It was one of those fall mornings that tricks you into thinking it’s almost spring. The sun was coming in through the window onto my face and everyone’s head was bowed in prayer. It was October. I was sitting still in a church pew, but inside, my heart was pounding.

“Are you sure, God?” I asked over and over again. “Are you really sure?”

No yes or no reply came. I had been asking this question now for months with no assuredness. But unexpectedly, a still small voice fell gently over me.

Do you trust me? The voice asked. Do you trust me?

Behind closed eyes I saw a hand reaching out to me, outstretched and waiting.

Everyone in the packed little church was deep in prayer, but I suddenly opened my eyes and looked up. At that moment, Pastor Mark began praying out loud over everyone gathered. His eyes were closed, but he suddenly extended his hand in my direction, and speaking softly, he began to pray: “Jesus is asking you, ‘Will you follow me?’” His outstretched hand hung in the air like a question mark. “Jesus is whispering to you,” and he said it again: “‘Will you follow me?’”

And although it would take several more months of the Lord’s soft, patient whisperings, I know it was this still, warm morning in October that my heart first said ‘yes’ to the big dream Jesus was offering to me.

I had heard about The World Race almost two years prior to this moment from a  friend who decided to take the journey. I had no idea what the Race was. But I started to find out.
 
“It is a journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve ‘the least of these’ while amongst real and raw community. It facilitates discipleship through the process of discovering into the abundant life He promised. It births partnerships with ministries around the world. It requires Luke 10-like faith.”
 
I think of the book of James, which reminds us that love is an action, not a noun. Verse 27 speaks: “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

Our Father’s heart is for the poor. For the powerless. For the meak. For us. And that’s where my heart is being called right now. In a way I never expected. In a way I expect to change me for the rest of my life.

In short, that’s what the World Race is.

And in the end, I said, “Yes.”

Thank you for reading my first blog post! This is just the first step of an adventure that has barely begun. But I invite you to come along with me for the journey. I will be blogging every week leading up to my trip launch in September. Once I hit the field, I will be telling stories of God working all over the world—in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa, Turkey, Albania, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica—and I would love for you to be a part of the story. Hit “subscribe” on the left to read along!