It’s now been a little more than a month since I have been home. I always value and cherish the time I get to spend with my family, even if it is only for a short time. Before I announce my plans for the future, allow me to rewind a few years. 

In 2015, my family moved from Colorado to Texas. I was almost 20 with a very specific plan of what my life would look like: college, a career, and married with kids by the time I was 25. This is what I had always wanted for myself. Moving to Texas wasn’t necessarily in that plan, but it was something I could manage. Shortly after our move, we started the process to try and find a new church.

One of the churches we attended shared about a mission trip they went on the previous year. They talked about seeing God move in ways they never expected. They talked about the people they met and the beauty they witnessed. In that moment, I heard it. A small voice telling me something I never wanted to hear. I was going to be a missionary. 

This did not fit into my plan. I was supposed to get married and have a family. That is what I wanted, not to be a missionary. But still, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Whether out of obedience or simple curiosity, I went home and Googled “adult Christian mission trip”. And what did I find? The World Race.

Because I was 20 at the time, I wasn’t able to do the 11 month trip. But I was eligible for Gap Year. I applied, interviewed, and was accepted. I even started fundraising. Everything was going according to plan. Until it didn’t. 

My dad’s company was sold, and consequently, he was laid off. I was working full time, and didn’t think I could leave my job to go on a 9 month mission trip. I had to stay and help out my family, at least, that’s what I thought. Looking back, I know that I could have left, and God would have provided for my family. Because at the end of the day, He is their provider, not me. But I didn’t have that level of trust in God yet. I was still holding onto control. 

So instead, I withdrew from the Race. And to be honest, I was angry with God. Why would He call me to something only to take it away? I didn’t even want to be a missionary in the first place. Why would He give me a dream I didn’t want, and then take it away from me? Did I even hear from God in the first place? Maybe it was all me. Maybe God never even spoke to me.

I gave up on my hopes of ever going on the Race. It would become one of those impossible dreams that I would carry with me, always daydreaming about, but never getting to experience it. And then, five years later, the impossible happened. I went on a week long mission trip to Guatemala where I met two women who had gone on the Race. They encouraged me to try again. And with a heavy sigh, I did. I applied and prayed that if this is what God wanted, then everything would work out. I prayed that if this wasn’t where God wanted me, then He’d shut the door completely. A few weeks later, I received the call that I was accepted. I was finally going on the World Race.

If you’ve been following along with my journey, then you know what comes next. I went on the Race in 2020 as the first squad to launch after COVID locked everything down. Then, this past January, I launched again to help lead a new squad for 6 months. And honestly, these experiences have been more than I could ever put into words. God has grown me in so many ways. I have seen God heal, deliver, and move like never before. God has changed my life through the Race. 

So, what is next for me? In August, I will head back out to help lead World Race Gap Year!

What is Gap Year?

Gap Year is a 9 month program for ages 18 - 20. Similar to the Race, we will travel to different countries serving the local communities and telling others about Jesus. Unlike before, I will be with the squad for the entire 9 months, with a heavy focus on discipleship. 

So, where exactly are we going?

We will be traveling to Guatemala, Romania, eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), and South Africa. I am very excited to go back to Guatemala and South Africa, two of my favorite countries. And I am excited to have the opportunity to travel to two new places I have never been before. 

How can you be praying?

• The squad. The squad has 39 people, bigger than my squad (15) and N squad (16). Please pray for their hearts to be softened and opened for everything the Lord is going to do. Pray for their health and protection as we travel to different parts of the world to bring the hope of God. And of course, please continue to pray over N squad. They are about to enter into month 8 of the Race. Pray they would be refreshed and renewed. Pray they would be filled with an abundance of joy as they continue forward in the last few months of their journey.

• Fundraising. For these 9 months, I need to raise $6,000. Please pray the Lord brings supporters who will partner with me in my ministry. The Lord has provided in incredible ways before, I know He will do it again.
  
• My co-leaders. Please pray for everyone who I will get to lead with. Pray over us as we prepare to leave again to serve this group of 18 - 20 year olds. Pray we would be encouraged by God, and that we would always lead out of a place of abundance and not out of a place of lack.