It’s really not a secret. I’m a daddy’s girl.
When I played t-ball and they asked who my favorite pro-baseball player was, I said, “My Dad!” ((he played on our church’s softball team, doesn’t get much more pro than that!)) When I was in Middle School I played trumpet, poorly, because my dad did when he was younger. I want my dad to be proud of me.
When I was accepted to the world race, the most difficult person to share the news with was my dad. I was reminded of the time I casually mentioned moving to Sacramento and within .793 seconds he was online looking up cost of living and crime rate. I was pretty sure Rwanda wasn’t going to sound any more reassuring than a 20% increase in cost of living and an 8.1% increase in crime.
Add that of the slap in the face of, “hey thanks for paying for a 4-year degree I think I’m gonna make a bunch of coffee, and sell t-shirts, and then go on a year long camping trip.” I was sure he would flip. And he’s got a weak heart so I broke the news as gently as possible. By that I mean, I waited until he had left the house, called him on his cell phone said, “hey daddy I got accepted to this think called the World Race, it’s a mission trip to 11 countries in 11 months. Also, mom wants you to pick up some milk.” *
You know what he said? He said, “I think I’ve got a sleeping pad you can use up in the attic.” ((This is the equivalent of my dad fighting the bad guys…or at least scoliosis)) Followed by, “are you going to have a job at the end of 11 months?” …typical.
I once heard a pastor describe a good father. He said, “It’s like when you’re learning to swim and you know if you don’t jump in yourself he’s going to push you in…but he’s also going to be there to catch you.” Needless to say, my sermon notes were a soggy mess at this point. You guys…this is my dad. That’s The World Race and that’s our Daddy.
The World Race, is going to mean loving on orphans, women caught in sex trafficking, and others who may noteven know how to comprehend a good Earthly father let alone a magnificent Heavenly one! This. Breaks. My. Heart.
But, we go with the promise of Psalms 68:5::
Father of orphans,

champion of widows,

is God in his holy house.
I don’t have all the answers! I haven’t even finished asking all of the questions, but we go to love. Friends, please pray for healing in the hearts of those we’ll be ministering to. Please pray for preparation on such a sensitive topic and that we would be merely the vessels of hope, that ultimately He would speak through us to bring comfort to his children. Pray that we would continue to be faithful to His calling and when we think it's all lost, we will hear Him say, "well done."
