
Haven’t we all prayed that prayer? Surrounded by darkness, the waves of our situation drown us with a sense of overwhelming hopelessness. That’s the prayer we pray when we realize we have NO other choice but to be fully dependent on the Lord. It’s the prayer that takes us the longest to abandon our pride, the prayer we pray the hardest, and the one we count on the most. It’s the begging-from-your-knees-covering-your-face-while-tears-stream-down-as-you-utter-blubbering-sobs kind of prayer. I’ve had a few of those in my day.
Jonah Goes to Nineveh
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.
So here I am: 17 days away from training camp, 100 days from departure. 11 countries in 11 months. Here I am about to face the most exciting, challenging, terrifying, glorious, frustrating, awesome time of my life.
During this journey, I’m going to need support.
Spiritually: Please pray with me and my team. Pray for our safety during our travels. Pray for the work we’ll be doing and those we meet along the way.
Emotionally: I’m going to need encouragement, words of affirmation, and well wishes. 11 months out of my comfort zone will be challenging, kind uplighting words from friends are always appreciated.
Financially: This trip does require me to raise funds. These funds will cover all my travel expenses, my lodging (when available), any emergencies that arise, my health insurance, my visas, food, etc. If you would like to partner with me and feel like you would be willing and able to donate towards my trip just click the support me bar at the top of the page!
Thank you friends and family. I love you dearly and can’t wait to share this journey with you.
All my love,
Scarlett
