I know many of you have heard that I am going on the World Race, but haven’t gotten to really hear my heart or God’s heart behind it all.
So here goes!
Some of you know that I went to Nepal in 2018 and it definitely was transformational for me. The Lord gave me a heart for the orphan and since then has given my vision to have an orphanage overseas. Not long after Nepal I woke up with Abrahamic covenant on my mind. I don’t know if this happens to anyone else, but usually it is the Lord speaking something to me. So I looked up what exactly Abrahamic covenant meant and through reading about Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17, the Lord spoke to me, “You will be the mother of many nations.”
I have believed the Lord in complete faith for this word and other times have felt so unqualified and walked in complete doubt that the Lord could use me in this way. But guess what? It is not my dream; Its God’s dream and what He speaks will come to pass!
So since having a heart for international missions in coming back from Nepal, I have kinda been waiting…Waiting for the Lord to send me out, waiting for the stones to be laid for His dream, waiting for the fulfillment of the promise.
After a while, I had grown complacent and comfortable. Not living out the Great Commission and staying within my comfort zone. Then I was reminded of this phrase someone shared with me before I left for Nepal, “Dare to dream again.” So I did..
Back to my original question…Why the World Race? I’ll get there eventually, I promise ??
I started to open up my heart to dream with the Lord again and starting praying about what missions looked like in this season. (In the back of my mind was the word that the Lord was calling me to practical training for the orphan, but not knowing exactly what that looked like) One evening the Lord actually put the World Race on my heart. So I looked it up and saw the 11 country 11 month missions trip. I immediately thought, WOW! I would absolutely love to do that. Then I saw how much it would cost and my mind shut it down for a while. $18,700 seemed completely impossible. But the Lord kept bringing it back up again, and again, and again.
During this time, the Lord helped me to become more kingdom minded; choosing to lay my life down for Him and the work that He wants to do in and through me, laying my life down for the sake of the gospel getting to those who have not heard, laying my desires down for a future husband if it means serving the orphan for the rest of my life. He helped me to have a heart for the lost and brought these scriptures to mind:
Matthew 24:14, “And the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and THEN the end will come.”
Romans 10:14-15 “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
As I was just sitting with this with the Lord, praying about it, and talking with people, the Lord made it very clear that He was calling me to this. He said “This. This is the practical training that I’ve been talking about. I have called you to MANY nations. You are a missionary and you have a pivotal role on this trip.”
But there was one thing holding me back… What other people would think and my need for approval of man. I knew within my spirit without a doubt that the Lord was calling me to this, but would get discouraged by peoples questions. Some people have asked, “Why don’t you just go to one place for an extended amount of time?” That is a very valid question. But for me personally, I sense that I am called to many nations and I believe this trip could be/will be unto long term missions overseas.
“For the eyes of the Lord look to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) This verse says whose heart is loyal to Him, not whose hearts are loyal to the people around them. Good wise counsel is great, but ultimately it is the word of the Lord that will stand and most people will not see the gift and dream the Lord has for your life.
I so look forward to following Jesus and living on mission with Him for 11 months, doing anything from sex trafficking ministry, to children’s ministry in an orphanage, to community development, to sharing Jesus with people, to serving long-term missionaries on the field who need some encouragement. (Side note: This might sound crazy also, but I so look forward to living with everything I need on my back. Living minimal is so intriguing to me and I think will be so freeing!)
Yall, Jesus is looking for people in this generation, in this time, that will stand up and say “Yes! Here I am, Lord! Send me.” The question is not if we are to go, but when. We are all called to “go and make disciples of all nations,” the question then is when and where.
What does it look like for you? Maybe its a crazy, amazing journey like the World Race, maybe its a short term missions trip, maybe it is being kind to someone in your neighborhood, or sharing Jesus at your work. Whatever it is, give Jesus your ‘yes.’ Obedience is God’s love language.
Believe me, the benefit of following Jesus will FAR outweigh the cost.
I would love for you to prayerfully consider partnering with me financially or spiritually through prayer. Partnering with me means partnering with Jesus in His Kingdom work. Its all for His glory and the good of others! I’m so expectant for all that the Lord is going to do in and through me and my team throughout the 11 months.
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Thank you all so much for reading! I hope this encouraged you and filled you with faith for what the Lord wants to do in your life for such a time as this!
I love your willingness to pursue what God has called you to do! The World Race is the necessary stepping stone to prepare you to fullfill the desire to serve orphans God has for you.