I’ve always had a place in my heart for missions. Over the past few years I have been able to go on several mission trips to places in Central America with the mission: to love on and know the locals there, especially the kids. These experiences have taught me so much about the Lord’s love for His children and the joy that can be found, even in the darkest of places. 

I realize that these things can be learned at home, or in America, and that missions is not just going somewhere else, because it is so essential no matter where you are. I think that many American Christians have a slightly tainted view of missions. They may think that they must go somewhere to be considered a missionary. Or maybe they look down on the people that go places because they're looking around themselves, seeing all the brokenness, and wondering why people are leaving when there's so much that could be done right in their own country, city, or home. However, missions is not where you are, but who you are. It's complete surrender to the Lord and His will for your life, and the lives of the people around you. It's learning to listen to the voice of God and being bold enough to actually do what He says. It's laying down your plans, your finances, your relationships for something that you believe, completely out of faith in the goodness of God, is going to be worth it. 

Having said all of this, I am choosing to believe it is worth it. I am learning to trust the Lord with my future, and walk in submission to Him and what I believe He has for me. No, it's not the most traditional thing to do straight out of Highschool, but I believe He has called me to something else. Called me to love the unlovable, to see new places, to step out of my comfort zone and take a gamble on if He is actually worth it. 

I am so excited to tell you that I will be going to four countries, beginning in September of this year, spending 2-3 months in each. Over the nine months I am gone, my team and I will be partnered with local ministries with the goal of making the name and love of Christ known wherever we go. Throughout the months, I'll be traveling with the same group of people, learning, growing, and serving together for the glory of His name. The places I'm traveling to are:

Costa Rica

Guatemala 

Thailand 

Swaziland (eSwatini) 

So to answer the title of this blog, I am doing the World Race to know the Lord more, and I am ecstatic to embark on this journey and learn to trust the Lord throughout all of it. Thanks for reading!

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”