how in the world did i get here?

recently i have had A LOT of people ask me about after high school plans. from family, friends, and even staff members at camp, the question always comes up. right now the only answer i have is WORLD RACE! I don’t know what comes after that and it is not the same answer that all my friends are giving. the people around me are starting the process of applying to college and figuring out where they will go. so the real question is: why am i doing this, and how/why did i choose AIM (adventures in missions)/world race. 

a year ago at camp i responded to a call to ministry. i knew it was coming and the Lord had been teaching me about it for a few months. I was a few weeks away from going on my first mission trip to the dominican republic and this was a new and scary journey i was beginning. since that day i have learning an insane amount about Jesus and His calling on my life. all year i have spent time with Jesus asking what exactly i am doing, and what i am supposed to be doing for His kingdom. 

shortly after camp i began following a few people from georgia on social media who were going on the race. i had no idea that this platform would allow my eyes to be opened to this ministry and what a life on mission looks like. this gap year looked AMAZING, but i never really thought it could be something i did. it all seemed like a far off dream that would never be reality. 

only a few people knew i was interested in this program, but i didn’t talk about it much. one girl i followed posted a picture and Jesus literally spoke to me through it. someone was simply sitting on their bed, bible in hand, surrounded by all their belongings (which all fit in a backpack) and He said “this could be you”. next i started praying. i asked Him where i needed to go, if WR was for me, and honestly i was confused and needed clarity. 

this is a prayer i had written in my notes from a car ride home in March: 

“Lord, is this where you are calling me? Please show me so clearly if this is what you are calling me to do next. I do not want to move out of your will and while I pray this is a part of it, don’t allow it if it’s not for me. Give me peace in waiting for the answer and patience in the process. Lord let your will be done and your KINGDOM COME. Do what you would have done and let me be eager to go and do what you would want. Thank you for giving me desires in your name and I pray you would answer and fulfill those desires in the best way possible, in ways I can’t imagine. Let me be brave: in your name, in this world, and in my identity as a child of God.”

Amen. 

i continued in prayer for several months and He was clearly calling me to this ministry. i told a few girls who could be praying alongside me and they joined the journey. being a junior in high school i wasn’t able to apply for my year yet, leading me into a season of waiting. in this time i would watch videos, read blogs, and scroll the websites and instagram profiles. i could see where he was moving all over the world and was learning a lot from racers on the field. 

the came the time for me to apply. it felt unreal that it finally come for me to possibly do this. i was nervous to talk with my parents because i was telling them i wanted to leave America for 9 months. after some prayer and one act of courage, i started talking to my mom about the ministry and my interest in it. to my surprise she was in full support of it, if it was really what i wanted to do! i talked to my dad that night and started applying right after. the process was pretty easy and took me about a day to finish in between school and such. 

i was expecting it to take weeks to find out if i was accepted, but two days later i had my phone interview and then the next day i got a call saying I AM GOING ON THE WORLD RACE. once accepted you are required to make a $200 deposit in order to secure your spot and fully commit. Jesus was faithful and so were my many facebook friends who donated! in exactly a week i had the money i needed. 

next was a waiting period until my next phone call. in this call i got to set up my blog and start learning more about fundraising. $16,000 is a lot of money so i needed to have ideas and begin now! 

all this to say, it still doesn’t feel real that in about a year i will be leaving America to go and do His work! this fall i get to choose a route and i will be needing lots of prayer for guidance in my decision! 

i could not imagine doing this with another ministry either. these people are so kind and very efficient. they reach out and want to help in many ways. just from simple conversations with racers over instagram have shown me what a blessing the world race is to the WORLD. Jesus is using this ministry in mighty ways and its an honor to say i get to work with them. 

i don’t know what is after the world race, and i barely know what is before (i still have a year!) but i know that this is fully in His will. a year dedicated to His work is what my soul needs and i’m expectant of what He will do in my life and with my calling. this next step is going to be a wild ride and i cant FLIPPING wait!

thanks for listening to this long story. if you read the whole thing you are a real one. don’t forget to subscribe and you will get emails whenever i post! if you are interested in donating towards this journey please please do! every dollar counts!

-gretchen

ps: shirts are in and being given out! if you weren’t able to get on i am doing another order in august so be on the lookout!