THE WHAT
Beginning October 2016 I’ll be leaving the States for a year, serving as a missionary around the globe. I’ll be traveling to 11 countries over the course of 11 months, with a team of 5-7 other racers through the World Race. Our time serving on the mission field will be spent in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya.
We’ll have the privilege of coming alongside existing ministries, churches, and organizations in each country. Our days may be filed with most anything depending on where we are and what the need is. In Central America we may find ourselves working with kids in after school programs, sports ministries, or building friendships with the locals. It’s likely we’ll be preaching, teaching, praying, and mentoring. In Asia we may find ourselves in areas well known for human and sex trafficking, bringing hope and help for rescue. In Africa we may get the chance to work in children’s homes, schools, or do door-to-door ministry visiting new friends and inviting them to be a part of what God is already doing in their communities. We’ll find out specifics as the time gets closer.
No matter what the ministry, this Race is about following God’s lead, being present with His people, and sharing the unshakable truth that God calls each of us Beloved, Chosen, Worthy, Valued, Adopted, His. I’m kind of in awe that He’s invited me to be a part of this in such a unique way.
THE STORY
It’s been almost five years since I sat under the shade of a mango tree in Kenya, wrapped in the warmth of the afternoon sunshine. On my lap was a little boy named Samson, whose 3 year old fingers slowly loosened their grip on my hand as he drifted to sleep. For the first time in my life, I actually felt God whispering. His words were full of comfort, truth, and assurance: “This. This is what I have created you for.” Over the last five years I’ve been clinging to those words and the promise of God in that moment. Though little Samson will never know it, God used him to drastically impact and change the direction of my life.
It was in Kenya where I experienced the real living-breathing-alive-right-now-working Jesus.
And the “this” I felt God whispering about as Samson’s head fell heavy against my chest, wasn’t anything too cryptic. It was love. The kind of love that wants to enter into the hard places. The kind of love that wants to understand and come alongside. The kind of love that will say yes to doing hard things. The kind of love that is no longer satisfied with the American Dream. The kind of love that holds the hand of a child I took no part in creating, but care for as if he were my very own heart, my very own flesh. The kind of love that sees the world through grace and compassion.
Love that is willing to stay when Jesus says stay, or go when He says go.
I met Jesus in Kenya. He’s no longer just red ink on a page.
Jesus, Healer of broken bodies; repairing bones, strengthening spines, and restoring speech before my very eyes.
Jesus, who brings freedom to the handicapped man; as we pray, he stands tall for the first time in weeks and walks out of the hospital, doctors and nurses calling him back, astonishment painted across their faces.
Jesus, who hears our cries for rain, bringing the clouds at just the right moment, causing our dear Muslim friend to look at us and say, “You prayed to your God, and your God made it rain.”
I know this Jesus.
Jesus, who says, “I will be with you always.” In the waiting, in the working, in the playing, learning, loving, growing.
Jesus, who has been with me in the hurting, the heartache. Who says, “I know pain and I know loss, but let me tell you about hope and joy, freedom and love.” The One who wipes clean, makes new, mends, forgives, and rebuilds.
Jesus, who sometimes says, “This is not what I have for you.” Flipping our plans upside down and inviting us into stories much greater than our own.
I know this Jesus, and I want others to know Him too.
In the time since Kenya, I’ve graduated college, worked full-time as an Enrollment Counselor for my incredible alma mater, fully paid off school loans, learned to run for others, and completed a marathon for clean water. I’ve formed some of the most wonderful relationships — with friends, co-workers, students, pastors, teens, leaders, and families across the east coast.
In the waiting, Abba has been teaching me so much about obedience, investing, creating community, and being missional right where I am. I’ve learned waiting is active.
But in the waiting there has been this constant longing to go – back to Africa and into the world. Kenya began growing this deep desire in my heart to be a part of God’s work through global missions.
And after five years of, “Wait.” I finally feel Jesus saying, “Now.”
THE WHY
There are so many reasons why I’m saying YES to the World Race. The first being, I’m confident God is leading me to this next step in the story. I also believe in the ministry of the organization that runs the World Race, Adventures in Missions (AIM), because I had the privilege of being in Kenya with them for two months during the summer of 2011. AIM created space and guidance for me to learn the living power of prayer, the importance and beauty of authentic community, and the gift of intentional discipleship. AIM helped me realize my relationship with God is not confined to abstract ideas. God’s alive right now, moving, breathing, and working in each of us. He speaks to us, directs us, guides us, and wants us to know Him and the incredible love He has for us. And once you know that love, you can’t help but want others to know it too.
I believe in giving financially to organizations that provide aid relief, education, child sponsorship, local employment and community development throughout the globe. That’s why I sponsor an awesome little lady in Ghana named Awuku. It’s why I’ve learned to run for clean water and contribute financially to water projects each month. It’s part of why I invest in the local church. But I also believe there are times when Jesus asks us to be present. He asks us to enter into the uncomfortable without all the answers or quick fixes. I believe there’s value in listening ears, touch from caring hands, a heart ready to learn and serve, and a mouth that shares truth and love.
The thing is, I can’t do this alone. And really, I wouldn’t want to do it alone. A beautiful (you can interchange beautiful with terrifying) thing about being a missionary, is we don’t get paid. I have to quit my job to follow Jesus into the World Race. To make missions possible we partner with people who believe in us, and what we’ve been called to do. We partner with people who want to invest in us, and invest in what God is doing through us. These partners are the ones who make the daily work of loving God’s people happen for the time we are on the field. Without partners – without you – I won’t be able to do this. But when we team up financially and in prayer, it’s no longer my ministry.
Something really incredible happens and it becomes our ministry.
I would love for you to be present with me during this Race. I want you to be a part of it. Whether you are able to donate once, partner with me monthly, or pray for and with me throughout this journey, it all matters. This story can’t happen without you. If you’re feeling moved to partner with me, I would love to talk with you about how to do that.
I’ll be keeping this blog with regular updates beginning now and throughout my time on the field. Subscribe and follow along as this story begins!
