Hello everyone! Just to let you know, I am so glad you are here and I’m honored to share this journey with you!
So, my name is William Jacobs and I am 18 years old. Of recent, I have been given the opportunity to travel the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through World Race: Gap Year. Starting in September, I will spend the next nine months of my life traveling to three different continents, submerged in cultures and tongues of a foreign nature. The unknown that surrounds the idea of being a total outsider excites me to the point of nervousness. I have never been overseas before so with little experience of a culture shift in my life, I’m not quite sure what to expect. However, even though the people, places, and languages I meet will be distant; the people I will grow to love and appreciate will not be. I plan to be side-by-side to those carrying the message of the Gospel for the Glory of God. The countries that we will be in are Guatemala, Thailand, Malaysia, and Swaziland. But growing up, my desires laid dormant to go overseas.
I grew up in the small town of Roxboro, North Carolina. My graduation class clips 100 and everyone knows a little about everyone. My dad, Chris, and my mom, Kim, decided to move there when I was about 2 years of age so I only have memories of Roxboro as my home. However, my sister Bailey paved the way in my life to see someone only three years older than me pursue their spiritual convictions and callings. I was there when my family watched her fly off to Brazil, France, India, and in her most recent trip; Africa. Each trip challenged Bailey in a specific way and I was able to see her take every opportunity presented to her. I strongly believe the presence of a sister, so dedicated to the exploration of the world and herself, has impacted my decision to embark on this journey. Every year, it felt like, my parents asked me if I wanted to go to another country for a mission trip. I never felt an urge to leave, nor one to stay, and I believe it was God who was keeping me for this trip. One of the ways that he prepared me for it was through Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters.
SWO, for short, is a high-adventure, gospel-proclaiming summer camp in Andrews, North Carolina. My sister worked the summer of 2015 as a counselor and in 2016, I felt that God wanted me to be apart of the camp through servant team. Like its name, servant team members empty trash cans, wash dishes, clean up spills, fix toilets, shadow maintenance members, and empty trash cans a little bit more. Also, those 10-weeks included intense discipleship in which I was exposed to “studying” my bible. It wasn’t that I had not ever heard of it, it was that I had never taken a pen, the Bible, and looked for what God was wanting to teach me. I experienced that summer tremendous growth and confidence in who God is. I was able to spend another summer at SWO in 2017 as a veteran servant team member, and for two weeks as a counselor. That summer, God started to shape the person of who I am. He allowed me to see weaknesses and strengths in my relationships and His redemptive power through the Holy Spirit. God displayed his grace and mercy in the lives of those around me and myself.
But back home, some things that I enjoy are: playing basketball (or really any sport), grabbing a coffee, binging on the Office and Mexican take-out, scavenging for any great song from almost any genre, and spending time with my family. Close to being about as basic as it gets, am I right. I am apart of a house-church where we meet in a room above a performing arts complex and it is wonderful. The truth that we are taught from scripture and the closeness that comes from simply sitting in a circle is amazing. Being apart of others lives is a truly incredible thing. From that small group of fellow believers and all my interests of back home, I have no inkling of what I am called to do. I know that I like the idea of teaching and being able to work with children in some capacity but practically, I want to be able to also provide for my family. Teaching in and of itself is an incredible concept, but I also have other opportunities, such as a family business, that I will trust the Lord in and do my best to get my feet wet. Like I said, I have NO idea of what the Lord is calling me to do. Which is one of the reasons I am so excited for the World Race in the sense that, I know I will be emerged in new cultures, languages, dialects, races, strengths, weakness, and most of all; the love of Jesus Christ. These are the things that I can’t wait to experience on the race.
Exclusion from society and comfort will be difficult I know, but I can’t wait to see what God is going to do. In preparation for the trip, I have gone through the list of what I need to bring on the race that would make me MOST comfortable and expressive of who I am. But that is exactly what God is wanting me to abandon. Which is what I will be asking you to be praying for me on this trip. The tearing down and building up of who I think I am and the comforts that so easily keep me there. This trip, without a doubt, is going to change the course of my life for eternity and I can’t wait to not only undertake its challenges and blessings but share them with you.
P.S. THANK YOU for reading all of this if you did and I hope it helps you to understand better who I am and where my heart is on this journey.
Much love.
Will.
