Why the World Race?

I have felt like God has been calling me and preparing me to be a missionary. I have felt this call since I was 17 years old. I went to Super Summer at Hardin Simmons University, and God showed me that mission work is the next step He is calling me to. I went to get my associate’s degree at Western Texas College and then began to work on my bachelor’s degree at Angelo State University.

In September 2020 which was my first fall semester at ASU, I lost my best friend, mentor, and youth minister. She helped me to grow up to be who I am today. While I was in her youth program she helped me to be a leader and fighter for Christ. She showed me how to share the Gospel, and helped me find out what it meant to me. So, here I am it is September and I couldn’t focus on anything, especially my classes. I felt bad, like physically, mentally, and spiritually. I didn’t want to do anything because I just still didn’t understand why God would allow her to die. She was 43 years old, never been married, never had biological kids, and quite frankly only had one huge regret, which was calling someone a rude name in grade school. I couldn’t understand how she could die when she didn’t do anything wrong, but I know that I wouldn’t be going on this mission trip right now if God didn’t show His will. So after losing I didn’t have any motivation to do much of anything, and so naturally I got behind in all my classes, and was not gonna pass my classes that semester.

So, my parents asked me what I feel like I needed to do. My dad said that he can’t make these decisions for me because ultimately I am an adult and this is where I have to see what God wants for me. So I prayed about it. I prayed and prayed and prayed. I listened for God’s guidance and cried worrying about people I might let down. God showed me that this could be the opportunity to go overseas and finally start living as a missionary as God created me to be. Now, I looked and looked for organizations that would send someone to be a missionary overseas. I knew I wanted to help people from all different ethnicities, backgrounds, and walks-of-life, but I didn’t know where that was exactly. Then God showed me the World Race. I had heard about it before and even thought it would be a great opportunity to take, especially for someone who knew he was called to mission work. Now the cost was an amount I was worried about, and my mom knew would be a challenge, but I know that if this is God’s will then He will provide. I have since felt a peace about it, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that God’s will be done in my life. To be completely honest that is one of the most liberating sentences is the fact that I whole-heartedly want God’s will to be done. I don’t have to worry about my will only that I listen for His.

One of the main reasons I want to do the World Race is because I love people. God has given me a passion for people. I love to connect with people and try to give them the love that God has shown me. I have done many things in my life that I am proud of. I have gone on a couple of mission trips down to the border to put on a VBS type camp for kids in Eagle Pass, helped build a house in Eagle Pass and McAllen, and helped prepare thousands of travel bags at a respite care facility for immigrants seeking asylum. But one thing I have done that has really helped me to kind of understand my passion more and more is worked as the Special Olympics head coach in my home town. I loved sports during high school and played football, powerlifting, and threw shot and discus. So, when asked to be the head coach I was beyond thrilled not knowing that God would show me one of my greatest passions through something as simple as helping out. I felt God showing me these athletes, who people passed off as weird or just not worth the time because it would be hard to communicate with them. I want to help people who feel like their voices aren’t heard. Who feel left out because they are a bit different. Who can’t physically speak. I want the people who feel unheard to know that there is someone who is listening, someone who cares. I am so excited for the opportunity to work with World Race and serve alongside my fellow Christian brothers and sisters in whatever God needs us to do. I pray to meet people who need the greatest joy they will ever know, whether doing construction, ministering, preaching, or cleaning up trash. I pray that whatever work God has for us that we do it whole-heartedly for Him. That we may show just a glimpse of the amazing, wonderful, fullness of God’s love to everyone. So, I chose the World Race so I can go out and make disciples because I want God to hear me saying ” Here I am Lord, send me.”