First Article for Seashine Online Magazine

I am now a contributor for Seashine Online Magazine.

Visit www.seashinemag.com and go to this article http://www.seashinemag.com/taras-travel-update-entry-1/  or the interview http://www.seashinemag.com/meet-seashines-news-contributor-tara-stephenson/ 

 

 

Imagine yourself, whether with your family or alone, packing your backpack and leaving America with 31 strangers.  You leave your home with the clear understanding that you will not return to it for at least eleven months and that during that time you’ll see four continents, eleven countries and countless new faces and cultures.  Where you’ll rest your head every night you do not know yet, but that’s part of the deal.  You’ve come to this very point in your life, where you’ve decided to trust something bigger than yourself, and the race is on.

My journey began in July, 2008 when I left my home in Bella Vista, Arkansas for an “eventâ€� called The World Race (eleven countries in eleven months).  The World Race is Christian-affiliated mission trip, which offers a variety of outreach services focused on the poor and destitute in each country.  I began my trip (2008) in Latin America and then traveled and settled for a bit in Southeast Asia.  Some of my harder yet most joyful months were spent in southern Africa, while my concluding days and weeks were spent in Eastern Europe.

I can tell you so many things about my time abroad, but the most moving for me, perhaps, is the way God filled in the cracks for me, so to speak.  I didn’t expect to come to the end of myself on this trip, but I indeed did.  When you live in incredibly tight quarters with a number of people and share everything, you find yourself at the mercy others — “othersâ€� who likely don’t speak English.  In such situations, where communication is even limited, all you can do is trust God.

 

 

I remember a time in Myanmar when we almost ran out of money because the locals would not accept our bills.  Many thoughts went through my mind at that time — all of which seemed to come down to one pivotal question though, “How am I going to survive?â€�  Amazingly, in fact, as God provided far more than what we needed, financially!  Then, another time, we were asked by a local pastor to create and lead a program for 300 children, which would begin in… oh, 10 minutes!  WHAT?!  And, yet another time, my team and I were in Zimbabwe and desperately needed favor with border officials in order to gain passage into Malawi — the near impossible.  Then yet again, in Vietnam, I found myself in another trying situation — living in a hotel where most of the rooms were “brothel roomsâ€�.  In all of these situations (and more), I learned to trust in God and to have faith in Him as my provider — that He is who He says He is.  And, amazingly, in the midst of every personal need, I found Hope instead of despair and provision instead of abandonment.

Where do you go, and what do you do after a journey like that?!  As a result of my travel, I, personally, now know that the remainder of my life will be spent building God’s Kingdom and spreading His culture — a culture that has no geographical boundaries — everywhere I go.  Whether in business, church planting, government, the entertainment industry, etc., ministry can be done, as God’s presence is just as strong and powerful in those settings as It is in the extreme circumstances of The Word Race.

 

 

After finishing The World Race, in fact, I learned about and felt called to work with Generation 42, an organization that trains and equips a generation of people to be the forerunners for building God’s Kingdom in a variety of places and spaces.  This organization connects participants’ passions with real life work opportunities.  Generation 42 participants learn how to teach their peers and social groups the hard truths about Christ — truths hat set a rock foundation for expanding faith.  This ministry gives participants, whether working in Fortune 500 companies or planting churches in various countries, for example, communal support and encouragement, which in the end moves “dreamsâ€� into action.  We weren’t meant to sail solo, so G42 is like a cruise ship that sends people out to do various things, together.

 

 

During my time with G42, I became focused and ready to invest long-term in missions!  God sent me back to the World Race to become a leader with my G42 friend, Robby Riggs.  Together, we launched 55 others on their 2010 World Race and through a four-month period, trained two new leaders to take our places throughout the remainder of the year.  The 2010 World Race started in New Zealand, proceeded to Australia and the Philippines and ended, for us, in Malaysia in May of 2010.  The 2010 group is still truckin’ though and is currently serving month six in Kenya (please keep them in your prayers).

Leading the 2010 World Race participants for the short time that we did, impacted me in such a unique way.  I love to see people awaken their full existence in Christ and truly come alive.  And, Robby and I were able to watch that very thing happen in this group of exceptional people.  It was such an amazing site!

Now, as I sit in Northwest Arkansas for my brief visit to the US, I know I have a purpose for being here.  I have a purpose greater than myself no matter where I am, in fact.  I will be flying out to see my 2010 World Race squad again in August in Ireland, and then I’ll fly out again for our final visit with them in November in Eastern Europe.  In the meantime, I’m putting together a photography website, helping my family where I can, catching up with old friends and praying about returning to missions long-term in Spain.

This has been quite the journey (figuratively and literally), and it continues still with many more miles of travel ahead.  It’s a wild process, contemplating returning overseas and working in full time ministry.  But, God is helping me take small toward the goal.  Each step of faith gets a little easier and at the same time, a little crazier.  This journey all started with trusting something bigger than me, and so it continues!  I know now what makes me tick and what my spiritual gifts are, and I cannot wait to wake up the sleepers in this generation, as a result.  They are waiting for me, for us, so join me as I share more about my travels with you over the coming months!

And, check out my blog for more stories and photographs: http://tarastephenson.theworldrace.org

Pac y Amor,

Tara Stephenson